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islands and you. >> Welcome to the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce. >> The Falmouth Chamber is dedicated to working on behalf of our members to make Falmouth a better place to live, work, and conduct business. We are committed to developing the economic, cultural,
educational, and civic interests of our community and welcome the support from all organizations to achieve our combined goals. Whether you call Falmouth at home, are a summer resident, or a visitor, we hope you take advantage of all that the chamber has to offer.
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needs. John's Liquor Store 729 Main Street, Felmouth, 5085482287. usually not present. Okay. >> Need to be on. Right. All right. Right. It's 6 o'clock. Um I will call to
order uh the regular meeting of the town of Felmouth Select Board for Monday, July 27th, 2026. Um, at this time I would entertain a motion to move into executive session. Uh, to discuss strategy with respect to litigation at
545 Main Street under MGL chapter 3A section 21A3 and to discuss strategy, [clears throat] excuse me, with respect to litigation regarding Falmouth Tap Station 228-280 Sam Turner Road under uh, Mass General
Laws Chapter 3A section 32A3. >> So moved. Second uh motion and a second. Any further discussion? Vote by roll call. Miss Klein. >> Klein I. >> Brown. I >> miss I. >> Reed I.
>> Goldstone. I. We will return for open session at 6:30 p.m. >> Thank you. Peter join us in a moment. >> All right. Since uh we're already behind schedule, I'm going to um call the open session uh to order and uh Mr. Brown and
Mr. Johnson Stop will join us in a moment. Uh the board is returning from executive session to open session. Um, if you would all please stand and join me for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right, Mr. Brown, you are just in time uh for our proclamation in celebration of the 125th anniversary of the West Falmouth United Methodist
Church. Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to tell you guys somebody left a set of keys in the first restroom on the sink in case anybody's missing a set. West Falmouth United Methodist Church 121st anniversary. Whereas Methodists
began meeting in West Fmouth in 1850, forming a growing faith community that first gathered in homes and later in the old schoolhouse. And whereas the congregation built its first church in 1857, an Italianite style structure that
served as a center of worship and fellowship. And whereas after the original building became unusable, a new church was constructed across the street and dedicated on July 9th, 1901. through the volunteer labor and generosity of village residents. And whereas the [clears throat] church
community worked faithfully to retire its mortgage by 1907 and continued to show resilience through the early 20th century with fundraising, volunteer efforts, and shared worship. And whereas student pastors, devoted members, and generations of volunteers sustained the
church's mission, including operating a long-running thrift shop and contributing to the vibrancy of the village. And whereas despite its small size, the West Falmouth United Methodist Church has remained steadfast in its commitment to worship, service, and community life for 125 years. Whereas
the town of Felmouth acknowledges the church's long-standing dedication to providing a place of worship, a place of community organization for organizations to meet, helping make Felmouth a strong and welcoming place to live and work. Now therefore, we Heather MH Goldstone,
Colin W. Reed, Douglas C. Brown, Robert P. Mscali and Elizabeth Klein hereby recognize and commemorate the 125th anniversary of the West West Falmouth United Methodist Church, honoring its rich heritage and enduring contributions to the people of West Felmouth. We have
hereinto set our hand and caused the great seal of the town of Felmouth to be affixed this 27th day of July, 2026. [applause] That was another beautiful building built by Fred Bowman. I can tell you that thing is really built well. I
worked on it, did some renovations over there, and such a nice group of people, too. So, >> do we have anyone here on behalf of the church that would like to receive the proclamation? >> No. Okay. Um, I was remissed and trying
to get things started quickly. Missed a couple of announcements. Um do please silence your cell phones. Um and if anyone is making um an audio or video recording of this meeting, Llin, I see you. Um uh please notify the chair. Uh the placement in the operation of the recording equipment should not interfere
with the conduct of the meeting. Okay. Uh we will move on to recognitions. Are there recognitions from the board? >> Mr. Brown. >> So I'd like to mention um I don't know if anybody's heard of this OLOG, Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage. >> It's a local group. These ladies are all
in their 60s and 70s and they go out and they swim in the ponds and they go put their masks on and scuba gear and whatnot and they go down and find all kinds of stuff that you wouldn't believe. And they've been lately getting noticed and being in the New York Times and on television, a lot of national
programs and on the news. So, it's pretty incredible. So, if you haven't look heard about it, look it up. Olg old ladies against underwater garbage. They're pretty incredible. >> Sure. >> Are there other recognitions? Uh yeah, I do. Um I know we're going to be dealing
with it later on in the agenda, but I just want to uh recognize some good news uh with respect to housing and the Habitat at Human Humanity on Gford Street uh held a lottery uh for the four
homes there. And uh the resulting uh winners of the lottery, there were 15 kids ages 3 to 17. uh their parents mostly work on the Cape. Uh and I think it's just a you know a true testament to uh to to helping out with affordable
housing and uh and Habitat for Humanity and uh that's really good to see some really good news and thank [applause] and and thanks to our housing coordinator for bringing us uh that good
news. Thank you, >> Miss L. Um, I want to recognize the individuals who later last week in town there were a couple of incidents um where lifeguards were involved um in an attempt to um help an individual in
distress and then later on um within that same 24-hour window we had our um fire department respond um to a a house call fire. And so just want to recognize all those in Falmouth who are helping to keep our community safe, our firemen,
policemen, and um and those lifeguards. Really critically important in this summer season. Would second that it's been a very uh busy summer and a very busy uh few days. And we'll also add my uh plea to all of our residents that uh
when you hear sirens, please move out of the way. Um I live near some of the emergency routes. I've been hearing a lot more of the honking of the horn as well of as the sirens and heard from some of our responders that they're having more trouble than usual getting through. So, please um do move aside for
our emergency responders. Uh announcements. >> Go right ahead. >> Um we have a great upcoming community event on Saturday, August 8th. We are having North Falmouth Porchfest again. And that event, if you're not familiar
with it, is a great chance to see some local music. Um the event has expanded this year. There are eight porches involved all around Oldmine and County Road in North Falmouth. Um [clears throat] and it goes from 1 to five and it's a really great family event. You can wander from porch to
porch and hear different styles of music. Um and so hopefully the weather cooperates for a terrific day for the community. >> It's a week from Saturday. Yeah. And including my porch. >> Including your porch. Okay. I wonder if that's the one. My husband's band is is part of it. I wonder it out.
>> Um because I said something about the road race to uh an acquaintance recently and the date surprised them. I'm just going to announce it seems earlier this year than usual. The road race is on August 16th. So if you're thinking it's that next weekend around the 20th, it's a little earlier this year. Any other
announcements? All right. Uh we will move on to the town manager report. >> Actually, may I jump in? Uh there's a Woods Hole Science Stroll also on the 8th. >> That's right. >> Um so maybe you could jump down to the science stroll first starting at 10:00
a.m. before going to Porchfest. But the uh the Woods Hole Science Stroll is a combination of uh science on display both at the Woodsole Oceanographic Institution at Noah as well as MBL. There are hundreds of different science
uh sciences on display there and welcome everybody to come and check it out. >> All right. Excellent. With that, we'll hand it over to Mr. Rancho. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Two two quick updates. Um several years ago, town of Felmouth was uh was fortunate to receive
uh several uh handicap accessible uh beach wheelchairs. wanted to report that a few weeks ago, uh, Mass Smiles, the organization that several years ago is responsible for donating those chairs, uh, reached out and scheduled a replacement of four of those chairs. Um, they're each valued, I think, at about $5,000. So, I want to express my
gratitude to Mass Smiles and that organization. Uh, assistant town manager in my absence went down and took place took part in the, uh, the ceremony to kind of welcome those new chairs. But, uh, a significant need as I was driving by Surf Drive Beach uh, this morning, actually saw one of the chairs in the
back of the DPW vehicle. So, I know they're getting great use. Uh, lastly, if you recall, I my last uh manager update, I reported on having received the $400,000 Mass Trails grants uh for improvements to the Shining Sea bike path. I'm happy to report that today we signed off and submitted the contract
documents to get that project going. Uh the DPW director, myself, and the chair of the bike pedestrian committee are going to meet on site, kind of go over some of the key hot areas on the trail uh where we feel we can uh make the most uh get the most return on investments. Um, as you all know that we have to
spend the money by June 30th of next year. So, we have a pretty tight window to do that. And that's all I have. >> And I believe in addition to the uh the chairs, we've also gotten a number of new uh beach walkers um as well to help with uh uh accessibility on our beaches.
So, those are fabulous replacements and additions. Thank you for that that report. Um public comment uh public comment may be made on routine matters not on the agenda this evening. Comments are limited to two minutes. Uh, please introduce yourself and since the matter
has not been included on the agenda, the select board may not participate in discussion on the topic. Do we have anyone here? I see Mr. Dubie for public comments. 199 road. Good evening. Um, according to the federal community preservation committee, there's a decreased feminist
workforce force with the community population continuing to grow older and the number of age dependent people that's children in those 65 and old growing larger than the town's working population. A 2022 report by the Comfort Group and
presented by the Housing Assistance Corporation stated that by 2026 the Cape region will lose over 800 families whose income is $100,000 or less each year and that most people who work on Cape Cod community
housing production plan for 2024 states that 18% of households from thworth are under 45 with the state average being 38%. The plan also notes that there has been a 35% decline which is 16 million
students in the federal public schools in the past 20 years. Young adult residents ages 25 to 44 decreased from 30% to 18%. The most significant increase is the population of Fmouth adults aged 65 and
older from 19% to 34%. Nearly 19% of all households consist of adults 65 plus living alone in Felmouth. What does all this mean? Felmouth is an aging community with a shrinking
workforce. We are becoming a smaller older community. Yet our town government seems to be planning for a growing more vibrant community. When the demographic showing the most growth is 65 plus, plans for a 100 thousand
school renovation and a $45,000 square foot police station seems at odds with the town's profile and needs. As of June 1, the median sale price for a home in Falmouth was $924,530. When the average growing 65 plus generation is gone, who's going to buy
these homes they vacate? These are not homes for teachers, firefighters, police officers, or nurses. Even two MAIs can't come close to affording the price. In all likelihood, more and more homes will become second homes for wealthy families. We will we will be following
the Nantucket plan. I would ask the town management, the select board, and even town meeting address the needs of the town we are, not the town we would like to be. Continued overrides and debt exclusion borrowing burdens the growing population of 65 plus citizens to the
point of forcing them to sell even sooner than expected. >> Mr. Duby, if you could please. You're at two and a half minutes. Mr. Duby, >> it's time for our select officials to offer creative realistic plans for guiding Fment's future. >> Thank you. >> Is there anyone else for public comment?
>> Either one is fine. >> Hi Dutch mic. There's a switch on the side >> on the top >> on the >> actually the other one's better. >> Yeah. >> Can you hear me?
>> Yes. >> Maybe maybe you could just use that one. It's probably better anyway. [laughter] >> We shouldn't even have that mic there. >> I was going to say >> all right. >> Art Gutch Terry Louu a East Falmouth. Um I'm here to talk about uh spending
primarily. Um, I've been in Felmouth now, I guess, 5 years, and I'm trying to understand how you guys work things. By the way, I want to thank all of you for serving. I know how hard it is to be on the select board. Um, I guess I got a little bit concerned when I saw the police station. Now, I'm a big supporter
of the police station, but, uh, when I left Sudbury or just before I left Sudbury, we we built a police station for $8 million. And I know Sudbury is half the size of Falmouth and only has, you know, 35 policemen. But that's what got me thinking about spending. So I've
been participating. Uh spoken to a few folks and I went to a couple meetings and I'm trying to understand how you work your process. Um so I'm concerned about the current uh spending plan or potential spending plan of almost a billion dollars over the next 10 years.
I know it's potential. I know it's potential. >> Um >> I also just want to point out that we will be discussing the capital plan later this evening. So if this is on that matter that should Before all this, I started thinking, well, what has the town
um put in place from a vision perspective and a planning perspective that the select word looks to when you're looking to prioritize these things? And I noticed that the last plan was done 10 years ago. And since then,
the board creates strategic plans periodically based on what you hear or what you believe is in the best interest of the town. >> So, the first thing is I would hope and I think you're planning to do this before November. I would hope that we'd have some transparency on where you
believe the priorities are for spending in the town. And secondly, I would hope that the town would have an opportunity to voice its opinion on what it thinks the town should look like for the next 10 or 20 years versus what was put in
place 10 years ago. Um, I'm a big believer in, you know, infrastructure and making the town better and all that stuff, but I think I think we need to have some more transparency and I think we need to see that in some form of a workshop before
November. Thank you. Is there anyone else for public comment? Okay. Thank you. All right. We will move on to the consent agenda. Uh starting with licenses. Uh consider a vote to approve an application for a special 1-day all alcohol liquor license from
the Lupus Foundation of New England for the Cape Cod Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival at Cape Cod Fairgrounds, 1220 Nathan Ellis Highway, East Falmouth. on Saturday, August 8th, 2026 from 11 am to 5:00 pm. Number two, consider a vote to approve
an application for a special one-day wine and malt liquor license from Joe Q Veterans Coffee Break, Inc. for the 18th annual Cape Cod Botchi tournament at Falmouth Academy, 7 Highfield Drive, Falmouth, on se Saturday, uh, September
26th, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. Number three, consider and vote on the application by Sakinet Golf Club, 132 Falmouth Woods Road for a change of manager to its all alcoholic beverages restaurant license. Number four, consider a vote to approve
the application by Road Show Concepts LLC, DBA, the H Heartland Road Show, for a temporary secondhand dealer license to be executed at the Iris Hotel Cape Cod, 291 Jones Road, Falmouth, in the Lighthouse Ballroom from August 4th to 8th, 2026.
And number five, consider a vote to approve the application by Shipwreck LLC, DBA Shipwrecked, 263 Grand Avenue, for a change of manager to its all alcoholic beverages restaurant license. Administrative orders. One, consider a
vote to approve the 2026 seasonal retail liquor license renewals form for submitt to the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission. Madame Chair, I move the uh approval of the consent agenda. >> I'll second that.
>> We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? No. >> Hearing none, all those in favor? I >> I That's unanimous. Thank you. Uh maybe we even made up a minute or two. All right. Uh moving on to public hearings. Uh and uh council can I ask uh with the
first two hearings given that they are both from the same applicant is it possible to um open both of those hearings simultaneously or do we need to keep those separate separate? >> Thank you. Okay. So first discuss and consider a vote to approve the application submitted by Ticket Cafe
Inc. DBA Johnny's Cafe for the transfer of an all alcoholic beverages restaurant license and common victual license located at 734 Ticket Highway East Falmouth. Entertainment and Sunday entertainment licenses have also been submitted. Mr. [clears throat] Reid, do
you have the hearing notification? >> Yes, at the last second. Um, town of Select Board Liquor License Hearing Notice is hereby given under chapter 138 of the general laws as amended that Ticket Cafe Inc. DBA Johnny's Cafe has
applied for a transfer of an al all alcoholic beverages restaurant license located at 734 Ticket Highway Eastbouth Mass. Applications for a common tour and entertainment and Sunday entertainment licenses have also been submitted. A
hearing on the above application will be held here at the Falmouth Senior Center, 780 Main Street today, uh, Monday, July 27th, 2026, at 6:45 p.m. Comments may be sent to this, uh, to the select board at select boardfammouth.gov
per the order of the select board. >> Thank you. And I believe you're here for the afternoon. Um, David Lawler, attorney in Hyannis. First, I'd like to introduce Sean and Jennifer Norton. they um are the owners or John will be running this. Um you have the
application. I know you ran a little bit behind. I don't want to be disrespectful and move quickly, but at the same time I don't want to waste your time. Um between these two, I've been doing this for over 30 years and I just said to them for um a new applicant, not someone that's already owned a bunch of
restaurants. These two have more experience in the restaurant business than anybody I've ever represented, I think, in that 30-year period. Uh, you know, John just was, you know, ran the Kunames in for 11 years, held a liquor license in the town of Falmouth, has had a, you know, exemplary record. You were all familiar with that. You've seen the
resume. Uh, this is an establishment that's been in, uh, you know, in business for, you know, quite some time. And they really, um, and with all due respect to the present owner, it needs a little bit of, like anything in life, sometimes it needs a little little spit
and polish and get it going. And um their intention is to have a familyfriendly restaurant affordable which is a and going out to eat nowadays is something that's hard to find. Um you know you know basic American fair the their culinary you know expertise and
their ability to manage the restaurant I think is speaks for itself in the documents that I've presented to you. Uh they have you know later on I may not talk but they you know just a mild entertainment license if they decide to use it down the road. Hopefully, if they are able to get through tonight and then
the ABCC, they'd be looking to open October, November, this fall. And, you know, it's a really, you know, they're looking to have a family like a family, you know, like almost like an oldtime cafe, um, you know, and bring that back
um, and that feel with the quality and everything else. And I'm more than happy to answer questions or my clients certainly are. But I think that's quick enough. >> Thank you. Are there questions from the board? >> No, the the layout looks the same. It's basically the same. Just going to be
spruceed up a little and >> yeah, >> spruce it up and change the menu around and >> kind of just uh you know, again, trying to have that, [snorts] >> you know, you know, you know, breathe a little life into it, I guess, is the best way to put it. >> It's a great location. >> Yep. Certainly is.
>> Yep. As a proud resident of Ticket East Felmouth, I'm very happy that it will continue. It's a great place, a great spot, and uh a big part of the community of of East Falmouth. So, uh glad to see it continuing. >> And I heard he makes a mean burger.
>> It's one of the best [laughter] in town. >> Glad it's not turning into a bank. >> No. Nor a real estate office. >> Yeah. >> Or a [laughter] mattress store. >> I did have one question about the seating arrangement. I think I saw in the application it was listed as a seating capacity of 175 and that seemed
huge given my >> 125 >> understanding and then I saw I went and counted it was 125. So I was just trying to >> clarify >> we went back and I mean that's we we're not changing anything. We're keeping the original original seating arrangements. >> Okay. >> Y
all right. Uh is there any public comment on this application? No. >> Seeing none, I would entertain a motion to close the hearing. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Uh, all those in favor? >> I.
>> And is there a motion with regard to the application? >> I'll make a motion to approve the application submitted by Ticket Cafe, Inc. PBA Johnny's Cafe for the transfer of an all alcoholic beverages restaurant license and common victer license
located at 734 TTICK highway east as presented. >> Second. Okay. All those in favor? >> I. >> Excellent. We will move on to the second hearing and you can stay where you are to discuss and consider a vote to approve applications submitted by Ticket
Cafe Inc. DBA Johnny's Cafe for an entertainment license and Sunday entertainment license to be exercised at 734 Ticket Highway East Falmouth. Mr. Reed for the notice. >> Notice of public hearing. Notice hereby given under chapter 140 section 183A of the general laws to uh as amended by
chapter 299 of the acts of the 1926 and amended here too that Ticket Cafe Inc. DBA Johnny's Cafe located at 734 Ticket Highway East Falmouth Mass has applied for an entertainment license and a Sunday entertainment license. A
hearing on the above application will be held at the Falmouth Senior Center, 780 Main Street, Felmouth, Mass on Monday, July 27th, today at 6:45 p.m. Comments may be sent to select board atfalmouth.gov per the order of the select board.
>> Thank you. Um, and perhaps yeah, you could just give us a little bit of a sense of what kinds of entertainment. >> I think that they really they have entertainment there now. I think they continue the same type of entertainment. At present, they really have no plan on entertainment. They just are having it there in case there's going to be
parties, but I think right now they do Thursday nights live entertainment. I don't know if they're going to continue that or not. Uh, you know, the restaurant's going to going to be open year round, which is the, you know, I think super important, you know, for towns on Cape Cod. um because we need
that and um they don't have in the works [snorts] any schedule. I mean, it's out in no, you know, but they do want to maintain what they have now, the present entertainment license, but it's not going to be um a big portion of the business and it might just be reserved
for special events and and maybe if someone rents the place out, you know, they could reserve the, you know, if business dictates, you know, maybe they'll, you know, continue on with Thursday nights or something like that, but they just quite frankly don't know if that's I don't want to be I'm I'm not trying to be vague. I just they don't
know. Okay. >> Can we uh just clarify it's going to be all indoor entertainment? >> Yes. All indoor. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> And he understands the the town bylaws with respect to noise and Okay. >> Again, >> he ran, you know, the Kunames for 11
years. He's very familiar with the rules and regulations of the town have found. >> There any other questions or comments from the board? >> No. No. >> Motion to close public. >> Well, I'm going to just see if there's any public comment first. Seeing none,
go right ahead. >> Motion to close o uh open session public comment session. >> Second. >> Uh all those in favor. >> I I do will make a motion to approve the application submitted by the Ticket Cafe Inc. DBA Johnny's Cafe for an
entertainment license and a Sunday entertainment license to be exercised at 7:34 Ticket Highway East Falmouth as presented. >> Second. >> All right. Motion and a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? >> I I
>> It is unanimous. Best of luck to you. >> Good luck. Thank you so much. And since they're paying me one last plug, we hope to see everybody. And [laughter] uh we welcome everyone here and everyone on television. Come down and give us a try. It's going to be wonderful. >> How about that fried bologna? Is there two slices? >> Three.
>> Oh, three. All right. [laughter] >> Good things happen in threes. >> Good night. Now, >> thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh, last public hearing is a wetland dock hearing. Consider the application of Peter and Mary Mcmanis for permission to construct a fixed pier with ramp and float that will extend 92
ft seawward of mean high water into Perch Pond located at 113 Ticket Path Falmouth. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Sorry, just one second. We're we for legal reasons, we need to read the the hearing notice. >> Yep. >> Public hearing notice. The Falmouth Select Board will hold a public hearing
under section 240-14.8 8 wetlands regulations of the zoning bylaws of the town of Falmouth on Monday, July 27th, 2026 at 6:45 p.m. in the old silver/surf drive program room, Falmouth Senior Center, 780 Main Street, Falmouth, on
the application of Peter and Mary McManis, for permission to construct a fixed pier with ramp and float that will extend 92 ft seawward of mean high water into Perch Pond located at 113T ticket
path found. Area affected is Perch Pond. Interested parties may review the file on this application at the office of the select board per order of the Falmouth select board. >> Excellent. And now over to you. >> Now, thank you, Madam Chair. Uh members of the board, for the record, my name is
Michael Borceli from Falmouth Engineering and I represent the applicant. Uh with your permission, I'd like to show the plan up on the screen. >> Sure, please do. >> Uh the MC McManis is on the property at
113 Ticket Path. It has frontage on Perch Pond, which is a uh inner water body off of Gray Pond. Um there are several existing private recreational pier ramps and floats on this water
body. Um the uh McManuses uh would like to construct this dock for private recreational purposes for boating. Um I can show you some of the details. the the the [snorts] pier itself starts
on the upland in the uh grass area and it makes its way across a narrow uh stretch of salt marsh. It then is fixed out to this position where uh a 3x6 ft
ramp is a fixed to a 10x10 float. The entire structure is uh made of timber and it's supported by timber pilings. There is a um profile of the dock on the second sheet
if I can get that for you. And if you look at the profile view, you will see that um it is pile supported. It is elevated at the very beginning to provide access
for public beneath and then it lowers to a lower level and then it terminates with the ramp and float. um as as we typically do on these projects, we first consult
with the harbor master. Uh he uh has no issues uh with the dock as they relate to navigation. Uh as is also typical, we applied to the conservation commission uh and they issued a favorable decision
in order of conditions allowing for um this to proceed to you tonight. And if we are successful, we will proceed to the state for a chapter 91 license. Um,
as is often asked by you folks, um, we have done, uh, analysis of what percentage of water body this crosses. The overall width of the water body is 440 uh feet and this extends out
approximately 92 square ft or just at 20% of the water body. Uh this is typical construction. Uh you've seen uh me submit other applications similar to this and uh we believe that it's approvable
and I'm here to take any questions. >> Thank you. Are there questions from the board? [clears throat] >> My usual, how wide is the water body there? >> The the water body is 440 ft >> and um the length of the pier is 92. So
it's less than 25%. >> Got it. Thanks. >> Any other questions, >> Miss Klein? I think this is maybe more just for my clarification understanding because this is the first time I'm hearing going through one of these. Um
so there's yeah the order of conditions are the things that the property owners need to do. Um and then who follows up on that just procedurally just for my understanding. >> I'm happy to answer that. >> Yeah, go right ahead. So the process starts with the
conservation commission um because you want to see that the conservation commission is uh satisfied for that there's no environmental issues and they issue an approval called an order of conditions and it basically sets out they approve this subject to
certain conditions. Um when the work is complete we submit an application to the conservation commission called a request for certificate of compliance. They then inspect it and make sure everything was done in accordance with their decision and built properly in accordance with
the plans and then they sign off and then the process is complete. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. >> Yes, Mr. Brown. >> In a with a new dock in Perch Pond, do you issue like a disclaimer to the folks that it's going to be very challenging
to get a large boat out of the channel? >> The McManuses are very much aware of that. Um, in fact, they're interested in uh exploring with the neighbors. Again, I think it's been explored on a couple of occasions the potential to dredge that entrance because you're
[clears throat] you're it's true. You have to pay attention to the tides. You can get trapped and not be able to get back into your dock if you don't pay attention. >> Yeah. >> And it's a real uh clam resource there. And I don't know if it's ever going to get dredged. So, just a heads up for the
people spending a lot of money on a dock there. The funny thing is the dredging would improve water flow which would which would uh benefit the shellfish resource. >> I've said that same thing. >> I think our uh Chuck Martinson would agree with that.
>> Yeah. Well, maybe they'll rethink it. >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> Any other questions or comments from the board? >> Anything from the public on this application? If not, I would entertain a motion to
close the public hearing. >> So move second. >> Third. Got it. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> All right. Is there a motion with regard to the uh application? >> I would move approval. Is there a formal
>> Yeah. Tell me to read it. I'm on it. Motion to approve the application [clears throat] of Peter and Mary Mcmanis for permission to construct a fixed pier with ramp and float that will extend 92 ft seawward of mean high water into Perch Pond located at 113 Ticket
Path Ticket Highway South >> Ticket Path. >> I believe it's Ticket Path. On our packet it says Ticket Highway. >> It there are two different uh in the packet we do have two different and I believe it's Ticket Path. Is that correct? Yes. Correct. >> Okay. So, for two ticket path,
>> two ticket path. Yes. >> Okay. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Okay. Any further discussion with this board? >> Hearing none. All those in favor? >> I I >> Thank you. Thank you very much.
>> All right. And uh we will move on to our business agenda. uh starting with uh the select board as trustees of the Felmouth Affordable Housing Fund uh to discuss and consider a vote to approve an application for funding from Falmouth Housing Corporation and affirmative investments for the housing project
located at 545 Main Street. Uh Mr. Renshaw. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh what I'd like to do is give a brief update some since our last meeting. Uh there was some uh a meeting that occurred that I think is relevant and pertinent. Uh the select board discussed this application with the applicant FA housing corporation and
Affirmative Investments at its July 13th meeting. Following a lot of public input and board discussion, the board voted to table the application and bring it back for consideration. Uh tonight, some members expressed a desire for more time to consider the proposal. Others noted their preference preference for a project that is age unrestricted.
The chair asked the applicant to consider alternative financing options in order to change the project from age restricted senior rental housing project to one that does not restrict the age of tenants. Uh at the July 13th meeting, there was some mention of a letter uh from state senator Dylan Fernandez offering to assist with obtaining
funding and uh to facilitate a discussion with the office of housing and livable communities. A meeting was held, as I understand, I wasn't part of that meeting, but a meeting was held on July 20th with representatives from Executive Office of Housing and Liver Communities, Mass Housing, Massachusetts Housing Partnership, along with
representatives of Senator Fernandez's office, uh, Select Board, and the Felmouth Housing Corporation, affirmative investments, and town staff. I believe the assistant town manager and chair Goldstone were present at that meeting. Um, as well as, uh, select board member Klein. >> Member Klein and, uh, Miss Fischer,
housing coordinator. >> Thank you. Um, Madam Chair, Select Board, as of the date of this memo, um, actually, um, we received notice today, I believe, from Senator Fernandez's office, uh, that he had successfully, um, negotiated or received support from
the Office of Living, uh, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities supporting, um, uh, removing that age restriction uh, from the, uh, from from the, uh, what, how do I say it? Funding uh, concern. Uh and uh and
also um would wave certain uh how was the language, Peter? Requirements. >> Sure. So um >> exemptions. >> Yeah. The the discussion at the meeting was whether there was a way to um for the executive office of housing and
liberal communities to fund a project that is not age restricted. They said it hadn't been done in I think 46 years. um but that they would uh inquire. The under secretary of HLC was at the meeting. She said she would inquire with
uh the secretary and general counsel. Um we did not hear directly back from HLC, but we did um get a letter from Senator Fernandez indicating that housing and livable communities would um work with the town and the applicant um on a
project that is not age restricted. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Peter. Madam chair and select board if I may just continue on briefly. Um I don't want to get us behind on the agenda. Um so that was some of the more recent developments. Uh to give kind of some context. Uh the Felmouth Housing Corporation and Affirmative Investments
proposed to demolish the existing building at 545 Maine and construct 51-bedroom affordable age restricted 62 and older rental units. Of those 50 rental units, eight are planned to be projectbased vouchers PBV units, which would make the units at 30% of the area median income.
If the PBVS become unavailable, the AMI uh will become 60%, remaining 42 units would be deed restricted at 60% of the AMI and all 50 units will be restricted in perpetuity. Uh the requested subsidy per unit of land acquisition per unit
for land acquisition is $52,000. If the housing corporation and affirmative investments request an additional uh $1.9 million for construction in a future day for a total subsidy amount of $4.5 million, the subsidy per unit would then be $90,000. Madam chair, select board, as you know,
this amount is well below the $150,000 per unit guideline set by the select board as trustees of the Felmouth of affordable housing fund. I understand the applicant is here to uh to to make perhaps a presentation and answer any questions this board might
have. Excuse me. Thank [clears throat] you. I'm Tara Misrai from Affirmative Investments and Linda Clark from Felmouth Housing Corporation. Um I'm going to stumble a little bit because Mr. Renshot um said a bunch of what I was going to say just to bring people up
to speed on what we've been doing. Um uh in the last week bas week and a half um so so as was said we um we've been proposing 50 units. We still are we still feel that this is the right project for this site which we'll
explain um more on our reasoning. Um we are uh but we also are um excited with the state's openness to work with us because it is a unique um situation that we have in Felmouth and on the Cape um
and trying to solve the workforce housing problem. Um you know we've been when we came here you know the workforce housing problem was was discussed you know of people up to 120% AMI. Um I think um
I think we would really like to get into a um we're proposing to go into a formal formal working group with the town to really understand who is it that needs housing. What do we have right now that's available? What is vacant because there are units that are vacant um that
could serve workforce housing um and really understand the problem so we can be creative in the solution. So, it wouldn't be for this site. Um, but this isn't the only site that the the Commonwealth is offering um this option for, but it would be in the in the future and it would be deliberate. Um,
you know, we we're proposing 50 units um of senior housing here because we truly believe it's the strongest fit for the site and the surrounding market. As some people talked before, you know, that we have a lot of seniors here. Nearly 85% of our weight list is for onebedrooms and 81% of those are applicants over the
age of 62. We currently have 979 seniors on the wait list at our properties. The Felmouth Affordable Housing Working Group, the Affordable Housing Committee, and the CPC have all voted for this senior project to move forward. Um, we did talk actually I'll skip over
that because we talked about the state waving this um and the meeting. I think I I think it's important to understand that at that meeting um what was requested by chair Goldstone is can we just take the project that we have and
build the same thing um but with no age restrictions um and leaving apart the the we wouldn't be able to build 50 units because we would have to um build a smaller building and build more parking. Regardless of that, I thought it would be important for people to hear
why we are not comfortable um hearing about that option a week ago and and quickly buying a property and being able to move into um a 100% allaffordable unaggered building. Um decisions about real estate must be made
very carefully. There's a lot of money involved, a lot of risk, and these are not decisions that are made quickly, especially when what is being asked for is atypical. We're not we're not comfortable moving with this because it's too risky to underwrite quickly.
This 100% one-bedroom non-agger restricted project would raise too many open questions. Market demand, financing sources, AMI targeting, and investor appetite. So to responsibly commit to a deal that must close in an incredibly quick time frame, we we can't risk
losing 545 Maine as an affordable housing resource while we figure out what we can do with this openness from the state. There's no there's no real precedent for what's being asked right now. Um, a review of uh the low-income housing tax credit database and industry sources
turned up zero examples of a 100% one-bedroom non-agger restricted lite-ch development. Um, the only ones we could find that fit that were were supportive housing projects which serve extremely low-income formerly formerly homeless individuals um providing many services
to them. a fundamentally different program than than a population of workforce housing. So, the fact that this product doesn't exist is telling in and of itself. It means risk and the time frame doesn't allow us to um properly flesh this out before we would
need to commit to the property. Um investors right now in these low-inccome housing tax credit deals are very riskadverse and are priorit prioritizing predictable and standardized transactions. So, a firstofind um unit mix with no track record to point to may be difficult to
sell um in the current equity market. The other concern we have uh well I one other concern is um that we would need to understand more is community and management dynamics differ meaningfully between a building of all single occupants and one with a mix of family
and couples. without any families in the mix in an all- one-bedroom non-agger-restricted property. It does risk functioning potentially more like a dormatory than a stable residential community with real implications for management and long-term performance. That's another thing we would need to delve into. Um and lastly, we're not
sure that that um this recent suggestion about changing our uh project from 30% which which includes 30% and 60% AMI residents only um solves the workforce housing problem that um has been discussed in these meetings. You know,
as an example, um HOIE has come up as an example of of you know, you know, where are they going to live? So, as an example, a HOIE graduate student or a research assistant with their um salary would likely originally qualify for these units, but most other jobs at HOIE
wouldn't. But given we're using public resources, lotteryies, and weight lists are required. We currently have a 5 to sevenyear waiting list for one-bedroom units. A graduate student or a research assistant is typically looking for that unit immediately. they would add their name to the list, but by the time they
were off the list, they would likely not be at HOIE anymore or will have moved to a higher income position, which would make them ineligible. So again, our proposed senior housing fits within the state program rules. It's financable without a waiver. It matches documented demand. It has the
support of all three affordable housing bodies in Falmouth. Um, pursuing a non-agger restricted all- one-bedroom project on this site is something this team cannot take on with this timeline. um its lack of precedent, investor caution, and community character concerns makes it too uncertain to
underwrite quickly. But at the same time, we are excited about the Commonwealth's um excitement about looking at at different opportunities for us and families. So, we really would like to work with the town to figure out how to to to fit that, but we need to be careful and we need to make sure that we
do it right deliberately and thoughtfully. Um, I'm just going to get turn it over to Linda who's just going to give a little bit of data on the senior need. >> Good evening. Linda Clark, Felmouth Housing Corporation. Um, just to give you some key points on senior housing.
Uh, currently, as Tara mentioned, we have 1,200 individuals on our list, over 900 which are seniors. The next one-bedroom senior applicant that would be selected for an available one-bedroom applied in August of 2019. That would be
a seven-year weight list. That would be the next person on our list that would be housed. They applied when they were 69 years of age. They're now 76. 94 seniors have applied for a onebear sen one-bedroom senior unit so far in
2026. So that would be January through July. I checked the weight list today. If you average this out, we can expect an additional 67 applications by the end of 2026, which would bring the number up to 161 applicants in one year, which
would be 2026. Um, according to the Felmouth housing production plan of 2024, single person households increased by over a thousand households from 2000 to 2020, a 30% increase. Singleerson households
comprise of one-third of all family households. 57% of all single person households in 2020 were 65 years of age and older. Location, we talk about the location.
Um, Main Street, the benefit to seniors is in a downtown location. Direct access to public transportation and close proximity to grocery stores,armacies, banks, hospitals, senior center, library, etc.
According to the town manager's monthly report for the month of June, uh there were 53 new participants enrolled in the senior center. that brought it up to a total of 9,528
members at the senior center. Jill Bishop sent a letter in of support to the board of selectmen um last month, sorry, this month. It was dated July 8th. Quoted, many of the older adults we
serve can no longer maintain or afford the homes they have lived in for decades. They want to remain in Felmouth close to their families, friends, and community support, but to often but so often they find there are few affordable housing options
available to them. My hope would be that the select board support the senior residents of Felmouth that have lived and worked here most of their lives, if not their entire life. There are individuals that have supported our community, provided
services to our community, volunteers and other community services, and have paid taxes to the town of Felmouth. They are also our year- round residents. I just want to also speak on lotteryies. Um, any type project that is put
together with this type of funding, all units go to lottery. With that being said, um, for example, if you have 50 units, a hundred applications come in, the first 50 are
the lottery winners. The other 50 go on the wait list. So, the next person that applies for that project is number 51. So, there's a significant the weight lists go on and on. Um, so anybody that
would come into town, as Tara said, it's it's a wait list. It's probably five to seven years for one bedrooms. The two bedrooms and three bedrooms are not as significant. Thank you. Any questions you have for either one of us
want to start? Well, I'm just going to uh make one statement. Um, having been on the affordable housing uh fund work group, one of the groups you mentioned, um I'm not sure what that decision would have
been if uh if the group uh was uh aware of the state's apparent willingness to uh to consider a non-ageerrestricted um uh project. and and I dare say the affordable housing committee andor the
CPC may also have uh looked at this application differently if it had known uh that that was a possibility under the state u uh financing or assistance. So I just want to make that statement. Uh
I've got some more things to say later but I'll wait for that. >> Anyone else? Um, yes. So, I've spent a lot of time thinking about this project in the last
two weeks. Um, and I think that um, you know, to Mr. Mscali's point, I'm I think we could it's potentially tricky to to wonder if the affordable housing committee, for example, would have felt differently. I
think it's hard for us to say it's a possibility. They may have felt the same. Um, so just [clears throat] I I think we want to be careful about whatifs and looking back. Um, I think we're in a really tricky position here
where I feel very much and based on conversations I'm having with residents um, from different parts of town. There are no choices that stand out as the ideal choice. Um I think and my comments from the last meeting reflected
that that I've grappled with this from a really practical standpoint. Um I would very much love to have a robust workforce in Falmouth and I am concerned on a daily basis about the changes that I see even in my own neighborhood um in
the the decade or so that I've lived there. I do also recognize through the work that I've done through different organizations including groups like belonging to each other that we do have a significant lowincome senior population um that some of whom are
being pushed out into unhoused situations as a result of not being able to transition out of the home that they currently occupy. Um and so I think that that is all weighing heavily on my mind when it comes to this project. Um
I respect Fmouth Housing Corporation and Affirmative Investments um priorities and it is you know not something that this board despite everything we might wish we cannot make a developer uh do the project that we would like based on this situation. We can go back to the
RFP process and talk about the power of that uh in a different time. But I I just want to acknowledge I respect the developers right to know what they feel they can deliver on uh especially considering the timeline that we are
faced with. >> I'll jump in a little bit. Um I think I outlined my concernation um at the last meeting. Um, having sat on many uh affordable housing and housing groups,
um, I understand the absolute need for uh, everything across the board. Um, the decision is actually less about whether Falmouth should be building affordable housing. We've clearly and consistently um, say we should, and we have been, and it's more about whether this particular
proposal represents the highest and best use of a limited public resource. So, we're asking, you know, $2.5 million at the start. Uh, it has been identified that this group will come to us at for an additional 1.9
uh million for construction. Um, we're acting as the trustee of the Felmouth Affordable Housing Fund. We have the fiduciary obligation to determine whether this uh expenditure best advances the fund purposes. Um to clarify a little bit yes we have talked
workforce a little bit but restricting to the AMIs of you have as you have stated we're not talking about the hoies we're not talking about the health care we're not talking about the engineering when we say that I think what we're talking about is the lowincome wage inner wage
earners who meet those AMI levels that are here for um uh part-time the people that are working in our coffee shops, the people that are working in our restaurants, the people that are working uh at our retail shops. And this is what we're talking about
when it comes to how do we keep these people here. Um there is, to be candid, we're in a damned if we do, damned if we don't situation. Um there is no wrong answer here. It's just
not the best answer. Um my colleagues here have outlined the need that we need to support these wage earners who are uh you know and we have people with um signs in the front here saying workforce housing. I agree. Um we are with this
vote potentially perpetuating a major problem here in Felmouth which is we housing that is affordable for the demographics that do not meet this age requirement. We're getting older and we're doing very little right now with
our limited town re resources to limit this trend. And I think that's the overall it's not one group versus the other. It's are we doing enough to to curb this trend? Um is this the best available project on
paper right now? It's the only one. Um and we can't look past that for better for worse. Does this m maximize public benefit? I would say kind of. It does not offer the range of household types that we would prefer, but um it does
help. Um it's noted in the housing production plan over and over and especially in the comments received that working individuals were in quote unquote dire need of housing and yet we're not hitting that here with this with with this project.
My biggest concern is the opportunity cost. Every dollar spent here will not be able to be spent elsewhere. And we have limited funding coming in at a time that at the same time we have budget implications coming back. We have projected deficits. We have huge capex
budgets coming our way. So are we able to get more money into an affordable housing fund? This complicates that this a little bit. Um, speaking of capex, uh, because we lack
[clears throat] some strategy and prioritization, whoever gets in first is assumed it will get funded. And this is where we are right now. Um, you're here before us. We don't have an alternative option. We don't have a plan B. We don't have a plan C against which we're comparing
you. So again, there's no wrong answer here. This is a very valuable piece of property. so close to town that I wish we did have some strategy um and prioritization for housing needs so that we can weigh against that. Um we
lack a funding strategy prior prioritization and we actually lack capitalization of the funds. The state does it. They do trunches of money. This is for age restricted. This is for non age restricted. This is general fund. And I think together with that task
force that you're talking about, we should uh think about hiring an independent consultant to help us create this recapitalized affordable housing fund so we can do trunches of money so that we can make it inclusive for all.
So I'm stating things for, I'm stating things against. It's how complicated this uh this issue is. But I do applaud you for turning uh very quickly on a project and an opportunity that
came into your laps with very little time uh with the seller. So thank you for bringing this to the town of Felmouth. >> Can I can I just say one thing? I just also want to remind you you also about four or six weeks ago did fund a workforce housing project. So I think
that is important. I mean the town is is building workforce housing. It's 40 units. Um it just isn't on Main Street. >> I think um like my fellow board members um have spent a lot of time uh thinking about this project and uh talking with a
variety of folks over the past two weeks. And I was struck when you said just a few minutes ago, right, when you're um that you don't want to move quickly when
um a request is not the typical. And I think we're on the flip side of that. What we're being asked for is 84% of purchase funds for this property. we have in front of us. Uh, and Miss Fish, thank you for pulling the numbers,
right? The affordable housing fund has funded 336 total units of housing to date. Um, I'm not aware of any project where we've been asked to put in 84% of the purchase price of the property.
And on top of that, we know that the plan is to come back for another 1.9, which would be a total request of 4.5 million, which I'm looking at the total unencumbered funds in the affordable housing fund, and it's 3.8. So, we literally don't have that amount of
money in the affordable housing fund. So, this is asking for a stretch on two fronts. a really unusual amount of money for the purchase of the property and then a total amount of money that is a stretch and and frankly a leap of faith
for our affordable housing fund and also comes with as Mr. Reid said incredible opportunity costs in terms of what else we might be able to consider in terms of affordable housing. And so I think that's where my desire to really push and ask how much
benefit can we get from this because this is a pretty extraordinary ask. What is the extraordinary benefit that we're going to get from it? And that is not to say that we do not need senior housing. Um, that is not to say that we don't need, you know, not to say that every project can be expected to meet every
need, but I just feel like we're on the the other side of this equation with a really um [clears throat] extraordinary ask and a very short timeline to make that decision. and I'm having a hard time getting to the
extraordinary benefit that would justify extending ourselves to that extent um with our affordable housing fund. Um if if I may um you know as I've said before I think that the select board is
being forced into a decision uh where you know maybe some more thought and uh exploration uh as evidenced by uh your ability to uh to convene that group and thanks to Senator Fernandez for for his
efforts. Um, you know, it's it's a very tight time frame. I understand that uh you know that the the seller wants to sell. It's been a long time. Um, but um to Miss Klein's member Klein's point,
um, you know, we don't know what the affordable housing committee would would say or CPC would say if they were aware of this apparent um change or or in in the state's view of it. these types of
projects. So, um I I my my biggest hang-up at this point is that um it's just coming coming about too quickly for us to be able to to make a real good decision in my mind. Um and that was a decision that the housing court decided
to, you know, sign a contract with a very tight time frame with provisions for extending it by payment of $10,000 a month. I think you have another opportunity coming up. Um, so I'm that's my biggest hangup is I just feel we're
being forced to make a decision that's, you know, not of our making. Uh, and uh, and it is a significant amount of money. The question is really what is the best use of this $2.5 million because once it's uh, once it's given to this
project, uh, it's gone for other projects. So that's where I'm that's where I'm struggling. >> Yeah, >> Mr. Brown, >> you know, you made a good point that somebody that wants to come here to work at HOIE, this project's not going to
work for them. They got to get on a wait list for your model. I still wish that there was a way that you would consider partnering with the previous developer where you could have a mixed use. And I know you don't want to do that, but I
mean I just wish there was some willingness to reach out and work together and bring us the kind of project that we had envisioned for this site. >> Um so part of the meeting that we had last week at the state discussed the
last program and it was made very clear that that program was not financable um by both EOHLC and Mass Housing. And so we are we do really feel like we're stewards of the town trying to build affordable housing here. I feel like
we're um you know we we're not trying to put the time pressure on. I think you signed the purchase and sale in February something. So I mean it seems like it's quick but we had to go to you know the affordable housing trust the CPC. It took a while to get for us to get to
you. So I I do realize it's been short since you've since you've seen it. I think unfortunately we just feel we're about to, you know, we we are willing to we realize you might not vote for this and we're willing to walk away, but we are not, you know, but if we cannot build senior housing, I cannot in good
conscious we are we are a small company. They are a nonprofit. I cannot in good conscious buy this property um with with the idea that came out last week knowing no one has done this in the country, right? I I cannot put ourselves at at
that kind of risk. And so if that's where it is and and we can't we can't fund it. We're willing to walk away. I do think it's important. I realize that, you know, we don't have you don't have all of the money, I think it's important to realize we are our intention was to ask for construction money. I think we
certainly can look at other sources later. We still are asking, you know, I don't think we can change our request for acquisition funds. Um but if we knew we had the acquisition funds, we feel that we can we could search for, you know, other funds somewhere else. So, I wouldn't want that to be the reason why
you um why you made certain votes tonight. So, we really are committed to this town. We do really want to help. There is a huge senior need. Um huge, right? Um so, it is a valuable it is a valuable project. But, um anyway, thank [clears throat] you.
>> The one thing I'd like to say and um in in your memo, you say, and I quote, "Seniors want senior only environments." Um I did do a quick internet search and disclosed a number of projects uh that have joined senior and workforce housing
here in Massachusetts. A number of which have have received state assistance. So uh I do question your conclusion that seniors only want to live with seniors and that a a joining of seniors with workforce housing is not you know it's
not something that makes sense. >> I'm not saying it doesn't make sense. It was just an added component of saying that um it will be harder to get seniors to choose to move into a building if it's if it's looked at as all onebedroom workforce, but and I don't actually if I
haven't seen a project in Massachusetts um combine uh [snorts] dedicated senior and dedicated workforce. I would be interested in looking at those, but um I have not seen that before. >> I can share them with you at some point. One is in East Hampton, I know in
Massachusetts. >> Can you um say a little bit more? It sounded like you were saying that you felt the project could be viable without the additional 1.9 million from the town in terms of construction funds because
that to me besides the fact that that as I said, I'm I'm looking at the balance of the fund and we don't have 4.5 million in the fund right now and we don't know what the future balance would be. So, we can't necessarily commit to that. That feels like an added risk on our part if
we are providing $2.6 million in acquisition funds without the certainty that the project can put together the the construction funding um with or without the town. >> No, I understand it's a risk. I'm saying that I I I feel that we
I feel that we can work very diligently to get that number down. Um, so I just don't want that and and I think there are opportunities especially now that you know the Commonwealth is very focused thanks to Senator Fernandez on this site and this project um and and the issues in Falmouth. So I think you
know it would be replacing it largely while we can um do some fundraising. It's very small compared to the amount of um resources that are available at the state. Um so we could ask for more state resources um for the construction piece. Um so I just don't want that. I
understand you're saying I don't want to give you the money if you don't if then we're sitting on a project that's not going to happen right. Um all I can say is we we we do not take on projects. This is part of the point that we do not believe that we can succeed in and that is why we are fighting back right now on
the other option. Um we do we we will buy it we will buy the project I'm sorry we will buy the site and we will figure out a solution. I know it's not solid yet but we feel that way. Yes, Miss Klein.
>> Um, I I think it feels as if we are hinging a larger philosophical conundrum on a developer on a on a single site. And I think that we're what what I'm hearing and what I've been hearing in conversations over
the past two months um is is a lack of a bigger picture vision for what is happening. And that's already been referenced this evening. And what I question is is if is it appropriate for this board to hold up this project because we are grappling with this lack
of bigger picture plan. Um and a phrase that came up uh when I was discussing this project and this um vote with someone in the community was a bird in the hand um beats two in the bush, right? And so I've been thinking about
that saying a lot in the last uh several days because you know right this project is a project that we you know I feel based on the track record of the Fmouth Housing Corporation and the nearly 300 units that they've successfully built in Falmouth that they would be able to
build and manage this building and it would serve the residents incredibly well as we could see from the significant testimony we've received. So are I really what I've been grappling with is is it better for us to move ahead with something that we know this
developer can deliver on or are we holding off and I I fear very much that if we wait we will lose this project or this location to market rate
highest bidder um kind of a sale. And while I know that members of this board um feel very frustrated that we're we're kind of being squeezed in that way, uh it doesn't change the reality, right? And so to to vote against it because we
feel like we're we've got our backs up against the wall and we're being pushed to it. Um is that the best choice? Is that in the best interest of Falmouth at large? And I again I don't want to hold a single site and a single project responsible
for what we're really grappling with which is the bigger picture comprehensive plan for how we're using funding, how we're using space. Um and that's what I'm what I am hearing in our discussion.
I think that's fair. I and I do think that's part of it. I I do think the other part for me is as as Mr. Reid said that the opportunity cost literally just looking at the amount of money that we have in the affordable housing fund and if the
question is is this the only project that we can fund is this where we should be putting our money is that the right use of taxpayers dollars in the affordable housing fund. Um the 2.6 being requested for acquisition right now would leave us
with 1.2 2 million if that were our only investment in this project and it went forward um without an additional investment from the town as currently proposed by the developer. Um one thing that has been
said is that as seniors move from uh their other homes into these units that would create other homes in our community potentially for families. Um, I think there's an opportunity in that
case to work proactively to try to connect those folks moving out of those homes with Falmouth Housing Trust and the town for a buy down program to actually make sure that those homes become affordable homes, not that they get gobbled up by
market rate and hire buyers, right? But that would require a further investment from the town for that buy down. And if we have no money left, we forgo that opportunity for those unit. You know, there's just if if we spend all of our money on this 50 units,
>> there's a lot of other opportunities that we're forgoing. And and so it's it's with that extraordinary draw on our resources that that I have a that I'm that I'm really hitting a stumbling block. Well, as you know, I was a big I am a
big supporter of the previous project, and I've tried every single thing I can think of to try to make this make that work. And I don't think I've been very successful. And I agree with Miss Klein that the bird in the hand is better than
one in the bush. And 30 to 60% AMI for seniors is a pretty good return on investment for 50 units. So, you can't deny that it's a good project. I wish we could add the other project, but we can't apparently
given our our last conversation, it doesn't seem very hopeful. So, I'm willing to concede that I would prefer to see this than the unknown. Can't just say no without a plan, right? All right. Um, are there any other say
questions or comments for the applicants? No. So, um, in respect to a lottery that would take place if if the board so chooses to approve this project, what would happen is, um, we would any
seniors that we have living in our buildings. We do have some, we would certainly encourage them to apply for the senior housing um, >> in your in the family units to open up. >> Yes. in the family units to open up to open up units for family um occupancy. I
actually I see one of my tenants in the audience. She was here last week. I didn't know she was coming again. Um she [snorts] came from one of our um unager restricted one-bedrooms and she's over at Screen Me.
>> I have a question for the applicant before you go. um the construction cost. Just back on to that point, the 1.9, would you still proceed with this application knowing that that is not guaranteed?
>> We we would >> Would you still uh go ahead with it if you knew that you were not going to get it from us? It's a good question. [laughter] I mean, I think my hope is that we've
established enough credibility here in all the projects that we've done. Um, and that we are open and truthful and honest and we have a very great relationship with the state. We're happy to get on calls like this again, you know, and kind of we feel that if we show that we've deliberately pulled as
much money out of the state as we possibly can and we still have a small gap, we would hope that you would you would entertain that option. Um, I do feel comfortable saying um that I feel we can get rid of we we could we could push the state on most of that, but I
you know I I can't make commitments to them right now, but I I can make a commitment to work very hard to get that to zero if possible or as small as we can. >> Well, I appreciate that because I think we too cannot commit to 1.9 at this time
because we don't have it in our coffers. >> Correct. Um, and we might not have it in our coffers because we might get another project that pops up between now and then. Um, so would hate to see this fail if we say yes tonight and then there's
no construction funds. >> Well, and we won't want to see it fail either. Once we purchase the property, we are putting lots of money in it to get it ready for funding applications at the state. I mean, this is, you know, there's millions of dollars of our own money in pre-development costs, so we don't want it to fail either.
>> Roger that. Thank you. Yep. >> Is there further discussion from the board? >> Not right now. I'm going to hear from it. >> Okay. Is there public comment on this matter? And public comment will be limited to to two minutes per person.
>> That would be great if you would run the timer. >> It's on. >> It's on. Um, I'll be real quick. I'm a retired um >> And could you introduce yourself please for the record? >> My name is Ray Nishi. I'm a retired neuroscientist who used to be the director of education at the Marine
Biological Laboratory. And I'm also a Dennis of the Felma Sports Center where I've met many servers and bartenders in our community. And I just wanted to remind um the board that it's really important to look out for the economic viability of our town. And uh frankly,
as a senior, okay, I'm 72. I don't think seniors contribute as much economically to our economy, as do um the servers, the bartenders, all the workers in our community. As well as I wanted to remind you, there are six scientific institutions in Woods Hole. It's not
just HOIE, it's a marine biological laboratory, it's USGS, it's Noah, it's the Sea Education Association, a Woodwell Climate Research Center. So these are all scientific institutions that have research assistants, post-docctoral fellows and graduate students working in them. And these
people are working, grad students work for up to five to six years in a laboratory and post-docctoral fellows may stay for anywhere from two to even five or six. So my impression of Felmouth, okay, I'm a year-round resident. I've been here for 10 years,
is that the vitality of Felmouth is based around a lot of those scientific institutions because they're year round. They bring people in year round. And I know we have a great summer uh recreational community, but I also know that the
people who drive our economy are the bartenders and servers. And I've talked to them and they are suffering. And I've tried to get them to come to these meetings, but they're all working. So, they can't come to these meetings. And some of the people I know, there are seven of them living in a single
apartment. So, they are suffering. And if we don't support our servers, I think our economy is really going to be in trouble. And that's all I have to say. Thank you. Thank you. [applause] Yes, sir. Come on up to the microphone
if you'd like. >> Are you able I would say, can we bring him a mic? >> Stay where you are, Dan. Stay down there. I'll bring your mic. >> No. My name is Dan Sherer. I live in West Falmouth
and I think I'm the oldest person in this room at 89. [snorts] And I really know how what people as they age love to uh live
in a community like this. [clears throat] It's a fantastic town, but we also need at my age and a hell of a lot of help.
And we're not going to be able to afford it. We can't depend on people coming over the bridge every day. our our DPW, our police,
our fire firefighters, our teachers, and uh last week I was had have the ambulance call come to me and it was there in
approximately six minutes which was kind of amazing. They did a marvelous job. The the emergency room after four hours. What there? Oh, what? Working on me? Oh,
what sent me to the the wound? What? Famouth wound center. And I questioned all the people that were working on me and all of them had a long drive. All of
them complain about coming over the bridge. They don't want it and we're not going to get people not only our own children. Mine happen to work here and have a job. Uh,
and my grandchildren have a jobs, but they can't find a place to live. And this is a beautiful location. I think it's it's wonderful for
any age, but what we need here is workforce housing. And I think that if we don't get that, this town is going to be in really rough shape in a few
years. And I'm going to say something that I don't think anybody else in here would do. I think if you put this in workforce housing and another project here and you
put it out to the public, you would find you could raise some money and I I've raised a lot of in this town for different things. It's a very generous town
and the needs are the needs to keep this town going. Thank you very much. [applause] >> Yes, ma'am. >> Very brief. I just had one question for the housing people. Will all the units be restrict the age restricted units be
for Felmouth residents only? >> I can actually speak to that just for efficiency sake. >> 70%. Correct. Massachusetts state law allows you to only restrict to 70% local occupancy. >> Okay. So 70%. So 30% of the units will be for anybody in the Commonwealth of
Mass. Correct. >> It is not nec it's a lottery. So you can only maximize it at 70%. Sometimes you do end up with more than 70%. But yeah, there's 30% that you cannot restrict in that way. >> So that's what's been happening in this town with all the affordable units. And
I'm you know I I hear everybody say we need affordable. We need affordable. But when you're bringing people over the bridge and I hear them, they love it here that they got to live on the Cape. They never expected to live on the Cape in an affordable unit. And that's if we
could guarantee that those were 100% which we can't. And I think that's a rub for a lot of people as well. The other thing is is Miss Goldstone brought out a really good point. When these older people sell their homes,
they're going to want the most they can get for them, whether they give the money to their children or whatever. So, you're not putting the the family in these older people's homes when we move them into the age restricted unit. These houses are going to become market value
and we're just going to get more market value 800, $900,000 houses that the young people still can't afford. And I'm old, too. I'm not that as old as Dan, thank God. But but
I own a home and my house when I that's my investment, my lifelong investment. I'm not going to give it to some kid for $295,000. I'm going to maximize it and then go into the old age home. I I don't know. I I just think that you're missing the
boat here. We need workforce because people have to take care of us old people. And right now you're just going to put more old people and make more people come over the bridge. And the old project was a great project. I think that this one is it's going to be another one at the corner of this build
this building which is hideous. I'm sorry to say, but we've ruined the whole east end of Felmouth with these big huge buildings. And if you want to do it, at least keep the old building and make it look nice and historical instead of making it this big ugly building. But
you're not helping young people at all. And us old people, we should at this point in our life be able to take care of ourselves. [applause] >> Mr. Glasso, [clears throat] >> thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm Michael Glasso, uh, Bushwood 545 LLC. I'm the
pri developer of the project. seems a lot of people are talking about tonight, not even people I invited here, but I think you heard pretty strongly from the crowd tonight that what we really need is workforce housing. I've proposed another number of um alternatives to building the seniors at this site. Remember, we got a historic building on
this property designated historic which brings $6 million. We're talking about a lot of money tonight. Keeping this building there as historically designated as it has been approved by the National Park Service brings $6 million to this community for affordable
housing and to preserve that building. There are many other sites in downtown. I've proposed building it the senior project which we need senior housing too. I'm not opposed to senior housing at the plaza. The plaza wants to redevelop their property. They want to
build 150 units there. They need affordable housing in order to do that. This project for 50 seniors could probably be 60 or 70 or 80 in that location. That's nine acres there. And plus, it will it will spark the start of
construction of those 150 market rate units, which when completed will bring up to $500,000 a year in property tax to our town. We need that. We desperately need that. We need the housing. We need workforce housing. But by relocating the
senior component of this project to the plaza in working with the plaza owners and developers, we could generate a big plus for our community. The housing that we need, the workforce housing that we need at the current site and $500,000 a
year in an increased property tax. We need that. So, I hope that you will continue to stay the course with workforce housing, which it seems as though the community desperately needs. And not that we have to destroy a project that Linda has worked on or any of us has worked on. Let's find a
solution. Let's find a solution that we can have both. That we can have both. [clears throat] That's what I ask that you would do tonight. Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] My name is Vicky Angstrom. You probably
remember me from two weeks ago. Both projects, workforce and senior housing, I would say to be unbiased, are both critically important. The question is, and where you should
stay focused, is who owns this property? It's owned by a businessman who has waited five years to de divest himself of this piece of property.
He has a contract, a purchase and sales contract with the Fouth Housing Corporation. If you choose not to go with that project, your right and your privilege to vote.
So the man has suggested that he will develop it himself and that he will raise the building and put something else up there. Now I don't know exactly what the zoning
allows there. If it's another restaurant, it's going to compete with every other restaurant in town. If it's a gas station, it's going to compete with every other gas station in
town. It's not that big a lot. And so therefore, you have to be cognizant of the fact that it will limit what is put there. But if you don't make a decision,
the housing corporation can find somewhere else. Though this is ideal for seniors, as far as the workforce housing, these people work. They have automobiles. If they live in North Falmouth or they live
in Bourne or somewhere else, they can drive to their job. And families that have work force need workforce housing. They need some place where their kids can play. >> That's too many.
>> Not on Main Street. >> Jump up your comments. I'm sorry if I'm taking too much time, but stop and think about what you may end up with if you can't make a decision as a board.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Hi, Robert Dugan Heights. Uh just to piggyback on what Miss Angstrom said, I have property downtown next to Liberty Green, which was a a designated site that the town could have gotten involved
with and picked a project. Instead, it went to a situation where the owners got to do whatever they wanted. And now you have over 100 units where more than 90% are vacant with occupancy uh permits. You even have affordable units
that are vacant. This owner has been very explicit that he will do something himself in this site. I know from being on zzoning, I know what you could do in that site. Between your overlay districts and anything else, you could have a massive project. So, I think you also want to
think what could be there that you lose control of. You don't want another project like I have next to me. It just changes the whole outlook of the town and you again that you have no control. Take take a working group like they said
figure [snorts] out a plan. You know, you're basing stuff that there's no [clears throat] criteria. Even even workforce housing doesn't even have a definition. Make a definition. Figure out what your criteria is. Put it into a production plan and then have a
goal. What areas of town do we want to start looking at? What are the properties do we have? Can we go in cooperation with current owners? But if you don't make a decision on this to go with a project that's been very vetted at this point, they're not someone that
takes chances. They have a track record in town. You really chance having an owner put up something that you would never want on the site. Right now, you have the choice that you could control what's there. Once
tonight's over, that choice disappears. So, I just want them to think about that of the town because and then follow up in these projects. You know, you're talking about housing that's needed in town. We have projects all over town and apartments that are vacant. They don't follow them up. Follow up with the
projects when they build these developments and you know that the that the um that they're making more than 25% if you go over what the closing figures are. Go with the state and get those monies back into an affordable housing fund to use them. But I just I just feel
bad that you lose a huge opportunity if you don't make a decision tonight on something that you can control and then have a developer that even sells it to something else and just does what the town, you know, wouldn't want
located in that area. >> All right. So, one more. Thank you. Would you like the microphone to come to you? Kevin Murphy and I represent the owner in this transaction. Mr. Mamry and his
family uh he communicated with me this weekend. He's been extremely patient to try to make this affordable housing. He worked with Mr. Goso for five years and over those five years, Mr. Colasso
misled him and cost him thousands of dollars. When the Felmouth Housing Corporation came forward, he said, "I'll give it one more chance. He's already looked into and didn't want
to do it, but demolition of the property himself because he has rights by right to develop 20 market rate units there on that property." And we've seen those type of market rate units on the other
side of Main Street. And this is an opportunity. You're right. Be careful what you wish for. I guess as a as a former selectman, as a town meeting member, I think we had an opportunity
right next to uh down the street here. And be careful what we wish for. We could have had an all suites hotel that would have provided loads of income for the town. It would have been well-kept, managed properly. This is another opportunity. But the ship is sailing.
Mr. Galasso is delusional to think that he would be stepping into this. They are adamant that they will not entertain him or anyone he is associated with. So I hope you do the right thing. Thank you.
Thank you. I just want to be very clear for both the board and the public um that the choice we have before us is not a choice between projects. That this board does not control that site or say what goes there.
The choice that we have before us is whether or not the allocation of Falmouth affordable housing funds as requested is the best use of those dollars to accomplish the town's strategic housing needs.
Right? That's that's the choice that we have to make tonight. Um [clears throat] and we have heard I see Mr. Garrison. Okay. very last one as our chair of our affordable housing committee
>> expressing a hope [laughter] >> uh Dave Garrison um chair of the affordable housing committee um our committee has not met since this discussion unfolded so I'm speaking for myself as a committee member not on behalf of the committee first of all I
want to clarify something about the about the funding situation um Mr. Johnson stop assuming that the same am roughly amounts of money that went into the fund this year go into the fund next year.
How much would that be? Rough number. So, by policy, the uh select board appropriates about uh $950,000 from recurring funds um largely from the
uh the house the excise sorry the the rental uh >> short-term rental. >> No, it's not it's not just short-term rental. It's the whole all of the hotel motel and short-term rental excise tax. Sorry. Um and then additionally the question becomes what is the
appropriation from the community preservation fund going to be? That amount has ranged between 1 million and $3 million per year. More typically around two, right? >> So potentially another 3 million or so could be going in. >> And a question then for Taro, when would
the request come for the um construction fund? >> It would be more than a year from now, would you guess? >> Oh, well the award Yeah. Um, we have to figure out when we can now apply because we've lost, >> right? But it's at least a year.
>> It would be at least after your >> So, so the point I'm trying to make is a year from now when a new fiscal year of another trunch of money has shown up in the fund. We have to make decisions about you have to make decisions about what to do with that money. You have
plenty of money to fund this project if you choose to do so. on the construction side, it you're not making a decision now to to commit all of those funds. Now, I I grant you if you make a decision to support the con the purchase
price, there's an implication there that you're going to be there also for the construction side. So, I acknowledge that, but it isn't true that you're going to have to spend the money this year. So, I it's a multi-year project. The other thing I would say is
this this is a project you have in front of you. You don't have another project of the sort that you're describing. It isn't there. There's no organization in town that's brought that to you. Even if we take it are able to take advantage of the state's suggestion that they would
provide us a waiver. There's a long process of development finding people to do the work. The town doesn't build this stuff. We have to find somebody to bring us proposals and have a par parcel to work with. Years would unfold before you would get to that desirable
result. We need to take this opportunity which is the only one in front of us right now and get on with it. Um and and so I strongly recommend that you take advantage of of the of this innovative
undertaking which is to take which is to to do something quickly because it's now available and not miss the opportunity to do that. We can combine come back and work on other matters that are going to take us a while. But I would urge you all to support this project now. Thank
you. >> Thank you. [applause] Okay. So, we have a a difficult choice uh ahead of in front of us. Um do we have a motion? I have to go back to it. Um,
make a motion that the select board as trustees of the Fmouth Affordable Housing Fund vote to award Fmouth Housing Corporation 2,600,000 for the acquisition of 545 Main Street for the purpose of creating 50 affordable rental units to be deed restricted at 60% of the area median
income and to authorize the town manager to execute the financial documentation setting forth the terms of the award. Do we have a second for that motion? >> Yeah, I'll [snorts] second that. >> Is there any further discussion from the
board? >> Yeah, I'd like to um I think the arguments raised tonight both for and against um have uh given me um
good thought regarding process. I think without a lack of excuse me with a lack of an additional project at our hands to which we would be comparing this against we don't have anything in hand right now. Um so I'm leaning towards
supporting this with the understanding that um we need to do as Dylan Fernandez Senator Fernandez has said. We need to start working with the state. We need to update our Felmouth housing production plan and and
prioritize what it is we need. So the next time we have something that we can land on and we also need to really think about um how we are going to use that and flow into how we are going to set
aside funds in the Fmouth uh affordable housing fund. Um, without that, it's hard to um hard to land on anything in full opposition because we're not comparing it to anything other than a need. But we
do need housing for our essential workers. We do need housing for our firefighters. We do need housing for our teachers. We do need housing for uh our police, so on and so forth. Um, and we need to make this a number one priority
that's in an updated Fmouth with housing production plan so that we have strategy against any project that's coming before us and we do not have that right now. We have we need housing and this achieves a housing thing.
>> Well, you know, we do have a housing production plan. It was just updated and it's up to us. We take these projects one at a time on their merits and we prioritize what we feel is important with each with each case. It's a case-byase basis. You
can't ever really spell out every single thing in these plans. So, I don't think that we're really handicapped by that. I think we just have to decide what's best on each individual case. [clears throat] And this is a definitely a tough one. I agree with you.
There's no guiding light that's going to tell us what to do. >> Um, so I'll weigh in. We've all been struggling with this for for a few weeks, couple of months. We all know the many successful projects here in town thanks to Found Housing Corp. and its
partner, Affirmative Investments. And I have no doubt that if this project is approved, it will be successful. But I don't think that's the question before us. question is what is the best use of over $2.5 billion dollars of limited affordable housing funds given our
overall housing needs and honestly I'm not sure we know right now what that answer is as I previously said and say again I feel that we are being forced into a decision not of our making without a complete exploration of all of the implications
uh I cannot support the application at this time and If there's no further discussion, we have a motion and a second. >> All those in favor? >> I >> I. >> Those opposed? >> No. >> I
>> It passes three to two. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Good luck. >> Sorry, Mike. We uh will move on to our next item. Also a an affordable housing item.
Consider a previous vote of the select board as trustees of the Falmouth affordable housing fund. I'm actually I'm going to um call a pause uh not ajourn but uh for recess uh for two minutes to let the room clear um for
those who are taking off at this point. additional information. >> It's a really long walk. [laughter] Um, I'm Kim Fish, the housing coordinator, [clears throat] and I'm just going to introduce Noren Brown. She's with Habitat for Humanity and she'll give you the details.
>> Great. Thank you. >> I'm Noren Brown, um, director of land acquisition for Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod. And, um, we're just here to, um, request the the vote to amend the, um, number of unit the the 60% of AMI versus the 80% of AMI. This doesn't
change the fact that there is a need for affordable housing. We're just trying not to identify whether of the four homes, two are 60% and two are 80%. All of our projects will be under 80%. It's just this particular round of funding, this this particular lottery didn't
generate as many 60% buyers. So, we had to shuffle in the 80% um in in in their place. Um because of the vote and the spec the specificity of 260 and 280, we also had to work with the DBA. So, we had to go back and amend the comprehensive permit and get a
modification there and then talk to the other town votes that specifically identified two at 60 and two at 80. Um, so we we uh had a lottery for six homes. We needed uh we needed three 60%s and
380% and we got two 60s. So, Brewster needed 160 and 180. They were good. Brewster uh Felmouth needed two 60s and 280s. They got 160 and 380s. And then we had Bourne. Bourne is a one-unit community. Well, a one one unit home. We
just chose to do 60% there. We could not get a 60% buyer in Borne as well. So, that went to an 80% buyer. So, we're just planning for the future. We will still have the 60. We will still offer the 60%. We're just trying not to designate how many of each um AMI will
be planned in advance. Can I just clarify? Um, so that means if I'm understanding correctly, in the future you would offer it at 60 and if there were no buyers at 60, you would then go to 80 as opposed to simply defaulting to 80. Is that am I
understanding that correct? >> No, we would this we would start at 80 like we would advertise at or below 80% of AMI which would includes which would include the 60s. We just don't want to say you know of the four units 60 two of them will have to be 60% of AMI. It
would be you know up we would be at or below 80% of AMI and when a 60% purchaser presents themselves qualified they would be given the same afford you know the same opportunity to purchase a home. So we're not trying to eliminate the 60%. We're just trying to prevent
the backtracking of going back and talking to five different boards to get, you know, votes amended. >> Okay. >> Just just a broader question. Why do you think that we weren't able to get more at 60% qualified
>> at this point? Um, so I'm I'm not involved in that part of the company, but what we're discussing is a lot of them were debts. So because of the debt um they would not qualify for a mortgage which is something that's not really >> the 60% were more in debt which indicate
that their eligibility for financing was was not good >> was was yeah >> seems to be what the reasoning was. >> Yeah. >> Or reason why. Thank you. >> Okay. >> I mean that's >> other questions from the from the board.
>> No. I do want to reiterate though what um select board member um Mscali had said earlier that there we did see who won the lottery and there are about 22 people that will have sec secure housing in these four units now. So it's a
massive win. This is really just a um procedural er procedural request just because of that um we don't want to pigeon hole that into that one thing. >> So So but there is one at 60%. Yes. >> And how many applicants were there for
that? Just one? >> Yes. >> One qualified? >> Just one qualified at 60%. So they they they lucked out. >> Yes. >> Good. Okay. >> However, of the six families that were selected in this round, everyone was a healthcare worker. At least one member
of the household was a healthcare worker. >> Okay. Excellent. >> All right. I I'll make a motion unless go ahead if you've got it in front of you. >> Oh, is it? I was Mine was pretty short.
[laughter] A motion that the select board acting as trustees of the Fmouth Affordable Housing Fund amend the original vote of July 29th, 2024, awarding $500,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod for the
creation of affordable housing at 805 Gford Street Extension, of which $250,000 will be awarded as a grant for land acquisition and $250,000 will be awarded as a zerointerest loan for the construction of four single
single family homes for ownership. two of which will be deeed restricted as affordable at 60% AMI and two will be deeed restricted as affordable at 80% AMI in perpetuity and authorize the town manager to execute all documents setting
forth the terms of the financial award to Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod to now allow one home to be deed restricted at 60% of AMI 60% of the area median income and three homes to be dee restricted at 80% of the area medium
income. >> Second. >> Yeah, [laughter] >> you got off easy, Miss CL. >> All right, we have a motion in a second. Is there any further discussion? >> Hearing none. All those in favor? >> I >> It's unanimous. >> What a great project. You're seeing all those kids and thinking about all those
kids there, you know. Great job. Thank you for bringing it to us. >> Can I mention as we're talking about Gford Street, we have our Blitz Build this fall. So the um the um homebuilders remodelers association of Cape Cod will be donating one whole home and building [clears throat] it from frame to finish
in a week the week of September 21st to the 25th. >> Fabulous. Thank you so much. >> You'll be there right then. >> Okay. Um next item discuss and consider approval of an application to the community preservation committee for exterior preservation improvements at
the Westmouth fire station. Mr. Renshaw. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh the current building constructed in 1930 currently serves as you all know as the West Felmouth Fire Station. It's located within the West Felmouth local historic district and within the West Felmouth Village National District. Madam Chair,
Select Board, as I've indicated to you before, over the next 12 months or so, the fire rescue chief in my office will be leading consultant study to evaluate the most effective and efficient fire station uh configuration modeling um and looking taking a look at the existing
the town's existing sixstation model. Uh the small 1 and a half story brick structure enclosed by a gable roof with a central ventilating capola copola is in need of exterior repairs to extend its useful life and protect interior systems. The recent town building study
and you have a copy of that study an excerpt of that study included in your packets tonight indicated that the wooden doors are in fair condition. The single pane windows are in very poor condition. The wood siding walls are in fair condition and the asphalt shingle roof covering the roof uh shingles are
beyond its recommended useful life. Based on the study that was conducted by Brightley and the consultants that uh ran the uh building condition index study for us, the total cost for these exterior improvements is is estimated to be between 160 and $180,000.
I had um our community development director check with um our historic preservation specialist consultant and all of these exterior improvements are consistent with the allowable spending purposes of the community preservation fund. As you know the deadline for submitting application to the CPC for
the April 2 2027 funding cycle is uh approaching quickly August 4th of of this year. And madam chair and select board pinning the uh results of the aforementioned uh assessment uh of our existing sixstation model uh and and and and west in the
West Felmouth Fire Station, the management team recommends that any funds to improve the West Felmouth Fire Station be limited at this time to those that will improve the envelope or the exterior of the structure such as the windows, doors, and roofing materials thereby protecting as I mentioned the
structure from further degradation. and I'd be happy to answer qu any questions you might have. >> Thank you. Um are there Yes, Miss Klein, kick us off. Um thank you for that, Mr. Wrench. Um I had
the privilege of visiting the station um and meeting some of the individuals who are working there about two weeks ago. Um I had never having passed it for the last 14 years, I'd never been inside. Um, and so it was really an eyeopening
experience and um, just want to say thank you to Mac and Nate who took some time with me um, to talk about the building and their experience in it and I would, you know, push hard to also encourage an evaluation of the interior
conditions. There's uh definite indications that there are water stains in the ceiling um which can facilitate the growth of mold and other items that are hazardous for the health of individuals who are required to live and work in that facility. Um there were
things that I would not have allowed in my home um if it was if it was somewhere a space where I was living. I would I would not be tolerating those conditions. And so I respect and recognize that this item is is referencing the exterior condition. Um but especially because firefighting by
nature is a profession in which a person is exposed to increase health impacts by the nature of their job. If we have an opportunity to improve their living conditions in a way to better their health, then we need to do that. It's it's really um I find it's critically
important. We do have a line item for interiors, right? I I know our language says exterior on the agenda, but in 2026 interior, this is just the needs. This is not what
you're intending to do. >> Yes. So, that's part of the uh of the uh condition index study that was done by Brightly and uh and our consultants. Um and and I wanted to uh respond if I could, Madam Chair, to to select board member Klein, and I I was remiss in not bringing this up. We during the meeting
that we had with a few members of the West Film Village Association back on June 26th, I also had our DPW director and our facilities manager, Greg Andicott, at that meeting. And uh I think when we went into that meeting um and again pending the results of this evaluation of the sixstation model which
is is I hope to get underway quickly um it's my goal to make that facility um enhance its habitability, make it safe. Um I think by replacing the uh the the roofing that's going to likely address we're certainly going to check into the
the leak and any existing uh mold conditions. My my point um during that meeting we had a discussion with the facilities manager. Um we also had another study done by Arcadus which is as you all know um responsible for um
the the the baseball fields uh in Ding Park looking at environmental concerns and hazards and uh part of that study um indicated that um although there are hazardous materials present asbestous in the uh in the floor tiles perhaps in the
walls um insulation and whatnots um lead paints perhaps in in some of the windows uh that again this this um proposal calls be replaced. Unless you disturb that um it it's not a hazard. If you disturb the uh floor tiles, they become
fryable and then they become a hazard. Um so the point of that is any extensive significant interior improvements, moving walls, replacing electrical wiring, um which I was told was not a life safety hazard at this time, the wiring. Um but to do that would require
um a complete full abatement of the of the structure and that I was told triples or quadruples the cost um of the of the project. So that's that was one of the considerations when we were trying to scope this project back on that June 26th meeting wanting to address the
immediate uh issues to preserve the uh the envelope or the the the shell of the building and and enhance the habitability of the building until we make an ultimate decision. If I could, it's interesting that, you know, many years ago the uh abatement
was very expensive because it was not often done and there was very few contractors doing it. But since the state has tightened up the regulations, every time we demolish a house now, we have to abate anything that's in there before the permit is issued. It's made a
a much more uh common occurrence now and there's a lot more contractors. So, the prices have come down quite a bit in the last few years. Can I ask uh Mr. Renshaw and I appreciate the um additional assessment in particular with
the electrical wiring given that that um is listed as uh beyond recommended life, but it was not clear from this report um whether that posed an immediate risk. And I I think um first
of all, I I very much appreciate um the being conservative with taxpayer dollars in the community preservation fund um as we assess um our fire station model. At the same time, um I I hear Miss Klein and Mr. Brown and I also had
um the the honor of of getting a tour of the station and um it I would I'm not sure if this all I I know some of it was identified um as damage that has happened even in just in recent months and perhaps um in in most cases since
this assessment was done, but that um evidence of of water damage in the the ceiling. Um, and so I would like to see uh to the extent that it is obviously compatible with CPC funds to see this request address obviously the exterior
um but also where we have life safety and and habitability issues um on the interior to see if we can address those. Obviously we need to fix the roof so that it's not leaking but then if we can also fix uh the ceiling so that it it does not have water damage and um the
potential for mold growth. um understanding that we're not going to do the full 1.1 million which is anticipated niche through 2045 and we don't know what the the future use of that building might bring and so that I think would not be a warranted
expenditure but I think some um some expansion of the request um beyond the the 180,000 seems uh or sorry 160,000 does seem seem warranted >> if I may I mean the larger amount may not be appropriate at this time, but uh
I echo the sentiments uh from uh Sandy Cuni uh chair of the CPC which we received a communication today uh you know expressing that uh you know that any combination if that is the way we go the fire stations is years away. Uh and
I certainly think that uh we need to address more than just the exterior repairs at this time and seriously look at those interior uh repairs that are necessary. Uh it's hard to imagine
given our capital uh spending money and 800 plus million dollars to factor in a new fire station as well in the foreseeable future. >> [cough and clears throat] >> I [laughter] think we really need to realize what we have similar to the
discussion before. I mean what what we have is a aging fire station that's you know needs a lot of repairs and I think we need to uh to seriously look at the interior and fixing it up. >> Did you want to place I am trying to
control that capital spending. Select board member Mscali. Um I'm going to talk about that hopefully tonight. Um, did you want to place a cap on that? Because as I mentioned, we have done studies and I was told that there are no life safety issues uh in the interior of
the building. We'll take a look at the mold. Um, I just would not recommend spending a significant amount um on on a building that we're not sure what the purpose is going to be 5 years from now. >> No, I'm not suggesting we do that now. I'm just saying something we need to take a look at very soon is maybe some
other repairs going forward. >> Sure. And we we we will do that that building. I can uh Chief Lewis is here and he can he can speak to the uh the inspections that the fire staff do as well as our our facilities manager. We will continue to do those inspections and and and and address any issues that
that we discover um as they're discovered. We have a tight timeline with this CPC uh the application being August 4th. Um so I I was I want to again address the uh protection of the the of the envelope of the building. um address those immediate things that
would to preserve and protect the building. And then of course, you know, going forward, if there's any issues that are identified um on the interior, we we we would have another discussion. But right now, I'm told that there are no life safety issues uh existing on the interior of the building. >> Right. If I could, I would think that,
you know, even though we're basically voting the exterior renovation, I would think that any remediation of any leaks that might have happened would be considered as part of this, right? Yes, I I I think that's accurate. Yes. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> So, and I think timelinewise, um, so we're trying to make this CBC deadline on on August. Those funds would be awarded in April, that work. Um, which I would assume would start with the roof and the envelope to actually
ensure, you know, ensure that that's secure before we start replacing ceilings inside. Um, I would guess that that work would probably take another year. >> Uh, eight eight eight months to 12 months. Yes. Yes. We've been working around the weather in the uh in the
winter season. We would probably, like you had mentioned, do the roofing first to protect that. In the meantime, we will have completed um the update to the uh the study on response times and fire station models um and have a much better
sense of what the future use of that building would be, right? And could then think about an additional round of investments. And so I think for tonight I I would suggest that there are maybe three ways that we could go, right? The one is the recommended. It's 160,000.
and we do the envelope immediately and then consider what else might be needed. Um far extreme of that would be to take everything that's in the report um you know through 2027 and put that into the request and maybe a middle path um would
be to say okay it's the 160 plus we want to actually increase that um request amount by some amount to ensure that we are addressing damage um subsequent to leakage from the roof um and other life safety and health issues that may be
identified in the interior of the Um yeah, sorry, Miss Klein, you're going to jump in. >> I would I would favor that that middle path. Um it seems quite rational, right, to um try and
by protecting the exterior slow further damage inside, but also do the remediation that um that, you know, we both witnessed um as potentially problematic for the individuals there. >> So essentially putting a cap is what you're proposing. Yes, on the the CPC
request and some language into that CPC request to be the items that are here plus any um subsequent damage and and health and life safety issues identified in the the course of that work >> remediation work due to the leaking roof causing >> okay then would say that we would put a
cap of 200,000 rather than the 160 just give a little more cushion >> 250 >> that Yes. >> Yeah. >> 250. Is that what I'm hearing? >> I think we should be a little more uh
more careful with what's there and allow for the possibility. So, I'm I'd be comfortable with 250 at this point. >> Okay. Would you like to make a motion? >> Um, [laughter] Mr. Reid shows me the motions again. Uh, but do we want to have any discussion on
those? or what's that >> open for discussion or anything? >> Is is there are folks chief or others who who would like to to comment? I wasn't I wasn't >> motion at the end of the item. [laughter] >> Mr. Taylor,
>> I thought there might be. >> Okay. >> Good evening to Taylor, precinct 6, West resident and a retired firefighter for 35 years. I uh spoke with Sandra Cooney, the chairman of the CPC funds, and it was
critical to get the application in by I believe it's August 4th. Correct me if I'm wrong. >> U but she says you can make alter, you know, you can adjust the application through the process because it doesn't come before the town meeting until April
of 2027. So, I'm not sure if it's pertinent to put a number on this tonight. But the scope of the work can change as you're going along. And I think she was um you know interested in in hearing uh
and you can alter the application. It just has to be um applied for before the 4th of August without a so if you're having a struggle with the amount because it it it is probably is a difficult to decide how much it's going to take to
redo that building. But um I think that's not pertinent to the uh application. >> Yeah, I appreciate that. And I think you know what we're what we're trying to do is accomplish that that deadline in a responsible manner that gets the work started as quickly as possible um and
brings that building um into better condition and also gives us the time um as staff and as a board um to evaluate uh the way that we use our fire stations moving forward and that you know um and and can make future investments as appropriate. So, I think we had
potentially a motion to approve an application to the community preservation committee for exterior preservation improvements as well as uh uh subsequent uh or remediation of subsequent damage and any um health and
life safety issues identified um in the West Fmouth Fire Station with an amount not to exceed $250,000. Is that >> That's the motion >> for today. >> Exactly. for now >> today. >> For now. >> If that's a motion, I'll second it. >> Okay. Motion and a second. Is there any
further discussion? >> All those in favor? >> I >> I thank you. >> Okay. Um and again, thank you to um to everyone who welcomed us into the the West Mama Fire Station.
Uh all right, Mr. Renshaw, you are up for a presentation of the proposed capital plan for FY27 through FY36. This is a long walk. [laughter] >> We need to start uh designating walk up music for our presenters. >> Much shorter at town hall.
>> Yes. >> Yeah. Right. [laughter] >> Okay. Good evening, select board and members of the community that are still here. Thank you for sticking around for this presentation. Um, I'm extremely proud to have the opportunity again to present an overview of this upcoming
FY27 uh, capital spending plan and the town's 10-year capital improvement plan. My goal tonight is to get through these 14 slides pretty quickly in about 20 minutes. I want to leave the balance for any questions. I want the select board, and this is a first review. I want the
select board tonight to to feel like they've had ample opportunity tonight to ask as many questions as possible. You should all have included in your packets a copy of the uh FY27 plan as well as the 10-year capital plan. As you've heard me say before, the
preparation of the capital budget is a significant undertaking, one that this year uh was even more significant and challenging as a result of the decision to move Falltown meeting uh as uh to October versus the traditional November. The process began with my distribution
of the budget instructions to the departments on April 7th. Distribution of the uh uh distribution of the u budget materials and review uh took place and the departments were told to uh submit their uh capital requests to
the finance department by June 1st of this year. So I wanted to provide some context to the uh to the timeline and the amount of work. Uh madam chair, select board, importantly this year departments were instructed to identify and add operating and maintenance costs
that were associated with the proposed capital projects. So that's a change from years past. As you know, and I mentioned previously, tonight's presentation is simply a first review and no formal action is requested. The town charter simply requires that the select board transmit
the proposed capital budget within 30 days of submittal by the by myself, the town manager. As you've also heard me say before, the development of a 10-year capital improvement plan is probably one of the most critically important processes for which any municipality
uh endeavors. And a well-crafted plan should reflect the strategic priorities of the governing body. Um, importantly, as I did, uh, beginning with my first capital plan here with the town of Felmouth back in FY24, I asked each department to tie every capital request that they submitted to one or more of
the seven strategic priority areas of the board strategic plan. So, what I'd like to do um, is talk a little bit about spending priorities. As with any well-crafted plan, our capital plan begins with a solid foundation
based upon wellestablished, time-tested guiding principles and strategic priorities. These principles are taken directly from the town's fiscal policy, which as you recall was recently updated by the select board in August of last year. I want to next briefly discuss the five primary guiding principles and
priorities that we used as the framework for constructing the proposed FY27 capital budget and the FY27 to FY36 capital improvement plan. Of paramount importance is uh treating imminent threats to the health, welfare, and
safety of citizens, employees, and protecting town property, our assets. We also endeavor to preserve existing operational levels while exploring opportunities for greater efficiency and effective service delivery. Of course, we uh strive to meet or
exceed any legal requirements of federal or state agencies. It's also very important that we maintain and improve upon our critical infrastructure to improve and include preservation of the physical condition of our assets uh both our vehicle rolling stock and our struct
uh buildings structures. And lastly, we strive to leverage technology innovation in order to uh uh provide the most efficient and effective delivery of capital services possible. Although I briefly addressed the capital
budgeting pro capital budgeting process this year during my opening remarks, I want to uh take just a moment to uh provide some additional details particularly the rationale for reducing the use of free cash in this FY2 cap
FY27 capital budget. Management projected after having met with uh town accountants having less free cash to utilize in this FY27 budget compared to the FY26 budget due to fiscal challenges. that were identified a couple of months ago in the long range long-range financial plan. As a
reference point, in the FY26 capital budget, we utilize $16 million in free cash in a 20 roughly 26.5 million capital budget. The goal from the outset was to maintain a surplus of free cash of approximately
$3 million after funding the capital budget as we discussed with uh with you uh during the presentation of that operating budget earlier this year. and we and and also during the April and May uh discussions with regards to the long rich financial plan
management currently projects free cash uh certified uh and we won't know the exact amount until the beginning of October, but we estimate that total free cash to be about $15 million compared to the $21.6 million in certified free cash last year. So that's a significant reduction.
Budget meetings with departments took place uh between June 9th and June 16th. I discussed critical needs with the department heads versus wants in this FY2 27 capital budget and reductions were made during those initial meetings with department heads and sub subsequently after final review in
preparation for tonight's u uh presentation of the proposed budget. The town's 10-year capital improvement plan truly is a comprehensive capital improvement plan that focuses on those five guiding fiscal principles and strategic priorities that are previously
mentioned. As you can see in the spreadsheet included in your packets this evening, the FY27 uh total uh capital budget is $14,15,000. The 10-year capital uh improvement plan
budget FY27 to FY36 is 887,949 887,949,724. Importantly, Madam Chair and Select Board, the FY27 proposed capital budget includes all capital spending from all funding sources, including grants, community preservation, alternative
funding, and borrowing. on the first page of that uh uh spreadsheet in your packet for the FY27 plan, it allocates and breaks out all of those different u funding sources. And as I've already discussed with you as a board this year is the as in the past years, there's an
emphasis on uh and a focus on the strategic planning priorities of the select board. And as you all recall, we just recently went through that amendments uh process of the strategic plan. I just want to uh discuss with you key funding sources. As you can see in the
uh proposed FY27 capital budget, the uh largest source of annual capital funding is bond proceeds with this FO27 proposed budget at approximately $78.5 million. While historically the use of free cash has typically been the uh largest source
of revenue, this proposed budget um relies on less free cash. And again, our goal at the outset was to limit that free cash spending in this FY27 budget to about $12 million in order to uh retain a strong reserve for
unanticipated needs uh during FY27. Whereas in the FY24 and FY26, FY25 and FY26 uh budgets um balances from prior capital appropriations, reappropriations were
were applied. In this particular instance, in the FY27 budget, this funding source is now now only accounts to about $10,000 of reappropriated uh funds due to depleting um those funds uh from existing articles in past years.
So, we basically squeezed that funding source to the point now there was only $10,000 left to utilize. Grant special revenues and other funding maximize the use of that non-free cash again to address priorities and maximize our reserves. And I want to uh review several of these alternative funding
sources with you in the next couple of slides. This slide provides an overview um again um of the uh the proposed spending. Um as I mentioned before, we're trying to limit that use of free cash spending in this FY27 budget to about $12 million.
As you can see, the proposed FY27 budget proposes the use of $12,160,000 in free cash. Um, again, as a reference uh to last year's capital budget, we uh uh utilized about $16 million to fund a
$26.4 million capital budget in FY26. Um, we're proposing the use of $500,000 in this FY27 budget in uh community preservation act funds, and that's uh largely school department um uh districtwide playground equipment uh
replacement. We're proposing the use of $1.72 million in debt capital and debt stabilization. Um, of this amount, I'll break out the spending in this amount of the capital and debt stabilization EMS monitor uh uh
deep defibrillators about $400,000 from the fire rescue department. Uh fire rescue department also has a request in for the replacement of the self-contained breathing apparatus um to the in the amount of $920,000 and electrical transfer switches uh for
the generator at the water treatment plants at about $400,000. Uh grants and donations we're proposing use of $7.73 million approximately grants and donations. Um there's a grant match for coastal resilience of about $474,000 included in that amount. As we
learned um at the last meeting on July 13th, East Felmouth Library, we're projecting $7.19 million uh in that state grant for the East Felmouth Library. Um DPW has uh made requests for um facilities emergency power
infrastructure improvements about $50,000 um to uh uh provide a new generator for this building, the senior center and add a new generator uh install a generator at the senior center. So there's about 15 $50,000 in grants and donations for
that use. Waterways fund $26,000. Um sewer energy imbarcation sale of land we're projecting about $450,000. And lastly, transfers from existing articles. As I mentioned earlier, um although that was a significant uh source of funding in previous capital
budgets over the past three years, it is not as significant this year at $10,000. And as I mentioned earlier, the largest uh source of uh funding in this FY27 budget is borrowing funded through bond proceeds at about uh uh $78.5 million.
The slideshow is 81. um is but as we learned uh at the last meeting uh there's some grant funding uh through the friends of the library and a couple other sources that project about $3 million in donations. So we backed that $3 million off that that borrow for the East Felmouth Library.
Okay, the next three slides uh will highlight some of the larger capital projects that will rely on bond proceeds to fund them. Um, we've all been we've all heard a lot about the police station construction project. Um, as was shown during the uh the the police station
advisory committee's July update to the board. Um, we're projecting $65 million schematic design estimate for total remaining project costs. Um, we've added, as I mentioned, um, about $337,000 in ongoing operating and maintenance
costs estimated for that facility. That does not include, importantly, uh, adding any new police officers. That's just the on andm the operation and maintenance costs, additional cost. It also does not include at this stage um landscaping services, landscaping costs. We're we're currently working with our
parks uh division on on that figure. Madam Chair, >> may I ask you one question? Oh, I'm sorry. >> Um go ahead. >> No. Is that $337,000? Is that this upcoming year or for what period of time is that? No, that would
be upon opening and and running the facility. That would be op at the operating and maintenance cost of the new facility. Pardon >> for year one. >> For year one >> and that money it's going that's going to increase obviously >> that would be a recurring cost and there'd be some escalator in that as far as because some of the pos some of it most of it is positions some additional
custodial positions electric utilities that that has an escalator. >> Thank you. That was my question was was what year that should making sure that wasn't in the coming fiscal year operating budget. >> Yeah. >> And as you all know, we're looking at a
May 2027 debt exclusion ballot question. Um uh I want to uh thank the assistant town manager for calculating annual debt service. We're looking at based upon again the $65 million construction project remaining cost um about four to $6.5 million. Um when you look at a 20
to 30-year term at four and a half to 5%. Um the tax impact uh to the uh uh median single family home which is we talked about $791,000 roughly the median single family home that annual tax impact is between $135 to $225 per year.
>> Mr. facilities currently >> just a quick question. Your slides always say 65 million and the PAC always says 70 million. Whose number are we going on? >> So the PA act, the $70 million includes the $5 million in engineering design
that's already been been appropriated. >> Okay, thank you. Always wondered that. I always saw a disagreement between the slides. >> Anything else to say? >> Yeah, just to to quickly add. So you'll notice the phrasing on this slide is
remain total remaining project costs. We already approved 5 million for design. So that's the distinction. You everybody wants to, you know, have one number and have it be the right number. The problem is there are several right numbers. >> That's a a helpful uh distinction
explanation though. Thank you. >> Any other questions on the police facility? >> Uh we still plan to have that a dead exclusion. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Okay. Moving on to East Felmouth Library. Again, a lot of this you heard at our last meeting on July 13th, but we
recently received the schematic design estimate of total remaining project costs. It's $16.7 million. Again, looking at that state grants, uh provisional award of about $7.2 million. Um, as I mentioned, um, we received word that there's potential donations from
the library trustees, library support fund, and the friends of the Felic Public Library in the amount of $3 million. So the total net cost to the town would be about $6.5 million uh based upon those funding sources. Um again um October 2026 town meeting um which uh
that that was approved last uh last meeting. Um moving that article forward um November 2026 debt exclusion ballot question is what we're projecting and again thanks to Peter for doing the math on this. Um, we're looking at a tax impact based upon annual debt service
between $425 to $585,000. The uh tax impact to the uh median single family homeowner uh would be between 16 and $24 per year. And lastly of the uh of the three large borrowing projects uh that have uh
really um uh increased our our capital project for this FY27. Um we're going to talk a little bit about the wastewater oceanfall and effluent pipe. Again, estimated design cost of this project's $7 million. Uh we're looking at a May 2027 B exclusion ballot question. Um
again based upon the annual debt service of $455,000 to $630,000. We're looking at an uh tax impact to the median family single single family homeowner of between 16 and $24. Can >> I ask a question? >> Some of the police station. Yes.
>> So um for the outfall that's the cost of design that would be a debt exclusion question. Isn't a debt exclusion for for something long-term that's going to be advertised? I'm just questioning whether
it be a debt exclusion item. Yeah, we would because it's $7 million and it's not something I I mean there's there's some there's some decisions to be make to be made here. You know, in theory, I suppose you could use debt and capital stabilization for that 7 million, but
that would be a big chunk of the balance of the debt and capital stabilization. So, you know, you're right. Sort of typically in the past design costs around a million dollars or so. We don't typically do a long-term bond on that, but at $7 million, that's not something
that we can do without borrowing. And and at this point, we don't have the room within the levy limit to do without a >> debt exclusion. We don't have the room in the debt in the levy limit. >> I I shouldn't say within the levy. Yeah, within the levy limit, right? So, yeah, without increasing, >> you'd have to go over
>> the revenues, right? Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you, Peter. I next want to shift focus to uh discussing with the board those projects that were deferred or recommended for not not to be funded this FY27. Um similar to last year um we
removed ditrifying septic septic cost mitigation about $1.8 million from the FY27 uh budget. Um and again the similar to last year the reason for that is we still have no clear policy uh document um that uh that that that governs that
type of a a process. Um although the financial fairness task force uh group that's recently been formed. We hope we'll address this and we will have that document going forward. But right now for the FY27 budget we remove that $1.8 million. >> Is there a question?
>> Sorry I have a question later in the slides. before you move on. >> Um, also importantly, I want to point out that the recreation department requested uh $2 million in funding for synthetic surface fields. Um, and we did not recommend funding for that particular project in the FY27 budget.
Um, the next list of projects um are projects that were uh that were deferred and these total about 1.14 million. Uh, the fire engine tools and equipment of about $220,000 was deferred. uh pro firerevention vehicle. After talking to the Chief Lewis, um that purchase uh was
deferred $80,000. Um international truck with vacuum system. This was a DPW request. Um we were able to defer that. Um we felt we could get by with the current uh equipment that we had on hand and that was a little less than $400,000.
Uh Chevy Equinox electric vehicle 34,500 Ford Ranger and these are for DPW requests. Um Surf Drive water main improvements. Um, we uh eliminated that request of about 200 or deferred that request, I'm sorry, for about $275,000.
Um, recreation department had requested basketball court resurfacing and some repair work and I believe that was at uh at Felmouth Heights basketball uh court. We uh we in talking to Julie Williams Tinkham, we were able to defer that without we we believe without adding any
additional cost as a result of that deferral. And Madam Chair, you had a question. >> I have two questions actually. So the the truck with vacuum system, what is that used for? >> Um primarily um there's multiple uses, but the m the primary use DPW uh has
that vehicle out in the roads cleaning out the catch basins, the storm basins. >> Okay. Um >> and some work on the streets and whatnot, but primarily cleaning out basins, >> right? Um and then the surf drive water main improvements. We are I believe I
hope still moving forward with um the municipal vulnerability planning program that is looking at surf drive water main >> uh >> relocation. >> Relocation correct. So how how >> what was this and how does that interact
with that that process that we're looking at for for moving that that one? >> Do you recall? Yeah. Yeah. Go ahead. >> Yeah. I I believe this is an improvement or replacement of an existing water man in Surf Drive. So, it's not the planning
work to potentially have to construct a replacement for that. It's in the existing location to improve the >> And madam chair, I think, >> thank you, Peter. The discussion we had with DPW um and uh with coastal resilience and water uh was that, you know, does it make sense to do this
replacement? Let's wait until we get the results of the of the of the vulnerability study and we'll be able to make a more informed decision. >> Excellent. Okay. Thank you. Are there other questions? >> Any chance that we could roll that into the grant application because it's part of being resilient?
>> I think there's an opportunity. Yeah. Yeah, we'll definitely take a look at that. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. The next or the last couple of slides are really um talking about highlights other than uh uh the big borrowing projects um as recommended in our capital
efficiency plan that we did a couple of years ago. The replace the replacement u this water main replacement in in the amount of $3 million um calls for a planned replacement um uh Sackanesset Road from Palmer Avenue to
Arnold Gford Road. Um and again it's uh in accordance with the uh capital efficiency plan that was approved uh back in 2024. Uh consultant led Tata and Howard uh helped us with that study. Um the ADA ADA compliance amount of $275,000. Those are pedestrian facility
uh uh upgrades. A lot of intersections, making them uh more uh ADA handicap accessible at the intersections, the treads and whatnot um at major intersections. Um, importantly, and we learned this during the winter storms this this past uh winter, um, there's
significant investment in emergency power infrastructure improvements. The $430,000 roughly that are listed um uh includes uh replacing the uh existing uh aged, for lack of a better word, um, generator at town hall. We're constantly
having issues uh with that breaking down. So, um, that includes about $120,000 to replace that generator at town hall. Um, it includes a new generator here at the senior center, which I mentioned, as well as, um, two manual, uh, switches that, uh, provide,
um, easier switch over when you do lose power and have to bring in a portable generator. Basically, just connect to the building and switch it over. We had a huge issue not having one of those transfer switches at the water treatment plant. And when we almost lost the generator at the water treatment plant, it caused problems for us. So, working
with our facilities manager, Greg Endicott, and uh uh Peter McCanny, the DPW director, we were able to identify those higher priority um again uh emergency power related improvements. Um lessons learned from uh Winter Storm
Hernando. Uh $2 million in roadway paving preservation and construction under road maintenance construction. Um construction of a third lagoon at Long Water at Long Pond Water Treatment Plant. This provides additional redundancy. Right now we've got two lagoons. This would provide a third
obviously and provide some additional redundancy. If we ever had an issue with uh the second pond, we would switch over and utilize this pond. >> Also, it's going to allow us to dry a lot of that sludge so that we can we can uh it makes it more economical to transport out. Yes. >> Is there any opportunity? Is there such
a thing as a grant for that other type of resiliency like the switching uh infrastructure that you were talking about to bring in a portable generator? Uh we we're always looking at grant opportunities. Um I'm not aware
[laughter] >> I like that AI >> Siri is on it. [laughter] >> We're we're always looking for those grant opportunities. I'm not aware of any, but we'll continue to to to to [clears throat] >> to check on those opportunities. I >> it's one of the first questions that
come up with the department heads is have we looked at grant opportunities that are out there. Um, you know, I think we've not done a great a good enough job um leveraging the uh the grant grant writing and consultant uh funds that town meeting approved. And I've talked to P and I have discussed this trying to trying to make better use
of those funds to write the grant. The big struggle, as you all know, is identifying the grant opportunities and those databases that you really, you know, you need an expert. So, we'll we'll we'll try to do a better job of that going forward, trying to identify, but we're always looking for grant opportunities. >> Can those grant writer funds not be used also to help? I mean often when you're
working with a consultant who is a grant writer, they also have that expertise in in searching and you're right, it's incredibly difficult. It's a huge time sync for staff and at the same time it's incredibly important that especially at
this point that we find every possible grant opportunity. So yeah, would would really encourage if it's at all possible with the wording of that article and the consultant that we're working with to be utilizing them to find the opportunities as well. To my knowledge, to be candid, we haven't retained a consultant yet. We need to, like I mentioned, we need to do
a better job of of taking advantage of the and utilizing those funds. And I I do believe they'd be available for for use to >> to help us seek out and find those funds, those grant funds. >> Yeah. >> Um, high school fieldhouse skylight. I learned a lot about this. I don't know if you've ever been over to the uh to
the to the fieldhouse, but there's a there's an old skylight that leaks like a civ. Um and uh in talking to Paul Dart and Superintendent Der, um the decision was finally made to replace or remove that skylight and just p basically patch over it. Remove the skylight completely.
>> Make make the space more functional and more usable. >> I feel like we've paid to fix that a couple of times. >> I think that's the history. I think there has been a lot of uh relatively expensive uh fixes and it's just been determined that it's not it's no longer feasible to fix it. So, they're just going to cover it up.
And uh lastly, about a quarter million dollars uh in in school camera, telephone uh PA and bell system um security uh enhancements that have been requested and I'm recommending funding for. Okay. Um looking forward, we've talked
about the um close to a billion dollar $880 million uh 10-year capital plan. So, I want to give the select board and the community a look at some of those bigger. This is not all-incclusive. Um, but it does capture some of the larger projects that are in that 10-year plan and hopefully we've got some time to
discuss those. Um, so moving quickly, Lawrence school renovation rough estimate right now of about $150 million that's going to hit in FY28. Um, we we've talked years past about the building facilities needs assessment. We just had an example of one of the reports for the West Flemouth Fire
Station that was generated. because of that study, which I feel was needed, we've identified uh about $10 million per year in in in cost uh over the next 5 years that it's going to start not in FY27, but in FY28. Again, trying to address those deficiencies that were
noted in the comprehensive building condition study. Uh school air conditioning projects. Um this is a big number. Um 12 and a half over 12.5 million dollars over the next 10 years in air conditioning replacement projects. um East Felmouth Elementary
roof and windows, $4.5 million in FY29. Um speaking about looking having consultant lead that study exploring our sixstation uh fire fire station model. Um combining fire stations three and four. As you can see in the uh 10-year plan, we currently have land acquisition
and design totaling about $1.95 million. Construction is to be determined. Um I I want to give a lot of praise to our mees Greg Frasier and Chuck Martinson. Um they're growing by leaps and bounds our aquaculture program and I think that's going to pay significant
dividends going forward in terms of nitrogen reduction. Um but uh between FY28 and and FY31 uh $2 million uh a year in aquaculture uh related projects. Um, again, sticking with me, um, Greg Frasier is, uh,
projecting bulkhead replacement and dredging, uh, close to $15 million over the next 10 years. Um, some marine park, uh, phase 2 expansions and improvements, $5 million. Um, they're in the process of completing a study on that, and, uh, other mees costs totaling close to $10
million. And those are, uh, detailed in in the, uh, capital plan that you have at your desks. Um, rounding it out, um, as we've all, uh, told been told, this Manant Road and Grand Avenue improvement, $13 million in a couple of years. Fleet replacements. Um, our our
DPW fleet, uh, does a great job, Edwin Rivera, at uh, at maintaining our vehicles, but we're looking at over $8 million in vehicle replacements over the next 10 years. Um, as you can tell in this FY27 budget, we've really tried to examine those closely and defer without,
I believe, adding additional cost, deferring those vehicle replacement projects as we can. Um, the Nantucket Sound Wersheds, I don't have a great deal of information on this, um, but our wastewater superintendent, the next phase of the of the, um, wershed
projects are totaling totaling $162 million. Ocean outfall, we've projected $80 million. that's coming in the near horizon. System and lift station improvements, again, $22 million over that 10-year plan. Um, water manes. Um, this is part of our plan to replace the
aging water main infrastructure at $3 million per year. We were able last year to accelerate that a bit. We we broke it. We geared it back down to about $3 million in this upcoming FY27. And uh and lastly, a project that was uh
discussed but didn't make the uh the the cut in this FY27 was a water distribution storage building uh replacement at $3.8 million. >> So, Mr. I'm sorry, Mr. The Nantucket
Sound Wheds, what's that all about? >> Yeah. So, I don't have a lot. >> You don't have much, but we have $162 million we're looking at. Is that I think there's some detail in included in your packet, but Peter, you want to >> Yeah, just just very broadly it's the next phases of um building out the sewer system.
>> Oh, okay. >> So, we're looking at the T ticket. >> You could call it something different in in the plan because it doesn't make sense. >> Yeah. >> You know, >> so Ticket Marav Vista kind of the current phase one and two that we're in now. This would be that the next phase of that.
>> Yeah. Thank you. So, as I mentioned, um, in light of our, uh, ongoing discussions concerning our long-term financial plan and potential operating overrides over the next 5 years, in addition to projected, uh, certified free cash being substantially
uh, less than last year. This FY27 capital budget proposal um, or capital budget process has been very challenging, probably the most challenging of the four that I've done since coming here to Felmouth. It seeks to balance uh needs to maintain our equipment and and our infrastructure uh
within limitations of our available funding and capacity to carry out those projects. And as you've heard me say before, the capacity is a huge issue for us. Um we have examples where we are successful at obtaining funding for projects that sit on a shelf because we don't have the capacity. We're trying to
address that in this capital budget with a $250 $250,000 request uh for a uh an owner's project manager, if you will, that will help us escalate, not esc in in process. So, we're we're we're
being more successful at completing these projects because bandwidth and capacity has been a huge a huge challenge for us. Um the proposals uh in this FY27 FY27 proposed budget represent the very upper limit of what we can spend again while trying to maintain and
hopefully build those uh reserves. Proposed capital projects uh represent a tremendous amount of work by staff. I want to thank uh the assistant town manager um uh our assistant to the finance director Melanie Bush did a huge amount of work in this FY27 budget
because as you all know um this budget process hit us in uh in the in interim period between finance directors. So I want to thank Melanie Bush for her hard work in in assisting Peter and I in preparing this proposed capital budget. Um, and as I mentioned earlier, um, tonight is a first read of the budget,
and I'm going to stop there and allow you to answer any questions you might have with regards to this FY27 budget or the 10-year plan. >> Okay. I have um one sort of specific question, which is that I saw in um that
there was a requested allocation of $200,000 to fund a local comprehensive plan, but then that was not allocated. Just curious about that because we in our conversations keep coming back to the fact that we don't really have a plan. Y >> um and so be just curious why that line item.
>> I'm so glad you brought that up u because I meant to mention it um specifically. So um discussions between assistant town manager and I and uh and Jed Corno the community development director. You know he's applying for grant funding for that uh LCP the local comprehensive plan. Um what we're
recommending is we're we took that out again to try to maintain that $3 million or so uh buffer reserve um going into uh through this upcoming winter. There's always unanticipated winter storm related expenses. So we're really trying
to by removing that $200,000 request, waiting to see if we're successful through the one-stop shop or some other grand funding source at getting those funds to fund that project, which is critically important that we get done. Um we're waiting to see and in an in April uh town meeting of next year,
April 2027. Um if if we're not successful at getting the grant, then we can look at some additional appropriation for that amount. So it it it we're not losing a lot a significant amount of time um in in in getting that project underway. Um and it allows us an opportunity to again keep as much
reserve funds through the winter storm season and into spring as we as we possibly can. Just to clarify, the local comprehensive plan is a planning board tool and it's for land use and long range planning for the guidance of the town development.
It's not a financial planning tool. So, >> correct. But there's a lot of there's a lot of connections nexus between uh you know a lot you know we'll talk about the the select board strategic plan >> um housing you know we have a housing production plan I feel um because I've worked in other communities primarily at
the county level where we have to do these every >> every 10 years or you risk losing state grant funding >> right >> opportunities. I don't think Massachusetts has that. But I I feel that this plan um provides a great comprehensive kind of tying everything together. And without that, that's why
they call it comprehensive. Without that um without that uh document in place and updated every 10 years or so, >> um I think it's we'll be in a better position once we get that updated done. >> Although you're right, it is a planning is a planning board kind of tool. But
the idea of it is that it's it has a lot of longevity in it and of course it needs to be updated but it doesn't really prevent us from doing our work. >> Correct. >> And just to say it is led by planning board but it is by charter to be developed with a significant
collaboration with the select board. >> Right. >> So um and and I think can go a bit beyond land use planning as Mr. Ranchel was mentioning with transportation, housing, um, and a certain amount of economic development. So,
>> so it's great that all these things have been identified and I'm looking forward to I think we need to have like a workshop where we can sit down and start to prioritize and maybe take some of these off the list if possible. I know they're all important, but >> I'm glad you brought that up too, SL
member Brown. So, what what the gentleman that spoke to me in public comments uh made made the statement that we need to have a prioritization exercise and a workshop setting. My one of the things that I'd like to do um this August or September um when perhaps
we get people start coming back and kind of settling down after school's back in is uh have a uh kind of a prioritization session in the community. Have another community uh conversation meeting um or two uh that allows people to uh give the select board and management input and
feedback with regards to priorities. I I'll use this as as an example and I have um over the past six months I've received and you have as well several emails uh from parents concerned that the town is not investing heavily enough in uh recreational amenities fields.
>> Mhm. >> Um I don't disagree with that. Um but with that um there's competing costs, right? There's competing costs. So I is as the town manager, I would guidance from the select board and input from the
community as far as what the community uh desires because with that um in in additional investment in field space, multi multiple millions of dollars perhaps um you have to you have to make those difficult choices about what doesn't get
funded as a result of that. But that that's a priority and then the additional ongoing maintenance costs associated with that. So, those are the discussions that I'd like to have in the community in the upcoming two or three months, >> right? >> Before before um before town meeting >> piggyback question on that. >> Sure. Go for it.
>> Just a piggyback question on that. We have 30 days to review this as a select board and then what you've just outlined is is that in line with the 30 days or can you just describe what our process is and what our job is now as a select
board over the next 30 days? Yes. So, the 30-day uh timeline, as I mentioned, is the the charter requirement for the select board to transmit the the uh capital plan to the finance committee. Um the finance committee has the draft uh uh proposed FY27 budget, and they're going to schedule the meetings beginning
in August, I believe, um to start, you know, bringing in the departments and and and going through um in detail the requests. Um I I do believe I mentioned August or September. Um, I haven't we we haven't discussed a date yet for those community conversations. I'd like to
have two. I'm trying to spread them out as much as we can. Um, and uh and and working with the select board trying to identify kind of the best the best format for those meetings because literally budgets like our own like our own personal budgets, it's about making
difficult choices. We had one of those uh this evening and having input from the community about what it values and what it sees Felmouth's future looking like in terms of recreational fields or uh police facilities or you know you
name it any any largecale capital investment I think is going to be important so that we can begin to um look at this 10-year list and prioritize based upon that input uh that that's received. So >> I think that's one important distinction is we need to transmit in 30 within 30
days um the FY27 capital request >> to uh FINCOM. A lot of this discussion is on the larger 10-year plan, not just um that that request and also just in terms of
our process here tonight and also for public comment. Um this is our first real run through of this. We did add the meeting in August um so that we can have additional time. So I think tonight um I
appreciate Mr. Renshaw wanting to give everybody as much time as possible um for questions. I would like to try to keep our meetings um out of respect for community um and genuinely engaging folks um in in in our
process. um keep a lid on our our end times. So um we will have another opportunity to come back to this at our next meeting um in greater detail. So >> I'll keep it super fast. So I just wanted to share it would be good I think in these presentations to present the
taxpayer impact um a cumulative taxpayer impact. Right? So, we have three potential tax impacts. >> Um, right. And so, together they total $167 to $273 per person or per house per >> property. Um,
and so I think it's just good for transparency sake to try and present that information in totality. >> Correct. And, uh, our new finance director, John Arnett, is in the audience tonight. He's taking notes. And one of the things slight board member Klene uh that we back in April May when
Laura Citroen was here she gave that presentation. I think it was a pretty comprehensive holistic kind of tax impact um and the spreadsheets. We have those spreadsheets and we're going to kind of improve upon those even more um and be able to provide that information going forward. This was really supposed to be a higher level summary. But on the
10th or the 17th, um we can certainly bring more of that information back and apply it to the 10-year plan and kind of show that that overall impact to the extent that we can. >> Question going back to the projects deferred or not recommended for funding, what was the explanation with the the
nitrifying septic cost mitigation? What's the future for that? Yeah. So, we simply don't have any kind of um documentation or policy that that that that talks about use of public funds in in that way. And we're hoping that and I
mentioned the the new fairness equity uh watershed management uh task force that was created. We're hoping one of the products deliverables coming out of that will be some more direction and perhaps a policy document. >> Okay. >> That that's my and we we we made the same decision last year. Um, Peter, do
you have anything else you want to add on? >> No, ju just to clarify that. So, we um we removed it from FY27, but you'll see it's still in the 10-year plan. There's a, you know, a plug figure for it in the 10-year plan. >> And, um, slightly off topic, but
hopefully within scope. Um, we are waiting for a few more or looking for a few more applicants for that fairness task force. Correct. Um, we that's that's the the current hold up on getting that task force going. So I think we have four now >> right >> that uh that have officially
>> so anyone who is interested in that issue of how we fairly uh support folks uh who may be required to get an innovative alternative denitrifying septic system um please put in your application for that task force so that we can get that work going and and get
to those policies. Um yeah other questions from the board and then I do want to provide an opportunity I think we've got a couple folks here who have questions or comments. Mine's the tie-in between operating budget and our annual capital budget. Um
operating generates excess funds then those get transferred into um free cash the the following year. So, and then the third part is from that we have decided as a board that we use free cash
to fund the annual um needs and then we also set policy for how much we want to keep as a kitty a leftover. So, okay. So, I'm just making sure that are we discussing that priority right
now because we have an operating budget deficit pending. So, in future years, it's going to get pretty big. Should this should this body be thinking about closing our operating budget with the excess
revenue that comes in instead of letting it go over to free cash? How do we where when when how do we have that discussion? Because then that would be one less override that we go to the town for.
>> Cuz right now, as projected, we are transmitting this budget, this annual budget over to the fincom. I'm not sure that that says we have given it our blessing to say absolutely we agree with everything when we haven't had that
workshop. But then I think at a higher level, you know, I don't know what the appetite is for us to go to um the town over and over again, not only for oper like for the capex, which you've outlined here quite well. It's going to
be a billion dollars before we know it, but also go into operating budget. So do you do you have a sense of where again I'm only a year into this year and change where we have that discussion? I think it needs to be had relatively
soon and we talked about having additional workshops um through the chair uh beginning I think as early as next month in August. Um I'm not proposing that we we can certainly put that together. Um it's a great question. I don't have a great answer for you tonight about you know when the sooner
we have that discussion the better. Um because you're right it it we're projecting over that fiveyear 1.8 million FY28 right I I'm confident that we can likely close that. I don't think that's but going forward um unless we do close that that just compounds over the
next four years and going forward. So we need to have that um that discussion about you know looking at you know how can we generate additional revenues how we can how can we control spending quite frankly um this list of 10 year 10 years of capital projects is a huge list $880
million um I think I I can confidently say that for this FY27 budget we're down to the needs and not not wants. Um can I say that confidently looking over the 10-year plan? No, I can't. And we need to have that discussion about really
>> sifting through that and identifying the critical needs. >> And and I think to add on to that, looking at what the options are, but also the pros and cons because if we do it, let's just say that way of closing the the operational budget comes with it
comes with cons. But having that discussion as a group I think is extremely important because it is we do vote we do review the two budgets kind of separately but they're very much integrated and I think we need to be on par with that which leads to a
second question which is in August we're also talking about our annual fiscal policy and last year we had some red lines that changed some of the semantics of of the things but it wasn't a substantive strategic aim change the way it had been
in previous years where we knew we needed to hire more police or we knew we needed to recruit and retain and we've been doing excellent at that in regards to benchmarking and whatnot. So from your perspective, you know, how should we change the fiscal policy, you know,
with just your thinking cap right now for, you know, August? Because if we have to vote on it again in August or think about it, we should all kind of be thinking about what are we aiming at so we're all on the same page. >> Well, I mentioned one one element that, you know, we've applied for this to the
SFY 27 proposed capital budget, and that's the $3 million uh reserve holding that out. um that caused a ripple effect and and you saw the deferrals and eliminations um and and that was not an all-inclusive list, but I think it
pretty much captured the most of the requests that were not funded or deferred. Um so having having that discussion because right now that's not to my recollection that's not in the fiscal policy. That's a that's a decision that management made. We had the discussion with you all back in back in April May during the long range
fiscal plan about the importance of having that. I think there was actually a slide that talked about um we we should likely start looking to limit our cap our free cash spending on the capital capital budget to have that reserve. >> If I could, I think the sooner that we start talking about the 10-year capital
plan, the better. And it's important yearbyear, [clears throat] of course, is important, but we need to start knocking some of the stuff off the list. Like the Manant Bridge, we allocated $5 million. Now, who knows? It might cost 12 or 15. We don't even know if we're ever going to get a permit. Maybe we just take it
off the list, you know, maybe we just do dredging over there and that's just one more one less thing to do. Uh the Northwest Fire Station, I know you need to get a study to figure out if we really want to do it, but maybe we should think about whether or not we even really want to fund a study. Maybe
we just make do with what we have. Take that off the list. I mean, there's a lot of things we could take off the list without hurting the town. Well, we're carrying 1.9 roughly million dollars in land acquisition and design engineering for that future perhaps Northwest connector. But your point is is it is it
necessary? I I in my opinion we need to have that study done to so that we have the data to drive that decision whether it's necessary and the quicker we get that done because we are carrying a lot of money for a project that conceivably >> because we don't need >> and that's only the [clears throat] 1.9 that doesn't even account for
construction cost. Oh, no. No. And in and Hatchville was $10 million. >> So, I'm just saying, I mean, there's a lot of things that I think we should really think about backing off that list before we freak out because >> Yeah, >> I think there's a lot of it that could be deferred. Not that it's not a good idea. >> Well, that's a workshop. I think that's
a workshop discussion. Um, but importantly, and I'm trying to probably not doing a very good job kind of articulating this, but >> the the the the functions um if you will of of government, like recreation investment, you know, is that a priority? And if so, are you willing to,
you know, what to what extent are you willing to to to pay if that requires um additional tax burden? That's the kind of information that I'm really trying to get at is I can move things around for in a 10-year plan all day long, but it's
not reflecting >> your uh priorities. you know, we're tying it back to the strategic plan, >> but I certainly think what we're missing right now is is the community's input in terms of what priorities and again the functional type services that we provide.
>> Public safety, law enforcement, uh, fire rescue, emergency communications, you know, increased staffing in those areas. um versus or not versus but uh you know juaposed to um to recreational
improvements and and additional uh fields >> definitely. But some of the stuff we need to pair down first and then we can say now comes our wish list. We know we need more fields. It's we've already been told how far we are behind. But
that's once we pair down what we maybe don't really need, then put in what people really want and then put a price tag on it and say this is what an override would look like to really make this town function long term. And that needs to I think in my opinion that
needs to be the topic of a single workshop where we uh discuss that and and just that in terms of going through the 10-year plan, identifying those things that are are should be priorities in those. >> All right. I think that's our first thing to do. >> Yeah. And >> okay, I want to Yep. And we are working
on putting that workshop on the calendar and we will have additional discussion time at our next meeting. I know we have a couple of folks who have stuck around for this discussion. Are there comments um for this evening's discussion on the the capital plan? >> Can I say a couple questions? >> Yes. >> So, what was our capital
spend for the last three years? >> Art Gutch, uh East Felmouth. >> Yeah. Peter, do you have those figures in front of you? I want to say well cap capital capital spend um la FY26 the entire uh voted capital plan was about $26.4 million.
>> So we're going from 26 to almost 100 million. >> We are 104 million proposed. >> Continue that. >> Um well if you look at the 10-year plan I don't know if you have a copy of >> I do I do have it. Yeah. >> Yeah. So some >> it's almost a billion dollars over 10 years. Yeah. >> Yeah. And uh and again, you know, for uh for this for this FY27 budget, there's
large capital projects that that that are causing that that spike from 26 last year to 104 million. Um we talked about the the the library, the police station, and the the outall project. >> Yeah. Okay. So we just didn't spend all of a sudden this I mean so I have a
lot of questions but so obviously huge increase in needs but as you guys are talking about maybe some of those things go away but it just seems like the the the spend has just gone through the roof. >> Yeah. So I can and I appreciate the questions. I I I I can talk about and I've mentioned that uh two years ago we
we received funding for the comprehensive building condition study >> and uh in my opinion only been here for three years but I noticed immediately that there's not enough attention on the preventative maintenance and it's resulted over the years in degradation of a lot of our facilities. So that $10
million over the next five years is part of that study and that's part of that that increase in spending >> right for pretty it happens in a lot of towns. So, I I would recommend and I'm glad it came up tonight that the MA the ICE master plan or comprehensive plan. I'm not sure why you took that out. I
mean, you've got an 81 million, you know, $100 million budget and 200 grand. You're going to wait till mid next year to do that. I don't know why you do that. >> Yeah. So, we're trying to limit the use of free cash and 200 >> but all of the decisions that the select
board makes has to flow from that plan. >> If you don't necessarily agree. Well, well, not all the decisions, but a lot of the bigger decisions are going to come from the community, which that plan is built on. So, it's right. I mean, even you were were saying
that, right? I mean, so >> Oh, yeah. >> I'm just wondering why you would take that out of the budget, though, because it I think it's required >> to be done. No, Peter's saying no. >> It's a good policy to do. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Because that's it makes you think about what's required in the town and
then you can things trickle down from there. and you get the input from the town what they want, what the vision is for the town, what the what the town should look like, all the decisions you're making tonight, you can look to that and say, well, the people really didn't want that kind. >> If I could be clear, and again, I appreciate the comment, but if I could
be clear, Peter, correct me if I'm wrong. I mean, we are pursuing grant funding for that for the LCP. >> For a while, though, right, I heard that's been something that's been sitting there for I don't know how long. >> Well, I I can just speak to the past couple of years on the LCP on the comprehensive plan. Um Jed Corno, the
community development director, is applying for grant funds through a couple of different sources. Um so we're not I'm not disputing with you the importance of getting the study done. Um we're just looking at reducing the use of free cash. >> At least it's a discussion. Maybe it'll it'll get done. >> So is 7 million kind of an average on the grants and stuff that you get in the
budget or is that an anomaly? >> I I don't think Go ahead. >> Yeah. So um again, you know, great discussions. I'm glad you're engaged and hopefully we'll stay so for >> ask a couple questions >> for a while. >> I'm glad the workshops are coming up too. I think that's >> Yeah, it it's you know the capital plan
um there are elements of it that are more stable than others. So the free cash spend on things like vehicles and um dredging and you know that's that's grown somewhat but it's fairly steady whereas the large borrowing projects are
not you know so why' you spend 26 million last year and 100 million this year? three projects, you know, and we knew they were coming. They're big. Um, and the same with grants. We don't normally get a $7 million grant for a library, but we did this, >> right? So, that was an anomaly.
>> So, in the 26 million, what was it the two years before that? The capitals, >> it was it was in that range. It might have been a little less. It might have been 22 million, 20 million. >> Yeah. I could ask a lot of questions. I'm glad the workshops are coming. I think that's going to be great and I'll hopefully participate. It's >> just so you know that's the police
station has been in need of being replaced for a long time. That's something we that's something we probably should have started planning a long time ago but what we got now also the outfall pipe we can't really do any more development which a lot of people would be happy for >> that needs to happen
>> but the outfall is not something we can wait for. >> I talked to them about that and seems like >> it's just there's a lot of things that are crashing right now and that's why we're giving a heads up that it's going to be tight for the next >> I'd say eight or 10 years. But if you look at the end of that that there
starts to be a little bit less pressure after about eight years or so, >> right? But it looks like we're going to I mean you guys don't talk about it, but it looks like taxes are just going to kind of skyrocket. >> I wouldn't say that. No, >> we're we're working on making sure we're looking to figure that out. >> The way that it happens [laughter] >> because that's one of the nice things about Felmouth, low taxes.
>> Yeah, it's been nice for a long time, but you know what? We've kind of been turning a blind eye to the needs of what we really should be paying. Yeah, >> we've also not been really having a fully staffed police or fire department. >> Yeah. >> And now we're coming to the reality of what it takes to really run this town correctly.
>> Yeah. >> So, >> I do think that and I've had this discussion with them at the police station. I mean, it's it's a big number for the police station. We need a police station. I mean, I support the chief and everything, but anyway, that's all I have. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks for
comments. >> All right. Is that anyone else for Okay, great. Um, thank you Mr. Renshaw and we will uh continue the the discussion at our next meeting. >> Um,
not a moment too soon, 55 minutes late, Mr. [laughter] Um, we will move to our next item which is consider a vote to execute a collateral assignment of groundwater discharge rights relating to the YMCA project at 487 Brick Kiln Road. Um, and
Mr. Renshaw, as you make your way back to your seat, and this may be over to to council as well for some opening comments. >> I sure will. [laughter] >> Madam Chair, select board, um, the town, as you recall, already issued various
approvals related to the YMCA project at 487 Brick Hilm Road. As part of the project, that project, town granted the YMCA, as you may recall, an assignment of groundwater discharge rights. Uh the YMCA builders are obtaining financing as we speak. Financing lender has requested
the town execute this collateral assignment of groundwater discharge rights, which would then allow the lender to to fully secure the YMCA project. And uh Mr. Clower, here to uh give us more details. >> Yeah. Uh thank you very much, Mr. Renshaw. Uh madam chair, members of the board, for the record, Kevin Clower. Um
before you representing the YMCA, I'm joined tonight by Stacy Pew, who is the president, and Marius Stellian, who is actually our loan officer from TD Bank. Uh as Mr. Renshaw noted, we are in the process of securing financing for uh the balance of the construction costs. I don't know if you've been by the site
lately, but they've actually started raising the structural steel. Um it's it's it's happening and it's happening relatively quickly, but it turns out that's very expensive. Um so they are securing financing to uh to finish the the cost estimated cost here. Um and the
bank um would like an assignment of the groundwater discharge because the project hinges on that in many ways. Um so what we're before you tonight is just asking for an ascent to that assignment. Uh which is a standard practice in any construction loan document package that
there be an assignment of licenses and permits and plan you know plans and approvals. uh yours just happens to say that it can't be assigned without your say so. So we are here requesting that. >> I think we already voted this. We just
need to finalize it here. Is that am I right? >> Well, we're being asked to agree to this assignment of these uh rights which we uh which we gave the YMCA. Um but um and maybe you can help me, but I I wasn't
aware that the Y was looking for construction financing. Everything I've seen was your capital campaign, your cost, you've reached it, and I'm just, you know, curious for the, you know, the project going forward. Uh I wasn't I I
wasn't aware there was going to be construction financing. >> Yeah. Good evening. Stacy Pew, president, CEO of the YMCA Cape Cod. Uh thank you for the question Bob. It is um bridge financing. So while we are collecting on campaign pledges that have been made over time periods 3 years, 5
years etc. And each year as people make their gifts those gifts extend out three years forward, 5 years forward. So the bridge financing allows us to close that gap temporarily while we work on collections. We are at um $36.2 2
million raised to date. So 6.3 to go and uh and going very strong. >> Yeah. Wonderful. Awesome. So within that 36 million are are pledges that have not been fulfilled or will be fulfilled over the next like my own over the next three to five years.
>> Exactly. Exactly. Yeah. >> Spacing out those tax credits. And as >> but this does relate to what we already voted. This just >> you you you've you've approved this Mr. Brown. Uh you've approved the assignment to the Y but we're asking for your
ascent to the wise assignment to the lender. >> Um >> thank you. >> We are just one point of order I guess before um the board moves any in any direction. We are hoping to close this very shortly and I don't know what the protocol is for the board signing. I
have documents here that you can sign if you choose to approve so tonight. Um, but we're looking to close this in the next few days. So, >> I just Let's do it. >> All right. I make a Can should I go ahead?
>> Go for it. Okay. I make a motion to execute a collateral assignment of groundwater discharge rights relating to the YMCA project at 487 Brick Kill Road as presented. >> I'll second that. >> All right. Any further discussion on the board hearing? None. All those in favor?
>> I >> I >> wonderful. Thank you very much. >> Thanks. >> And yes, if [clears throat] you have >> Is it? >> It's a great question. It is. >> It is right here in fact. And we will pass that.
>> Make it worth your time. >> Pass that down. Okay. >> Excellent. Okay. Um, while folks are signing, uh, we will start to move on to the next
item, which is a first review of proposed articles for the October 2026 town meeting. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh included in your packet tonight is a copy of the uh proposed warrants containing the 23 current articles. Uh this is a first
reading of the proposed town meeting articles for the October 2026 town meeting. In some instances, the articles have not yet been fully drafted and the draft warrant attached includes only a very brief um cursory uh explanation of the intent of the articles. >> Sorry, Mr. Renshaw. Before um I just
want to ensure that since we just signed that and that copy is leaving with Mr. Clower I believe I would assume that we need a copy of that tomorrow. >> Okay. Excellent. Just want to make sure that we're on the right track. Thank you. Sorry Mr.
>> G. Town staff in preparation for tonight have identified 23 potential articles for the annual town meeting which I mentioned is scheduled for October 26th. Uh many of these articles are very standard. You've seen them before. Recurring articles, financial articles, including se several articles providing
for capital improvements, dollar amounts, and project details are not yet included in the text of the articles, but rather are included in the recommendations for the articles, which are submitted and voted by the respective boards and committees after the select board votes to execute the town meeting warrants on August [snorts]
17th. We're scheduled if you give a copy of the uh town meeting uh calendar in your packets as well. So August 17th is that date uh where the select board will be voting the articles and executing the warrant. The warrants as it's drafted currently includes four proposed general bylaw amendments for zoning amendments
and appropriation of funds for construction of a new East Felmouth library among other articles. Two of the articles are shown in italics to indicate there's still a question as to whether they will be recommended by staff. One is for town position classification plan. It's not yet been
fully decided or determined whether whether my office is going to be recommending any changes in pay grade or new positions to be added to the classification plan. The other article in italicized uh font is an article submitted by the freshwater pond advisory committee which town council uh
has reviewed and does not recommend for reasons that are identified in the explanation of that specific article. uh article 23 >> 23 article 23 thank you I think we've all received the
correspondence this afternoon from Mr. Kmart with respect to uh article 23 and his reasoning for believing that it's something that should be included. So we'll have to take a further look at that.
>> Yes. Um can I ask um the reason for or the difference between authorized acceptance of public way and easement in Bigalow Landing and then the uh number 21 accept Bigalow Landing as a public way. Is that
>> I so I added um proposed article number 15. Looks like 21 was added later, but art the one that I
added um there are two parts to accepting a public way. The town town meeting has to vote to accept the way, but there's also an easement that needs to be conveyed >> in the land. So, um I think that 21 is
um it's superfluous. >> Okay. So, yeah. That was that was the question. >> Is all the engineering done and figured out for that? Did they put an application in with all the engineering? >> I that's all in the process. It's being
done. Okay. >> As we speak. >> And then the other two that um I [clears throat] have some questions on our uh 13 and 14 with regard to Clinton Avenue. >> Yes.
So, we were um DPW and town council were approached probably a year and a half ago by um the owners of 227 Clinton A. They wanted to put um
some some wastewater infrastructure underneath the street. That's that area is is um I'm sure you're all familiar with it. It's a part of the very end of Clinton A just before the harbor. And as
a rule, it's not a great idea to put permanent infrastructure underneath town property. They wanted to to get a license to do that. license are meant to be temporary whereas um you would hope that the in the wastewater infrastructure would be
permanent and in so there was talk of um granting an easement to the owners there so that they could uh construct the the proper infrastructure and where the DPW landed instead was
um preferring to take this route. where um the town would discontinue just that portion from the intersection of um Scranton A there to the water and
discontinue that allow the private homeowner to own the land so that they could place the wastewater infrastructure there themselves. um working in concert with the DPW because we have our own water line there as well
um and a drainage easement. And then in return for discontinuing the land and allowing them to own the land so they could put the infrastructure in, the owner would grant back to the town a drain the drainage easement, water easement,
um parking easement for a couple of parking spaces at the end of that road and also um maintenance access for the seaw wall easement. And this is infrastructure for a sewer line >> for no for some I don't know the details
of what the infrastructure is but I think it's an it's a um IA system. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> And we already have a fertilizer bylaw. So this must be in enhancing it. I guess >> this has to do with notification and
different types of fertilizer retailers indicating signage and so forth. which is different than our bylaw. >> Okay. >> I actually wanted to so um my notes to myself based on then what
town council put in um for article 23 was so we already have permission to do this question [clears throat] mark was my interpret. So essentially unless I misunderstood the state of Massachusetts has already given us the ability to
>> no. Okay. No, the there's a regulation that allows the state to place the to require those laws. So, what the bylaw does, it's a duplicative bylaw that would essentially
require what's already acquired required by the state, but it adds enforcement on the part of the town to a state's regulation. So we already have the requirement to notify about phosphorus
and fertilizers from the state. >> So the T yes that's all contained in the state regulation. [clears throat] So what the proposed bylaw is is word for word what's required in the state regulation. >> Okay. >> So I I think the whole thing would come
down to um whether the town would adopt a bylaw requiring the same thing that the state requires. But if someone is violating it, the enforcement would come from the town rather than, you know,
getting the state's attention would probably not happen. So the state doesn't probably wouldn't um take enforcement action. So it basically I think would give us the right to enforce if someone's violating it, one of the retailers is violating it.
>> I wish it was that easy. However, without that regulation, the town doesn't have the ability to require such signage. So, the state would have the town would have to have some sort of regulatory authority to place th that
wording in um in any store that sells that kind of that kind of >> That's what the bylaw seeks to do, right? So >> the bylaw seeks to give us the authority to require them to put that signage in.
>> So what I'm saying is if the state regulation ceases to be or if it changes at all, then we don't have the authority to have it. We don't have independent authority to have the signage because that's impermissible under the first
amendment to demand um a a a vendor or some sort of to anyone to place signage on their own property. >> So, this would be a home roll petition to allow that. Is it >> you could you could seek a home rule
petition, but the legislature would ask the same questions that I'm asking where there's either a duplicative law that's already in existence or let's say that the state changes their regulation somewhere along the way. It undermines
the validity of this the state bylaw. So we either have the local bylaw. So we either e either have a local bylaw that is completely unnecessary because it already exists somewhere or if the regulation get changed we lose all authority for that bylaw at all.
>> I'm going to ask that we postpone further discussion um until uh our next read on uh articles so that we can also have uh our committee members who have made this recommendation present for the the discussion. does sound like a
solution looking for a problem. So, >> um but I I also just want to say um thank you to town manager's office for providing this. This is not something that we've typically done at this stage. I know that um there's a there's not a
lot of information in this and there's a lot that is still um very um up in the air. Um, but the goal was simply to before we actually are uh confronted with the final version of uh the warrant to to get a sense of of how it's shaping
up. So, appreciate the the willingness to provide that and and everybody engaging with that and again this is a a first read kind of situation and we will be coming back to it. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Anything else on that? Okay, great. Um, Mr. Wshaw, over to you. Finally, how
many meetings have we delayed this presentation and discussion on the clearoint strategy, strategic plan, and capital project status tracking platform? >> Can you still make a clear point at 10? >> Thank you. And I'm going to be quick. I've got 15 minutes, but I'm going to try to beat that. Um, so it's been about
six months, I think, since my last update on this project. Um, and I'm just going to give a brief overview for those. Uh, select board member Klein, I don't think you you you were here for the last presentation on this. So, um, recognizing the need for a platform that's going to provide the
ability for management and the select board to monitor both the status of capital projects as well as tracking those projects, the progress of those projects towards accomplishing the goals and objectives of the strategic plan. my office began working with each of the department managers to establish a list
of key performance indicators or KPIs. Um just by show of hands in the private sector, nonprofit or uh public sector, anybody on the select board with experience working with KPIs and Okay. Um it's a powerful tool. Uh Peter Ducker was a 20th century uh businessman and um
kind of a sociologist like to examine successful businesses and he made a comment that kind of sticks in my mind. what gets measured gets done and I kind of expand on that. It gets done more efficiently and more effectively too. So the whole goal of this performance measurement initiative two years ago
when it was launched was to provide a platform that's going to allow us to um measure um uh these through the use of these metrics or KPIs um that are tied to one or more of the seven strategic priorities identified in the in the strate strategic plan. We received
through town meeting uh appropriation $25,000. Um and in March of 24, yes, it's been a two-year saga. Um that I think we're closing in on the finish line now. Um the departments prior to Peter and I discussing this with them had no experience working with metrics and
trying to tie those to to the strategic plan. In fact, what we found is that a lot of the department heads really had no working knowledge or knowledge at all of this strategic plan. So if nothing else over the past 24 months um the department heads and the division heads
that are now responsible for entering data these KPI metrics are very much uh connected to the select board's strategic plan. So we've uh we evaluated multiple platforms. I've done this in other agencies that I've worked in. Um we opted for clearoint strategy and
there's a link there to their web page. It's not important right now. Um it has a this this particular platform is very robust. Um some might argue maybe a little bit too robust, too many bells and whistles because it has been complex implementation. But again, I think um
we're nearing the finish line. Um setup and configuration early on began in April of 24 as I just mentioned and I really believe we're in what I'll call the final phase of the buildout of the uh town of Felmouth performance measurement plan. um departments are currently as we speak
um entering uh their data their refresh data through Q3 quarter 3 um which um uh ended in March and I'm hoping in our next presentation because they're literally the department heads that are missing data entries which you'll see there's some gaps right now are
literally working on including those uh those that data in their in their data sets. Um again as I mentioned six months ago um the goal the ultimate goal of the program is to provide the select board with a tool and management with a tool
to measure progress towards achieving the goals and objectives in the strategic plan. My ultimate vision using this platform is to every three months, every quarter have a presentation to the select board um and allow you to ask questions of you know why we're l why
we're falling behind and lagging in in achieving this particular goal or this particular objective of the of the plan. Um and if it's a resource issue um perhaps identifying some additional resources could be brought to bear. Um, I I use the analogy, um, it's it's
decades old now, but the New New York City Police Department back in the 80s used CommStat, they called it, where they would basically have these periodic meetings with the uh, the command staff of the NYPD. And um, and and they would it would it would be um intense, but the
ultimate goal again is to identify resources and identify ways that we can move towards um, these goals and objectives. So with all that um what I'm going to do is show you first kind of the back end of the system uh through these links um and this is kind of uh
the page that um appears as departments are entering the uh the information. I'm going to click first and go into the initiatives or projects section and I want to give it show you a very spec specific example of how I think this can be used for project management purposes.
Um and I think um a couple of residents have have recently pointed to perhaps using this platform in that way. So this is a particular project of the police department um uh creating establishing an enhanced traffic enforcement program focused on reducing number of motor
vehicle crashes. And as you can see uh Captain Dosta he's responsible for this particular uh program has uh created several metrics which you see down in the bottom right hand corner. Um and he also provides periodic updates, quarterly updates as far as the status.
Um you can see here um an enforcement unit staff by line police officers is scheduled allows kind of a part-time traffic enforcement unit has been uh created or implemented as part of this traffic enforcement program. Um not yet achieved reductions in motor vehicle crashes likely due to inconsistent
scheduling and limited resource availability. Um another initiative that I want to This is just another PD um uh looking at uh response times. Not fully built out yet. Captain Dcasta is still working on on that particular data set for the
response times and crime rates. But this will be another way that we can monitor that particular metric of um or project I should say of conducting a staffing study. I want to show you real quickly. I'm going to try to find the best example I can.
Uh again, this is an HR measure. Um and Susan Lumping, our HR director, has done a great job, her and her staff, in uh in providing routine status updates. This particular measure um that we're looking at this graph,
um just come down to looks at seasonal hiring processes and um improving those seasonal hiring processes and uh issuing um reference checks within one business day um is a metric that Susan Lumping is
tracking now. But as you can see um we're adding as as we go in the system. HR is pretty much built out. I asked each department to provide um at least three and in some cases four specific metrics and again we're tying these back to um specific measures in this or
specific key performance key key uh focus areas of the strategic plan. In this particular instance most of the human resources metrics are uh in regards to the organizational effectiveness a key focus area in the strategic plan. want to as I don't have a whole lot of
time I want to back out of this particular section and show you um the the latest most recent phase I'll call it of the of the program and um and I think this is going to be probably most the most powerful and it's going to be something that we utilize during those quarterly presentations
again um public facing dashboard um the uh the site is basically still kind of a work in progress but working with our vendor clearoint strategies we built this out um and again bear with me because the departments are still adding data. But what I want to do is
let's go to health and public safety. So looking at the health and public safety and again these measures reflect data as of um fourth quarter. Um not all of these are have been inputed. Um this is a particular metric uh from fire
rescue department. Um one of the metrics that Chief Lewis is going to be tracking is minimum daily onduty personnel. um we're trying to arrive at a particular target and this in this case it's 20 per day. Um he's just recently created this metric so there's not a whole lot of
historical data associated with it. This is another example. This is um uh from the police department again utilizing education enforcement and engineering to improve traffic safety and reduce motor vehicle crashes. their target is reducing uh by 5% uh
each uh each year those uh amount of motor vehicle uh accidents or crashes. You can see the data is through June of 2026 and again it provides an opportunity for the departments or those that are responsible for the data for the metric to add status updates and next steps
challenges barriers which I think is important so we can recognize if it's a resource allocation issue to become more um to be to to be able to achieve those goals and objectives if it's additional resources are required kind of identifying what those challenges and weak weak spots are. I bet there's no
limit to those challenges >> there. Uh you see some themes is is if I had time I could go through you see some some definite themes. Um a lot of it right now a lot of the departments still are are challenged with staffing. You know PD probably not one of those but certainly I can speak to HR. Um they are
um currently uh in particular with seasonal hires. They get swamped during those periods between beaches and recreation. those two uh uh divisions alone. Um swamp HR with regards to seasonal processing, the seasonal uh employees that we have and we rely on.
Um but again, um we're building this out. Um I just wanted to give kind of a an update as far as where we're at. I think it's going to be a valuable tool. Um it's not um real pretty in its current state, but you can see the potential, I hope, in having a platform like this. Um, I was going to give
examples of other communities um that I've worked with and and uh and some that I haven't that that the vendor provided, but I just wanted to see tonight kind of where we're at with this process. Any questions? >> Yeah. >> Yeah, I think this is great, but a process question. Is this something you
want us this select board to log in on our own time or are we going to do periodic readouts of where we are on things like? >> Yeah. So my my goal and I use this when I years ago I worked for the city of Atlanta and city of Mesa um Arizona and Atlanta, Georgia obviously and they had
a huge they had a department that was focused on performance measurements and uh and I remember every three months I we we'd march up to the the mayor's office and the council and present our data and uh and have to answer sometimes tough questions sometimes you know um where where we're lagging behind and
what the reasons for that lag might be um if it's resource allocation if it's just you know whatever that might be um so to answer your question um every 3 months my vision is that um staff and I present this information in a it could be a workshop could be a regular meeting
but routinely present the information so to keep the select board in the community because this is a public facing dashboard kind of up to up to date on where we're at with all these projects and I think the value the value of this tool is is it allows kind of both that project tracking through the
Gant charts kind of percentage complete as well as the more um detailed uh key performance indicator kind of drill down. Um the challenge right now for the departments is um coming up with metrics and as you as you go through this
current site as it exists um Peter and I need to do a better job of um coming up with uh kind of standardization because each department is kind of doing something a little bit different and it reflects right now in the in the in the mockup that we have. Um the look and feel of each page is kind of
inconsistent. So the next step is once they have all their data entered is to go through and identify those areas where they're connecting to a to to to the incorrect uh key focus area strategic plan just kind of the fine tuning of it. >> Yeah. >> But we're going to have to do one for
ourselves, aren't we? >> One for what? >> For the select board. >> Are we keeping up with our own goals? >> Well, so I mean again this >> this is the baseline. Ultimately, the the the the strategic plan is your plan. And what we're trying to do now with the
updated plan, a lot of this was built on, I'll be honest with you, was built on the uh the previous five-year strategic plan. Um now, with the updated plan that we just went through that process, going through and and and revising or adding some metrics that are
are more directly pertain to that revised strategic plan. So, again, it's um I think it could be a very powerful tool. I don't see the select board getting in here and manipulating data. It's more of a a portal for to allow you to see how what kind of progress is being made or lack of progress on
particular projects. more importantly for the public to see. Also, I I would say >> that's in other communities, it's been a huge um uh uh um selling point for procuring this type of a platform software is the ability to the transparency, but to allow the community
to kind of um log in and see kind of how we're doing across different different areas, different >> I'll just say I think first of all, I think this is fabulous and great steps in the right direction and also helps us as a board to your point, Mr. around see
um and help calibrate where we need to be with goal setting, right? And we've talked about the local comp comprehensive plan tonight and I think yes, a local comprehensive plan can just be a land use plan, but it can can be a lot more than that. And it's the the 10
plus year vision for the town. And we've got some goals in our strategic plan that should probably be comprehensive plan goals, right? They're they're more than 10-year goals. And then we've got a five-year strategic plan that we need to be thinking about as a select board.
What are the policies and the big steps and the big projects that need to be implemented in five years to get us there. And then we've got this kind of tool that my experience with these kind of tools and KPIs is one of the challenges is the strategic plan is typically going to address what is new
additional what have you on top of routine operations. And this should probably reflect a combination of that especially well, for both the select board and for the public as a whole, right? To just gauge how we're doing on the services that we provide on an ongoing basis, as well as how we're
progressing with enhancements in services and and additional projects. But but being able to really track that at those different levels of kind of annual and less than annual um metrics, you know, one to five year goals in the
strategic plan and then that longer range vision in our >> the way I've always looked at this is kind of a wrench um to allow us to make kind of periodic adjustments as we go. So at the end of the year, you know, we're not we're not sitting there looking at each other asking why we haven't reached the goals and objectives. We're allowed to kind of make minor adjustments along the way.
Um, so yeah, the framework is the framework is all here. Um, it's not it's not um it's not exactly where we want it to be, but I it was important for me to to give this presentation out to you just as an update. And I think over the next let's say couple of months, we should be just about where we need to be
in terms of the data entry and then we can start making making additions to the KPIs, making adding additional projects so we can track the project status. So I'm I'm sure >> I'm sure it must be more work for staff. Once it gets organized though, will be any efficiency that they can appreciate?
>> Yeah. So, you know, the one of the huge benefits I've seen in other communities um and and again myself as a department head years ago um if if I mentioned if it's a resource issue, if it's a staffing issue, an equipment issue that and you can make that connection between lack, you know,
lagging in a particular area around budget time. It's always been a tool um that that you know I can present to you through the departments to show there's a connection between there's a reason you know why we may be lagging in this particular metric or this particular
area and with additional equipment it it it can act as a as a as a a way to justify um additional if that's a priority and it would be if it's in this in this platform then you know what additional resources we might need to bring to bear to make it make ourselves
more effective. What I'm also wondering though is does it take the place of some quarterly report that they would have otherwise had to do? Is there >> Yeah. So um the only No, because we're not really requiring that right now. Some of this although it it it's not duplicate entry but some of the
departments like I'm thinking uh for division senior services Jill Bishop has a lot of reporting requirements right through commission on aging. Um, and there's probably some other examples where it's not a huge lift because they're already gathering that data and that information and sending out to a different source. I don't see it
eliminating a lot of reporting because really, you know, the depart the the monthly uh departmental uh reports that that you get. Um, that's really the only uh reporting um component, but it's not really metric tied, right? Data tied.
It's more about just anecdotal. it uh has been tracking through that uh departmental monthly departmental report a lot of their the same metrics that it is tracking in this platform. >> Okay. >> So we're we're asking them to do a little bit more but it's it's got a benefit.
>> Yeah. And I and again you know making sure that people are other places I've been and I use the NYPD example that was used as a hammer uh in terms of you if you're not making your numbers then it's going to be used against you. I Peter and I were very clear when we implemented this two years ago that it's
about it's a wrench right to make adjustments is not a hammer. That's the metaphor that I'm going to use. Um and uh and that's been pretty successful because a lot of times you get that concern that you know if I don't make my numbers um town manager is going to you know there's going to be you know I'm going to get dinged for not making my numbers or not making my you know
lagging behind. It's really a management tool to identify before it gets too late to identify things that we might be able to do differently to to kind of bring ourselves in alignment. Sounds good. Thanks. >> Thank you. Sorry that was a little longer than I wanted to be, but thank you. >> Stay up for the review.
>> Well, I think um so yeah, last but not least, and that's a nice segue, um process for town managers annual evaluation and um what you have in your packets is is what we've done before. I'm not proposing any change to the process. just this evening wanted to um
get everybody's eyes on on what that has been before and align on a timeline. I think the one addition that uh Mr. Renshaw has requested uh which I think is an excellent one is that we actually after we do the uh
uh backward looking the the evaluation of the past year that we actually go through an exercise together in setting um his goals for the the coming year. um that's not something that that we've >> done done missing component of your time here in Falmouth to date. So that will
be an addition um but I know the um the first step is uh getting your self-evaluation and um so I guess >> working on that now. >> What do you what do you think is a a realistic timeline for for when we would have that? So, I've been working on that
and I anticipate having it done for the 17th, the August 17th. >> Yeah. If that's uh if that's adequate for the board. >> And then you're proposing to utilize the same uh uh evaluation instrument that that scoring matrix. Okay. >> Yes.
Uh so then uh for board members um to have uh your input your individual evaluations submitted um if that's August 17th we have uh the town manager self-evaluation
uh within two weeks and then there's a coalation that needs to happen. So it would be two a month later, two meetings later um realistically to have the the compiled um evaluation if that works for
>> be compiling notes in advance and you know kind of getting our heads around it. We really have to wait till self-evaluation but we'll use our own stuff and balance it with the >> self-evaluation so we don't have to be too far behind.
>> I appreciate the amount of time that's involved in these. Yes, I do. And I think the goal setting uh exercise is going to be hugely important. Um I've been using the strategic plan to be honest with you the past few years and and and using that as kind of setting my own goals, but having a consensus of the
board as far as what those goals are for the upcoming year is going to be really valuable. >> So I I just have a question. Factors 9, 10, and 11, I don't know that we have any intel into those. That's um work relationships,
staff development and training and personnel practices. So I was not part of the overall review last year. So I was I saw the end result that we put forth, but how do you get that input?
Sometimes it not doesn't really apply and you just write that in and say in my perspective I don't feel like I have enough information on this one but here's my take on from what I see from my vantage point kind of >> okay >> it's all you can really do because these are standardized so
>> it's never going to be perfect >> you answered my question because the followup was was there a 180 that's part of this process but or a 360 >> 360 we haven't used that I've done that in other places and I certainly you know going forward wouldn't be opposed to that but I haven't >> that takes some time but I I I think
they can be very useful. >> Let's maybe do baby steps >> this year. I agree. [laughter] >> Yeah, I had the same question as Colin. Um so um >> so when would we be expecting to conclude this by?
>> Uh so if uh so August 17th um Mr. Drench will present his self-ealuation. Um would ask to have board uh individual evaluations two weeks after that. And so our midepptember meeting um and I apologize I don't have the revised
schedule in front of me but um we would have the the compiled evaluation uh ready for that midepptember meeting. >> September 14th. >> September 14th. I should know that it's my brother's birthday. Um, and uh,
and hopefully have our goal setting. Let's see what else is on the agenda, but hopefully have that goal setting conversation because I'd like to do that sooner rather than later. >> Definitely. >> Um, so that will be our target. >> All right. >> All right. Uh, minutes. We have one set
of minutes to approve. Any uh, >> amendments? Just uh one uh correction on page 13 uh when it talks about the amount from the affordable housing fund, this is for 545.
It says between acquisition and construction is $44.5 million. So uh >> we want to make sure we uh we we change that to $4.5 million, but that's the only correction I noticed.
>> Okay. >> Excellent. Okay. Do we have a motion to approve? >> So move. >> Second. All right. All those in favor? >> I. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Select board reports.
Uh you should have I think all seen in your inboxes, but um I attended the last beach committee meeting. Um and we do have now recommendations um on fees from the beach committee. They were trying to get those in good and early for
for our discussion on fees. Um they are also uh requesting a joint uh workshop um to discuss our two strategic plan goals around coastal resilience and um
worldclass beach experiences in Felmouth. Um which is very much in line with what I was already hoping we would do. So we will get that on the calendar. I'll just give kudos to the Council on Aging. Uh I had our meeting uh last
Wednesday. um they're doing a a lot with a little meaning uh they rely a ton on volunteers and you know one of the reports that you talked about in the KPI Jill's already doing it and uh um I'm asking them to give me after each
meeting a couple bullet points to bring back here um just so that we're aware of the things that they are either planning or items of concern. Anyone else? >> I've just been um trying to connect with
my new >> committees um and enjoying meeting those chairs and we'll be making an effort in the next month to attend the meeting at least an initial meeting for each of those groups so I can meet the other committee members. Perfect. Great. Thank you.
>> Okay. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you all. Thank you. >> Tomorrow. >> [music] [snorts] >> The Steamship Authority is a proud
partner in many Falmouth community events, including town meeting coverage. And for good reason. Not only do we have a [music] terminal and offices here, about onethird of our employees call Falmouth their home. We always work hard to serve our neighbors, friends, and the traveling public. We recently put seven [music] new electric buses into service
at our Fmouth parking lots. We're adding new vessels to our fleet, continuing work on our energy efficient Woods Hole terminal buildings and adding solar panels at our largest parking lot. At the Steamship Authority, [music] we're serving the islands and you. >> Welcome to the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce.
The Falmouth Chamber is dedicated to working on behalf of our members to make Falmouth a better place to live, work, and conduct business. We are committed to developing the economic, cultural, educational, and civic interests of our community and welcome the support from all organizations to achieve our
combined goals. Whether you call Falmouth home, are a summer resident, or a visitor, we hope you take advantage of all that the chamber has to offer. >> Hi, it's Brandon from Crane Appliance. Since 1983, [music] our goal as a family-owned company has been simple, to
give our neighbors on the Cape Islands a great shopping experience. Rest [music] easy knowing our professional team will listen to your needs and help you pick the perfect appliances for your home. At Crane Appliance, we know how [music] difficult appliance shopping can be. Our team is here for you. Crane Appliance,
we call the Cape Islands home. Carlson Printing 5085487303. [music] Our email address is carlson printing@gmail.com. Carlson printing for all your printing [music] needs. John's Liquor Store 729 Main Street,
Felmouth 5085482287