The October 23, 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 Captain Ed Lambert to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Captain Ed Lambert retired from the United State Navy after 29 years of active and reserve service. As a Naval Intelligence Officer, his career encompassed duties on both the east and west coasts, and extensive operations in the Pacific Theater. Captain Lambert served with various commands in many aspects of Fleet Operational Intelligence. After three different Command tours, he retired from the USS Constitution – Old Ironsides.
President Tamash asked all to remain standing for a Moment of Silence to keep Councilor Matthew Levesque and his family in your thoughts upon the death of his Father and keep all who have passed in service to their country in your thoughts.
Next was Public Comment which was followed by Council Response to Public Comment.
President Tamash announced that Town Manager Communications for the period of October 8-October 21, 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:
- The Town Manager through the Finance Department has issued instructions to municipal departments for FY 2027 operating and capital budgets. The Town Manager Calendar Year Fee Hearing is planned for Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 11:00 AM. Following the workshop with Town Council held on September 18, 2025, focusing on fiscal policy and revenue strategy, staff has requested the next fiscal policy and revenue strategy workshop to occur in the first quarter of 2026. For information on our fiscal year budgets, please view the Town’s Open Budget website at http://budget.townofbarnstable.us.
- Mark Milne, Director of Finance, and John Curran, Director of Assessing, will provide an overview of two tax levy shifting options the Town Council will vote on tentatively scheduled for the November 6th Town Council meeting. One option considers splitting the tax rate which allocates more of the fiscal year 2026 tax levy to the commercial, industrial, and personal property taxpayers which requires a public hearing. The second option is to consider a residential exemption which allocates more of the residential tax levy to higher valued residential properties and second homeowners. Neither option changes the amount of the tax levy the town can raise. Fiscal year 2026 is a revaluation year for the Town of Barnstable. As a revaluation year, once the town receives its preliminary certification on the proposed property values, it must provide a five (5) working day notice to the public that the proposed values are available for public review. Depending upon when the State Department of Revenue finishes their review of the Town’s proposed values will determine whether the Town can proceed with the votes on November 6th.
- Town Clerk Ann Quirk provides the following Election Information:
The last day to register to vote for the November 4th Town Election is Friday, October 24th and the Town Clerk’s office will be open until 5:00 PM for voter registration. You may apply for a Vote-By-Mail or an Absentee ballot until Tuesday, October 28th. We do not offer Early Voting in Person for the Town Election. However, if you are going to be out of town on November 4th, you can come to the Town Clerk’s office to vote on an Absentee ballot.
- James Kupfer, Director of Planning & Development, recorded an updated presentation of the Town’s Housing Report. The recording provides an overview of the Town’s Multi-Family Residential Development Report which captures recent multi-family development projects between 2017 through October 2025. The Multi-Family Residential Development Report is structured by three overarching categories: multi-family development within Downtown Hyannis prior to the Downtown Hyannis zoning amendment (between 2017 through February 2023); multi-family development within Downtown Hyannis after the Downtown Hyannis zoning amendment (between February 2023 through October 2025); and multi-family development not within Downtown Hyannis prior to and after the Downtown Hyannis zoning amendment (between 2017 through October 2025). The presentation walks through each of the multi-family development projects within Downtown Hyannis after the Downtown Hyannis zoning amendment highlighting the status of each project from in-permitting through final construction, defining the total units including affordable units, and presenting the design drawings including Site Plan and Elevations. The video recording as well as the Town’s Multi-Family Residential Development Report document are both accessible for review from the Town’s website by clicking the “Housing” button on the left-hand side of the homepage or by clicking HERE. The recording and the Report are listed under “Plans and Reports”.
- The Barnstable Council on Aging will be hosting a Medicare Open Enrollment presentation on Monday, November 17th from 1:00pm – 2:30pm at the Barnstable Adult Community Center. This informative program, presented by Barnstable County, will provide updates on Medicare plans, deadlines and coverage options. Residents interested in attending can call the Council on Aging at (508) 862-4570 to register for this free session.
- The Town of Barnstable is currently updating its Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) which is a tool through which a community plans for the future of its conservation and recreation resources. The OSRP will provide a blueprint to guide the Town’s plans, investments, policies and regulations in support of protecting and enhancing open space and recreation resources. A draft of the updated Open Space and Recreation Plan will be available for public review and comment Wednesday, November 5th. The Plan will be accessible from the Town’s website and hard copies will be available at each of the Town’s libraries as well as the Planning & Development office located at Town Hall. A community meeting will be held Wednesday, November 19th at 6:00 PM in person at Town Hall, 367 Main Street, Hyannis within the Hearing Room located on the 2nd floor. The objective of the meeting is to provide an overview of the draft Open Space and Recreation Plan and to obtain public comment as the Town progresses towards finalizing the Plan. Live Portuguese and Spanish interpretation will be available.
- The Recreation and HYCC Divisions have announced the launch of new registration software. The staff from Community Services, Recreation, and HYCC have been working to build this new website which provides our residents and visitors with an easy to navigate site that is full of information, is equipped with built-in translation capabilities and interfaces with the recently updated HYCC website. Visitors to the site will be able to register for programs, look at public offerings at the HYCC, request meeting space or outdoor recreation facilities, get directions to outdoor recreation spaces and see public calendars listing all programs and events. With support from the Communications Office and Barnstable Public Schools we are getting the message out and our Winter program registration will be conducted with this new software. Please visit the website and create your new account. If you need any assistance, please call HYCC at 508-790-6345 extension #113. The new website is: www.barnstablema.myrec.com.
- Assistant Town Manager Andy Clyburn will provide an update on the Quality-of-Life workgroup (see report below).
- Kelly Collopy, Communications Manager for the Public Works Department, will provide an update on Water Resource Management planning including the Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan. Ms. Collopy’s PowerPoint may be viewed here.
QUALITY-OF-LIFE WORKGROUP UPDATE
Hello, I’m ATM Andy Clyburn here to give another update on the Quality-of-Life workgroup established to look at enforcement efforts across all Town Departments. We have been meeting twice a month to discuss recommendations for improving enforcement with regard to policies and procedures, and communication to the community.
On Thursday September 4th a public hearing was held and Town Council voted unanimously to approve proposed revisions to zoning fines.
On Monday September 22nd the Planning Board voted to continue Town Council Item 2026-008, Home Occupation, and Town Council Item 2026-012, Storage of Commercial Vehicles, Trailers and Mobile Homes, to separate public hearings on Monday, November 10th. At the close of each public hearing, the Planning Board will take a vote on its recommendation to Town Council for each of the proposed zoning amendments. These items will each require a majority vote of the Planning Board members present and voting. Upon recommendation of the Planning Board, the zoning amendments will proceed to public hearings before Town Council (likely to be in December at the earliest.) Adoption of the zoning amendments requires a two-thirds vote of all the members of Town Council.
Town Council is considering adding a new Zoning and Regulatory Standing Committee of the Council. Item 2026-039 is scheduled for a Public Hearing and vote on October 23rd. The Zoning and Regulatory Committee will review and make recommendations to the Council regarding proposed zoning amendments and other proposed regulatory ordinances and amendments submitted to the committee by the Town Manager or by one or more Councilors. The Zoning and Regulatory Committee, on its own initiative, may submit to the Council proposed zoning amendments and other proposed regulatory amendments and ordinances.
If the new standing committee is approved, proposed ordinances and amendments currently under development by our QOL group (such as an updated noise ordinance) will be referred to this Town Council Committee as the initial step in the process. The review by the committee would occur before undertaking the process outlined in Chapter 40A of the General Laws of referral to Town Council to hold a first read and refer to Planning Board. This should provide a more robust process, with more opportunity for public input, when considering proposed zoning and other regulatory ordinances and amendments.
On Thursday October 9th, Director of Asset Management David Anthony conducted a workshop with Town Council on the use of Town Property and Special Events. We appreciate Town Council input on our evolving permitting processes and look forward to continuing fiscal policy discussions relative to the continued increasing costs to support these events.
The proposed establishment of a Home Occupation Licensing Program within the Inspectional Services Department will be discussed in a workshop with Town Council on Thursday November 20th. We anticipate bringing forward the recommended organizational changes, including proposed changes to the Town Code, fee schedule adjustments and public hearings to support the necessary resources at subsequent Town Council Meetings.
Our hope is that by moving the licensing program discussion to November, the ordinances currently under consideration by the Planning Board and the proposed changes to Inspectional Services Department structure and fees will reach Town Council at the same time later this year, thereby allowing Town Council to consider requests for enforcement resources at the same meeting that they consider adopting the new ordinances.
Jim Kupfer, Director of Planning & Development, responded to Councilor questions.
Act on Public Session Minutes: October 9, 2025
COMMUNICATIONS – from elected officials, boards, committees, and staff, commission reports, correspondence and announcements
Overview of Planning Board – Steve Robichaud, Chair
PowerPoint presentation may be viewed here.
Presentation on the Allocation of the Fiscal Year 2026 Tax Levy –Adoption of a Residential Exemption and Residential Factor
Mark Milne, Director of Finance, and John Curran, Director of Assessing
The PowerPoint may be viewed here.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
OLD BUSINESS
AGENDA ITEM 2026-037 Appointments to a Board/Committee/Commission: Council on Aging: Larry Morin as an alternate member to a term expiring 06/30/2027; Conservation Commission: Rob Demelo, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Recreation Commission: Christina Carrington, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Youth Commission: Nina Wang, as a student member to a term expiring 06/30/2026; Zoning Board of Appeals: Manny Alves from an associate member to a full member to a term expiring 06/30/2026; Debra Dworkis, as an associate member to a term expiring 06/30/2027.
The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-038 Reappointments to a Board/Committee/Commission: Conservation Commission: F.P. Tom Lee, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Peter Sampou as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Open Space Committee: Catherine Gulliver, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028; Farley Lewis, as a regular member to a term expiring 06/30/2028.
The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-039 Amending the Code of the Town of Barnstable, Part I General Ordinances, Chapter 37, Boards, Committees and Commissions to revise the Appointments Committee and to add a new Zoning and Regulatory Committee of the Town Council.
Presented by Planning & Development Director Jim Kupfer. Town Attorney Karen Nober provided additional information.
Proposed amendment to Item 2026-039 was approved.
Motion:
To amend Section 1 of Item No. 2026-039 by inserting in Article I, Section 37-2 Membership, the following language after the words “Town Councilors”:
“; provided that the membership of the Zoning and Regulatory Committee of the Council shall include the chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals or his or her designee and the chair of the Planning Board or his or her designee, for a total of seven members.”
As amended, Section 37-2 would read as follows:
Each Standing Committee of the Town Council shall consist of five Town Councilors; provided that the membership of the Zoning and Regulatory Committee of the Council shall include the chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals or his or her designee and the chair of the Planning Board or his or her designee, for a total of seven members.
Proposal to further amend Article I, Section 37-2 Membership:
Motion: Amend Section 1 of Section 37-2 to what was just amended to include “provided further that the membership of the Appointments Committee of the Town Council may include up to two members of the public to be included up to seven members.”
Motion to amend was approved.
The item as amended was approved.
NEW BUSINESS
AGENDA ITEM 2026-040 Authorization to contract for and expend a Fiscal Year 2026 Grant in the amount of $1,770,000 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management Office for construction of the Sandy Neck Beach Facility Coastal Resiliency Project.
Presented Mark Ells, Town Manager. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-041 Transfer Order in the amount of $1,716,000 for the purpose of replacing the borrowing authorized for the design and construction of aircraft hardstands on the terminal.
Presented by Mike Nelson, Cape Cod Gateway Airport Manager. The item was approved.
CONSENT AGENDA
MOTION to refer Items 2026-042; 2026-043; 2026-046; 2026-048; 2026-049; and 2026-050, as written, to individual Public Hearings to be held on each item at the Town Council meeting on November 06, 2025 was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-042 Appropriation Order in the amount of $300,000 for the installation of fourteen (14) Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) and the acceptance of an equipment grant having an estimated value of approximately $300,000 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) for fourteen (14) RRFBs; AGENDA ITEM 2026-043 Appropriation Order in the amount of $307,500 in Community Preservation Funds for the purpose of the Town acquiring a Conservation Restriction on a 25.74± acre retired cranberry bog located at 301 Parker Road in West Barnstable; AGENDA ITEM 2026-046 Amending the Code of the Town Of Barnstable, Part I General Ordinances, Chapter 48 Stretch Energy Code, to Change the Effective Date; AGENDA ITEM 2026-048 Appropriation and Transfer order in the amount of $704,155 for the Osterville Playground Project located at 93 West Bay Road in Osterville; AGENDA ITEM 2026-049 Appropriation order in the amount of $94,966 for the purpose of funding the costs associated with hiring 7 new patrol officers in the Barnstable Police Department; and AGENDA ITEM 2026-050 Allocation of Tax Levy Fiscal Year 2026 – Tax Factor.
MOTION to refer items 2026-047 and 2026-051 as written, to Second Readings at the Town Council meeting on November 6, 2025 was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-047 Order authorizing the grant of an easement to the Wianno Club for private sewer lines and the grant of an easement to NSTAR Electric Company for related electric service within certain town public ways in Osterville and AGENDA ITEM 2026-051 Allocation of Tax Levy Fiscal Year 2026 – Residential Exemption.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-044 Authorization to contract for and expend a Fiscal Year 2026 Housing Choice Grant in the amount of $72,700 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities for the purpose of funding an Economic Feasibility Study regarding the Town’s Inclusionary Affordable Housing Requirements.
Presented by Jim Kupfer, Planning & Development Director. The item was approved.
AGENDA ITEM 2026-045 Authorization to contract for and expend a Fiscal Year 2026 Complete Streets grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Transportation in the amount of $500,000 for ADA-compliant and multi-modal improvements along North Street and Old Colony Road, Hyannis.
Presented by Jim Kupfer, Planning & Development Director. The item was approved.
The next regularly scheduled Town Council Meeting will be held on Thursday, November 6, 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).
