The June 26, 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. Town Clerk Ann Quirk took the Roll Call. Councilors Felicia Penn and Gordon Starr have joined the meeting via Zoom and that all votes will be by roll call.
Town Councilor Betty Ludtke welcomed Tom Furey to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Tom Furey graduated from the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina in 1977. He was first assigned to Head Quarters, Marine Corps Operations where he worked as an administrator. For his next assignment, he worked as a security non-commissioned officer, assigned to the Office of The Joint Chiefs of Staff. Tom was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 1980. Following his discharge he moved to the Cape and attended Cape Cod Community College. Tom is currently employed as a Compliance / Fraud Analyst Consultant in the Financial Services field and is a Volunteer Photographer for the Cape & Islands Veteran Outreach Center; and the Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts. He most recently volunteered his time to photograph the USS Constitution’s turn around cruise honoring D Day & United States Marine Corps’ 250th Birthday. Tom’s two sons are veterans. Charles, a graduate of Barnstable High School is a Combat Engineer with the Vermont National Guard; and Liam, a graduate of Sturgis West, is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point.
President Tamash asked all to remain standing for a Moment of Silence which is dedicated to Rick Presbrey who recently chaired the Town Council Ad Hoc Subcommittee to Assess and Recommend Strategies for Housing Creation in Town. Town Councilor Paula Schnepp shared that “Rick was a force to be reckoned with in terms of providing housing to so many of us in our community across the entire Cape Cod, but he was also an incredibly invaluable member of the Marstons Mills Village. He and his family moved to Marstons Mills about 20 years ago, and he jumped into whatever needed to get done and especially after he retired from his long career at Housing Assistance Corporation, he doubled down. He became a very active member of the Marstons Mills Village Association, he became a member of our board, participated in all of our fundraising events and he got very involved with the Marstons Mills Historical Society just recently taking on the presidency. He also served on the Marstons Mills scholarship committee. You can tell he is going to leave a very large hole in our Village.”
Next was Public Comment which was followed by Council Response to Public Comment.
President Tamash announced that written comment is always welcome, and the Town Council received a number of emails on a variety of issues and that those emails were shared with the full Council.
President Tamash announced that Town Manager Communications for the period of June 4 – June 24, 2025 had been pre-recorded by Town Manager Mark Ells 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 Council has commenced public hearings on the proposed FY 2026 Operating Budget that shall continue on June 26, 2025. The proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget is available on the Town’s website and printed copies have been provided to Town Council. For information on our fiscal year budgets, please view the Town’s Open Budget website at http://budget.townofbarnstable.us.
2. Preliminary tax bills for Fiscal Year 2026 will be mailed out at the end of June. Due dates for the first and second bill are August 1, 2025, and November 3, 2025. The Town’s Lockbox provider for the processing of the Town’s tax payments has changed their mailing address. An insert will be provided with the tax bills informing taxpayers of the new address to mail payments.
3. With tax title reform taking effect on November 1, 2024, one of the significant changes was the issuance of demand bills. Demand bills fall under MGL chapter 60 section 16 and are in place to incentivize payment of past due bills. It also reduces the burden of interest accruals of 14% for past due real estate taxes with prompt payment. The Town’s current demand fee is $15 and is in line with many other communities. The new legislation requires demand bills to go out with an insert (see attached) that provides taxpayers with the notice of demand in addition to the bill. The notice is in the seven (7) most common languages in the state and provides high-level guidance to pay the bill(s) and is required as part of the “tax taking” process. Both the Assessor’s and Tax offices are aware of these changes and will work with residents and taxpayers if there are questions.
4. The Town has received an initial payment from 3M Company for the PFAS settlement in the amount of $763,378.89. These funds cannot be expended without appropriation. We are proposing to appropriate these funds to offset the additional funding for the new Straightway Water Facility requested under Town Council order 2025-194.
5. The Recreation Division has processed over twenty thousand Resident Parking Permits to date. We are currently up to date with applications and encourage all residents to apply as soon as they can to avoid potential delays. Beach Parking Permit Applications can be filled out: online, mailed in, or dropped off at the Hyannis Youth and Community Center, 141 Bassett Lane, Hyannis. If you need assistance, please contact the Parking Permit Hotline at 508-790-6345 x145.
6. On Saturday, June 21st, Town of Barnstable beaches, ponds, and lakes officially opened for the season and will be operational seven days a week through Labor Day. All beaches will be open daily from 9AM through 9PM. Similar to last season, we are experiencing significant lifeguard shortages again this summer, which will impact our ability to have lifeguard coverage at all 13 locations. Currently, we have full staff, including lifeguards, at the following beaches: Craigville Beach, Dowses Beach, Covell’s Beach, Kalmus Beach, Veteran’s Beach, Loop’s Beach and Sandy Neck. To assist the public with their plans, we will continue to communicate our staffing operations via the MyBarnstable app as needed. Ensuring public safety is our top priority. Please be advised some sites may not have lifeguard coverage and swimmers will do so at their own risk.
7. The quarterly meeting of the Cape & Islands Bridges Coalition was held on June 3, 2025. A link to the full meeting slide deck and several action items can be found below. a. Meeting slides: CIBC Quarterly Meeting Presentation – June 3 2025.pdf
b. Earmark Support: The Chamber has successfully secured an earmark in the Senate budget to support the CIBC’s work. The Chamber has requested that all members consider sending a letter of support to the Conference Committee, as they evaluate which earmarks/amendments to retain in the state’s final budget
c. Utilities Public Comment: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is accepting public comment on the bridges-related utilities relocation work. To subscribe to updates on the project, or to submit a comment, visit FERC’s online portal here and enter docket number PF25-4-000 for the Cape Cod Canal Pipeline Relocation project. You can also find instructions on how to submit a comment here.
d. Transportation Management Association Sessions: The Cape Cod Commission plans to host stakeholder group meetings to discuss the possible formation of a Transportation Management Association.
8. The Affordable Housing Growth and Development Trust Fund Board has a vacancy on the five-member committee. The positions that serve are: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Finance Director, a citizen representing Housing, and a citizen representing Economic Development. The Economic Development representative is currently vacant. This is a Town Manager Appointment but is ratified by the Town Council. People interested in the position should send a letter of interest and their resume to the Town Manager’s office.
9. Kate Maldonado, Senior Planner for Planning & Development, will provide an update on Flow Neutral and the Local Comprehensive Plan.
Flow Neutral
On Thursday, June 26, the Town Council will have on the agenda for a first read a proposed amendment to the Town Code, which would amend Chapter 184 (Sewers and Water) to add a new article that would establish a land use control for flow neutral wastewater management in coordination with the Town’s 30-year Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CWMP). The objective of the amendment is to allow the Town to be eligible for a loan of financial assistance from the State Revolving Fund (SRF) with a more favorable interest rate equal to zero percent for eligible sewer projects. Establishing the land use control would allow the Town to be eligible for loans and financial assistance for water pollution abatement projects to remediate or prevent nutrient enrichment of a surface water body or a source of water supply to comply with effluent limitations or to comply with an EPA-approved Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). The goal of the land use control is to demonstrate that overall wastewater flow in the sewered watershed will not increase as a result of the project for which a zero rate of interest is sought. The proposed ordinance was reviewed by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
Local Comprehensive Plan
Additionally, on Thursday, June 26, the Local Comprehensive Planning Committee will present the Draft Local Comprehensive Plan (LCP) to the Town Council for a first read. The Local Comprehensive Plan is a long-term vision and growth policy that will guide Barnstable’s future over the next ten years with topic and location specific goals and actions. The LCP was coordinated through a collaborative public process that identified a community vision, defined key issues and opportunities and developed actionable actions. The draft Plan is accessible for review from the project website BarnstableLCP.com via the Document Library tab.
10. Kelly Collopy, Department of Public Works Communications Manager, will provide an update on Water Resources including the Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan. Ms. Collopy’s PowerPoint may be viewed here.
Town Councilors asked questions of Town Manager Mark Ells and Finance Director Mark Milne.
Act on Public Session Minutes: May 15, 2025, June 5, 2025
Orders of the Day.
President Tamash took an item out of order.
AGENDA ITEM 2025-200 Resolve authorizing Meacham-Crawford Scholarship awards to Town of Barnstable Seniors from the Meachem-Crawford Scholarship fund for the purpose of their post-secondary education.
Paloma Savinon – $10,000
Jack Bertling – $10,000
Cole Raposo – $10,000
Harry Clark – $10,000
Presented by Town Manager Mark Ells. The item was approved.
OLD BUSINESS
The PowerPoint presentation for Agenda Items 2025-168 through 2025-180 may be viewed as part of the full budget presentation here.
AGENDA ITEM 2025-168 Appropriation Order in the amount of $12,264,116 for the purpose of funding the Town’s Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Public Works General Fund.
Presented by Finance Director Mark Milne and DPW Director Dan Santos. The item was approved.
Also in attendance for the DPW were Assistant DPW Director Rob Steen, Town Engineer Griffin Beaudoin, Highway Division Supervisor Sean Jones, Structures & Grounds Division Supervisor P.J. Kelliher, and DPW Communications Manager Kelly Collopy.
AGENDA ITEM 2025-169 Appropriation Order in the amount of $4,434,258 for the purpose of funding the Town’s Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Public Works Solid Waste Enterprise Fund Budget.
Presented by Finance Director Mark Milne, DPW Director Dan Santos, and Solid Waste Division Supervisor Tracy Regazio. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2025-170 Appropriation Order in the amount of $11,519,790 for the purpose of funding the Town’s Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Public Works Water Pollution Control Enterprise Fund Budget.
Presented by Finance Director Mark Milne, DPW Director Dan Santos, and Water Pollution Control Division Supervisor Andrew Boule. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2025-171 Appropriation Order in the amount of $9,553,729 for the purpose of funding the Town’s Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Public Works Water Supply Enterprise Fund Budget.
Presented by Finance Director Mark Milne, DPW Director Dan Santos, and Water Supply Division Supervisor Hans Keijser. The item was approved.
President Tamash invoked the Rule of the Necessity as all of the Town Councilors have a financial interest in Agenda Item 2025-172. AGENDA ITEM 2025-172 Appropriation Order in the amount of $269,870 for the purpose of funding the Town’s Fiscal Year 2026 Town Council Budget.
Presented by Finance Director Mark Milne. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2025-173 Appropriation Order in the amount of $1,400,109 for the purpose of funding the Town’s Fiscal Year 2026 Town Manager Budget.
Presented by Finance Director Mark Milne and Town Manager Mark Ells. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2025-174 Appropriation Order in the amount of $981,237 for the purpose of funding the Town’s Fiscal Year 2026 Public, Education & Government (PEG) Access Channels Enterprise Fund Budget.
Presented by Finance Director Mark Milne and Communications Director Lynne Poyant. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2025-175 Appropriation Order in the amount of $8,727,744 for the purpose of funding the Town’s Fiscal Year 2026 Administrative Services Department Budget.
Presented by Finance Director Mark Milne, Town Attorney Karen Nober, Human Resources Director Bill Cole, and Information Technology Director Jim Benoit. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2025-176 Appropriation Order in the amount of $250,000 for the purpose of funding the Town Council’s Fiscal Year 2026 Reserve Fund.
Presented by Finance Director Mark Milne. The item was approved.
Vice President Kris Clark invoked the Rule of Necessity as Councilors Crow, Levesque, Mendes, Neary, and Tamash have a financial interest in Agenda Item 2025-177. AGENDA ITEM 2025-177 Appropriation Order in the amount of $59,717,232 for the purpose of funding the Town’s Fiscal Year 2026 Other Requirements Budget.
Presented by Finance Director Mark Milne. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2025-178 Appropriation Order in the amount of $5,299,662 for the Community Preservation Fund Program set-asides and administrative expenses.
Presented by Finance Director Mark Milne. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2025-179 Appropriation Order in the amount of $91,340 for the purpose of paying the Fiscal Year 2026 Community Preservation Fund Debt Service Requirement.
Presented by Finance Director Mark Milne. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2025-180 Fiscal Year 2026 Spending Limitations: Senior Services Classroom Education Fund – $100,000; Recreation Program Fund – $325,000; Shellfish Propagation Fund – $200,000; Consumer Protection Fund – $600,000; Geographical Information Technology Fund – $10,000; Arts and Culture Program Fund – $50,000; Asset Management Fund – $500,000.
Presented by Finance Director Mark Milne. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2025-188 Appropriation Order in the amount of $1,000,000 for the purpose of funding the Sandy Neck Beach Facility Coastal Resiliency Project.
Presented by Finance Director Mark Milne. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2025-190 Appropriation Order in the amount of $583,241 and reduction in borrowing authorization for the Hyannis Golf Course Club House Restoration Project.
Presented by Finance Director Mark Milne and Asset Management Director David Anthony. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2025-192 Appointments to a Board/Committee/Commission: Open Space Committee: David Gorrill, as a regular member, to a term expiring 06/30/2027. Youth Commission: Jillian Boyle, as a student member, to a term expiring 06/30/2026; Amelia Stoots, as a student member to a term expiring 06/30/2026; Leo Wang, as a student member to a term expiring 06/30/2027.
The item was approved.
NEW BUSINESS
Consent Agenda to move Agenda Items 2025-193, 2025-194, 2025-195, 2025-198, 2025-201, and 2025-202 to individual Public Hearings on 07/17/2025 was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2025-193 Amending the Code of the Town of Barnstable, Part I General Ordinances, Chapter 184 Sewers and Water by adding a new Article V establishing a Land Use Control for Flow Neutral Wastewater Management; AGENDA ITEM 2025-194 Appropriation and Loan Order in the amount of $11,500,000 for the
purpose of funding the Straightway Water Treatment Facility Project; AGENDA ITEM 2025-195 Authorizing the Town Manager to execute a Development Agreement by and among the Town of Barnstable, Shoestring Properties, LLC, located at 110 and 115 School Street, Main Street Times, LLC, located at 319 and 331 Main Street, and 259 North Street LLC, located at 310 Barnstable Road, Hyannis; AGENDA ITEM 2025-198 Appropriation and Transfer Order in the amount of $2,500,000 in Community Preservation Act Funds to increase the number and availability of community housing units in the Town of Barnstable; AGENDA ITEM 2025-201 Order waiving fees for construction work by the Barnstable Fire District for a new Fire Station located at 1841 Phinney’s Lane, Barnstable; and AGENDA ITEM 2025-202 Resolve approving and adopting the Town of Barnstable 2025 Local Comprehensive Plan dated June 9, 2025.
Councilor Jeffrey Mendes recused himself and left the dais for Agenda Item 2025-196.
AGENDA ITEM 2025-196 Appointments to a Board/Committee/Commission: Council on Aging: Christine Beer from an associate position to a full member position to a term expiring 06/30/2028, Stephanie Parish, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Comprehensive Financial Advisory Committee: Frank Ward, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2027; Historical Commission: Barbara Cuggino DeBiase as the Historical Commission Representative member to the Community Preservation Committee to a term expiring 06/30/2028 was referred to a Second Reading on 07/17/2025.
Councilor Mendes returned to the dais.
AGENDA ITEM 2025-197 Reappointments to a Board/Committee/Commission: Airport Commission: Bradley Bailey, as a regular member term expiring 06/30/2028; Mark Guiod, as a regular member, to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Board of Health: Donald Guadagnoli, MD, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Steven Waller, MD, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Community Preservation Committee: Steven Robichaud, as a Planning Board representative member, to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Farley Lewis, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Comprehensive Financial Advisory Board: Lillian Woo, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Charistopher Lauzon, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Disability Commission: Patricia Ericson-Taylor, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Golf Committee: Mark Bushway, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Susanne Conley, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Geoffrey Converse, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; William Sylva, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Historical Commission: Jack Kay, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Housing Committee: Eileen Elias, as an alternate member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Chris Beach, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Infrastructure and Energy Committee: Jane Ward, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Barry Sheingold, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; John F. Kennedy Memorial Trust Fund Committee: William Murphy, as a Recreation Commission representative member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Wendy Northcross, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Licensing Authority: John Flores, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Jessica Sylver, as an associate member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Sandy Neck Board: William Monroe, as a member at large, to a term expiring 06/30/2028; William Carey, as a member at large to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Shellfish Committee: William Cherepon, as a member at large to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Gloriann Hurwitz, as a member holding a family permit to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Waterways Committee: Jacob Angelo, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Todd Walantis, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Zoning Board of Appeals: Larry Hurwitz, as an associate member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Paul Pinard, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028 was referred to a Second Reading on 07/17/2025.
AGENDA ITEM 2025-199 Acquisition of an Affordable Housing Restriction on land located at 78 North Street in Hyannis.
Presented by Planning & Development Director Jim Kupfer. The item was approved.
Communications from elected officials, boards, committees, and staff, commission reports, correspondence and announcements. Councilors Ludtke and Clark added their memories of Rick Presbrey.
Town Council Workshop on reports submitted by:
Committee to Review and Assess Zoning and Review the Town’s Use of Regulatory Agreements
President Tamash invited Planning & Development Director Jim Kupfer to priorities and some could move forward quicker than others. President Tamash invited former Committee Chair Bob Schulte and committee members Ken Alsman and Cathy Ledec up to the table.
Committee to Assess and Recommend Strategies for Housing Creation Within the Town
The next regularly scheduled Town Council Meeting will be held on Thursday, July 17, 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).
