Good evening everybody and welcome to the Yarma Select Board meeting of April 14, 2026. I'm going to ask you to all please join me in the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you very much. And if you would all please just join me in a brief moment of silence as we uh reflect and
think about our service members that are serving overseas and in harm's way today and um in recent days. Thank you very much for that. I very much appreciate. We're going to start our agenda with announcements. Is there
anybody on the board that would like to make an announcement? Go ahead, Liz. >> I just wanted to remind everybody, it's pretty been pretty well advertised, but April 28th town meeting in Yarmouth at the intermediate school and um everybody
should come and and use your vote because that's where we make all the decisions. Thank you. >> Thank you. Joyce, do you have anything? Just a reminder, April 25th, town cleanup day. It's a Saturday. Um there's um information about it on the town
site. Uh and it's an annual event. >> Great. Mark, >> no. Bob, >> one additional item that we have is to announce our coastal resiliency fair and Parker's River Landing grand opening
which will be held Saturday, May 2, 2026 from 10 to 3 over at the um new park that we have developed and there's parking at Seagull Beach with a shuttle to be provided. Parker's River Landing.
>> Excellent. Anybody else have any announcements? Moving on to our 605 item, public comment. Is there anybody who would like to address the board? >> Uh, we'll take Zoom user. It's got to be Joe.
>> Good evening, >> Madam Chair. I thought I just fixed it, but I guess I didn't. Uh, Joe Glenn, South ART. Uh, just quickly, uh, one thing, I don't know if there'll be an update on it. I know it's not on the agenda. Um but that uh some weeks ago
there was indication by the town administrator that there was some discussion about the um regional agreement and there was discussion that there could be uh a a committee established. So I don't know if the town
administrator will use that uh uh town administrator update time and maybe we can address that. But uh I'm still concerned about it and I hope uh other people are too. And because I don't know if I'll uh still be in tune uh during
the public hearing, I just wanted to endorse um Jame Roy and the Roy family. They've done uh awesome jobs in the community uh from uh I know them from uh
ba basketball. Uh Jameson uh played with my sons and uh and her his uh brother who been involved with uh um the community and coaching as well as running uh establishments uh and his
dad. So I I just want to make that uh endorsement. And then one final thing lest we forget uh the anniversary of uh Sergeant uh Sean Ganon. Uh, I hope we never forget about it, but uh, I just wanted to keep him and his family in our
prayers and uh, and not forget what they have done for our community. Thank you. >> Absolutely, Joe. Thank you. Um, as far as the regional agreement, when Bob made his comments, it was because I had asked for an update. I didn't get to watch the school committee meeting where they had
the discussion, and that was just him conveying to us what had happened there. Um, but it is in the school committee's hands. So, and at that um update, I I was told that that um we they would be in touch with us after the town meeting.
So, we hold tight. >> So, hold the thought. >> Perfect. Thank you, Joe. Is there anybody else from the public that would like to address the board tonight? >> Okay, seeing nobody, we are going to move to our 615 item. I see uh
the board of health members here. Are you ready or are is it too early? I didn't know if you're waiting for anybody else. >> Okay, great. >> Great. Perfect. If you're ready, then we're ready. Otherwise, we can uh skip and come back if you'd like. >> All right. Good evening.
>> Good evening. >> Perfect. Thank you. If you don't mind uh introducing yourselves for the board, that'd be great. And for the public. >> Yeah. I'm Hillard Bosski, obviously from the board of health. >> Yeah. Larry Venia from the board of
health. >> Eric Craig, vice chair, board of health. >> Barry Lewis, the assistant health director, Tony Yarmouth. >> Great. Well, thank you all for coming this evening. Um, as you know, we had some uh well, as you know, because your
your your committee meetings as well had a lot of public um commentary on the nicotine-free generation discussion that you were having. So, I was just wondering if you could kind of update the board of where you're at, where you've been, and um
then we'll have some dialogue. >> Thank you. Yeah, the board has discussing this nicotine free. >> Get close to the mic if you would so we can hear you better. Thanks. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, the board's been discussing
this approach for nicotine reduction for four months. So, that's why I think we're here to explain it to you. It's really a very simple, innovative approach to reducing nicotine use.
And it's essentially fixed. It's based upon a fixed year of birth. Okay, that's how they word it in the literature. And essentially anyone who is or has been born on that year or after would not be
able to buy nicotine in a town. >> And where did that promulgate from? Where did this come forward to the board of health from? We were introduced to it um the whole concept from the tobacco control people from you know
Barnstto as well as from Brooklyn. Who else came for the first meeting? December 1st was the meeting. >> I I can give a little bit more background on it too if you don't mind. >> Um back in um >> I said close to the mic.
>> Closer. Okay. Back in 2003, the World Health Organization, its very first health treaty was on tobacco control. The United States signed it in 2004. It had a number of best practices, evidence-based practices that they felt
would stop people from smoking tobacco. It it obviously wasn't enough. In 2010, some academics came up with the concept of a nicotine-free generation, hoping that that would be the endgame for
cigarette smoking, smoking of tobacco rather, um, with all of the morbidity and mortality that it causes, all the economic loss. Um then in up to 2017 I think the Philippines uh Batan
City there was the first place in the world to institute nicotine-free generation. It had significant results. However, they had not put all of the other best evidence practices in place. And by 2018,
as you might imagine, the local tobacco lobby had contested it legally. And so it kind of has st stood there. In early 2025, there was a Senate and a there were Senate and House bills introduced
in Massachusetts to implement nicotine-free generation. There was a public health hearing in two July of 2025. And as many bills um happened to many bills, it was remanded to study and
that's where it is as of right now. Um uh Hawaii and Mass. So Hawaii and Massachusetts are the two states in the country that have that are considering nicotine-free generation. Interestingly, Beverly Hills and
California has banned all tobacco sales. Period. No nicotine free generation. Just nobody can buy tobacco in that city. So that's kind of the background. It didn't just kind of bubble up. Um but it's you know that's some of the history
of it and then it was brought to us like Hill had said by our regional tobacco control u person because it had come before the state legislature. >> Okay. And are there and I'll let you finish before I ask my questions. Go ahead. Yeah. Sorry.
>> Um just you're going back in history. It was way back in 1964. There was a report to the surgeon general of that time that linked smoking to some devastating
diseases. It's the first time it was really public in this country. And since that time, there's been tremendous effort to educate the public. Certainly a lot in the school system.
And there's also been some changes. I mean, I don't know if anyone's old enough to remember smoking here on airplanes. >> Oh, yeah. >> Um, okay. Well, welcome. Anyway, I remember this. Um, there was a curtain, you know, between the two sections, and that was one of the first places smoking
was banned, and it was only for short flights because on long flights, people complaining of of withdrawal from nicotine. Eventually, as you know, you can't smoke on the planes. And in addition there the
issues in public uh arenas of any kind. You can't smoke any longer in in restaurants um at work. I mean I went in the winter I went over I took somebody to the hospital here and outside I see people it's January outside with their scrubs
on smoking and um there some other measures. Uh the age changed right from 18 to 21. Um if you think back magazines, Life magazine as we were growing up, there
were very cool ads in there. You had professional football players in the locker room smoking, selling, you know, that it was a good idea. the um cigarette packs large font gives a warning about health
and you just don't drive up to Boston see the billboards anymore um with you know advertising smoking it's mostly the law firms now we see it's um and
one thing that's kind of different here is with most of the bans or regulations we have in town is a start date. So u well the most relevant right now I guess is the plastic reduction uh
regulation started on January 1st of this year. So certain plastics were absolutely banned and the same way is a day they can smoke in some public buildings.
It just starts that day. This approach is quite different as I said it's based upon that fixed year of birth that some town would pick and decide that well someone who is born on that year or after would not be able to buy nicotine
in that town. Anyone born before the year that would be selected can buy any nicotine product they want for the rest of their life. So it's a very gradual process. This is, you know, if the town takes this on,
it's decades, decades of time, and it's really looking out for future generations as as the name is. Um, it's looking out, it's for our children, our grandchildren and nephews, nieces. It's looking out for their health and
actually prolong their their life. As you know, smoking really reduces life expectancy. So, I can stop there. We're here for answering questions. Yeah. No, that's that's and I appreciate the update. Um, and I'm very well aware that the board
of health has its own authority under under the state in terms of what it's allowed to do. I guess my my question is more um how many other communities have has this passed in and why Yarmouth and why
now? Um, you know, we heard from a lot of people in the public. Um, and I I don't think there's anybody who's going to dispute the fact that smoking is bad for you. And there's proven statistics. I mean, we all know that. I think the state did a really good job of educating
people and has has reduced um smoking significantly since I was younger. Um, so, you know, I'm I'm always a fan of educating and and, you know, trying to get people not to smoke. I just I don't
understand the need for this. Um when when the argument was um alcohol is bad, you know, um junk food is bad. Uh so why are we um
sectioning out one portion, one item in in a realm of a lot of things? Um, you know, I the state invested a lot of money in educating people. Um, we in Yarmouth, I
don't think has have has had a problem with our um vendors or our stores selling to minors. Um there's I guess I guess I just would like to
hear the rationale as to why Yarmouth and how how the board has had discussions about you know if it's Yarmouth, you know, unfortunately it's just like the plastic ban, right? And I've said it in public several times.
I'm sorry. I go to dentist to shop. Um you brought it up. So I just have to say that that's what happens that you're not going to stop somebody from smoking. you're just going to give the money to another community. So, I guess that's the type of rationale. No, please, please, we don't need to do that. But,
um, that's the rationale that I see it as and I think a lot of our businesses see it as. So, I think that's kind of like the discussion that we would like to try to help everybody understand where your thought process is on that. >> Make this most productive. You said a lot of things and it would be helpful to
have individual questions that um >> but why Yarmouth and why now? That that's my first question. >> Well, I can start. >> Well, you're here. I mean, >> yeah, but but why why >> you would want the Yarmouth Board of Health to be messing with with >> No, but why why our community?
>> Well, you've entrusted us to protect the health of the residents of the town as well as the environment. I can tell you you have four health providers on your board right now. Okay. And we also
gifted with a hydraologist. So that's that's the the board right now. So that is our mission. That's our responsibility. So that's Yarmouth. So >> are there any other communities on the on the Cape or near in Massachusetts
that have passed this? >> Not not at this time. Um so when two in Massachusetts. >> Yes, >> in Massachusetts, but none on the Cape. >> Correct. Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And and it's always with public health,
it's always a balance. We're always thinking about personal rights as well as business. Um but the health always overrides those concerns. >> Right. And I understand that like I said in in my comments, my just my comments
is we understand you have you you certainly have the knowledge and nobody is debating the fact that nicotine's bad for you. So, and I know that that's within your purview. Um it's just it's just a difficult situation for
our business owners that will lose significant funding for because people are going to choose to go somewhere else. Um, and and again, one of my other questions is why nicotine and not the other things that are bad for you? I mean, if public health is your there's
so many items that would fit under your purview of things that are are are bad for you. Um, it just it just is u you you talked about it of personal freedoms, right? I would rather be on the side of educating people and trying
to focus that way as opposed to banning banning things. That's my personal opinion, but I'll let the I'll let the rest of the >> I have a question about the logistics of this, Tracy. Um at at the moment the um
the um minimum age for purchasing tobacco is 18 >> 21 >> using tobacco. >> Okay. So um >> purchase it. >> So if if this were enacted say for 2028,
it wouldn't have any effect on the um the profits of local businesses until 21 years after 208 2028. >> Right. >> It's prog as he said it's progressive. So it would start it would start there
and then and then the next year it would stay the same. So it would impact anybody going forward in the next year. >> So So but but nothing nothing though for um for two decades. >> No, that's >> No, not really. >> I'm I'm I'm there's something I'm not understanding here.
>> So it's important to keep in mind the the fixed year that would be picked. So in other words, if someone's coming to the store, you need to look what year were they born in. Um just to make it easier, think of it um if a town selected the year 2000 um guess 2006
>> is what they selected >> that is the cut off. So someone who is born before that can buy nicotine products for the rest of their life. Someone born on that year or after would not be able to.
>> I see. So you're not starting with a year in which people will be born. You're starting with the the already born. >> Yeah. >> But you have a choice of what year to start. >> Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. You know, and this was
brought up. I mean, we've it's almost open here. I mean, we've had number of meetings and it's been great. There's a lot of participation. Certainly a lot of people from the business section of the of the town that sector um has had a terrible year of the
stores along 28. >> We recognize that it it's it's tough balancing it which Mary had mentioned. um you're talking about selling products that are toxic and cause cancer
um on one side of it and versus local businesses. They're both valid issues. So, it's a judgment call. It really is. What's unique about this approach is it's so gradual. It's going to take
decades before all individuals would not be able to buy nicotine. And the state hasn't state has waited for many towns to put things into effect before the state took any action on
things. And that would be flavored tobacco would be the the age to purchase um state. It's tough. I We went to a conference recently and that they
mentioned that on Beacon Hill there's 6 to 8,000 bills each term and only 3% of them get debated. That doesn't say where the vote's going to go. So, it's tough to get things accomplished at Beacon
Hill. It is and understandably so. There are a lot of needs and there are, you know, a lot of inquiries and a lot of things that people want done by the state government. So, Massachusetts the what's happening with the health issues
very often it's town by town certainly associated with tobacco the state has done a great job or a terrible job depending upon how you want to look at it is is the tax rate >> I don't know it's like I think like $12
a pack >> um and you know at thousands and thousands of dollars that someone who smokes cigarettes on a regular basis. Someone smokes a pack a day, it's over
$4,000 a year. It's an addiction. >> Despite all the measures that have been taken, uh I think in the country it's 18% of people still use nicotine. Here it's between 12 and 15% in the state of
Massachusetts despite all these measures are still using nicotine. It's nicotine is very addictive. It's more addictive than heroin. It's more addictive than alcohol, cocaine. It's very, very difficult to get off of it. The
withdrawal is not pleasant. >> Joyce, you have any other questions? >> I'm doing all the speaking. >> I was just gonna You're still on the floor. >> I just would ask like to ask a followup. with the 22 towns of Massachusetts, do
you have a sense of where um in terms of choosing the year for the um enactment to start um and choosing the birth year involved? Um have most of them chosen um the year of birth that would represent
young children? right now >> it's the basically it's not the year that's they're turning 21 right then it's it's a few years back like if we do the I don't think we could do the 2006 because we're already in the that make them already 21 it would be 2007 so that
still gives them four or five years before they're even turning 21 to before they could start purchasing >> not well not that that year correct um >> the 2007 seven. So that's what they we could choose any year we want to get it
started >> to enact it. >> But we don't know we don't know what year the other >> um cities and towns have set. Um, Brookline was the first and it was
contested in court and the Supreme Judicial Court did say that it was legal a legal um initiative. So since that was that was in 20
>> 2021 >> 2021 and it was in court for two years um and so no other towns did it and once after the two years in the last so since 24 all the other towns have joined in um have done it. So
>> and you asked u why Yarmouth? The Armouth has been a front runner for tobacco initiatives in the state. Um, flavor tobacco 21. Somebody has to start and it's this great group of medical people we have on the board of health that is has been the initiative for it.
So, >> you have any other questions? Um I just um wondered if you see um a possibility for in you know choosing a date that would maybe be one where everybody um on
that date who was born in that year would say be 10 years old now um for a more gradual um launching or do you think it's important to go for um mid- teenagers which sounds like what's and
done. But I realize that, you know, there's a quality question too, a quality of life. And you know, that would keep probably more people from smoking. >> So, so Joyce, it's a might be a little confusing, but right now the it starts at the age of 21. So that's what they're
going towards that age to whatever the >> Oh, that I get it's this it's the um assignment of the um birth date year, >> right? But that's what correlates to that year was when they turned 21. If they're born in 2006,
they would be turning 21. So it would start with that. That and I'm wondering kind of how set in stone that 2006 is, if you see what I mean. >> She's saying when it would >> I do, but doing >> doing it at 10 years old wouldn't make sense because it's already it's already
banned under 21 is what I'm just trying to make sure you understand. Yeah. I'm I'm just trying to think, you know, I'm I did watch the board of health hearing from home and I'm aware that u many local businesses brought up the whole question of the impact of the sewers on
their their stores and you know we we all know and you know secretly pray but we do all know that that's not going to be forever and so I was just trying to ponder um whether if it were a slower um
by by choosing a later birth year if if it was a slower adoption whether that would be something that would be easier for people to handle but I was curious to see if anyone had started with a very young age and it
seems other towns have have not particularly gone that way and that's my last followup so Liz your turn >> okay I think Joyce has a point in that what we could do is consider putting this mandate off a couple years because
of the sewer situation that's been discussed with the board that that's an option and I understand what you're getting at and we've thought about that and that's a reasonable thing to think about >> compromise. The other point is with
tobacco is that with the other items you mentioned there's with tobacco there's more than one victim. It's not only the person who smokes a tobacco but there's extensive evidence that secondhand smoke
causes quite a bit of damage. I've seen it in my practice. Um it that it causes a lot of chronic issues in pets. People don't think about that, but I've seen numerous cases of chronic bronchitis,
uh, chronic pulmonary disease ins who smoke. So, that's just one difference between alcohol and tobacco. Other items you mentioned that there's more than one victim here with tobacco. And the other point is
>> there are two points that I've never met one >> person in my life that wished they never started smoking. The other thing is I've never met any mothers that would ever put a date on when they'd like to see
their child start smoking. Those are two issues that sort of I I thought about. >> Thank you. You know, I gave a a more of a discussion at couple of meetings. I'm not going to bore you with all the
details, but um there's such a plethora of chronic disease that smoking causes both for animals and for people that I feel it's a worthwhile mandate to consider. >> Well, if you can consider cancer a
chronic disease, for some people it's not. It's >> it isn't. >> Yeah. >> But there are myriad of diseases that >> we don't even think about that are associated with tobacco. >> Right. >> I one of my thoughts is like you said
you go to dentist to get your bottle of water. If we can prevent one kid from going and and and not buying tobacco products to me that's a win. And it's I'm not trying we're never going to stop people from going to Dennis from
Barnesville to wherever but it would be a win. I don't buy bottled water anymore because of the ban. I use I have a big jug. I don't go across. So, that's a a win. So, that's We're not looking to solve the whole problem. We're looking >> I'm not arguing that point at all. I
think again I think everybody knows that it's bad, but so is vaping, right? We sell vapes. If we can stop one person from smoking marijuana, I just feel like we have a lot of significant health issues. Um, and we've made such good
progress on this that uh, you know, that wouldn't be my focus, but I'm just one person. Liz, >> I was I've have a huge history with nicotine, marijuana. My father died from lung cancer, never
could quit smoking. Uh, I remember distinctly finally quitting such a battle in my 30s because I was pregnant and it was time and started smoking in my when I was 15 cuz I grew up here.
That's what you did and it was um was wonderful. It was great fun. >> It was a cool thing to do. >> It was Yeah. I miss it horribly. I love it when somebody lights up a cigarette outside and I smell and it's like but um
I was and I also want to before I say anything Barry Mary Hill and I'm sorry I'm not as familiar >> Larry >> Larry so impressed with what you've done and working with you on the plastics
ban. I know how um dedicated and and how important health is and this is a huge issue. However, I have been so impressed by the group of people who have made the effort
to get here. There's at least 18 and there's probably there I can see somebody on on Zoom as well and this is their second trip here. And we in Yarmouth, I think we're a special case because of this the sewering, but also
because we are we have the biggest well Barnstable and Yarmouth have the immigration we have the immigrant um population and uh this has been a solution for this group of people. I mean they I'm sure
many of them were born in America but there's a distinct look that is of an immigrant type that has made away in America thanks to these stores and to um so that's a Yarmouth I think that's a
Yarmouth reality that we need to embrace and and that goes back to Tracy saying why Yarmouth and why now I I I respect the idea that we're a front runner and we've done so many things in this area, but I think I want to cut them a break
because they're dealing with an awful lot of um issues and they're a they are a commercial enterprise and boy do we need commercial enterprises in Yarmouth right now more than ever. So although I
couldn't be more antismoking, my son is third is 39 and his wife is pregnant. He just quit and it was a huge battle and it's and he was a vapor and a smoker and you know every type of
tobacco. So I I get it on both sides. I'm so torn. But I feel like it almost ties in with the fairness resolution. And you know, Yarmouth is taking a sort of a big stand for this fairness resolution because we recognize we have an immigrant population. And um I think
that almost is part of it. We also need to recognize that these people there I shouldn't say that. That's so wrong for me to say these people, we all need to make a living. And in this case, this is what they've chosen. And I don't want it to start here. I think they're there's
going to have to be a gradual reformation and they will have to cowtow. We will all have to cowtow, but I I just don't want to have to to do this to the people who are running the um the the the quick stops and so on um
here in Yarmouth. That's my my statement. Thank you. >> I'm I'm embarrassed to say I don't know about the fair resolution. What is that? There's a resolution that's going to the ballot box and uh I am a supporter so I
want to make sure I I make that clear before I It's um the words of the constitution are being lifted and we are being asked Barnstable Town Council approved it unanimously. It's hit a wall
here in Yarmouth because people are a little bit afraid that it is a way of saying we want to open the borders and become a sanctuary city which is not the intention but it is a constitutional words being re reaffirmed
to immigrants who are trying to become legal. Um >> you don't know that that's that's an assumption but it's not it's not on the agenda there. >> It is an assumption and so that's why we can't talk about it. work is >> good evening. I want to thank you for your hard work. I know how dedicated you
are and um how much thought I'm sure you put into um your stand and being here tonight, but I'm asking you to really try to reconsider the businesses in this c in this uh town. May I ask again, how many towns have passed this statewide?
>> 22, I believe. >> 22. Okay. So that means there are 329 towns in the state that have not passed it. Do we have to be at the beginning of the pack? I want you to think about it.
Our our businesses are being hit on all sides. I mean, this has really our economy has been hurt. We we don't see the tourism that we used to see on the Cape. We we don't see um we have businesses that have have informed me
that they're having trouble making their uh rent because of um the the construction that's been going on and um they are one by one going out of
business because do we want it? It's like we're putting all these thing you know like we have to do the we have to do the sewer. So, we have to dig in front of your your property. We're going to put all kinds of signs out that say we're open during, you know, businesses
are open while we're going through this process, but unfortunately, there's just no way sometimes to get to that business. We lost an appliance store in in town be specifically and
they said specifically because of the sewers. Um, so that's a burden that they have. Then on top of that, as I say, we're not seeing the tourism as much here anymore. That's another burden on top of them. Do we want to drop another
one? I mean, why do we have to be number 23 out of 351 towns in the state? Couldn't we wait a while? Couldn't we um at the same time that we're waiting though, couldn't we
really step up our education process to educate everyone at the dangers of smoking? I mean really start a program cooperative with the schools, you know, to to really
um, you know, get at get at the the root source, you know, not letting them start because what happens is you say, well, it's a gradual process. But let's say you do put it into effect. All right? Like Tracy who goes off and gets her
bottle of water in another town. Other people are going to do that. And when they do that, they're not just going to buy their cigarettes. >> They're gonna then buy everything else that they need to buy. And they're not going to buy what they need to buy in in our town.
It's it's tough. And this is just not a good time. I mean, I I'm coming in today to this meeting hearing about the increase in inflation, you know, like the it just keeps going on. So, please, I would
encourage you. I I understand it. Believe me, I lost my younger sister. I lost my sister when she was only 45 years old to lung cancer >> and it was from cigarettes. And I hate them.
But I don't think that now is the time for us to take a stand and I please entreat you to think about that. Thank you Mark. >> Thank you Madam Chair and uh I too echo
the sentiments of my uh fellow board members about the great work that you do as a board of health. Um >> we've been through a lot together. we've had our uh challenges in the community and uh we've been well served by you. Um
now I do most of my shopping in Yarmouth. I don't go to Dennis. Um I like shopping in Yarmouth and uh from my discussions with business owners um just about everybody particularly on the 28 corridor has taken a real hit.
It's been pretty hard. Um, some will say that business is down between 30 and 50%. And if you're a small business and you're on the margins, that's a huge financial loss. That's a huge burden. And uh, what we're talking about here
today is a is a measure that will certainly impact the convenience stores. And the convenience stores have been taking a big hit. and their margins are probably thinner and slimmer than probably a lot of other businesses in terms of their ability to survive. So I
look at the issue as not just a health issue, but I too share the concerns of my fellow board members that this this could be another really serious hit to our small business community and we've
already lost a lot of businesses. I mean, the reality is we've seen a number of them go under. And uh um for me, it's been, you know, and many of these people are friends, people that I've grown up with, people that I've known for years.
And to see when you see your friends, when you see your neighbors basically lose lose their business and go out of business, and then you contemplate what the impacts of this might be. Um, I don't think this community can deal with any more losses or blows to the small
business community in this town. I really don't think so. So I I join with my fellow colleagues and urge you and encourage you, beg you, if that's that's an appropriate term, but really to to put this off and to spare us and and to
help our business community weather the current storm that they're in right now because the sewer construction is not over for a while. And uh I just don't think we can take any more hits to our small businesses here in the town of Yarmouth. And this and this and this
this this will be devastating to many and uh I I know of that because I like I said I spend a lot of time using our small businesses and um visiting and this is what I hear. This is what I pick up and so I'm just sharing with you my
observations that I think right now is not the time to be doing this at all. And uh so thank you. >> Thank you again. Uh, we understand that it's within your purview. Um, and I
think it's a very well-intended. Um, but I I just I'm very concerned about the negative impacts that it would have. So, um, is there any response or anything you would like to add, Taylor? >> Yeah, I mean, that's one reason we've
been discussing this for four months. Okay. >> Very unusual. We don't do that. Um, one thought I had was the other night Dunkin Donuts came into the meeting looking for variance for their plastic products
and presented a good case for it. But what I was thinking about after the the meeting was what's happened to Dunkin Donuts. They used to be a donut shop. Mhm. >> Um, and sales were going down. They
changed their their business plan is what they did. You can walk in there now and get a fluff of this. You can get almond. You can get soy milk. You can get two shots of, you know, espresso in it. They're meeting the needs. And the margins are great
with that as opposed to getting a coffee with milk. So that's how they're making up for profits. That way they're increasing their revenue better margins on certain products. I mean they're copying what happened to Starbucks which was a success story
needless to say. So I mean I question are there business plans and are people looking at them? The stores that haven't they do go out of business. Um products become obsolete. You need to
bring people in. And I don't know if that takes place or has taken place with the stores we're talking about tonight. >> Well, I've seen it, right? We talked about vapes briefly. That was one of the things that a lot of them bring in as younger kids and new things come. Is
that any better than nicotine? Absolutely not. So, um, but I, you know, I appreciate that. But I think that every business owner um I'm sure is doing what they can in these very difficult times to stay relevant and you
know when you think about Dunkin Donuts I think that they're fortunate to have a big corporate um you know they've they've got a lot of money for for marketing and you know our single owners aren't you know they don't have that kind of money to to invest in
marketing and and ch I mean I I think any business owner is always looking at their business plan, right? I mean, we've put a lot of things on them over the years as Barry has already mentioned, right? We've they've they've been through it with us and with you with menthol and um you know, all all
the things that we've done. Um, and I think in a different situation, in a different economy, um, you know, without what's happening, I'm sure they would probably be trying
to adapt. And I I think they're just stretched to the max right now and they just they can't they can't they can't do any more right now until, you know, they get past this. So, I don't know. I'm sure they're looking at at it. And I I appreciate that that comment. Um I don't
know if you can compare those um you know a big corporate to some of our individual business owners. But um you know I think giving them some time again I'm all about education. And I'm
all about educating people, getting people to try not to smoke, but you know, unfortunately the reality is people are, as you said, it's a very addictive drug, right? It's people are going to get it, right? They're just going to go somewhere else to get it.
And that's a impact uh that's going to impact our businesses. And again, I know you're looking at it from your your perspective of health and and I completely appreciate that. that and I know that that's what your focus on. Um,
you know, I think our focus here is more of a balance and looking at all of the sides and um, you know, in a perfect world nobody would smoke. In a perfect world, our youth wouldn't be vaping and doing drugs and we wouldn't have an alcohol problem. We wouldn't have a heroin problem. We wouldn't have an
obesity problem. But we do. We have all of those things unfortunately. And some of them need some significant attention. And you know, um I would I would love to see us focus on getting our young people not to smoke marijuana. Um
but in any event, here we are, right? And >> make one comment. >> Yeah, of course you can. >> And maybe I didn't give the best example of Dunkin Donuts. Why not look at the smaller coffee shops in town? You go in, they have all kinds of other products that they are selling. It could be uh
tomato sauces. It it could be things certain kinds of foods and and to eat take it home. Cheeses. They have all kinds of products now which they didn't used to. They're bringing in there's a coffee shop near us. There's a line going out the door in the summer. They
came up with some creative drink in there. >> Fluffy seagull. >> Thank you. Okay. Um you don't have to go to the other town to get it. So anyway, um >> it's also got thinking of new things. what will draw people in and products is
a big part of it of new products that these places are selling. They're individually owned. So that would be a better example I I think of thinking outside the box of what else is going to bring customers in, what the
customers want. Madam Chair. >> Yeah. I I think one of the things that strikes me in all of this is individual municipalities sort of taking this on themselves. You know, Dorcas had mentioned we have 351 cities and towns
here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. And by picking on one community or a small number of communities, what we're doing is we're sort of disadvantaging those. I mean, putting putting the businesses in like our community at a
significant disadvantage. Um, doesn't it make sense to be doing a policy like this statewide or nationwide with a much larger community and phasing it in so that people do have the time to adapt? I mean, if I were interested in going in
this direction, that's the approach that I would recommend the Commonwealth take rather than pushing individual communities to kind of take this on on their own. I think it would be far more responsible uh to do this, you know, across the
board, you know, throughout an entire region, put everybody on the same playing field, and give everybody a certain amount of time to make the transition. Doesn't that make sense? It it I think it makes sense, but what we
have heard is that in Massachusetts many times the legislature is looking at what the towns are doing and when there's a certain critical mass, they are willing to take on >> that kind of a big issue. >> Yeah. Not only that, they get the
lobbyists, right? But if when you think about the paper bag ban, right? How many municipalities did that? And now it's been probably three years since three or four years solid since many communities have done it. Now the state's looking to
make a uh statewide policy around that. So there's a lot of truth. >> You're talking paper bags or plastic bags? >> Plastic bags. >> Plastic bags. Yeah. Because I don't have a problem using getting a paper bag at the >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Yeah. >> No, but you know, to her point, that was
something that was started on the municipal level. It went almost like wildfire through all the >> communities. But my respon my response to that is so it's bad public policy. Why should we why why should we if it's bad public policy? It's bad public policy. I I just don't think it makes
sense to allow the to to put the communities in a situation where they have to sort of step up on on their own. I think uh I'd rather see it done statewide and you know the legislators have been hired to do a job. they should
stand tall and and they should do their job, you know, we should not be doing their job for them. >> Um, and again, come >> in here. No, but the thing is is we what we have also done as a matter of state policy as well is if we're going to disenfranchise or somehow have an impact
to a class of businesses in a state, some of the things that we do is we at least in the past, you know, when as as long as I've been involved in public policy, we've acknowledged the fact that there is an impact and typically have provided help to businesses to make a transition,
>> right? Um and and and so we're just sort of taking this up on our own without any resources, without any support. And then you know you know I just don't this town by town approach is just bad
public policy. And just because it's and because it's the only approach still doesn't make it any less bad, >> right? It's bad. We just shouldn't be doing this. you know, our legislators should be stepping up, doing their job. If they want to promote a much healthier environment and this is the way they
want to go, don't stick it on each individual town to do this, do it in a much broader way. That's that's my argument. And when our legislators come here, you know, for their regular updates with us, I'm happy to, you know, join with my colleagues in getting that
point across to them. You know, this is not the way to go. It really isn't. And I think what it does is it creates a certain level of cynicism in terms of government overall. You know, we we we should we should be um finding ways to restore faith in government, restore
faith in policy. And again, I'm not I'm not attacking the the merits of what you're trying to do in dealing with nicotine and addiction, but there are ways to go about it that make much more sense.
>> Yeah. and and in the meantime, let's work together on the education side. I mean, we do have we do have grant funds that we make available to the board of health to do all sorts of, you know, good things to protect the health of our
residents. Why not allocate some of that money for an an expanded education program that we can work on together? I mean, that's something that I would recommend. Or maybe we we have this conversation at town meeting. Maybe there's an article where we increase that appropriation, but I think there
are other ways we should try first before we go down this road. >> Can I at DY High School, there's 250 16 year olds right now. We'll say all 250 live actually here in the town of Yarmouth.
10% of those smoke. That's 25 potential smokers by the time they turn 21. We have 27 tobacco licenses in town. That means each tobacco license ee will lose one customer a year. That's it. And
then of grow eventually. That's one customer per establishment. >> Joyce, do you have something to say? >> Oh, we're not a point a counter to the state getting involved here. there is a
a disincentive I think for the state to get involved and I think uh Hill mentioned as you said $12 a pack that they're getting revenue from this from cigarettes >> so they're >> they may be de disincentivized to jump
on something like that because they're going to lose that $12 a pack. Do you think that would have anything to do with it? the fact that they may be a little reticent to pass a law that or a mandate that would >> would look like this.
>> It may I I don't discount that, but I still think that there are better ways to do policy. >> Yeah, >> I do I agree. I agree, >> Joyce. >> Well, I I think good things start small. Um I'm so glad that you have
investigated this and thought of a way to reduce smoking in a gradual way. I guess um I'm fully in support of the effort and my only question would be could you think of a later start date
like say if the start date were 2016 you'd be you'd be dealing with 10 year olds right now all the gentlemen behind you would have 10 11 years to adjust business practices and business missions
and the sewers would be done on the main streets so that you wouldn't have that anymore. I mean, it's at the point where I can imagine, you know, you would wish to sell almost anything just to keep the store open. And that's humanly
absolutely understandable. And we need to think of the economic health of the of the community as as well as the the bodily health. But I would love to see us um put this in as a practice with a
later start date. say like 2016 and I think that would be agreeable to most people. I mean we could wait for the state to do something but I mean kids are going to start smoking and and dying before the state does anything and I'm
so glad that you have you've jumped on this. >> Go ahead for >> I'll make it quick. I know we've beaten this to death. Um, I just want the audience at home to know that every time we talk about the state doing something, the our our attendees here are like, "Yes, I and and when we talk about
smoking being so bad for you, there isn't a single person out there who doesn't agree." But it is what is allowed. And I go back to how Tracy started this whole commentary by saying, "Why Yarmouth? Why now?" And I that's
where I come right back. Why? Why now? while construction is going on on 28. Just think of the number of cigarettes that could be sold to workers. Um, but that'd be like kind of working toward getting rid of it for uh for kids who
were born 2016 or later. >> If you tell a child no, they're going to go find a way to do it. >> If you if you educate a child on what the outcome could be, >> you're going to get a much better outcome with that. And I I like the idea
of what Mark's talking about is maybe we step up and do a much more aggressive campaign of education >> of education >> about the dangers of smoking. I mean, if you I think about I don't see as many
ads on TV anymore that I used to. >> They're against the law. >> Yeah. I mean, you know, like, so if they're not if if the kids aren't going to learn it that way, then let's really, you know, maybe like there's a a monthly
um seminar, a monthly discussion in the schools that the kids go through about talking about it. maybe just bringing forward for them some of these people who are willing to do that who are cancer survivors or who you know are
debilitated that makes a whole big difference more I think to a child than just flat out saying no >> yes agreed >> so please consider that thank you >> I was wondering too about you know what
what Dr. Venezuela said about the the secondhand. I mean, I can't I I'm an ex-smoker and I can't stand it, but you know, you see people in their vehicles with the windows closed and children >> or animals and it absolutely drives me
bananas. Like to me, that's something that like, >> you know, that's un that's unfair. It's it's not right. And um that is something I wish we could spend a little time focusing on how to teach people that
kind of you know you'd think it's common sense but you see it and it just it blows my mind. It's crazy. It's bad. But anyway, we've discussed this enough. We very much appreciate you coming in and and listening to us. Uh we've as as much
um I know you've had several meetings. We've heard from a lot of people. I know I've heard from a lot of people about um about their concern for this. So, we appreciate any consideration that you could give it to take both um as was
mentioned the economic health into consideration as well. >> Everybody, >> we appreciate you for the opportunity. >> Thank you very much. >> I see people's hands up. Um this is not a public that was not a public hearing
or we're not taking public input on on that. Um they um they will have their time to make their vote and we just wanted to make sure that we had a discussion about it. So we appreciate everybody coming and >> and uh listen. >> Next item is a hearing.
>> Yeah. Longfellow's pub. Any strong feelings? >> Yep. um you can leave it with the town administrator and he can distribute it to us if it's something that you think that is important for us to read. We appreciate your participation um and and
being here. >> Thank you. Our next our next item on the agenda is a hearing for a change of manager from Mindy Lynn Lawrence to Jameson Roy uh RCR Management DBA Longfellow Pub Old Townhouse Road South Yarmouth. Good evening.
>> Good evening Mr. Roy and Mr. Roy. Thank you for coming this evening to talk about um the change in manager. I know you've worked with Amy here. We have your certificate of insurance. We have um your application
that is complete and just very much I see you're tip certified. Yep. >> Which is great. Um, if you would like to just introduce
yourself for the record and talk a talk a little bit about your experience and what it is that you're trying to accomplish here tonight, that would be great. >> My name is Raymond Roy. Um, I've owned uh and operated for the last 45 years uh three or four restaurants in the town of
Yarmouth. Um, it's time for me to step back and it's time for my son who's 25 years old. uh he ran salties for two years for me and then he went off to work at Laam Centers after going to college and uh now it's time for him to take over
Longfellows and basically that's it. >> All right. So um I saw that you met with um the police department. >> Yeah, I did. you are familiar with our rules and regulations and what the
expectation of a license holder and a manager is. >> Yep. >> Okay. Um and that we do take our liquor licenses very serious. It's um it's a heavy obligation that you have to um make sure that everybody stays safe and
you uh you know you are able to recognize people uh you know not being overserved and that people are being overserved. Um so with that I'll ask if anybody on the board has any questions for the applicant.
>> You fully supportive. Thank you. >> Yes. Great. you plan on doing anything different with >> I think uh over time um I think the biggest thing is we don't want to scare you know any of our customers away um or our employees you know change can be hard so we'll make we'll make some
changes like over time like I said but right now everything's the same same operation >> still going to have prime rib >> every day >> yes that's the important question that's the most important one >> then I'll make a motion madam chair now that we got that established >> well thank you for coming you go ahead
>> yeah I I I moved to approve. >> Second. >> Any discussion on that? >> I I would just add that um you also have a reputation for one of the cleanest restaurants in Yarmouth. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Yeah. >> I believe for pride and rip as well.
>> Oh yeah. But also the cleanliness I >> every day. >> Yeah. >> All those in favor I. >> Any opposed? Thank you very much. We wish you the best of luck. >> Thank you. >> We hope you have a great season. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Our next um item is a
shellfish aquaculture lease application from Christian Hayes DBA East Bar Oyster Company for a proposed agriculture lease and Cape Cod Bay. Good evening. Good evening again. >> Groundhog Day. >> Yes, >> Madam Chair. I'd like to make a motion to approve the application.
>> Second. >> Okay. Any discussion on that? >> All those in favor? >> I opposed. >> Okay. Well, thank you. >> Thank you. We're we're not going to we're not even going to look that gift horse in the mouth. >> But we're glad we're glad to see you
even though you didn't get to introduce yourself. >> We wish you the very best of success. I know it's been a it's been a long a longterm um investigative process for you and we just uh we hope everything works out great and wish you the best of luck. >> Yeah, if I could just add a footnote.
Yeah, there clearly some questions and issues that we have to get resolved, but none of this is a burden on you. I mean, we're going to have to deal with what those are and we've been given every assurance that those issues will be cleared up, but uh you you should you should be okay from us to go forward.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Hayes. >> Thank you. >> You guys have the copy of that, right? >> Yeah. And we signed it already. >> It's in the it's in the red folder. Bob has it or Mary Alice will have it tomorrow. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Sorry to keep you waiting for that. >> All right. Next, we're going to have a
discussion on our annual town election warrant and a designation of the police assignment to the police chief and the town clerk. And look who's here. Good evening. Voila. >> Perfect timing, Mary. >> She knows how to do it. >> She does. She sits upstairs watching
upstairs. >> That was science. >> I was watching upstairs. >> Good evening, Mary. If you'd like to um Well, we do this every year, so but we we've got a letter in our packet. um you do with some motions that you need.
>> The there are two votes that we're requesting from you tonight. One is for the police officer assignments. That is a standard thing that we do every year. The second is the ballot warrant. Um the copy of the ballot warrant was in your packet. Y >> and that's where you will see your
ballot questions in the order they will appear on the ballot with their summary explanation and the yes no explanation. >> Madam chair, I'd like to make a motion. Please do. >> I hereby move that the select board hereby delegates its authority given
under chapter 92 section 72 of the acts of 2022. A lot of twos there. Um to detail a sufficient number of police officers or constipals for each building that contains the polling places for one or more precincts at every election therein
to preserve order and to protect the election officers and supervisors from interference with their duties. and to aid in enforcing the laws relating to elections to the chief of police in consultation with the town clerk. >> I second. >> Any discussion on the motion? All those
in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? There's another motion on the next page. >> Madam Chair, I move that the select board adopt the warrant for May 19th, 2026, the annual town election as presented by the town clerk, and direct that the warrant be duly advertised and
posted in accordance with Massachusetts general laws. the town of Yarmouth's charter and bylaws. >> Second. Any discussion on the motion? All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Perfect. >> Thank you very much. I will just mention while I'm here. Vote by mail. If anybody is looking for vote by mail for the town
election, they should uh reach out and send in an application. Those applications have to be renewed annually. So, >> they have to be what? >> Fact that they had one on on file last year does not help them this year. >> Renewed annually. They have to be renewed annually. >> Renew annually. >> So, they have to request it again. They
have to request it again for the mail actually >> and they have to do that. Can they do that online or they have to call? >> They can do that online. There's also an application on our website. So, they can either do it through the secretary of state's office or through that application or they can simply just send us a letter uh to the town clerk's
office and we can include them in the vote by mail list. >> Well, great. And thanks for all you do. >> Thank you. seems to be a little bit less of a heavy lift um with this process as opposed to we're learning how to accomplish it >> better. >> So are we.
>> And when the town election comes around this isn't a year where we had a um presidential preference primary. So those vote by mail cards for the state elections won't come out until uh July for the September election. So that's
when we'll get flooded with um the vote by mail applications for the fall uh cycle. So there'll be two sets that will go out. One before the September primary, one before the November general. >> So if they register now for this, will it also include the >> depends on how they how they request the
ballot. If they request all elections this year, yes. If they only elect for the town election, then no. So, it all depends on how they what they request on that application and the application provides um all different options. So,
>> excellent. Thank you for the update. >> Thank you. We appreciate it. >> Can I ask one one question of Barry? Um I just wanted to ask I know absentee balloting is possible. Um is early voting not done for this? >> So, in-person early voting, we didn't
opt in for in-person early voting for the the town elections. We typically don't running inerson early voting is like running a separate election each and every day and we simply don't have the um we don't have the interest in the inperson early voting for a town
election or for even a state primary like we do for a general election. We actually had Mass Town Clerks Association sponsored clerk day on the hill last week. So about 130 town clerks visited the state house uh on mass last
Thursday to actually lobby for some changes and some relief under the 2022 votes act. One of them being a slight reduction in the in-person early voting. We understand vote by mail is here to stay, but the inerson early voting, if you look at the data, the cost per
ballot for us to staff and be open for those hours is significantly larger than than just a vote by mail and handling it that way. So, >> understandable. >> We did that last week. So, we'll see what happens in in the next couple of
legislative rounds. >> Liz, did you have something? >> No. Thank you, Mary. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> All right, we are back on track. I like it. >> Thank you, Mark. Um, so we're on our our 725 item of town
meeting preview. >> All right, take it away, Bob. >> Sure. Thank you very much. And I I just want to say for the benefit of the public that our annual town meeting preview um is a service that the select board provides uh for the community and
and it's part of our public outreach efforts to um orient local residents and voters toward the town meeting process. And uh you know, we'd like to use this as a a way to um engage the public, demonstrate exactly what's going to be
on the town meeting, what folks are going to see um on the screens and things of that nature. And what you know, we want to really start um by encouraging um all of our voters to attend town meeting if it at all possible. you are the legislative body
of our community and without the town meeting members um you know we can do nothing. So, it's a very critical um part of the process. And this year for the town meeting preview, um I worked a little earlier to try to put together
the slides that folks are going to see. It's really um evolved into a major part of our town meeting uh that we u present everything uh in a in an orderly fashion in addition to having the town meeting warrants where everyone can follow along. Um we have the big screens up and
folks have presented all of the information. Now I just want to um caution this is our our first draft of this. What we'll be working over the next you know week, week and a half uh is having departments fill in additional information. But um this is substantially what voters are going to
see at the town meeting. Um so we'll follow right along and we'll we'll go through and try to present the experience so folks know um what they're going to be seeing. So, we we kick off the town meeting and we um turn it over to the town moderator who operates the
town meeting. He's the quarterback for moving us through the articles. Um and we'll have the call to order. We say the pledge of allegiance uh introduce the select board and the finance committee. the chair of our select board will um
deliver and some opening remarks to get the meeting going and then the town moderator will issue some guidance and um the the type of guidance uh that >> you go back though was that a um typo chair board of select board
>> chair board of select board yeah that's a typo chair board that's what happens when you change the name of your select board we right use the word board like two three four times So, we'll be going through um all of the slides and correcting. You'll see
various probably. >> Oh, yeah. Because it's up above, too. Yeah. Board of select board introductions. >> Okay. >> Thank you for that. And um some of the guidance that um you know, we have there's a decorum. Um we encourage all
residents to make their feelings known, speak uh and in order to accomplish that um you know, we make sure we go through the moderator. Um, no comments um or questions of a personal nature. Uh, amendments, if anyone wants to amend an
article, those have to be submitted in writing. Um, the topic under discussion rules, you can't talk about other issues. You have to stick to each topic. Um, during a standing, rising, or shows of hands, please display the voter card.
Everyone's going to get a voter card. Don't lose that. And um we also uh if um there are non residents or non voters that attend the town meeting, we have a special section that um they sit in and refrain obviously from participating in
the u voting. You remember all of those rules and everything else is is absolutely simple. And from there we get right into the um the articles and um they're grouped in terms of what the purpose of the article
is. And again, you know, we call them articles and warrants um as if we're I don't know, the sheriff of Nottingham. It's just the jargon that that we use. A lot of it's archaic, but you know, >> let's not make fun of the jargon. >> I know we love our jargon.
>> No, I mean it's it's the history of town meeting goes back to the days of our founding. So, >> and we're celebrating the 250th anniversary. I think that to Bob's point though, people who are unfamiliar get nervous by these terms that they're unfamiliar with. That's >> this is true.
>> You know, when >> No, I I understand. Yeah. No, I >> minimize the jargon. >> Before you can you go on, I just wanted to know whe when and if we'll get a a hint of what the I know we're going to do pledge the allegiance, but will there be a
presentation like there was in previous town meetings? Um, there was a >> uh Chris Gley got up and read something. >> No, we're not going to do that this year. >> Thank you. >> Well, nothing against Chris. >> Cleared that right up.
>> Well, it's it's actually up to the moderator to decide. >> It's up to the moderator. I >> It's his meeting and he can run it. But, I mean, I like it when they have, you know, we've had performances by students. >> I like that. We're going to try to have um and I don't want to spoil this in
case a glitch happens, but there's a lovely young lady from our local Dennis Yarmouth Regional um high school um who has agreed to sing the national anthem and and you know, we're we're really hoping that that that happens. But we're not going to have the um the other
speech. And and I just want to say also um I've already met with the moderator to plan for our meeting and to prepare and to you know lay things out and offer support, guidance, help. And I have a second meeting tomorrow where we're going to um gather other department heads as well as the town moderator and
just make sure everyone we're prepared to be crisp and explain everything, move forward. And so um with that we we jump into the the articles is we talk about the topics of discussion and and it you
know the articles are just a simple way article one article two article three every separate topic is separated from the other so we can discuss one item at a time because if you had everything that was going on in town under one discussion you wouldn't be able to
resolve anything. So that's why uh we have separate articles and we group them together. The first 10 or so nine articles are for the annual budget at the annual town meeting. Then we move into the second grouping of 10 or so
articles, all of the capital spending. Then we move into some of the general items and then we hit things like community preservation and bio. So um while it looks a little bit random from the outside, it's really organized in a very straightforward way so that folks
can metriculate through each of the items. Now the um article one are uh we start off with an article for budget adjustments in the current fiscal year. Now these are any accounts that have run over and obviously snow and ice is the big one. It's in here for 2 million. We
may be lowering that amount down. I believe that the final numbers are coming in a little under. The last number I saw was like 1,850 or some in in that range, but it's in the high 1 millions. Um, and we'll have an exact number. We're just finalizing everything. We still don't have 100%
invoices on the trees if you can um believe that. But it's been a tremendous amount of work. >> There is still >> there's still trees that are down. >> Yeah. And and there there's, you know, there's a backlog of a list trying to take care of those and and Crab Creek is among those. Don't forget.
So we start with article one and um in this article we'll try to uh resolve all of the the deficits in the current fiscal year. And from then um can I while we're on article one I I read in in the news today that there's a
supplemental budget being moved by the governor that will include storm relief. I don't know if you've heard that or aware of that, but that's actually good news. >> Yes. Yeah. And um and I and I can just say that, you know, uh the town of Yarmouth has been um an extraordinarily
strong participant in the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency's efforts to um gather all of the costs. We've had reports from every single department in detail. I um collated and and put those together myself, which is kind of um you
know, a a reminiscence that I had. I really enjoyed it because you know one of the things I did early in my career is the same thing after Hurricane Bob in in in fact >> and they named it after Bob >> that was my that was my nickname for a couple of years after that I was
hurricane Bob because um I had to get every single cost and put those into the federal but to just to give you an update uh in addition to the the state is working on a relief package we won't get 100% but is going to be a portion we wound up meeting the threshold for our
county, which they aggregate all of the costs countywide um for the federal aid possibly. So, um there has been no movement to grant us federal aid, but um MIMA's working on that as well. And and so we met the threshold, but now we have
to go through the process of trying to get some. So, you know, let's just take a look. There was a lot of lot of storm costs that the town confronted. So, we're hoping. So, I'm I'm glad that you mentioned >> and there's going to be clearly some interest in that amount and in terms of
what happened with the snow and the tree damage and how we all how we spent those funds. Some of us have been getting emails from one of our favorite constituents who likes to query us on this particular item.
>> No. And and you know, if you're not close to it, it just seems like so much money and it was massive the impacts of that. >> How much of that again was contracted out? We we needed help because as we learned at our meeting last week, we only have five people. >> Yeah. >> In DPW
>> and and the breakdown of the um of the 2 million is approximately 1.3 >> um was contracted services and and the rest was overtime. >> So um and that includes trees and snow. >> So um that's article one. And from the
budget adjustments for the current fiscal year, we move um immediately into the expenditures projected for the ensuing fiscal year. And um on on this one, we go in conjunction with um every
voter will uh be presented with the booklet for town meeting, which um will be back from the printers any day now, which lists out every one of the line items that comprises the budget. so we don't scroll through it up on the screen, but um folks are allowed to go
through department by department um ask questions on um any of the the budget items and the budget you'll see is split into several separate articles depending on the source of funding for the
individual budget. And the first one is the consolidated municipal budget. We like to say omnibus because no one knows what that word means but it means consolidated and that is the um all of the general fund consolidated items in the budget.
The total projected for recommended by the finance committee for fiscal year 2027 is 54,370 uh dollar811 and that is recommended unanimously by the select board and the and the finance
committee and we'll review in detail um every line item there and from the consolidated general fund budget which is article two. Um, >> can I ask a question? Going back. I'm sorry. It says Fincom 40. Was there an
abstension? >> I'm just They don't have every single member at every single meeting. >> Very good. Carry on. >> The the members that voted were were four. >> Good enough. And um for the motion, we're going to
see um because it is the general fund, there are various lines that support the general fund and a lot some of them are larger, some of them are are smaller, but um it all has to fit into that 54 million. It all of the funds don't come
directly from the property taxes. There's a number of other funding sources and those are are laid out things such as the ambulance fees that support the um fire department and and some of the PEG access fees and and
other fees. So there will be a detailed motion um for the municipal budget that consolidates just as the budget is a number of smaller revenue sources that supports that budget. And from there we move into article
three. And what you see us begin to do now is separate out some revenue sources that are independent. And those are the town's enterprise funds. And a a an enterprise fund is a separate department
or area of the government that operates on a self-sufficient manner. That means that all of the revenues that support that budget come from that department. And in this case, the revenues that support all of the golf expenditures,
100% of the expenditures are derived from the revenues from golf. So it it stays in its own contained area um and we don't have um spillover from the general fund um to the golf enterprise
fund and um the detail on the golf enterprise fund um is laid out and that that will go right up on the screen. Um and we'll go back to that. I want to
call out uh one of the questions that I had seen is um why is money going from the golf to the general fund? Didn't you just say that it stays in golf? Well, the only amount that goes from golf to the general fund is from a full cost
accounting standpoint. um we're required to uh take the funds that have been appropriated in the general fund for the benefit of golf and reimburse those and it's similar to corporate services in
private sector. It's very common things such as the human resources. Um other administrative functions are are laid out in in detail and um approximately $500,000 of um the costs used by golf
are funded in the um >> those are employee benefits, right? health insurance and >> um their health insurance is in their own budget but but there's a a a laundry list of um other things the you know the overall management the financial like we
pay all of their bills take all of the money and >> yeah these these are like the overhead charges or the indirect costs and every municipality does this um the the challenge sometimes is explaining it in English to people um because Sometimes
that's just a difficult concept to grasp. Why would you be charging this account for that? >> If they were a a business of their own, they would have those costs. >> True. So >> they're true. But like say >> treat them as if they're their own
individual company. They're paying for services through the town. I often find in many communities, at least the communities that that that I've where I've been to town meeting, um it's it's it gets it's it's something that often requires explanation. So, it doesn't
surprise me that uh it uh that we're we're talking about it and we need to be prepared to talk about it because it will come up. >> So, article three is for golf enterprise and that that comes in at the 6 million4. And >> can we go back to that number again,
Bob? >> Sure. >> So FY25, we were at 6.3 >> and uh for FY 26, we came down to 5.1.
>> Well, the 400 wasn't the funded from retain retained earnings wasn't. >> So that was the whole change. >> Some of it also we' closed down for here on the courses, didn't we? I'm sure that did must have been a cut
back in play. >> Yeah, >> I think the change in that number is going to catch people's attention. >> So, I think we need to be prepared to explain the differential and why how we >> that would be up to G. Are you talking about from the Well, we're
>> well the question is the question is going to be >> 6.3 million to the 5.1 is that what you're talking about? >> Yeah, I'm talking about that line item where it says funded from retain earning earnings. I think that's the biggest adjustment or change cuz we went in FY25
to having zero and then and then in budgeted differently 400 and then 500. >> So that just might require some explanation, >> right? And where are we on track? Do we know now where we are for for revenues for FY for FY26?
>> They're ahead quite a bit. It's a um >> another great year for golf. >> Great. >> They've really managed the experience out there and in terms of the play and the revenue. >> Um >> so increasing the budget by 800,000 is a safe number.
>> Yes, I I I would say for sure. Amy, you you agree she's been going through the numbers with a fine tooth comb. >> Don't we usually have a more updated figure? G Enterprise reserves. >> It's right It's at the Yeah, >> that's pretty old, isn't it? the last time it was certified.
>> Um, no, that's current because what what it goes back to the after the last town meeting. So, um, >> what was the special? >> Yeah, since the special town meeting, um, there has been no town meetings and, um, and that's how much money is in that
account. So, what we do is we It's pretty much the current balance. >> Okay. >> They're very accurate in accounting. So they say boom. >> Yeah. >> 11725. >> They ought to be. It's helpful. >> Yeah. Amy, you should be aware that this
used to be the golf used to we'd all get gray hairs. >> Be a four-letter word. Used to say golf >> for the longest time. So your predecessor, Bill really u worked very hard with the golf department and the golf team to get the the financing in a
much stronger position. So a lot of work has gone into this. >> I tell you co really turned us around. We were we were having to contemplate >> at one point in time before COVID of what we were going to do with the courses because they were >> not making money. >> And the management's been great out
there. You know, we've had a couple of reorganizations and Scott and the team and that >> they opened last weekend. They said it's was >> busy. >> Really, really busy. >> I'm sure Dennis isn't open yet. >> And they said it was their busiest April that they had.
>> Today was the opening week they've ever had. >> Excellent. I saw Dennis is opening uh two days from now. So until then, we will probably be busy. >> Busy day today, I think. >> Well, I think that that goes to show um
I think when I was reading about Dennis's opening, they're they're still struggling with also working to clean up after the storm. So, you know, we must I don't know if we had less damage there, but the fact that we were able to to get that ship ship shape,
>> we had significant damage, but we get some help through some contractors and um >> it's great. >> So the next cost center that is derived all of the expenditures are covered by
the revenues within that division is the water division. So they're separate um as an individual budget and we lay out their figures um as follows with a recommendation of 7,46706
recommended by the finance committee. Um and they're sitting on a $3 million um let's see that is going to be updated. I'm making my notes >> because our books say something else, right? >> Yeah. that that if you see that date that's the 24 date
>> um so that needs to change to the 25 date >> which that 2.540 increases to 3 million 59,000 30 >> warrants correct >> so in all cases the warrant's correct this is just our first draft of these
slides so we're going to be >> um going through them with a fine tooth comb >> then we move into um the third of are enterprise style budgets where the all of the appropriations are covered by revenues from within the the department
and that's article five for the septage enterprise budget. We all know what an enterprise is now and that comes in at 1,448,000 for the ensuing year. And we have I
believe the correct amount there. Yep. >> Good for the um septage. Next we move into article six is the fourth of our enterprise funds and I believe the final
well it is um the wastewater enterprise fund recommen recommended at the 1 million448 313 and so did we mo move people around I see the wages are going from 94 to 267 seven. So, we move people out of other
departments into the wastewater. >> This is actually to um there's one full-time in here now and and this adds two additional full-time employees to get the help get the plant up and running.
So, that's article six. Article seven is not an enterprise, but it's the cable television communications budget, which is funded 100% through the um cable television receipts that the the town takes in.
And that budget is here as follows. And that that covers all of the costs of operating the um C3TV for the public um access for the
government access channel um and all of the communications and outreach. >> The reserves are in our warrant, but they weren't there on seven. Okay,
we'll put those in. Article eight is the Dennis Yarmouth Regional School District budget which is recommended at 47,358 178
and um we'll see a presentation um on this item and we put the motion in here. It is subject to an override of proposition two and a half. So you see
the certified budget number there and in the explanation that we'll have up on the screen um funds town's share of the school district based on the revised regional agreement. Um and the article
is subject to an override of proposition 2 and a half in the amount of 1,481,348. Did you have um the recommendations? >> Yep. It's in the warrant. >> No, I mean in on the slide, but usually we I mean we've been having them. That's it, right? Okay, good.
Gotcha. >> Got it. >> Thank you. Okie do. >> So, usually the recommendation will be on the the first page fit. And so, we have the explanation, but um there'll be a much more detailed um presentation from um the school department. We don't
have those slides yet. Uh but um that will be at town meeting. We'll receive more information. And then we move into the Cape Cod Regional Technical High School budget and that is recommended at
town share of 4,74686. And um this also I have a a note on this slide to say that um this budget includes an override of 680,1
194. >> You're going to add that >> that that's going to be added to the explanation slide. That amount. I have a note here. So with article nine we complete all of the projected budgets for fiscal year 2027. So the entire budget this is the
main item of the spring town meeting is to set all the spending for the next year. Then we move into the next, as I indicated earlier, group of 10 or so articles, which is the capital expenses for the town. And and each of these
recommendations come through the uh capital program committee. We've had detailed public hearings um on them and and these are recommendations of the select board and the finance committee. And we start um again with the um individual
enterprise funds. Um and the first one is the golf capital expenses and these are are laid out um in detail with a total golf capital expenses of 400,000 for FY27
and there is an explanation of each of the um items and we'll have questions discussion on the golf capital expenses. And then from there, just as we did with the budgets, it's the same process, but
the capital and the operating expenses are separate. We're going to go into the water division capital expenses, and they're laid out in detail here as well with a total of $89,000 for water division capital expenses. And
then we have um an additional slide that describes each item, what the purpose is and um does have that correct amount for the >> reserve,
>> the reserve balance in there. And that's the water division. And after the water division, we move into the police cruiser leases. And um we have a a a lease to purchase program.
It says leases. It's different than a lease that a normal person would get on a car. Um these are simply ways to spread the financing of the purchase of the cruisers over a 4-year period. And this helps prevent us from having a
spike in any one year. And they're separated into uh individual groups. But very often I use the word trunch because it's another word that no one knows what it means and um makes makes
me sound continental I think. Hello. >> But the separate groups in all seriousness uh you know we have groups of four groups of six. Um this is a group of six. It's a four-year financing mechanism and we approve the whole lease
with a twothirds majority vote. um the first year of the lease and what you'll see is the subsequent years of the lease. So what we're actually um voting on is um to approve the overall payment schedule but with appropriating just
year one and um in subsequent years, years two, three, and four um you'll see these cruiser leases show up again in the town's general capital when we get to in an article a couple in. Uh, every one of these leases requires an overall
approval of entering into a lease. >> Oh, that's why two-thirds majority. >> That's why it's a two-thirds majority because it is essentially a debt obligation. Right >> now, it's different than most of our debt obligations with the vehicle leases. And that's the the one
characteristic of a lease that's different than a debt is that these leases are subject to appropriation. Right? So if the town fails to appropriate, you don't still owe the money, but you have to give the car back, >> right?
>> So um in each year, the town must approve the obligation for that current year. In the first year, you approve the overall payment program. In the subsequent years, you approve the amount for each year. Um and and if the um
amount is not approved, the lease would be cancelled. And so, but again, you don't own the vehicle um until it's paid for. So, that's a little primer on how >> newer funding source because a funding way because they I was always confused
when they first started it because you can never tie the hands of a of a of a town meeting >> in advance. >> In advance. So, if again like he just said though, if they don't approve it, they go back. >> Right. >> So,
>> exactly. But I will say it has been um from a capital planning standpoint a very successful endeavor to spread the costs over several years. Um we wind up having stable costs for police cruisers
year after year when previously the problem was it would be six or 700,000 in one year and then zero and then you couldn't get the 600 you'd need in the next year. What we like to do is we like to keep it steady. Um and but you know
you you really have to look at um when we started this program interest costs were very very low and they're still reasonable but um you need to pay very close attention to those and this is a um discussion and explanation of it
and you know we'll have the department head there to answer any questions on the on the vehicles. Usually we get um people like to talk about the the cruisers and and how they work and and um but it but it's good to present this information in detail. Next in article
13 we move into the fire department capital expense. I can see a little glitch on that slide there. We'll look at this. But um we have following along which is great. you can
follow along in your book at town meeting and on the screen to have the same information in two places I think is very helpful. Mhm. >> 1,299,000 um for fire department capital. And the major item there is a $1 million replacement
of engine 47, which is a pretty substantial um vehicle. And we're able to, you know, take care of these things by having that long-term capital plan. And and these are funded from the um partially from the capital stabilization
fund. and then the ambulance receipts. So, um what you see happening when you have a large engine for a million dollars, we take the money out of capital stabilization, but um the ambulance fund pays us back over five years or so and these engines have an
extraordinarily long life. So, it's good to do that because that way we don't completely deplete the ambulance receipts in one year. Um you know, we front the money and then they pay it back. So, at the end of the day, we still have a um a healthy capital
stabilization fund and that's article 13. Um and there is a description of every item. Um they do a good job of laying these things out and they also are good at town meeting and explaining things and answering any questions. Um
so, we have a series of slides for for the capital explanations. Then we move into the um what we call the consolidated capital expense article and this funds the various departments. It's not all from the same source. I
want to point out that various sources that we have um involved here is one of the largest sources is a $ 1.1 million um raise and appropriate comes from property taxes. An override was
previously passed in the year 2015 um for highway improvements, roadway maintenance, and that amount we've managed to restore to the budget and keep uh and in addition the uh there's
2.6 million from free cash um that funds these items. And uh they're listed all out in the book, but we have managed to list them all out here. Um, as well there's a detailed list. It totals 23
items. And as you can see, um, I that number four, that's your $1.1 million in roadway improvements that was the subject of the 2015 override. So that's in there. Um and each one of these
programs as the board is aware was um selected and ranked by the capital program committee. They have a detailed ranking rubric. It's another word that sounds a little special when you say it, but it's just the system that they use
for evaluating um these projects and they assign scores and rankings and um there these are listed in in rank order and um anything lower than 23 did not make it for funding. And um so we can have as much
detail on any one of these individual items. >> Do we not usually put up the the total free cash No, we don't. We do not. But um that's a question that someone usually asks the
um the the >> finance director and she loves giving that answer. It's like one of her favorite things. >> Well, we don't want to spoil that. Okay. >> Um next >> article 14 number 21 front steps improvement front hall of town hall.
>> Yes. >> Oh, because you fell. Both of us did have to make sure >> I fell in a in a different place, but see I have less experience. So look in and I'll be in future budgets. >> Okay.
And then article 15 is the library construction. That is a twothirds um vote and um there's also going to be a presentation associated with the library construction. Um, we print on the slide
the official explanation that is in the warrant. People can read that in the warrant, but you know, it's kind of dry in a slide and it's hard to read up on the screen, but that is um printed in the warrant, the explanation. And so,
we'll have um more discussion and details um on on the library. And again, that one is uh subject to a debt exclusion, which is different from an override in
that it only excludes the amount from Proposition 2 and a half that's required to pay the bonds. And as we've discussed, the bonds is a a 20-year declining program. So that it's a declining amount over 20 years and then after it's paid for um any exemption
from two and a half disappears and the tax rate goes back to its normal level. But that is also about >> you had mentioned um after our library uh presentation at the senior center
that you would be doing um somewhat of a you'd be explaining that ramping down of costs over time. Yes, we're going to have some slides in detail what the impact of that project is, what the impact of other projects is, what the
capital planning shows, just, you know, walk people through so they can >> take place here. >> Um, yes. >> Gotcha. >> When we get at this article, um, they're going to present the needs. Um, they have asked me to, um, present the
finance part of it. um happy to and and then you know folks will be able to take action on it ask any questions. >> So that's 15. Then we move into article 16. Um here we're getting into some of
the general items. There's still some more capital to go but um we we see some of the items we're trying to work with these departments on any additional articles they have. One article we need to do is grant the national grid easements to install gas to service the
new wastewater facility and um that is so that it runs the generator. You do not want a wastewater treatment plant that doesn't have the ability of having >> Yeah, they switch back and forth sometimes from different >> and um also recall at the last town
meeting we approved electrical easements. So um the power to these facilities is is critical because they need to keep >> keep operational. So that's um article 16. There's no money in that and and it
has a um explanation and it's also in in the article. Then we move into article 17. Now this is another borrowing article to be paid for by the septage and it is a supplemental appropriation if you'll require. We appropriated 4.2 2
million I believe in 2025 and um this is an additional 2.8 million. There are two tanks and the first um appropriation only provided enough money um to fund about a tank and
a half when the bids finally wound up coming in. So with these additional funds, we'll be able to rehabilitate both of these equalization tanks and and again I mean the simple truth is the toxic um environment that exists with
septage in these concrete tanks over the last 25 years has eaten the surfaces away. And so what you're doing is rebuilding the surface of a tank that holds um the human waste. So, um, >> that'll pass unanimously. I think nobody
wants to see the consequence of neglecting it. >> And, you know, the other thing that probably will be pointed out at town meeting by going through this extensive rehabilitation of a 25-year-old facility, you're able to essentially double this place has been rebuilt and
you can double the life of this facility. And that saved millions of dollars over the life of if we had to build a new one of these facilities onto the wastewater treatment plant. Um this saved a tremendous amount and I I think it shows um you know some great
thriftiness and um to to use this facility and keep it in use and this is how it's done. And so we have more a little bit difficult to read the explanation but um it does show the the detail of the 4.4 4 million that we've
allocated in 2025 and how that works and >> and it is twothirds majority for this one. >> It's a twothirds majority because this would be the 2.8 8 million would be a debt that would be paid for over time. >> And and um we had a twothirds majority on the national grid easement. Was that
>> and on the national grid easement? It's a twothirds majority. The things that trigger a two-thirds number one if you're um taking on any debt. Number two, if you are giving an interest in real property and that's the easement. >> Okay.
>> So those are really the two rules of thumb on >> Thank you. And um we've already been able to get some of the detail because we had it on file of these tanks and where they are um what they look like. And so um we'll be able to walk people
through. It helps having the pictures. I I I feel strongly about >> Hard to see it through that anorobic digesttor. >> Oh, you I think that was a joke. >> I know that the digestion So um that moves us into article 18
which is the um transfer of 400,000 that was in the original uh legacy 2021 town meeting uh vote that we had for um some of the initial
design costs of wastewater. Now, we're um repurposing those funds to uh go into the um expenses for completing phase one because the design's already completed. So, we have
400,000 left over as a perfect source of funds to repurpose to to move into the construction end of things. And um this has the detail 400,000 of those costs related to the collection system.
Um and this balance will be used for engineering costs related to Bayberry Hills discharge. Then we move into the next article is to actually fund the Bayberry Hills discharge uh program which uh is for
design at this stage and the amount is $1.5 million for Bayberry Hills discharge design. And and again for um any of the folks at home, this is not to design a golf course. This is to design
a retrofit of one of our town golf courses to accept the um groundwater discharge of the treated effluent from the wastewater treatment facility which is clean water and can be used for irrigation as well as deep well
injection. So that entire system will be designed on the Bayberry Hills and this will grant the town an adequate amount of groundwater discharge capacity which was a big problem um up until you know we've developed this alternative in
>> Can we just talk about the funding for this because it's kind of vague in here. I'm assuming that the article before that has the 1.9 million left and 400's going to be transferred to that that the 1.5 remaining goes to article 19 but I don't see where it says that.
>> How are you how are we funding article 19? >> So they're they're going to transfer funds from the wastewater stabilization account. >> So it just says the available funds. So, all of it's going to come from that other from what was left over in that
other article. >> Um, the there's two separate articles. There's the the the wastewater stabilization is where we put a lot of these funds, not not from the original article. >> Okay.
>> I think there's a a typo there with the twothirds majority on the slide. It's not in our book. Well, the um I think this is a twothirds majority. I'm I'm going to double check it, but uh um unless it's changed and I
I missed it that another one of those two/3 thing is the appropriation from a stabilization fund. >> Okay. >> But but that might be one of those municipal modernization things. So, I'll just make a note to double check it. But I I wrote it in is >> in your warrant. You wrote it in?
>> No, slides, but it's not in the warrant, >> right? I wrote it in on the slide because I think it's a twothird vote. It's just something I um >> okay. >> Okay.
Then we move into So here's a there's more discussion of that lots of detail. Article 20 is to um set aside funds for um wage adjustments for FY27 as a result of settlement of
collective bargaining agreements um that have not been settled yet and that currently includes the police department um you know primarily that we're in collective bargaining and um trying to set aside some funds and to you know if
there's any other wage adjustments that need to be made and that is detailed here. It's a standard article we usually do every year. Article 21 is um additional
funds for the Madakis building maintenance costs, an additional 200,000. And this should, we hope, get us to the point of um I know we'll be working on an RFP to try to stimulate some public private use of that
facility. And we have some recommendations of the MUK that will be in front of the select board. But in the meantime, we need to make sure that we're continuing to take care of that facility. And then we move into article 22, which
is a transfer and sale of surplus property. Um, and that is another twothirds vote. And um this is a sale of land of low value pursuant to a bid process in conjunction with the town's policy to dispose of town property um
which is unbuildable small lots that are located uh in subdivisions adjacent to other um residences that that may be of value to the residents but has no value um to the town. And so this is we're wrapping.
need to add it to the book. >> Yeah, the twothirds vote isn't mentioned. >> Page 26. >> The book's printed already, but they'll make sure that when they when they take up the article, the the moderator will let the public know that it's a
>> I don't think people really pay much attention to that unless it's a real >> see nailbiter. >> Yeah. but just to be prepared. >> So, we'll have it up here on the slide indicating a twothirds vote for sure.
And then we move into um some of the u statutoily restricted funding and there's really two key categories which is that article 23 is the tourism revenue preservation fund
>> and that is a special act that requires a special appropriation and the recommendation um is here for the amount of 565,264 with the breakdown down um in the book
and also up on the screen. And after the tourism revenue preservation fund has an explanation of that, we move into the community preservation articles. And there's a series of these articles um for each one
of the key areas for which funds are restricted under the community preservation act. And the first article establishes just the the general budget that we have for um the whole entire
year. And from the setting up the estimated revenue, we move into and again we we see CPA revenues estimated at 2.25 million. Um, and we estimate a 10% match at
205,000. >> 10% match. >> And then we move into the the individual categories of community preservation. And it starts with um the affordable housing projects that are funded under community preservation. And they're
listed out. There's one, two, three, four, five projects. Um, I can see a little glitch on the bottom of that slide. The total amount is a little blocked of 895,000
projected for affordable housing projects. And each project is outlined and will be presented by the committee. Project A, B, project C, D, and E.
Article 26. Will they have slides for any of those or just talk about it? >> I'm going to try to get some slides. >> Slides. >> Great. >> So, we send these over to um CPA and see what what they can come up with some nice pictures. I like to see pictures if
it's possible. >> That's what they usually do. >> Good. And then article um 26 is recreation and there's one single uh recreation program the packet landing resiliency
and the description of the program. Then we move into article 27 is the open space reserve which um the open space project is the crawl pond restoration phase 2 140,000
>> that's article 27 we so we're going to make our recommendation from the floor on that one >> and the the board already made recommendations and so we've included those recommendations in on the slide okay >> so we'll be able to present those. But
the booklet at the time of the publication now was on Tom meeting floor. But this is great since we now have the recommendations. We can put them up on the slides. We don't have to wait and then and have people >> um not know what they are.
>> Gotcha. And then article 28 is the historic preservation and that is um projects A, B and C that are um outlined here and um those are discussed in detail.
And then uh we move into article 29 which is the zoning article VOCCD setbacks on Route 28. And um of course you know working with Kathy she's always a step ahead of me um which I really
love about her. We've got this slide and and we've got the the detail and we've got the explanation. But in addition to that, um, she's come up with some great graphics to support that that she'll be able to walk through. And these are the village center overlays. When they say
VCOD, that's the village center overlay district. There's the map. Um, there's some of the mast sections, the reason for the problem, how it came about, what the layouts look like, where those
taking strips are, and how that whole thing works with the explanation on the side. And by the time she walks everyone through this, um, people will know. And then there's a little, um, pros and cons kind of thing
about that. And so that takes us through the zoning and um we'll be working to get you know on some of the other articles a little more detail in terms of the slides to just get as much information out there and hopefully answer questions before people come up with them. And um from there that is the
thank you for >> wasn't that nice >> participating and and that's what folks can expect at town meeting. Um it's a simple straightforward process, but you know, we really encourage folks to come out um ask questions, get answers, and
participate in um you know, supporting the town and and setting forth our town government. >> Great. Thank you, Bob. >> Welcome. >> That's a good question. Yeah. >> Um Bob, will any of these have handouts for people um as they come into town
meeting? I just asked that because it seems like people get restless in town meeting and they actually read every piece of paper that they have when they get restless. >> I know the library had a handout. >> Yeah, >> library might be doing handouts, but I think that might be the only >> the town moderator has to approve any
handouts for town meetings. So, if somebody wants to do it, they have to they have to contact our M. >> Oh, I see. But but but like the town departments for these aren't aren't doing handouts. No, we try to get the town departments to present the information in the warrant and the
presentation and um >> Okay. >> All right. So, we'll move on to assignment of articles. There's 29 articles and there's five of us. So, we need six6 and five. So, typically the chair takes
the first the budget ones. So, I will take one through six. Who wants to take seven through 12? >> I'll take those. Mark, >> I'm willing to take whatever nobody else wants. >> Okay, we got the fire department capital expense. Uh, we got 13 through 18.
>> I'll do that. Okay, Dorcas. Um, and then we've got uh Bayberry Hills through the first we'll say 19 through 24. >> No, that's CPA. >> Yeah. So, but we still have to um we'll still have to make our recommendation.
We don't have to move it. So, >> anything. Okay. Same thing with zoning. We'll just make our recommendation and they'll move the articles. >> So, who wants to take 19 through 24? >> Well, I will, I guess. Joyce, are you okay with 25 through 29?
>> I am. >> All right. So, that's how we'll roll. So, Tracy's 1 through six, Mark will be 7 through 12, Dorcas will be 13 through 18, Liz will be 19 through 24, and Joyce is 25 through 29.
Great. >> That makes it easier. I like it when they're together. >> Unless there's something that'll take care of the sewer. >> And we're going to have with the motions, >> we'll have everything >> lined up for you >> and that's kind of being worked on right
now. >> And are there any other articles that are left that we need to take a position on prior to town uh pre-Town meeting? >> I don't think so. >> Okay, great. We're all set. >> So, we've done that. All right. Great. Board and committee actions.
>> Okay. Well, short and sweet. Um, I suggest that we uh accept Chris Peterson's resignation from the Recreation Commission with thanks. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Okay, that's it. Oh my goodness. I move
that we approve the minutes. Is that okay, Tracy, if I continue? um April 22nd, 2025, which was the housing workshop meeting. >> Is there a second? Any discussion? Any amendments? All those in favor? >> Any opposed? Okay.
>> I move we approve the minutes from May 6, 2025 board meeting. >> Is there a second? >> Second. Any discussion? >> All those in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Okay. Upcoming agenda review.
All right. So today is April 14th. Next week is Patriots Day. We have no meeting. We have an annual town meeting on April 28th. We will we will have a pre-T town meeting posted >> for any last minute items that we need to discuss that will be held right
before town meeting >> 5:00 p.m. Right. >> Yes. That's what we usually do. And then on uh May 5th, we have a swearing of new officers and sergeant. Uh we have a amusement
hearing for scallies, a hearing for JART. Is that the same one that we were were waiting for a decision on? Did a decision come on that? >> No, it's different. >> That is different. >> Okay. All right. a hearing for uh
Captain Parker's communication plan, packet landing resiliency project uh recap of town meeting and our town administrator evaluation. All right. So, we're going to need I'm going to need those. I know I emailed
Joyce and Mark yesterday. Perfect. Thank you. >> Y >> we'll get that all together. I had to put it in a contrasting color because if it were all in white, >> you wouldn't find it. >> Yeah, exactly. >> Do you want the envelope back? I just need the paper.
>> Oh, I don't need it back. That's fine. >> Okay. Well, thank you for doing that. >> Appreciate it. >> Working at the hospital, those envelopes. >> We have to have a fees for Parker's River Landing, but that's in the Do you want to sign that? >> Oh, sure. >> Oh, Don. Okay.
>> Did we advertise that yet? the fees for Parker's River Landing >> was it's on the consent agenda, isn't it? We had it on the consent agenda. >> I don't >> Oh, yeah. No, the um >> believe we did. >> We haven't advertised the the fees that you talked about last week.
>> They're doing a we're doing a waiver for that event, the first event, >> but but we were going to >> We'll bring the the fees. We're going to bring the fees back. >> I have to check. I don't know what date they set for that, >> right? I'm just reminding then uh
I think we I had it and I think we can we had a little discussion about it but we did we want to consider the letter I don't think we do open meeting and public documents as per Harris Ktos he brought that up as another letter
possibility I think we have decided we're not in the business of taking up every issue at this point does that ring any bells for anybody It does. >> Am I right in saying no? We're not going to have it on the agenda. >> Well, I mean, I think we haven't even
got the other one. The the ink's still in still wet on the last one. We want them to take our uh >> leave it as a >> We're going to lie quiet for a while. >> Yeah, we got to prioritize what what it is. If we keep setting them, I'm not sure we're going to get any >> what we said last um time was that
they're going to get tired of hearing from us. We get a little less. Believe me, I I in terms of overmeating uh the records and o, you know, I always have a problem with our legislature that makes rules for us and exempts themselves from
it. So, I think that they should follow the same >> public records rules that we have, but I mean, I'm not sure a letter is going to do any good. I think it's got a little ways to go to work through >> up there >> on the um future agenda possibilities.
We wanted to have something on energy manager and the money and how that whether we're going to be able to keep that money. >> It's on May 12th, >> is it? Okay, good. >> Excellent. And then um P an update on PAS.
We have that to come. >> Oh, it's on June 9th. Excellent. >> And um and then I wanted to start talking about administrator search. >> I don't want to wait until >> Well, first of all, we should wait until
after the election. My opinion, we've never made those types of discussions. Not that I don't know that the board's going to change, but if it does, >> membership participate in that. Number one. Number two, um I'm not sure we're at that point. I think that's a discussion that we need
to have. Are we are we saying that that's what we want or are we going to let Bob make that decision? I think professionally I would like Bob to make his own announcement publicly before we know I mean I'm not sure where he's heading and we're making assumptions. He
asked for a one year >> he asked for a one-year contract. We gave it to him. So are we assuming he's done? I don't know. I mean I don't unless somebody else has >> persuade him to has any other information. He hasn't he hasn't said anything further. So >> gone public. Okay. Would it make sense
anyway to have that after our goal setting be because we do goal setting and then we'd figure where future hires might fit in that? >> I think you have to have that conversation before you do goals because it's part of that conversation,
>> right? And it's and if if the fact of the matter is is if Bob um makes that decision that he doesn't want to be considered after a year, then um we need to start a process. So, >> maybe if we swore we would not have the
same level of blizzards next next year or for the next couple years, he would stay. >> No hurricanes either. >> There you go. >> I could go for a nice hurricane. >> All right. But it it it's on our radar, Liz. I'm not sure where it's going. >> But I I would like to it to happen after
the election. That's the way we've always made those decisions. >> Anything else? You got any more notes over there? Liz, no, I'm I'm talking to you. >> No, I keep notes. I missed some comments
on the minutes, but >> it's too late. >> Okay. >> All right. So, individual items. >> Anybody have any individual items? >> I had one thing. >> Go items. >> I had one thing that I wanted to You're ready for me?
>> Yeah. Oh, yeah. >> Oh, yeah. Please, please. >> I get up on Tuesday mornings ready for you, Liz. I get a good night's sleep on Monday. >> I think that's marvelous. Um, I noticed in when I was reading the minutes, um, from the presentation that Kathy did on
the LCP, local comprehensive plan, that the material that she the in the minutes, the material is fantastic for our goals meeting because it really laid out where we're at with future
challenges in Yarmouth with with um with everything >> with our preservation. >> So, >> everybody bring the minutes to the goals meeting. >> Well, I think I think um a lot of those documents, the LCP and um the h the
housing plans and and our visioning >> project, those are all things that come into play when we >> Yes. >> we have our goals discussion. >> Yes, indeedy. >> So, we'll need to we'll need to set a date for that, right? Do we have um >> No, we have that.
>> Let me see. It's a Saturday. Is it Saturday? >> Oh, boy. I hope I didn't uh Oh, it's tentative. July 18th. Okay. Going to check my calendar. >> So, we should
>> I don't need to do it tonight, but we should start thinking about that and and I, you know, maybe have a a couple of possible dates. Um I I really thought our um facilitator was a nice upgrade last year and I I'd like to try to um
book the same one. Yeah. Because I I you know he's got a real just great head on his shoulders for all of the >> issues we face and everything. So I I like that a lot. >> And he also wants a sequel. Like do we still have the same favorite animals? >> I'm sure
>> people change. >> All right. Anybody else have any individual items? >> No. >> No. >> Joyce. Okay. Well, moving on to consent agenda. >> We move that we accept the consent agenda. >> Second. >> Any discussion on that? All those in favor? >> I. Any opposed?
>> Okay. >> Bob, take it away. >> All right. Just a couple of things I really wanted to mention is I wanted to give you a brief update on the Southshore Drive >> um >> issues because um >> the contractor is a little bit behind
what the schedule that they gave us. Um they were proposed last Friday to be completed with the um with the paving, the first coat of paving and cleaned up out there. or as you know, Southshore Drive has been, you know, more of a moonscape in recent months and um with
all the restaurants and condos and everybody opening up, it's a big issue and I know it's an issue that the select board has, um, you know, a tremendous amount of interest in. And so, um, you know, I do want to say as of Friday, the police look terrible. I was appalled.
But um as of um right now um the Southshore Drive is paved there. That first coat of pavement um is down there. So it's cleaned up. It's accessible. Um you can get from the parking lot across the street to the to the areas. >> The road open, Bob.
>> And the road is open. The road is open. Okay. And it's um open all evening. and the um so I I think for the restaurant opening and the condo opening and I I've also had several chats with the condo folks down there. They're very nice and just concerned and and our whole team's
been doing a good job at least keeping people up to speed. We're frustrated because you know when the contractor gives us a date we're going to be done by paving then they don't make it. we're we're having that information on all of our communications, but but then it doesn't happen. It's like, well, why
didn't you make them do it? And, you know, a lot of people don't know that, you know, we're not allowed to to dictate the means and methods. We just have our oversight. But at any rate, um the the schedule is for everything to be done and this contractor to be finished
>> what day? >> May 21, >> right? By by Memorial Day. Now, are they going to make it? We're willing to bet there's going to be some things we're not happy with, but uh it will be um substantially complete. That's the term Jeff and I were talking about. He gave
me this afternoon. They'll be substantially complete by May 21. And we're not we're going to let them off the hook for anything that's not done perfect. But um the road's open right now. We should be okay tomorrow. And we got um May 21. Uh I I want to let you
know um just this afternoon I attended a meeting at the airport that I'm on a round table for noise. Um bless you. >> Bless you. >> Thank you. Bless you. >> And Chris Greley and I attended on behalf of the town along with Ron Price
from QED our consultant. And um we're going to put on the next agenda our specific recommendations for that. remember the instrument departure, automated instrument departure, which is, you know, way more than half of the flights um can all be set to not go over
the West Yarmat areas. And so that's something that we're actively working on. And and I will say we haven't, you know, made uh any changes yet, but we haven't been thrown out by the airport folks. They've been very nice to meet with us, and we're going to continue. And I'll keep you posted on every
meeting we do there. Um, before we go, I I I >> While you're on that, >> who's who's the new airport manager? >> Nelson. John Nelson, >> isn't it? Mike Nelson. >> Mike Nelson. >> Mike Nelson. And, um, also there's Sean Driscoll is the assistant.
>> Okay. >> So, um, we're working with, you know, >> better in terms of the communications and relationship. >> Yeah. That they've invited us in. They agreed to set up um the, uh, the we call it a round table. It's a task force. Uh
we're studying the issues. Again, we just started. We haven't made progress, but we're going to be discussing community outreach, all of the things that we had asked for previously. So, um so far, we're making progress and and I thank Sean and Mike >> and and and Chris Gley really deserves
>> Yeah, Chris is awesome. She's my partner in crime. We sit there and um >> and she's Yeah, she's formidable and very very on top of them. And if you ever, you know, um, we'll bring you up to speed because I know when she can't make it, you're on the
backup, too. So, thank you for that. >> Um, and I I did want to mention, too, if um I I know not everyone was able to make it, but last Friday, uh, the Cape Cod Chamber held a legislative breakfast, and my hat is really off to
Mark Forest. He did did such a great job u being the moderator for a panel of the town managers to discuss some of the issues related to you know public service on Cape Cod as well as how we support the business community and and it was great. We had a manager from
Brewster um Falmouth Orleans even the Yarmouth guy was there and we each did a little section I know and and and it was nice. It was a great program, but I just wanted to uh mention, you know, to to see in a in a regional um context. Um,
you know, Mark was really great. So, I thought it reflected very well on, you know, the municipal government and the town as well. So, >> yeah, we got the best panel. >> Yeah, we did. We did well. Bob was great, by the way. >> That's not You didn't even mention his own role in the panel. Ah,
>> no. That's why I'm jumping in here because >> Good for you. he uh helped talk. What we wanted to do in this this discussion was to sort of highlight a number of different um priorities. And I think one of the things that Bob was able to reflect on is he he added to what the
other managers had to say about some of the challenges facing the town. But he also sort of emphasized some of the things that we do that are very unique here that involve creating a public p private partnership with with the business community, particularly our tourism promotion fund. and that it's important for communities to find ways
to sustain those kinds of relationships and build those bridges. So, I thought it was a good it was a good um piece and a good discussion. Um the reality is is that the all of the towns are on the Cape are facing some really serious
challenges. We got overrides virtually in every town. >> Yeah. And um there are some towns that are off Cape that are having huge overrides >> as you all saw from my brother's town in Marblehead. >> Yeah, Marblehead. >> A lot of >> Marshfield. Take a look at Marshfield.
What a mess that town is in. They've got a $7 million uh override that they're looking at. Charlie Sumar's been the the interim town administrator. And Charlie's a friend. We talk all the time >> in Marshfield. >> Yeah. >> Oh, wow. >> Yep. And um
>> that that board is in turmoil. >> Oh wow. >> And um so um so we're not alone. I guess the point I'm getting at is we're not alone in terms of dealing with some financial challenges. >> Uh but we're probably in a much better I know people might find this hard to believe, but we're actually in a much
better spot than a lot of other communities in terms of weathering the fiscal challenges ahead. So >> last item. >> Sorry. I just wanted to also give you a shout out because at the library planning uh building committee uh presentation and you were also helping
us understand where we are relative to the other towns and that was important information because yeah, we're still even though we have to have an override, we're still one of the lowest tax bases. Well, knock on wood with it. We we hope we stay that way because remember when
we talked about that the big factor is the um you know the economy here. >> Yeah. >> We don't have the income that a lot of these communities have. Right. >> But I did want to mention before we go and I know um it seems like I've been talking all night that um you know we
had our second briefing on that Route Six bridge with um Mass DOT and um I know there's been a lot of you know talking so members of of the public that haven't been keyed right in. Their initial um proposal was to um close down the westbound bridge on Route Six over
the Bass River for um pretty much all truck traffic. And you know, we were alarmed. I mean, it was that's a very alarming news. In the second briefing, they seem to have backed off that tremendously to indicate that um the um
the ban on that westbound lane is going to be for emergency vehicles only. But the the bad news there that that that includes our um you know the fire trucks and but there is a waiver process that we're seeking to get waivers for our
fire trucks so that they'll be allowed to use that bridge and the um so so that was one major change. Now the second major change that I think is even better than that is that um they first said the problem with the bridge it's not the supports it's the decking material. So,
if you picture the bridge on its supports, you know, we we go underneath it and we look how horrible it looks down at the water line, but it's it's the cement deck up top that's fallen apart. And at first, they said that, you know, they didn't have a way of fixing that. So, it was going to be permanently
restricted until it was replaced, which God only knows how long that's going to take. Um at the second briefing they indicated that they've developed with an engineering firm a deck strengthening protocol that they can implement potentially this summer. So that would
mean that the um restrictions for the emergency vehicles on the bridge would last through the summer and then they would be able to strengthen that deck and we'd be able to use the bridge until they replace it. That's the latest information that we have and um you know
we'll I I think that takes some of the alarm out of it but I I think we're going to have to follow that issue very very closely. >> I didn't understand it to be just emergency vehicles. >> I didn't either. >> So I know that it shows that but I'm not
sure. says, "Well, maybe >> they they showed the sign that they were going to post and it said emergency vehicles are are what's restricted." >> That doesn't make any sense. >> Doesn't make any sense to me. >> That doesn't make any sense. Why would they Why would they limit it to just That doesn't make any sense to me, but
okay. I hope you're right. I don't I didn't see it that way. >> Well, you got to admire the fact that like you terrified them so much they went out and you know, invented deck strengthening technology. Well, I thought our select board members, the chairman especially was
very frank and open in the comments and I you know I in the on the first go round and you know even though I I felt mass dot you know could very well have involved the communities a little stronger in the planning stages of it. I
felt that they um they listened to the communities and they gave us an opportunity to express our concerns and then and then they took that into account. So, um, I, you know, I do acknowledge that for sure. That's all I have. A >> situation that could change.
>> Yeah. >> Leave it at that. Yeah. I mean, to for them to sort of blow off the pilings, not being connected to the marine environment, and not carrying loads. I I found it I found
the whole discussion a, let's put it this way, it didn't inspire a great deal of confidence. We just hope there won't need to be a fatality before they recognize. >> No, I think what's going to happen is they're going to continue to update us and we may we get may get more
information in iterations from them, >> particularly after they give us the inspection report on the other section of the the roadway. >> And that could be concerning. >> Okay. Anything else, Bob? >> No, that's all I have. Is >> there a motion to adjurnn?
>> So moved. Second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I >> You did it. >> Recording stopped.