The December 4, 2025 Meeting of the Barnstable Town Council was conducted in person. The public was able to attend in person or participate remotely in Public Comment or during a Public Hearing via Zoom. The public was able to view the meeting on Barnstable Government Access Xfinity Channel 8 or 1070 or in High Definition on Xfinity Channel 1072 or via the live stream through the Town website. Viewers can now watch BGA programming through our dedicated app available on both Apple and Android smartphones, as well as popular streaming platforms including Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire Stick. Town Council President Craig Tamash chaired the meeting and called the meeting to order. Assistant Town Clerk Janet Murphy took the Roll Call.

 

Town Councilor Betty Ludtke welcomed Navy Captain Bill Doherty to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Navy Captain Bill Doherty earned Bachelor of Science Degrees in Nautical Science and Maritime Transportation from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1967. He graduated six months early because the need was so great for Merchant Marine support for operations in Vietnam. Bill received a direct commission in the Navy reserve when he graduated. From 1968 to 1970 Bill found himself transporting cargo to support US troops in Vietnam. Merchant marine ships are unarmed. Bill recalls unloading the last of his many tons of ammunition in Da Nang during one trip to Vietnam when the ship and dock came under mortar attack. Fortunately, the dock took most of the damage; Bill escaped unharmed and the ship sustained minimal damage from shrapnel. He also gained expertise in regional supply and logistics with onshore duty in Saigon during this time. Captain Doherty moved to the Navy Reserve in 1970, where he served aboard two destroyers, the USS Compton and the USS Harlan R. Dickson. In 1972 he transitioned to dry cargo ships before developing a high level of expertise in commanding oil tankers. In 1984 he was assigned to the office of the Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon, focusing on supply and logistics. From 1986 through 1987, he commanded the US Navy ship Harkness, in the waters off Somalia conducting hydrographic research. It remains the most challenging command he has ever had in his almost sixty years at sea. Captain Doherty carried two Somalian Liaison Officers aboard to interpret and communicate with the local Somalians. Bill would accompany his Somalian Liaison officers ashore, often transferring supplies to camels to move supplies inland. In 1987 through 1988 he commanded two US Navy ships, the Cappella and the Antares, both were Military Sealift Command, Attack, Cargo, Roll on Roll off ships. The Cold War was in full force during this time and Captain Doherty supported the annual Return of Forces to Germany exercises. These vessels were the largest (1000 feet length overall) and fastest Attack Transports in the Navy, able to transport more than 700 Army vehicles including tanks, trucks and helicopters. In 1988, Captain Doherty commanded the largest ship in the world, an oil tanker named the Massachusetts. In 1990, Captain Doherty was recalled to Active Duty during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He served as the Head of Maritime Affairs for the Chief of Naval Operations for Strategic Sealift at the Pentagon. His duties included coordinating Gulf War Sealift. He coordinated operational and sealift requirements with the US Maritime Administration and Armed Forces Joint Logistics Command and Shipping Companies. From 1996-2001, he served as Executive Director of the Mariners House in Boston, a non-sectarian seafarers’ benevolent charity. The charity’s services include housing and meals at the Mariners’ house, as well as grants, scholarships, and social work. While there, he served as a project manager for a multi-million dollar renovation to the Mariners House. In 2001 he was offered Command of the US Navy Ship Mendonca for her maiden voyage to Pearl Harbor, Korea, and Japan. The ship was named in honor of US Army Sgt. Leroy Mendonca, who earned the Medal of Honor, posthumously, for his heroic actions in Korea on July 4, 1951. Ironically and coincidentally, Bill was commanding that ship on July 4, 2001, in Pusan, Korea, in sight of the hill Sgt. Mendonca gave his life on, exactly fifty years to the day. To honor Sgt Mendonca, Captain Doherty flew his battle flag, the largest American flag he had. He presented that flag to Sgt Mendonca’s sister upon his return to San Diego, the same sister who had christened the ship. During that cruise, Bill also took the time to meet with another one of Mendonca’s sisters at Pearl Harbor. Captain Doherty holds a US Coast Guard license with all of the following qualifications: MASTER, Steam and Motor Vessels, no limits any gross ton, worldwide Oceans, First Class Pilot License, Prince William Sound, Valdez, Alaska, Radar Observer, standards of training certification and watch keeping, medical person in charge, Dangerous Liquid Cargo, Tankerman, global maritime distress, and safety system license. Approaching age 80, Bill continues to work as a mariner, keeping sea transport safe and operational worldwide. For now, we are fortunate to have this Barnstable resident, on shore, here with us tonight.

 

President Tamash asked all to remain standing for a Moment of Silence in honor of Kenneth Jones who was a retired Hyannis Firefighter who served from 1982 through 2003 and was the father of Town of Barnstable Highway Division Supervisor Sean Jones and Barnstable Police Sergeant Brian Jones. He was currently employed by Doane Beal & Ames and was working a funeral on Nantucket this morning when he suffered a medical emergency and passed away. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Jones Family at this difficult time.

 

Town Council President Tamash recognized our two Barnstable Silver Bullets Football Champions! Congratulations to both teams on their great achievements!

 

D7 Mites Super Bowl Champions

Coaches: Head Coach – Keith McCullough; Assistant Coaches – Myles Daley, Steve Fernandes, Jason Murphy, and  Aaron Fliegel

Players: Cyrus Encarnacion Urena, Jayden Hamelburg, Elliot Gomes, Angelo McCullough, Stanley Joseph, Darkiel Marichal, Naomhan Wing, Syair Chisholm, Aiden Cary, Matthew Pereira, Joshua Murphy, Luke Crevier, Charles Medeiros, Sailor Fernandes, Grayson Barnaby, Hudson Daley, Will Clark, Sam Clark, Benjamin Buckley, Benjamin Ribeiro, Jax Lubash, Bishop Nunes, Joshua Roundtree, and Kyle Campbell.

 

D7 Peewee Super Bowl Champions

Coaches: Head Coach – David Downs; Assistant Coaches – Jack Jatkola, Rob Pierce, Pete Monteiro, Brian Burnie, – Jim Ford, and Doug Mullen

Players: Yadhil Rosa, Daniel Pereira, Jamar Flemmings, Martin Farquharson, Bryan McCorkle, Kayden Barnaby, Davi Miranda, Vinicius Brizola, Myles Woodson, Jeffrey Mohler, Emerson Campanini, Lucas Correia, Tyler Daley,

Ismail Almasroori, Steven Carty, Declan Farrell, Adoniah Lawrence, Camden Rescigno, Leavon Brooks, Warren Incles, Grayson Montgomery, Andrew Moseley, Zan Moseley, Tyreek Taylor, Benjamin Titus, Kymanni Docanto Geraghty, Gino DeFazio, Austin Morin, Tyrell Roundtree, Ashnel Gardener, Ryan Bosse, Shamus Kelly, Deacon Grushey, Taylor Mullen, Maxwell Barrett, Matthew Narvaez, Chase Pierson, Kendrick Jorge, Levi Boyar, and Izaiah Owens.

 

Recognition of Inside Barnstable Town Government
Sue French, Meg Loughran, Arthur Caiado, and Deb Brunelle

Town Manager Mark Ells recognized the contributions of Sue French, Meg Loughran, Arthur Caiado, and Debra Brunelle for their efforts with Inside Barnstable Town Government: Citizens Leadership Academy. The inaugural session kicked off in 2003. There have been 29 sessions of the Citizens Leadership Academy and over six sessions of an Employee Leadership Academy, which is an internal program developed in response to the popularity of the Citizens Leadership Academy, sharing the inner workings of town departments and introducing them to the people who get the work done. To date over 1,000 people have participated. While Sue, Meg, Arthur, and Debra have retired from the program, their efforts carry on through new program facilitators Miriam Loiselle and Lauretta Pfeifer. The 30th session begins in January 2026.

 

President Tamash announced that Councilor Felicia Penn is participating remotely this evening and all votes will be via Roll Call.

 

Next was Public Comment which was followed by Council Response to Public Comment.

 

JOINT MEETING WITH SCHOOL COMMITTEE

 

School Committee Meeting – Call to Order and Roll Call

 

Joint meeting of the Town Council and School Committee to review the financial condition of the town, revenue and expenditure forecasts and other relevant information in order to develop a coordinated budget.

Finance Director Mark Milne presented the Financial Condition of the Town.

 

Adjournment of School Committee Meeting

 

President Tamash announced that Town Manager Communications for the period of November 19 – December 2, 2025 had been pre-recorded and was shown on our Government Access Channel prior to the meeting. The recorded version of Mr. Ells’s Town Manager Communications may be viewed here and the itemized list is shared below:

  1. The Town Manager in coordination with the Finance Department continues to follow the budget action calendar for FY 2027 operating and capital budgets.  Town Council is scheduled to conduct a joint meeting with the School Committee on December 4, 2025, in accordance with the Town Charter to review financial conditions and financial policies of the Town. As a reminder the Town Manager Calendar Year Fee Hearing was held on November 13, 2025. The proposed fees have been taken under advisement for 30 days during which time additional public comments will be accepted for consideration. Deadline for Public Comments is 4:00 PM on Monday, December 15, 2025. For information on our fiscal year budgets, please view the Town’s Open Budget website at http://budget.townofbarnstable.us.
  2. The Finance Department presented the FY 2026 tax levy shifting options at the November 6, 2025 Town Council meeting. The objective of the presentation was to illustrate the impact on tax bills when deciding on a minimum residential factor, commonly referred to as splitting the tax rate, and the adoption of a residential exemption. Property values have been approved by the Department of Revenue allowing the Town Council to vote on these two options. The two votes are scheduled on the December 4th agenda for Town Council action.
  3. On November 18, 2025, I reported that the Town had received a copy of a report submitted to Town Council regarding a Save Greater Dowses Beach EMF monitoring project. The report is under review by staff. The report was sent to Vineyard Wind and Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Rebecca Tepper for review and appropriate action. Additionally, I sent a communication to Secretary Tepper and the Energy Facilities Siting Board regarding the report and prior request for action relevant to the safety and compliance of the Vineyard Wind project (attached). We will keep you advised of any additional information resulting from the referenced report.
  4. A reminder that the Barnstable Youth Commission is hosting its 12th Annual Community Substance Abuse Prevention Forum on Wednesday, December 3rd at the Barnstable Adult Community Center from 6:00-8:00 PM. Topics will include teaching parents how to effectively communicate with their children, vaping and tobacco use,  and the Barnstable Police Department will have its “Hidden in Plain Sight” mobile mock bedroom available. They will also discuss which drugs and alcohol are most prevalent and ways to identity their use and concealment. All are welcome to attend and thank you Barnstable Youth Commission.

 

President Tamash announced that today we received notice that the Housing Production Plan has been approved.

 

Act on Public Session Minutes: November 20, 2025

 

COMMUNICATIONS – from elected officials, boards, committees, and staff, commission reports, correspondence and announcements

 

 

 

ORDERS OF THE DAY

 

OLD BUSINESS

AGENDA ITEM 2026-050 Allocation of Tax Levy Fiscal Year 2026 – Tax Factor.
Presented by Finance Director Mark Milne. Assessing Director John Curran was on hand. The item was approved.

Mr. Milne’s presentation may be viewed here.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2026-051 Allocation of Tax Levy Fiscal Year 2026 – Residential Exemption.

Presented by Finance Director Mark Milne. Assessing Director John Curran was also on hand.

Motion to amend to increase Residential Exemption to 30%. The item was approved as amended.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2026-058 Appropriation Order in the amount of $721,935 and borrowing authorization reduction for the Hyannis Golf Course Club House Restoration Project.

Presented by David Anthony, Director of Risk and Asset Management. The item was approved.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2026-059 Appropriation Order in the amount of $1,000,000 to complete the Culinary Kitchen Project at Barnstable High School.

Presented by Barnstable Public Schools (BPS) Superintendent Sara Ahern. The item was approved.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2026-060 Appropriation Order in the amount of $200,000 for the purpose of funding a shortfall in the Insurance Premium and Deductible Budget for Fiscal Year 2026.

Presented by Finance Director Mark Milne. The item was approved.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2026-061 Appropriation Order in the amount of $400,000 for the purpose of funding outside counsel expenses of the Legal Department.

Presented by Town Attorney Karen Nober. The item was approved.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2026-062 Order authorizing and approving a Conservation Restriction to be granted by the Town to Barnstable Land Trust, Inc. upon 1.05± acres of property at 71 Harju Road in Centerville.

Presented by Lindsey Counsell, Chair of the Community Committee, and Barnstable Land Trust Executive Director Janet Milkman. The item was approved.

The PowerPoint for this item and 2026-063 may be viewed here.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2026-063 Order Authorizing and approving a Conservation Restriction to be granted by the Town to Barnstable Land Trust, Inc. upon 2.57± acres of property at 111 Prince Avenue in Marstons Mills.

Presented by Lindsey Counsell, Chair of the Community Committee, and Barnstable Land Trust Executive Director Janet Milkman. The item was approved.

 

NEW BUSINESS

AGENDA ITEM 2026-065 Authorization to contract for and expend a Fiscal Year 2026 911 Department Support and Incentive Grant in the amount of $270,026 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Public Safety and Security for the Barnstable Police Department personnel expenses.

Presented by Barnstable Police Chief Jean Challies. The item was approved.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2026-066 Authorization to contract for and expend a Fiscal Year 2026 Municipal Road Safety Grant in the amount of $64,699.53 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Public Safety and Security for traffic enforcement, equipment and driver education.

Presented by Barnstable Police Chief Jean Challies. The item was approved.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2026-067 Authorization to contract for and expend a Fiscal Year 2026 State 911 Department Emergency Medical Dispatch Grant in the amount of $21,202.50 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Public Safety and Security for the purpose of funding emergency dispatch expenses in the Barnstable Police Department.

Presented by Barnstable Police Chief Jean Challies. The item was approved.

 

MOTION to move AGENDA ITEMS 2026-068 Appropriation and Loan Order in the amount of $350,000 for a feasibility study and schematic design for the Roof Replacement Project at Barnstable High School and AGENDA ITEM 2026-069 Appropriation and Loan Order in the amount of $350,000 for a feasibility study and schematic design for the Roof Replacement Project at Barnstable Intermediate School to individual Public Hearings on 12/11/2025.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2026-070 Resolve appointing Paula Hersey to the Regional District School Committee for the Cape Cod Regional Technical High School District was referred to a Second Reading on 12/11/2025.

 

President Tamash turned the meeting over to Assistant Town Clerk Janet Murphy for
TOWN COUNCIL NOMINATIONS OF 2026 OFFICERS

  • President: Craig Tamash
  • Vice President: Kris Clark

Since there were no opposing candidates, the Town Council voted to suspend the rules. Both candidates were elected.

 

The next regularly scheduled Town Council Meeting will be held on Thursday, December 11, 2025. The public is able to view through Xfinity High-Definition Channel 1072 (or Xfinity Channel 8 or 1070) or Live Streaming on the Town of Barnstable’s website. Viewers can now watch BGA programming through our dedicated app available on both Apple and Android smartphones, as well as popular streaming platforms including Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire Stick. Real-time public comment may be addressed to the Barnstable Town Council utilizing the Zoom video link or telephone number and access meeting code which will be included on the Agenda. Written Comments may be submitted to:  https://tobweb.town.barnstable.ma.us/boardscommittees/towncouncil/Town_Council/Agenda-Comment.asp. The meeting Agenda will be available on the Town of Barnstable’s website (www.townofbarnstable.us).