The January 29, 2026 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. President Tamash announced that Councilor Felicia Penn is participating remotely this evening and all votes will be via Roll Call. Assistant Town Clerk Janet Murphy took the Roll Call.
Town Councilor Betty Ludtke welcomed Petty Officer Second Class Laura Russo to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Petty Officer Second Class Russo was born and raised in Staunton, Illinois, a rural community 50 miles south of Springfield. The youngest of seven children, she grew up in a close-knit family with four sisters and two brothers. Her father was a farmer and her mother a homemaker, shaping early values of hard work, service, and resilience. Laura earned a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Exercise Science and Education from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She served five years in the United States Navy as an Undersea Surveillance Analyst, completing two tours in Keflavík, Iceland, and attaining the rank of Petty Officer Second Class (E-5). During her military service, she also competed as a member of the Northern European Basketball Team. Throughout her career, Laura has remained committed to the human services field, supporting underserved communities across diverse settings — from small rural towns to Skid Row in Los Angeles. Her leadership experience includes serving as Senior Manager for the Every Woman Housed program, and she currently works with Catholic Charities as the Director of St. Joseph’s Shelter in Hyannis, Massachusetts. A lifelong athlete, Laura has been active in sports since high school and college. Her enduring passion is running; she has completed 32 marathons and several ultra-distance races, reflecting the endurance, discipline, and perseverance that define both her personal and professional life.
President Tamash asked all to remain standing for a Moment of Silence for all who serve our country and those near and dear to you.
Next was Public Comment which was followed by Council Response to Public Comment.
Town Councilor Lisa DaLuz left the dais.
President Tamash announced that Town Manager Communications for the period of January 7 through January 27, 2026 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:
- Provided a brief update about the weekend’s winter storm.
- The Town Manager, in coordination with the Finance Department, continues to follow the budget action calendar for FY 2027. Town Council is planning to conduct a second workshop on Fiscal Policy and Revenue Strategy at their February 26, 2026, meeting. For information on our fiscal year budgets, please view the Town’s Open Budget website at http://budget.townofbarnstable.us.
- On behalf of the Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund (CCIWPF) Management Board and as the Vice Chair of the Board, I am pleased to share the attached 2025 CCIWPF Annual Report. This report has been prepared for the Chairs of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and the Cape Cod and Islands Legislative Delegation, pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 29C, Section 20. The Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund was established in 2018 to help Cape Cod and Islands towns pay for necessary wastewater infrastructure and water quality remediation projects. The annual report summarizes fund revenue and revenue projections, as well as actions taken by the Management Board to award subsidies for wastewater and water quality projects on Cape Cod.
- I attended the Massachusetts Municipal Association Annual meeting on January 23, 2026. There were many topics discussed including the use of AI in providing municipal services, housing challenges facing the Commonwealth, and fiscal management strategies. I am providing a link https://www.mma.org/new-report-from-mma-documents-a-fiscal-crisis-in-cities-towns/ to an article provide by MMA last fall that was consistently referenced in discussions at the event relevant to cities and towns in Massachusetts.
- On January 8, 2026, I hosted the Cape Cod Managers at Town Hall for a presentation by Luisa Paiewonsky, Executive Director, Megaprojects Delivery Office, Massachusetts Department of Transportation. MassDOT provided an update of the project status of the Sagamore and Bourne Bridge projects. The presentation is attached for the project for your review. Ms. Paiewonsky plans to visit Town Council soon for a similar update.
- On January 13, 2026, I met with staff from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEOEA) regarding prior correspondence I had sent to them requesting and updated safety and compliance report for the Vineyard Wind cables in Barnstable. I also have shared reports provided to the Town by Save Greater Dowses Beach expressing concern about safety. EEOEA is preparing a response regarding my request. I will share the response upon receipt.
Kelly Collopy, Communications Manager for the Public Works Department, provided an update on Water Resources Management planning, including the Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan that was recorded separately. The recording may be viewed here. The PowerPoint may be viewed here.
Town Manager Ells responded to Councilor questions.
Act on Public Session Minutes: January 8, 2026
COMMUNICATIONS – from elected officials, boards, committees, and staff, commission reports, correspondence and announcements
Opioid Settlement Funds Grant Recipients
Atlantic Hill Nursing and Wellness
Carole Arena Maloney, RN, Co-Founder/President
Denise Hartley, Co-Founder/Treasurer
Kerrin Maloney, Co-Founder/Secretary
Neighborhood Naloxone Rescue Project
Brazilian Resource Center
Michael Mecenas, Founder/President
Community Connection Program
Councilor DaLuz returned to the dais.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
OLD BUSINESS
Town Council President Craig Tamash and Councilor Matthew Levesque recused themselves for Agenda Item 2026-081. Town Council Vice President Kris Clark took over running the meeting.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-081 Vote on the Merits of a Group Petition Requesting That the Town Change the Division of Costs of Group Insurance Premiums for Retirees to 30% to be Paid by the Retirees and 70% to be Paid by the Town, Commencing in Fiscal Year 2027.
Presented by Karen Nober, Town Attorney. Patti Machado, a Town of Barnstable retiree, presented some history on behalf of the petitioners. The Council voted that the Group Petition has merit.
The individual Public Hearings for AGENDA ITEMS 2026-003, 2026-005, 2026-006, and 2026-007 were opened and continued to the February 12, 2026 Town Council Meeting.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-003 Amending the Code of the Town of Barnstable, Part I General Ordinances, Chapter 240 Zoning, Article III Section 24.1.5(c) Table 2, to modify the required parking for residential or artist live/work (per du), modify the calculation for minimum parking spaces, and establish minimum dimensional standards for parking spaces; AGENDA ITEM 2026-005 Amending the Code of the Town of Barnstable, Part I General Ordinances, Chapter 240 Zoning, Article III District Regulations, to modify building height requirements in the Downtown Main Street District and Downtown Village District;
AGENDA ITEM 2026-006 Amending the code of the Town of Barnstable, Part I General Ordinances, Chapter 240 Zoning to repeal the Downtown Village District and amend the zoning map to replace the Downtown Village District with the downtown neighborhood zoning district; and AGENDA ITEM 2026-007 Amending the Code of the Town of Barnstable, Part I General Ordinances, Chapter 240 Zoning to amend the area in the Downtown Main Street District where ground floor commercial space is required.
Motion to withdraw AGENDA ITEMS 2026-008 Amending the Code of the Town of Barnstable, Part I General Ordinances, Chapter 240 Zoning, Article V Accessory Uses, by repealing and replacing Section 240-46, Home Occupation with a new Section 240-46 Home Occupation that adds definitions, licensing requirements and makes certain other revisions 2026-012 Amending the Code of the Town of Barnstable, Part I General Ordinances, Chapter 240 and Zoning Article V Accessory Uses, by repealing Section 240-45 Off-street storage of trailers and replacing with a new section 240-45 Off-street parking and storage of commercial vehicles, trailers and mobile homes and referred to the Standing Zoning and Regulatory Committee of the Town Council.
NEW BUSINESS
AGENDA ITEM 2026-082 Approval of the Appointments to the Appointments Committee.
The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-083 Authorization to contract for and expend a Fiscal Year 2026 Cultural District Investment Grant in the amount of $15,000 from the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Cultural District Investment Grant Program for the Hyannis HyArts Cultural District.
Presented by Jim Kupfer, Planning & Development Director. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-084 Authorization to contract for and expend a Fiscal Year 2026 Cultural District Investment Grant in the amount of $15,000 from the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Cultural District Investment Grant Program for the Barnstable Village Cultural District.
Presented by Jim Kupfer, Planning & Development Director. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-085 Resolve establishing a gift account for the Shellfish Program.
Presented by Derek Lawson, Marine & Environmental Affairs Director. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-086 Authorization to expend a Fiscal Year 2026 Grant in the amount of $10,000 from Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands, Inc. to support the expansion of the transportation program offered through the Barnstable Adult Community Center.
Presented by Chris Gonnella, Community Services Director, and Kelly Howley, Barnstable Adult Community Center Director. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-087 Authorizing the grant of an easement for gas facilities on Town-owned land at 790 Iyannough Road in Hyannis and AGENDA ITEM 2026-089 Order approving amendments to the Town Council Rules were referred to a Second Reading on 02/12/2026.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-088 Approval of the Appointments to the Zoning and Regulatory Committee.
The item was approved.
Town Councilors William Crocker and Matthew Levesque recused themselves from the Executive Session.
The Town CounciI voted to go into executive session pursuant to G.L. c. 30A, sec. 21(a)(6) to consider the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property, specifically, the property located at 0, 167 and 177 Pleasant Street in Hyannis, since a discussion in open session may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the Town and Town Council. The Town Council will not return to public session after the executive session.
The next regularly scheduled Town Council Meeting will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2026. 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).
