Town Council Meeting – Thursday, September 3, 2026

The September 3, 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. Please note that this in-person meeting will not be suspended or terminated if technological problems interrupt the remote connection or the live broadcast or live stream. If the public has a particular interest in a topic to be discussed, please consider attending the meeting in person. 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 introduced Senior Chief Boatswain’s Mate Clare M. Linder to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Senior Chief Boatswain’s Mate Clare M. Linder enlisted in the United States Coast Guard September 23, 1997, from Vincent, Ohio. Senior Chief Linder completed basic training at Training Center Cape May, New Jersey and was first stationed at Station Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Subsequent tours include Station Portsmouth, Virginia; USCGC MOHAWK in Key West, Florida; USCGC WALNUT in Honolulu, Hawaii; and Executive Petty Officer (XPO) at Aids Navigation Team (ANT) Fort Lauderdale. She was certified as an Officer in Charge (OIC), both afloat and ashore, and served two successful OIC tours at ANT Humboldt Bay, CA and ANT Corpus Christi, TX. Senior Chief Linder retired in October 2018 as the Executive Petty Officer aboard the USCGC CUTTYHUNK, a 110’ Island Class Patrol Boat in Port Angeles, WA. She is a graduate of Class 186 of the Chief Petty Officer’s Academy. Senior Chief holds her bachelor’s degree in management (Magna Cum Laude) with a concentration in leadership from American Military University. She was also certified in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training and a Sexual Assault Victim Advocate. Senior Chief is a Permanent Cutterman having served over five years at sea (6.5 to be exact). She also earned the Advanced Boat Forces Operations insignia, certified as Deck Watch Officer, small boat Coxswain, Buoy Deck Supervisor, and Law Enforcement Boarding Officer. Senior Chief Linder is a Golden Shellback, having crossed both the Equator and International Date Line at the same time (also known as the X.) Notably, Senior Chief Linder was the Coxswain for the Coast Guard’s first drug bust using disabling fire from a small boat on the high seas. Senior Chief Linder has been happily married for over 21 years to Master Chief Aviation Maintenance Technician Jacob Linder, who retired after 27 years of active-duty service, in 2024. Their most treasured accomplishments are their children, Troy (15) and Morgan (12). Clare enjoys road tripping across our great country, traveling abroad, camping, boating, bicycling, hiking, reading, walking the dogs, family UNO games and swimming. She loves to cook and regularly experiments with new recipes on her family. The Linder family enjoys working with and supporting local veteran support organizations. Being of service and helping others has been a lifelong commitment and source of joy for her. Clare and her family reside in West Barnstable.

President Tamash asked all to remain standing for a Moment of Silence to honor those who have lost their lives in service of our nation and those who are near and dear to us.

Next was Public Comment.

Council Response to Public Comment

President Tamash announced that Town Manager Mark Ells’s Town Manager Communications for the period of August 19, 2026 through September 1, 2026 had been pre-recorded and was shown on our Government Access Channel prior to the meeting.

Mr. Ells’s Town Manager Communications video may be viewed here and the itemized list is shared below:

  1. At this week’s Town Council meeting, Finance Director Mark Milne shall provide a comparison of two potential revenue generating options for the Town Council’s consideration. They are a Water Infrastructure Investment Fund (WIIF) and a debt exclusion override vote. At the July Town Council meeting, Finance Director Mark Milne and I reviewed with the Town Council several balancing measures to address future budgetary challenges, including reducing public services, increasing local fees, or pursuing tax overrides and debt exclusions as potential future strategies. This is a continuation of that discussion. The Town of Barnstable is currently navigating a significant fiscal challenge requiring a shift from the annual use of reserves for operating budgets – as this is not a sustainable strategy – and the need for generation of additional revenue to create a sustainable fiscal budget strategy. A sustainable operating budget strategy, coupled with the need to proceed with priority capital projects, has resulted in the need for the Town Council to examine its fiscal policies and revenue strategy as we proceed with the priorities of our community. While the Town relies heavily on property taxes, state-mandated caps under Proposition 2½ prevent revenue from keeping pace with rising operating and capital costs. We anticipate monthly discussions with the Town Council as we work toward fiscal policy and revenue strategies that allow us to maintain our community’s priorities.
  2. The Town Manager has issued instructions to municipal departments for the creation of the FY 2028 operating and capital budgets along with the budget action calendar. The budget action calendar is attached. The Town Manager’s Calendar Year Fee Hearing is planned for mid-November. A workshop with the Town Council is anticipated in October to continue the discussion on user fees for programs, services and events. A workshop on Asset Management is also planned with the Town Council as we continue to discuss fiscal policy and revenue strategy. For information on our fiscal year budgets, please view the Town’s Open Budget website at http://budget.townofbarnstable.us.
  3. Barnstable will have lifeguards at Craigville Beach this Saturday, Sunday, and Monday for Labor Day weekend. Other locations will have gate staff, and facilities will be open through Monday, September 7, 2026.
  4. As a follow-up to the Town Manager communications from August 20th, I wanted to provide an update on the progress and implementation of several items as they relate to pickleball. With school back in session, new hours are now in effect for the Marstons Mills pickleball and tennis courts.

September 2nd – June 28th the hours are as follows:

Monday – Friday: 9:30am – 7:00pm

Saturday: 8:00am – 7:00pm

Sunday: 9:00am – 7:00pm

Additionally, the Town has planted 25 trees to help mitigate noise, installed new signs at the site with updated rules, regulations and hours of operation, and we are exploring other signage and methods to improve traffic flow and safety. We will continue to meet with all stakeholders to discuss the effectiveness of these changes and monitor operations at the facility and recommend additional improvements.

Act on Public Session Minutes: August 20, 2026

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

Mid-Cape Cultural Council
Rachel Youngling, Chair

The Mid-Cape Cultural Council’s PowerPoint presentation may be viewed here.

Fiscal Policy and Revenue Strategy Workshop
Overview of Debt Exclusion and Water Infrastructure Investment Fund
for financing the Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan

Mark Milne, Director of Finance
Mark Ells, Town Manager

Presentation is available on the Town Council’s webpage under their Presentations Folder.

President Tamash took AGENDA ITEM 2027-032 out of order.

AGENDA ITEM 2027-032 Resolve to terminate the Town’s relationship with Flock Group, Inc. and discontinue use of Flock License Plate Readers.

Presented by Barnstable Police Chief Jean Challies and Detective Lieutenant Joe Green. The item was approved.

The Barnstable Police Department’s PowerPoint presentation may be viewed here.

OLD BUSINESS

AGENDA ITEM 2027-018 Authorization to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding to maximize federal financial participation through Title IV-E of the Social Security.

Presented by Barnstable Public Schools Superintendent Sara Ahern. The item was approved.

AGENDA ITEM 2027-019 Order authorizing the School Committee to enter into a contract with a term of up to five years for a food services management company.

Presented by Barnstable Public Schools Superintendent Sara Ahern. The item was approved.

AGENDA ITEM 2027-020 Order authorizing the School Committee to enter into a contract with a term of up to ten years for regular school transportation.

Presented by Barnstable Public Schools Superintendent Sara Ahern and Assistant Director of Finance Gareth Markwell. The item was approved. 

AGENDA ITEM 2027-021 Order authorizing the School Committee to enter into a lease with a term of up to ten years for school bus parking.

Presented by Barnstable Public Schools Superintendent Sara Ahern. The item was approved.

NEW BUSINESS

AGENDA ITEM 2027-026 Appointments to a Board/Committee/Commission: Licensing Authority: John Murphy from an associate position to a full member position to a term expiring 06/30/2029; Hyannis Main Street Waterfront Historic District Commission: Conrad Watson from an alternate member to a full member position, to a term expiring 06/30/2028 was referred to a Second Reading on 09/17/2026.

AGENDA ITEM 2027-027 Appropriation Order in the amount of $90,000 from the Capital Trust Fund and authorization to contract for and expend a grant in the amount of $317,500 from the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service for the design and construction of the Rosa Lane Fish Passage Improvements Project was referred to a Public Hearing on 09/17/2026.

AGENDA ITEM 2027-028 Authorization to contract for and expend a Fiscal Year 2027 Jail/Arrest Diversion Program Component grant in the amount of $80,000 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Mental Health.

Presented by Barnstable Police Chief Jean Challies. The item was approved.

AGENDA ITEM 2027-029 Authorization to contract for and expend a Fiscal Year 2027 Jail/Arrest Diversion Program Co-Responder grant in the amount of $97,000 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Mental Health.

Presented by Barnstable Police Chief Jean Challies. The item was approved.

AGENDA ITEM 2027-030 Authorization to contract for and expend a Federal Fiscal Year 2025 Emergency Management Performance grant in the amount of $13,950 from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.

Presented by Barnstable Police Chief Jean Challies. The item was approved.

AGENDA ITEM 2027-031 Resolve selecting October 27, 2026 for an Open Meeting of the Voters.

Presented by Town Attorney Karen Nober. The item was approved.

AGENDA ITEM 2027-033 Order authorizing a debt exclusion question to be placed on the ballot at a Special Town Election to be held on May 04, 2027.

The item was approved.

The next regularly scheduled Town Council Meeting will be held on Thursday, September 17, 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: Council@barnstable.gov. The meeting Agenda will be available on the Town of Barnstable’s website (www.barnstable.gov).

If any member of the public wishing to attend a meeting seeks special accommodations in accordance with the American with Disabilities Act or state law, please contact Tammy Cunningham, Deputy Director of Human Resources, at (508) 862-4692, or at Tammy.Cunningham@barnstable.gov.