The January 8, 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. Town Clerk Ann Quirk took the Roll Call.
Town Councilor Betty Ludtke welcomed United States Navy Captain Leonard “Len” DiLorenzo to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. United States Navy Captain Leonard “Len” DiLorenzo grew up in Medford Mass. His father was a WWII Navy Veteran who retired with 22 years of service. His mother was a housewife. Len attended Tufts University on a Navy ROTC Scholarship and was commissioned on the USS Constitution as an Ensign in 1966. He spent two years on a Destroyer out of Newport with deployments to the Mediterranean, Persian Gulf and the West Coast of Africa. He was assigned a shore duty billet in Danang, Viet Nam for a year supporting I Corps of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.
After his year “In Country”, Len was the Assistant Officer in Charge for two years of school in Newport.
After five years of active duty, Len transitioned to the Naval Reserves as an Engineering Duty Officer and spent another 22 years in command of units supporting the maintenance and construction of ships and submarines in New England, Connecticut and Maine. He retired from the Navy in 1993 and lives in Hyannis with his wife Annmarie.
President Tamash asked all to remain standing for a Moment of Silence for all who have sacrificed for and who serve our country.
Next was Public Comment which was followed by Council Response to Public Comment.
Town Clerk Ann Quirk and Town Manager Mark Ells responded to items address in Public Comment.
President Tamash announced that Town Manager Communications for the period of December 10, 2025 – January 6, 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:
- The Town Manager, in coordination with the Finance Department, continues to follow the budget action calendar for FY 2027. Town Council is scheduled to conduct a workshop on Fiscal Policy and Revenue Strategy at their January 8, 2026 meeting. For information on our fiscal year budgets, please view the Town’s Open Budget website at http://budget.townofbarnstable.us.
- At the last Town Council meeting a question arose regarding information about the Hyannis Water Pollution Control Facility, also known as the wastewater treatment plant, located on Bearse’s Way in Hyannis. There is extensive information available on the Town website on the homepage. Click on the Barnstable Water Resources button – https://barnstablewaterresources.com/ – to locate information on the wastewater treatment plant, sewer expansion project, cyanobacteria, and many other topics. The Contact Us link at the bottom of the Water Resources page provides many ways to communicate with staff or simply call 508-790-6400.
- The Department of Public Works shall provide an overview of the Snow and Ice Program during the Communication portion of the Town Council meeting.
- The Town Clerk’s Office has identified that the Annual Census does not include household member names. Action required:
- Please write in the names of all current residents.
- Note any changes from last year and highlight them if possible.
- Sign and return the completed census to the Clerk’s Office.
Voter status remains unchanged, if you would like confirmation, contact the Clerk’s Office at 508-862-4044.
- 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 the Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEOEA) 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. I have a meeting scheduled with EEOEA staff regarding this matter next week. We will keep you advised of any additional information resulting from the referenced report.
- The Association for the Preservation of Cape Cod issued its State of the Waters Report 2025. https://capecodwaters.org/ In summary, the report states that Cape Cod’s saltwater embayment and freshwater ponds are suffering from the negative effects of too many nutrients. Declining water quality is due to pollution from septic systems, storm water runoff, and fertilizer use. The quality of our drinking water supplies remained excellent or good. I encourage everyone to review the report and ask questions of our staff on Barnstable’s Ponds and Lakes Program. The Town is looking to work with our residents to address the challenges that we see occurring in our salt, fresh, and drinking water resources. We will continue to provide updates as we progress our efforts on this matter.
- Staff continue to work on Lincoln Road upgrades and the town-wide thickly settled areas and business districts 25 MPH speed limit issue. We will keep you advised of our progress on these efforts.
Town Manager Ells and Planning & Development Director Jim Kupfer responded to Councilor questions.
President Tamash announced that Councilors Lisa DaLuz and Gordon Starr are participating remotely this evening and all votes will be via Roll Call.
Act on Public Session Minutes: December 11, 2025
COMMUNICATIONS – from elected officials, boards, committees, and staff, commission reports, correspondence and announcements
FISCAL POLICY AND REVENUE STRATEGY
Mark Ells, Town Manager, and Mark Milne, Finance Director
The PowerPoint presentation may be viewed here.
SNOW & ICE 101
Rob Steen, Assistant DPW Director; Griffin Beaudoin, Town Engineer;
Sean Jones, Highway Division Supervisor; and Kelly Collopy, DPW Communications Manager
The Snow & Ice PowerPoint presentation may be viewed here.
Town Manager Ells provided additional responses to Councilor questions.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
OLD BUSINESS
AGENDA ITEM 2026-072 Order authorizing the grant of an easement for electric facilities on Town-owned land at 367 Main Street in Hyannis.
Presented by First Assistant Town Attorney Tom LaRosa. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-074 Appropriation Order in the amount of $4,200 In Community Preservation Act Funds for the purchase and installation of 30 hiking trail signs.
Presented by Community Preservation Committee Chair Lindsey Counsell and Planning & Development Director Jim Kupfer. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-075 Order authorizing the taking of road easements by eminent domain for sewer and water purposes over certain private roads in Centerville and Hyannis known as: Angus Way, Captain Bellamy Lane, Center Lane, Conners Road, Elliott Street, Jamie Marie Way, Kitsy Lane, Li’l Lane, Longview Drive, Loomis Lane, Mark’s Path, Old Farm Road, Old Strawberry Hill Road and Richard’s Lane.
Presented by First Assistant Town Attorney Tom LaRosa. Town Engineer Griffin Beaudoin responded to Councilor questions. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-077 Appropriation Order in the amount of $48,250 for burial equipment for the Department of Public Works Cemetery Program.
Presented by DPW Director Dan Santos. The item was approved.
NEW BUSINESS
AGENDA ITEM 2026-078 Resolve to change the Precinct six (6) polling location to the Community Center at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, located at 1130 Falmouth Rd, Centerville, MA.
Presented by Town Clerk Ann Quirk. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-079 Authorization to contract for and expend a grant in the amount of $8,190 from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for the purpose of enhancing the town’s Waste Reduction Programs.
Presented by DPW Director Dan Santos. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-080 Authorization to contract for and expend a supplemental Fiscal Year 2025 Housing Choice Grant in the amount of $60,000 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities for waterline improvements on Crocker Street in Hyannis.
Presented by Planning & Development Director Jim Kupfer. The item was approved.
The next regularly scheduled Town Council Meeting will be held on Thursday, January 29, 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).
