The June 5, 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, 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. Councilors Felicia Penn and Gordon Starr have joined the meeting via Zoom and all votes will be by roll call.

 

Town Councilor Betty Ludtke welcomed Freeman K. Johnson to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Freeman K. Johnson was born in Springfield, MA, and moved to Waltham when he was five years old. He enlisted in Boston for the US Navy. He attended boot camp in Newport, Rhode Island. Once aboard the USS St. Louis, he was assigned to #1 Fire Room as a fireman. During 1940, the St. Louis surveyed Argentia when looking for a naval base that the United States could use. From there, he went to Hawaii and became part of the Pacific Fleet. On December 7, Freeman was a fireman in the #1 Boiler Room on the St. Louis. He was down in the boiler and heard the attack, but didn’t witness it. His job was to get the ship underway and out of the harbor. The USS St. Louis was the second ship out. Much of his time was spent in the Pacific. He was assigned to the Brooklyn Navy Yard and the USS Iowa. The battleship USS Iowa transported President Franklin D. Roosevelt to and from the Casablanca Conference in North Africa in December of 1943. This was part of a secret mission to deliver FDR and key advisors to a meeting with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The USS Iowa was also involved in other wartime duties, including serving as the flagship for the Third Fleet during the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay. On September 2, 1945, Freeman was on the mast of the Iowa, witnessing the surrender being signed, bringing an end to World War II. Freeman is the oldest living Pearl Harbor Survivor in the world, confirmed by the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor. A slide show in honor of Mr. Johnson may be viewed here.

 

President Tamash asked all to remain standing for a Moment of Silence which was dedicated to the Greatest Generation and all who did not make it home from World War II.

 

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.

 

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

 

President Tamash announced that Town Manager Communications for the period of May 14 – June 3, 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 will commence public hearings on the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Operating Budget on June 5, 2025. The proposed FY 2026 Operating Budget is available on the Town’s website and printed copies have been provided to Town Council. The Comprehensive Financial Advisory Committee (CFAC) submitted its review, comments, and recommendations for the proposed FY 2026 Operating Budget to the Town Manager and Town Council. The CFAC report was shared with Town Council on May 28, 2025 and a summary will be presented to the Town Council during the June 5, 2025 meeting. For information on our fiscal year budgets, please view the Town’s Open Budget website at http://budget.townofbarnstable.us.
  2. On May 21st, during their National Public Works Week Luncheon, the New England Chapter of the American Public Works Association honored the Solid Waste’s Division’s Lawrence Reney with the “First Responder Award”. Mr. Reney was recognized for the heroic action he took earlier this year at the Transfer Station and was accompanied by DPW Director Dan Santos and Solid Waste Division Supervisor Tracy Regazio.
  3. The Town of Barnstable will be hosting a ceremony Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Start of the Korean War on Wednesday, June 25th at 11:00 AM at the Korean War Memorial. Special Guests include Ambassador Kim Jae-Hui of the Republic of Korea; Craig Tamash, President, Barnstable Town Council; and Roy Thomas, Commander, Cape & Islands Chapter, Korean War Veterans Association. All are invited to attend.
  4. The next round of grant funding for Opioid Abatement Fund Grants for grants of up to $50,000 is open and the deadline for submission is June 30, 2025. Information can be found on the Town Manager’s webpage: https://townofbarnstable.us/Departments/TownManager/Opioid_Abatement_Funds/Opioid-Abatement-Funds.asp

 

  1. Kate Maldonado, Senior Planner, will provide an update on the Local Comprehensive Plan and the Downtown Hyannis Façade Grant Program.

 

Local Comprehensive Plan

On Tuesday May 20th the Local Comprehensive Planning Committee reviewed final public comments submitted for the Draft Local Comprehensive Plan and affirmatively voted to approve the Local Comprehensive Plan. As a next step, the Plan will be presented to Planning Board Monday June 9th and will then proceed to Town Council.

Downtown Hyannis Façade Grant Program

Applications for the 2025 Downtown Hyannis Façade Grant Program are now available on the Town’s BusinessBarnstable.com website through Sunday June 8th. Up to $50,000 is available in funding for properties located in the Hyannis TDI District. Eligible projects include new signage, windows, planters, painting, awnings, and siding. Funding for this program is being provided by a MassDevelopment TDI Local grant. The program is a continuation of 2023 and 2024 grant programs that provided grants to over 30 local businesses which resulted in over $600,000 in investment in the downtown Hyannis area.

 

The Council held off on the adoption of the minutes from the last meeting as there was a concern raised about some of the verbiage regarding the Accessory Dwelling Unit article and the way it was presented in the minutes so Town Attorney Karen Nober and Town Clerk Ann Quirk take a look at it and make sure it is accurate. The minutes will be voted on at the next meeting.  Act on Public Session Minutes: May 15, 2025.

 

Communications from elected officials, boards, committees, and staff, commission reports, correspondence and announcements.

 

Report on the Fiscal Year 2026 Operational Budget
Chris Lauzon, Comprehensive Financial Advisory Committee (CFAC)

Acknowledged CFAC Chair Hector Guenther and Committee Member Lillian Woo who were in attendance.

President Tamash recognized the members of the Comprehensive Financial Advisory Committee:

Hector Guenther, Chair; Charles McKenzie, Vice Chair; Christopher Lauzon, Clerk; Thomas Keane; Jeremy Shea; James Sproul; Lillian Woo; and Chris King.

The report may be viewed here.

 

Holtec Update
Thomas LaRosa, First Assistant Town Attorney

 

Orders of the Day.

 

President Tamash took a number of items out of order.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2025-182 Appropriation Order in the amount of $978,000 for the preservation and restoration work at the West Barnstable Railroad Depot located at 2469 Meetinghouse Way, West Barnstable.

Presented by Community Preservation Committee Chair Lindsey Counsell; Town Architect Mark Marinaccio; Cape Cod Chapter of the National Railroad Historic Society President Linda Z. Pegnato. The item was approved.

The PowerPoint presentation may be viewed here.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2025-183 Appropriation Order in the amount of $1,350,000 in Community Preservation Funds for the purpose of acquiring a Conservation Restriction on 10.3± acres of open space at 30 and 31 Crockers Neck Road, Cotuit.

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

The PowerPoint presentation may be viewed here.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2025-184 Appropriation Order in the amount of $2,900,000 for preservation and restoration work at the Hyannis Armory located at 225 South Street in Hyannis.

Presented by Community Preservation Committee Chair Lindsey Counsell and Town Architect Mark Marinaccio. Town Manager Mark Ells, Building Commissioner Brian Florence, and DPW Director Dan Santos responded to Councilor questions. The item was continued to the September 4, 2025 Town Council meeting.

The PowerPoint presentation may be viewed here.

 

OLD BUSINESS

AGENDA ITEM 2025-157 Appropriation Order in the amount of $93,622,700 For the purpose of funding the Town’s Fiscal Year 2026 Barnstable Public School Department Budget.

Presented by Superintendent Sara Ahern and Christopher Dwelley, Deputy Finance Director for School Operations. Superintendent Ahern acknowledged that also present were School Committee Chair Kathy Bent; Assistant Superintendent Kristin Harmon; and Data Analyst Maureen Lovett. The item was approved.

The PowerPoint presentation may be viewed here.

 

The PowerPoint presentation for Agenda Items 2025-158 through 2025-180 may be viewed here.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2025-158 Appropriation Order in the amount of $12,508,718 for the purpose of funding the Town’s Fiscal Year 2026 Airport Enterprise Fund Budget.

Presented by Finance Director Mark Milne; Christopher Dwelley, Deputy Finance Director for School Operations; and Mike Nelson, Interim Airport Manager, Cape Cod Gateway Airport. The item was approved.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2025-159 Appropriation Order in the amount of $19,774,938 for the purpose of funding the Town’s Fiscal Year 2026 Barnstable Police Department Budget.

Presented by Christopher Dwelley, Deputy Finance Director for School Operations; Barnstable Police Chief Jean Challies; and Barnstable Police Department Finance and Support Director Anne Spillane. The item was approved.

 

President Tamash took Agenda Item 2025-186 out of order.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2025-186 Order Revoking the Town’s Acceptance of the Provisions of Chapter 31 of the General Laws (Civil Service Law) as to the Police Department.

Presented by Assistant Town Manager Andy Clyburn, Human Resources Director Bill Cole, Town Attorney Karen Nober and Barnstable Police Chief Jean Challies. The item was approved.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2025-160 Appropriation Order in the amount of $2,416,092 for the purpose of funding the Town’s Fiscal Year 2026 Planning and Development Department Budget.

Presented by Finance Director Mark Milne; Planning & Development Director Jim Kupfer; and Conservation Administrator Ed Hoopes. The item was approved.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2025-161 Appropriation Order in the amount of $2,933,824 for the purpose of funding the Town’s Fiscal Year 2026 Community Services Department General Fund Budget.

Presented by Christopher Dwelley, Deputy Finance Director for School Operations; and Community Services Director Chris Gonnella.  Also on hand were Assistant Community Services Director Krissann Caron, Financial Manager Brenda Evans, Council on Aging Director Kelly Howley, Hyannis Youth & Community Center Manager Mark Boardley, and Recreation Director John Gleason. The item was approved.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2025-162 Appropriation Order in the amount of $3,903,566 for the purpose of funding the Town’s Fiscal Year 2026 Golf Course Enterprise Fund Budget.

Presented by Christopher Dwelley, Deputy Finance Director for School Operations, and Community Services Director Chris Gonnella. The item was approved.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2025-163 Appropriation Order in the amount of $4,045,476 for the purpose of funding the Town’s Fiscal Year 2026 Hyannis Youth and Community Center Enterprise Fund Budget.

Presented by Christopher Dwelley, Deputy Finance Director for School Operations; Community Services Director Chris Gonnella; and Hyannis Youth & Community Center Manager Mark Boardley. The item was approved.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2025-164 Appropriation Order in the amount of 1,697,514 for the purpose of funding the Town’s Fiscal Year 2026 Marine & Environmental Affairs Department General Fund Budget.

Presented by Finance Director Mark Milne; Marine & Environmental Affairs Director Derek Lawson; Natural Resources Director / Sandy Neck Beach Park Manager Nina Coleman; and Harbormaster Brian Taylor. The item was approved.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2025-165 Appropriation Order in the amount of $803,433 for the purpose of funding the Town’s Fiscal Year 2026 Marina Enterprise Fund Budget.

Presented by Finance Director Mark Milne; Marine & Environmental Affairs Director Derek Lawson; and Harbormaster Brian Taylor. The item was approved.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2025-166 Appropriation Order in the amount of $1,165,364 for the purpose of funding the Town’s Fiscal Year 2026 Sandy Neck Park Enterprise Fund Budget.

Presented by Finance Director Mark Milne; Marine & Environmental Affairs Director Derek Lawson; and Director of Natural Resources / Sandy Neck Beach Park Manager Nina Coleman. The item was approved.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2025-167 Appropriation Order in the amount of $2,800,183 for the purpose of funding the Town’s Fiscal Year 2026 Inspectional Services Department Budget.

Presented by Christopher Dwelley, Deputy Finance Director for School Operations, and Inspectional Services Director / Building Commissioner Brian Florence. The item was approved.

 

The Town Council voted to continue the meeting beyond 11:00 PM.

 

Motion to move Agenda Items 2025-168 through 2025-179 to individual public hearings on June 26, 2025 was approved.

 

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 Budget;  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; 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; 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; 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; 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; 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;  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;  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; 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; AGENDA ITEM 2025-178 Appropriation Order in the amount of $5,299,662 for the Community Preservation Fund Program set-asides and administrative expenses; and 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.

 

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 (May be acted upon) (Majority Vote Council)

Presented by Finance Director Mark Milne and Christopher Dwelley, Deputy Finance Director for School Operations. The item was approved.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Motion to move Agenda Items 2025-188 and 2025-190 to individual public hearings on June 26, 2025.

 

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 and 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.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2025-189 Resolve approving Mark S. Ells’ outside employment with Cape Cod Community College.

The item was approved.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2025-191 Resolve approving a letter supporting the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget request of the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office for additional funding to combat elder fraud.

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 was referred to a Second Reading on 06/26/2025.

 

MOTION TO WITHDRAW AGENDA ITEM 2025-185 was approved. Appropriation and Loan Order in the amount of $1,404,000 for the purpose of funding the design and construction of aircraft hardstands on the terminal apron at the Cape Cod Gateway Airport.

 

The next regularly scheduled Town Council Meeting will be held on Thursday, June 26, 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).