1. The Town of Barnstable has been notified by Mass Wildlife that due to close proximity to endangered species, the Town’s 4th of July fireworks display cannot proceed as planned. The Town will use its rain date of Labor Day Weekend, Saturday, September 3, 2022.
2. We are proceeding with the budget preparation for FY 2023 as per the budget action calendar. We have finalized the proposed FY2023 Operating Budget with a first read of the operating budget later this evening. Mark Milne, Director of Finance, will provide a summary overview of the FY 2023 Operating Budget at that time. For information on our fiscal year budgets, please view the Town’s Open Budget website at http://budget.townofbarnstable.us.
3. On May 3, 2022, I attended one of the State Revolving Fund Virtual Briefings. The briefing explained the loan program and shared information on additional supplemental funding from ARPA and BIL. I have sent the Town Council slides (under separate email) that can also be found on MassDEP’s website along with a recording of the briefing. If you have any questions regarding these funding programs we are available to further discuss as we pursue these funding sources. We will keep you advised of our progress.
4. Barnstable County opened its ARPA Portal for the distribution of a portion ($10M) of the County ARPA ($41M) funds to towns on May 12, 2022. The Town has submitted its application for county funds to support the Town’s 725 Main Street sewer pump station in the amount of $1,965,218.61. We will keep you advised as we progress on securing this funding source and apply for future funding opportunities.
5. As a reminder, please check our website at Roadwork Notices | Barnstable eNews for up to date road work occurring in Barnstable. In previous Town Manager communications to Town Council, DPW reported on the following:
a. Sewer and utility work on Craigville Beach Road is anticipated to be completed by Memorial Day; The Town of Barnstable Office of Town Manager 367 Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601 Office: 508.862.4610 Fax: 508.790.6226 www.townofbarnstable. us Citizens’ Resource Line: 508.862.4925 Mark S. Ells, Town Manager M. Andy Clyburn, Assistant Town Manager mark.ells@town.barnstable.ma.us andy.clyburn@town.barnstable.ma.us
b. Sewer and utility work will continue on Strawberry Hill Road through June 24th;
c. Sewer construction will occur on a portion of Wequaquet Lane in July and August;
d. Duct bank installation in July and August at night only at intersection of Route 132 and Phinney’s Lane is pending approval with MassDOT; and e. Construction on Phinney’s Lane will commence after Labor Day.
6. We continue to have regular conversations with Vineyard Wind (Phase I ongoing project). The Phase I Covell’s Beach parking lot has been paved and parking spaces lined for the upcoming summer season.
7. At the March 17, 2022 Town Council meeting we received an update from the project team for Phases 2 & 3 relevant to those two respective projects. We have finalized the Host Community Agreement for the Phase 2 project (Park City Wind) as authorized by Town Council as that project proceeds with its permitting phase. Legal Department has prepared the additional action items for Town Council consideration relative to the Phase 2 landing at Craigville Beach for a first read later this evening.
8. We continue discussions regarding a proposed Phase 3 (Commonwealth Wind) landing of cable in Barnstable. At the presentation on March 17, 2022 the proposed landing locations for cable in Osterville were shared with the Town Council. To date I have only had discussions with Commonwealth Wind (Phase 3) project representatives but have not commenced negotiations of a Host Community Agreement and shall not do so until authorized by Town Council. I do anticipate bringing a Resolve to Town Council in the near future requesting authorization for the Town Manager to enter into negotiations regarding a Phase 3 Host Community Agreement. Commonwealth Wind has received administrative approval from Conservation for preliminary geotechnical work pertaining to assessing the potential routes of the Phase 3 cable. The work is scheduled to take place in May and if needed in June 2022. Similar geotechnical work was conducted in Phases 1 and 2. We will keep you advised of our progress on this matter.
9. The Town of Barnstable is one of the five new communities that have been selected, as of spring 2022, for the Greening the Gateway Cities Program. Greening Gateway Cities is a partnership between the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Urban & Community Forestry Program, the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). The program promotes environmental and energy efficiency through the reduction of household heating and cooling energy use by increasing tree canopy cover in urban residential areas. Concentrated within Environmental Justice neighborhoods, the program targets areas within Gateway cities that have lower tree canopy, older housing stock, higher wind speeds, and a larger renter population. A planting zone is established based on factors including but not limited to density, existing tree canopy and impervious surface. Ultimately, the program provides funding to plant trees with a goal of covering 5% of the target neighborhoods in new tree canopy cover. The funding is predominately focused on planting trees within private residential properties but also provides opportunity to plant trees within publicly owned properties as well. Tree Warden Andy Bernier and Assistant Director of Planning and Development Kate Maldonado are collaborating on this effort with a targeted kick-off informational public meeting this summer. For more information visit https://www.mass.gov/service-details/greening-the-gatewaycities-program.
10. Update on the Water Resource Management efforts of the Department of Public Works including the Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan is attached.
