very young candidate for an interview. >> Recording in progress. >> He's able to what? >> Run for the open seat. >> Oh, wouldn't that be great? >> Yes. There you go. >> A sixth grader. >> What's your name, sir? >> Kieran, would you like to come up here and lead us in the pledge of allegiance
at the start of our meeting? >> That would be great. >> All right. That's okay. I get it. You can you can say it from back there though. >> Yes, you can h you can help us. All right. Good evening everybody and welcome to the Armor Select Board meeting of November 4th, 2025. We're
going to begin with the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. Thank you very much. Uh we are going to begin our meeting this evening doing interviews for the open or recently vacated seat which is an elected position on the Dennis Chararmath
Regional School Committee. I want to first start by thanking Joe Glenn for his um service um and all that he's done for the district. He has um served on the Dennis Sharma school committee and on the housing authority and he has um
submitted his resignation from both and uh by our regional agreement we have 30 days from the date we accepted that to appoint somebody. So um tonight we have uh four wonderful candidates. Unfortunately, uh, one of our candidates
was not able to, um, join us. And unfortunately, we don't have a lot of flexibility. Typically, we would really like to work with people who put their name in. However, they're away from work. We invited them to um, come by Zoom. They wanted to do it on a
different day. And just because of posting logistics and uh, open meeting law, we we're not able to accommodate. So we want to thank him very very much for his interest and we are going to move to our
second person on the agenda tonight which is Mr. Steven Garner. Are you Mr. Garner? >> Yes I am. >> Well nice to meet you Mr. Garner. First of all I want to say thank you very much for your interest in serving. >> We have all received your statements
your letter of interest so to I should say. So, if you'd like to come up to the table, yeah, get comfortable. This is uh very casual. Um, again, we're we're very very fortunate to be in a position where we've had >> some great letters of interest. So, I'm
going to start with the first one, which is if you could please start giving us uh by giving us a brief opening statement by describing your experience and qualifications for serving on the school committee and why you're interested in serving. And if you could just take that as a moment to introduce
yourself and um and reply. And just for the public's notice, um we will be asking all of the candidates the same question. >> Thank you, Mr. >> Hi, my name is Steve Garner. I am a resident and native of Yarmouthport. I
went to Emmy Small and Madak East as a kid. I have been a special education teacher in Plymouth Public Schools since 2014. I am taking a sbatical this year to get more involved in my local community. Um my daughter is going to be is set to be
starting at Emmy Small next year. I have concerns about um Emmy Small and I have wanted to get more involved and in that process saw that there was um an opening here and some other local committees.
I am a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Union and um would like to bring um some new perspectives to the school board. I feel like I could be an asset in terms of advocating for the schools within the community and
creating hopefully more engagement amongst uh younger community members and parents and am just looking to um learn, get involved and help out in whatever ways I can. Excellent. I'm gonna um start with Mark
and >> um thank you uh again I I want to thank you for taking an interest in this position and uh uh making yourself available to serve the community. Um, my question is, and and this should not
be uh too surprising, but I'd like to know what you think are the three most pressing issues that face our regional school system, and how would you work to address them? >> I I think the state of some of the
buildings is one of the most pressing concerns. Um I know that there has certainly been a lot of work done already in terms of feasibility and planning and that when you're considering these large projects it's not just this year and next year it's
you know decades and generations down the line um worth of consideration. Um I'm wondering if there is potential consolidation um in terms of the elementary schools looking at demographic population
trends. Um I think another concern is concern maybe not the right word but I would like to create more continuity, transparency, communication with the broader community. I think the more people
realize that the t the town government is just is largely made up of family members, locals, people often volunteering, the the more open other people might be
to getting involved and beginning to understand how complicated and difficult and layered all of these decisions are. Um, and perhaps a um, a third concern, although I I wouldn't say this is a
specific to the Dennis Yarmouth district, this is across the board, but is just in terms of uh, budgeting contracts, um, fund, you know, keeping competitive salaries for teachers, um, maintaining high standards, um, for the
entire student population. Uh from what I understand, Dennis Yarmouth has made great strides in the past few years and or we're on a good trajectory um to continue that way. [Music] >> Great. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you so much for your interest uh tonight and uh I have a question for you. How would you work to help ensure strong communications between the school committee and the member towns? And how would you work to help resolve any conflicts or miscommunications
in the event they arise? >> So I think the school has certainly like many institutions ridden the wave appropriately of social media. that is um the medium by which many young
families um receive their information. I think there could be um continued outreach in terms of from individual schools and perhaps again doing something to make these um
organizations, school committee um more visible and available and working to give examples and show how these groups impact the educ ation of
their students. Um, and in terms of u mitigating issues, I think there's, you know, there's got to be some kind of clear process. There's got to be um perspective taking all the way around.
um and utilizing um appropriate avenues to, you know, hear both parties and take each case on a, you know, on a case-to case basis.
>> Thank you. Following up on the communication question, Steve, I wondered if you could give me an idea how you might get um parents and community members more involved in school committee meetings because they'd understand so much if
they attended. Um I'm aware that it's a good sign that there are piles of people at the door banging uh when the when the committee starts. But I mean, would you consider something like um I maybe having um u one meeting of school
committee with a special welcome for uh people affiliated with this school or interested in this school and then maybe kind of go turns like that. I I I think that's an idea. I think again utilizing the many individuals involved
to create like a a communication brainstorming um where yes perhaps a you know a member of the school committee goes to a school specific meeting or per different types of meetings are held in different locations and have a certain
theme. Um reminding uh in terms of for instance um budgeting and contract negotiations, reminding families that you know this has a direct bearing not only on your taxes, so to
speak, but on the education and the the future education and viability of uh their their students and uh all the children in the town. >> Okay. Thank you. Liz,
>> hi Steve. Um, how would you address questions, concerns or requests regarding the regional agreement? For instance, if there was a possible amendment request for the on the regional agreement which was expressed
by the the two member towns, how would you address questions, concerns, and requests for possible amendments to the regional agreement? >> By regional agreement, you mean the joining of Dennis and Yarmouth.
>> Well, again, I I I think there has been a lot of work and um research done in terms of population and a you know looking at the cost analysis and perhaps that needs to be revisited. Um,
but at this point I would rely on again inform somehow airing finding a a way to synthesize and broadcast all of the studies that have already been done on that topic to kind of remind people this is this is why we are doing this.
>> Excellent. >> Thank you. >> Great. Um, seeing as we're a little bit ahead of schedule, I'm going >> There's one more. Yeah, you saw it. I'm going to ask um one question. Uh if selected for this position, would you be
willing to run for the full term um in in the annual election in May? >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh do we want to keep ask? We have a few minutes. So Mark, >> I don't have any follow-up questions.
No, thank you. >> Dorcas, anything? Anything? Yeah, I I guess the whole idea is to get more people involved and I I certainly believe in community getting involved in every aspect of government and education. >> As do I. That's why I'm here. I guess I
haven't been long-winded enough. >> No, that's not a bad thing. >> That's okay. >> That's that's fine. Yeah. >> That's the next question I would ask is, do you have anything you'd like to add? Would you like to get long-winded? And
>> well, I I I I would like to again just it's hard because people are very busy and people get bogged down and I think only think about national politics and don't realize that there's impact that
can be made locally. And I I think a broader campaign communicating ways for individuals from all backgrounds to get involved and make a difference and have a voice has a potential in every town and I would I would like to see it
happen here and everywhere. >> Great. Excellent. Well, thank you very much for your time, Mr. Garner. We really appreciate it. We'll be making a decision later on this evening, but in any >> um no matter what happens, we just are very very grateful that people of your uh caliber and stature, I mean, your
your resume is um quite impressive. I have a resume. I didn't bring it. I have a digital resume I can share. >> This this is um this letter is is more than sufficient and in your qualifications and u we very much appreciate you being here tonight and and your interest. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Maybe I'll check on our next candidate since we're a couple of minutes. This be great. >> Who is not coming? >> Mr. Maderas is not able to attend.
>> Who's not coming? I guess you knew it. >> I don't think you can, Steve. >> Sounds like a good idea to me, too. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. See you. tactfully put. >> Well, in the interim, if we could say
congratulations to our chair on her new grandchild. >> Thank you very much. >> Oh my goodness. >> Yes. Um, >> a couple of weeks about a week and a half ago now. Yes. So, >> Oh, you went down there? >> Yes, of course I did. I couldn't miss it. I
>> Thank you. were very very uh excited and so now we're looking at the next generation. So hopefully we can create a place where they can come back and live here and you know go through the DY school district as well. So >> there you go. >> I know he's only a week and a half old, but that's all right.
>> He goes fast. >> I couldn't tell you how perfect he is >> and how in love I am. >> It's amazing how many how long you get back. >> Oh no, they're coming. They're coming. Yeah. So, he has paternity leave. So,
>> but thank you very much. >> Hi, how are you? >> Hi. >> Hi, Margaret. Welcome. >> Yes, please sit right up front. >> Thank you very much. All right. Wonderful. Good evening,
Margaret. Thank you for um your interest in service to our community and to the school district. Um we're going to ask you some questions. This is very casual. We're just very grateful that we have um such highly skilled people that have um
applied to serve the community and and um as you know the vacancy became open by um a member that resigned and we have by uh the regional agreement 30 days to appoint somebody to serve. So um we all
have your letter of interest and we will be making a decision uh later on tonight. But in any event, we just want to thank you um for coming forward. So I will start by asking the first question and if you could give us a brief opening
statement and describe your experience and qualifications for serving on the school committee and why you're interested in serving at this time. >> Sure. Um well, first and foremost, I am the parent of two young girls in the school district. Um, we moved here from
Colorado eight years ago and during that time I have tried to get involved in the community. Um, I am a Girl Scout leader. I serve on the human rights committee at Laam Centers. Um, I also had the
opportunity to serve on the superintendent search committee. Um, which was really a wonderful way to meet many of the current um, school committee members. Um, so I'm always I'm always looking for ways to further, you know, get involved
in the community. Um, but I would say that um, you know, my own sort of selfish interests aside, you know, um, I think I'm well equipped, well suited for this type of volunteer service. Um,
I am a lawyer by training. I work in for Comcast as a contracts specialist. Um I work across the board with um finance and construction and um part of my job
is constantly sort of mediating between different groups of people uh to serve a common interest which I think is uh a lot of what committee service is. Um it's being open to listening. It's coming with
ideas um and it's able you know being able to work with diverse um you know people interests backgrounds um so I
think I'm well suited for it and uh I'm just thrilled for the opportunity to be here >> Mark. >> Thank you and I too want to thank you for taking an interest in serving in the community. Um,
what I'd like to ask you, um, is what do you think are the three most pressing issues facing the school system? And what thoughts do you have? What ideas do you have about addressing them?
>> Oh, well, let's see. Um I would say that probably the first um is after serving on the superintendent search committee um you know I was privy to some budget information and I think
budget constraints are a real um concern. Um, I also have noticed a large amount of people leaving the school
district and choosing um either to school choice to a different district or choosing private school. And I think some real time, focus, energy needs to be put into figuring out what are those issues that
are causing people to leave the district. Um, and I mean I think I think the district from my perspective is doing a really good job. Um, but I also have a daughter who went through the system um on an IEP and
received supports and while we had a really excellent experience, I don't know that that's consistent across the board. So I would say focus on
um equity and making sure that every student is being afforded the same opportunities. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Thank you for your interest. Appreciate it. Uh my question is how would you work
to help ensure strong communications between the school committee and the member towns and how would you work to help resolve any conflicts or miscommunications in the event they arise? >> Oh
well this is this is part of what I do. Uh well I am a certified mediator and part of my job is communication. It's written communication. Um, and I mean I I think that overcommunicating
is always the right choice. Um, so yeah, I mean I think being clear and concise in communication and um yeah, I mean open, honest,
showing integrity. Um, I I don't know all of the different ways that the school committee is communicating to be honest, but um, you know, I I think there's always probably room for improvement with
communication and overcommunicating is typically my style. >> Thank you, >> Meg. Welcome. Hi. >> How would you address uh any renovations to the current district agreement? You know, we're in a regional school
district and so we have two towns to keep happy. >> You asked, >> but I'm just I'm just explaining that before I ask that. >> Okay. Okay. >> Um so my my question is um how would you address concerns or requests questions that come up about the school agreement
um and if they're expressed by one town, the other or both? So, how how would I address concerns from from residents on construction? >> Well, the the school committee has the leadership role for for anything about
the agreement. So, >> yeah. Um, well, I mean, I I think open communication, reading, um, you know, being familiar with what the agreement says and making sure that, um, all
information is communicated. Um, I'm I'm not familiar with what what the agreement specifically says or what construction is um currently planned,
but >> Okay. Thanks. You >> want me to pick up her other question? >> Uh, yeah. She asked about community. >> How would you Hi. Hi. How would you engage parents to be more of part of the
school activities and most of all the school committee? >> I really love this question because I [Laughter] >> um I think that's an excellent question and um honestly I really long for more
opportunities to be involved in the school. I have a daughter in fourth grade now. I have a daughter in kindergarten and um I I volunteer at every possible opportunity, but there aren't that many. Um I think one thing
Station Avenue is doing really well right now is um the PTA is excellent at communicating and they've come up with very diverse ways to reach people, not just during the workday because that's not always feasible. Um, but here are
ways that you can, you know, drop off snacks for teachers. Here's how you can scan a QR code and donate money. Here are a variety of different ways that we can reach different people. Um, and I think that's excellent. Um, but I think
there should be more opportunity for parents to be present and I understand that there are restrictions. Um, but you know I'm I've um seen in other towns and other schools where parents come in and
volunteer in the classroom. Um, or parents come in and read or parents help pull out children and read, give on one one-on-one. Um, and I wish there was more of an opportunity for parents to get involved in that way. Um, I'm sort of limited to
volunteering for the book fair and um, yeah, I really I really think that there are a lot of parents out there who would love to be more involved and just have not had the opportunity. And I think there have also been sort of the
removal of some of the activities where parents could be more involved. um parents used to go um have lunch at school prior to the book fair and that has gone away and and I certainly understand why some of these things have
happened. But um >> I also think maybe some more opportunity for parents and teachers to partner together would be wonderful. >> Thank you, Meg. Excellent. Um the question we have is if selected for this
position, would you be willing to run for the election to fill um to fill the full term at the next town election? >> Yes, I would. I was contemplating a run last time, but I had previously served with Glenn on the superintendent search
committee, and I knew he was so dedicated, and I knew he'd be so wonderful that I just couldn't run against him. So, I saw this as a really nice opening to sort of, you know, at least put my uh name in the hat.
>> Excellent. Um, Liz, did you want to ask you your >> Well, I could I could ask um to fill out the um specifically with the with parents and the school committee. How could we
better engage parents and the community with the school committee um issues and activities? >> I I think communication um I'm I've been a parent in the district for
eight years and I I don't see a lot of communications. I don't see a lot of um I happened to see this posting because it was on a Facebook page. Um so I think being aware that meetings are happening,
you know, being invited to attend, I think better communication would be helpful. >> Do you want me to ask my uh >> Sure. >> Okay. So, we're gonna we're gonna kind of close it up and we just want to ask you if you have any other comments or
anything else you'd like to tell us about yourself and and this position. >> Yeah. Um I am, you know, fairly new to the Cape. I'm trying to get more involved in the community and I'd love to be more involved um with the school
committee. I loved serving with um Jenny and Glenn and um others on the superintendent search committee. Uh it was a really fulfilling >> made a good choice. >> Thank you. It was it was really
it was really um it was really a wonderful experience um that I haven't you know had a chance to sort of peak behind closed doors and it was it was very fulfilling um and I would love to continue that service I would you know
in any capacity um so thank you very much for having me. Thank you for so much for coming and as I said at the um onset we will be discussing and making a decision tonight but no matter what happens we are very very grateful um that you put your hat
in the ring and came forward. So thank you very much for coming. >> Thank you. Thank you all so much. >> Thank you. Have a great >> Thank you. >> She got the best. There he is. I got you. Have a great night.
>> You too. Thank you. >> Did everyone see that moon tonight? >> Yes. >> Wonderful. >> And tomorrow night even better. >> Really? Oh my lord. It was >> slightly under tonight, but tomorrow night >> spectacular.
Going to see if the >> Oh, yeah. We're on it. We have a system. >> You got a system. >> You have a system going. >> Oh yeah. We have a We have a big system. >> Ham's on it. >> Ham's always on it. >> Very grateful for Pam and Mary.
>> A gift from Yes. Oh jeez. From citizens. >> This is from Peter. >> I like it. It's a haird dryer. You see you're um creative.
That is for sure. Got the thumbs up. So, >> so she's on her way. Great. So, we had a little delay with um construction on 28 at Parker's River, Bob. >> They were down there today.
>> They're back on it then. Okay. Cuz I understand there's a little permit question. >> Oh, thank you. >> Not that I'm happy to see the traffic back on Winslow Gay, but >> Hi. Good evening. >> Hi. How are you? >> Come on in. Nice to meet you,
>> Ryan. Nice to meet you, Ryan. >> As well, >> you can sit. >> You going to sit? All right. >> The one with the tag. >> It's for stress. >> It's 50/50. No. >> Oh, you missed the right leg. [Music] >> Well, good evening. Thank you very much
for coming. >> Thank you for having me. >> Thank you very much for your interest in serving our community and um for submitting your letter of interest to the school committee. Um, as I've said previously, we have um a
duty on due to a vacancy >> to appoint somebody within 30 days. So, we're on a tight timeline and we appreciate you coming and um thank you for your letter of interest. We all have a copy of it. And I will start by asking the first question. >> Sure. if you could start by giving us a
brief opening statement, describing your experience and qualifications for serving the school committee and why you're interested in serving at this time. >> Sure. Well, I appreciate the opportunity to be here. Um, I think the f first and most important thing is I I went to school. So, no.
>> Um, school's very important. >> Biggest interest to me is that I have a I have a daughter who's just turned 10. She's in fourth grade. um never thought I'd say this when I was younger, but um you know, show a great interest and an understanding now of
things that are bigger than me and things that you know shape another human being. And um so my my main interest in in the opportunity would be that I I see her and her experience through school. Um and that obviously there's hundreds if not thousands of other kids within
the program in the school district. Um, and so I feel not that I'm more or less qualified than anyone else, but I certainly have an interest um in seeing that the the best footput is put forward for for not only Kai and my daughter, but everyone else in the
district. Um, I know that's probably a pretty cookie cutter answer, but it's it's something I thought about and it's that, you know, I've uh I've never I've never been uh on a school committee or or anything of this sort. Um, of my
whole life I I worked on boats. Um, so it's it's uh it's a it's a little bit of a different thing, but it's certainly there's correlation when it comes to organization, um, financial, just anything that that you would deal with in and obviously in normal life, you know, is that I've
experienced through my, um, experience of working in boats. Um, younger years I worked for private boat owners and um, had a, you know, their checkbook, their budget and managed their programs. And then I would travel down south during the winter and up north during the
summer and then I met a girl and she didn't like that anymore. So um we yeah so we first we first uh met in Newport and lived in Newport and I started to realized I couldn't do that nomadic lifestyle anymore. So um started to kind of find my my niche within the the
boating industry. Um, in the last couple of years, well, before I we moved to Cape, I was working on a a refit, a project managing refit of a boat. Um, then for the last eight years or so, I've been at at Hyannis Marina. Um, and
really, um, new to the Cape in the last 10 years or so. Um but uh we really found that you know having a home base, having a job of not the nomadic lifestyle and and then having a child now is a is is really fulfilling for us.
So um that's kind of my quick synopsis of who I am. >> Well, that's not a cookie cutter answer at all. I think we all do um what we can to make sure our children get the best experiences. And if you can work for Wayne then
>> I know you can do difficult So he sits probably so he where I sit he's probably the same distance away from from me that you are. So >> okay. All right. Mark, >> thank you again really for your interest
in serving the community. Um I hope you've had a chance to think about the schools and some of the issues facing the schools. um what do you think are three of the most pressing issues facing the schools and what are your thoughts about addressing some of these
issues? >> So, first of all, I've been um I don't know what our expectations were going in uh being our only child. Um but we've been extremely happy with the school. She started out at station. Well, actually she went to prek at at um Emmy
Small and then that was during COVID. So that she went home and and then did a year at home and then went to K through third at at station A and now she's at the intermediate school. Um have been extremely happy with the the teachers, the everything that's been involved with
the schools. Um when it comes to something that that maybe I've seen that I would want to improve upon or um something that needs to be addressed, I I I really haven't found anything that's that sticks out like a sore thumb to be honest. Um, as
you probably know, they had the the lockdown at the intermediate school on Friday. Um, my daughter's been extremely I wouldn't say traumatized, the right word, but it's it's top of her mind. That's all she wants to talk about. That's all she, you know, writes about
in her journal. Um, and I so I've been trying to talk to her about it. and and not that anybody is ever prepared for a situation like that, but she the way just listening to her talk, it seems that um just as a as a a drill that they
would expect it was a drill. It seems like they knew when it was a drill and then this time when it was all of a sudden it's not a drill. Everyone didn't know what to do. You know, she felt that she wasn't prepared. She wanted to ask the teachers more questions. How can we be more prepared? You know, what what did we do wrong? What did we do right?
Um, so I don't know the answers to to any of that, but I know that it's something that most recently has stood out to me that um, whether they are told their drills going into it or um, you know, everyone thinks it's never going to really happen and so you don't take
it as seriously. She I know from she hasn't said these words, but from talking to her, she feels unprepared for a situation that may come up. You know, whether it's a a lockdown, active shooter, anything like that. um she felt
unprepared for it. So, I feel like maybe that there's more of an opportunity for something like that. Um I really don't have any other glaring things I could I could say it's really been a really pleasant experience or the I guess this
is the fifth year or sixth year now. So, I I I I feel like I'm unprepared for your question because I don't have I don't have anything that sticks out that we that I feel that could be addressed. >> No, I appreciate that. There's no there's no right or wrong. >> No, I understand that. I but it's it's
been no there's there really haven't been times where where she's come home or we've gone to open house. There's been some experience where it's you know it's wow you know I never thought that that would or this could have been handled this way. It really hasn't hasn't happened. >> I appreciate that. Thank you
>> Lucas. >> Thank you very much for your interest. Thank you for having >> and um my question is uh how would you work to help ensure strong communications between the school committee and the member towns and how
would you work to help resolve any conflicts or miscommunications in the event they arise? >> So I can take this question and and it doesn't have to be specific to school committee and the towns. um whether it's working with Wayne or working in
multiple jobs before I've I've had is that communication again it sounds like cookie cutter and cliche but communication is a huge thing. Um and I used to I'll admit I used to take information react immediately and and
not and not take the time to to process the information that came in. So, one of the things I think is is most important to to anything in a situation like that would be, you know, is kind of to get all the facts, to get everything together rather than, you know, get a
snippet here, a snippet there, then reach out to one person or another. Um, I've been very conscious of of of how I deal with things to really kind of take everything in, um, process it and then and then come up with a plan, whether it's to go directly to someone, whether
it's to go to a group, however it is to address, you know, what where the communication needs to be funneled through. Um, and like I said, something I definitely struggled with when I was I was kind of I'd hear something, I go right back after it. I've learned that that's usually not the best way to do it.
>> Thank you. Thank you. >> Following up on the question of um communication, you know, that DY is a um a district between two towns. Um how would you apply the idea of very clear
communication and trying to resolve conflict as you would address questions, concerns or or requests for a possible amendment to the regional agreement? Um the school committee is the the the responsible party there and um the the
the changes might be requested by either town or by both. >> Sure. So I I'll I'll admit that I I don't know as many details as I wish I had about the how the organization the structure of the regional school district works. I I I just simply don't
know um like I said the details of how it works. But but it it's something that definitely has piqued my interest. The town I grew up in, I grew up in Rhode Island. I know it's a very far away place. Um but the town I grew up in was a single town school district and the town next to us was the towns next to us were both single town school districts
and they switched to a regional school district. So I never really had any experience until now um with such a with such a district. Um, so I'm I'm actually without being able to answer your question directly, I'm I'm actually
curious as to how the the district and the committee are have to navigate through uh as as example um we were talking about we're driving by um the the when the school was being built a
couple years the the dime school and you know it's on it's obviously in Yarmouth and you know it was built in Yarmouth and you know everything goes through Yarmouth whether it's um the the buses over the roads and so I I I don't know how
that I I feel in unprepared because I don't have a good answer but that is because I don't I don't know exactly how it works whether it's um you know how the the taxes work with you know the the buses going over the road through it in in Yarmouth with the schools in Yarmouth
versus the schools in Dennis I I I I feel woefully and prepared to answer your question because I'm I'm not sure how it works as it is now to be honest. Sorry. >> Okay. Sorry. It's It's fine, Liz.
>> Uh thank you. And we are knocked out by the candidates who've come in, including you Ryan. >> Oh, it's great to hear. >> Yeah. No, this is amazing to have this kind of >> people showing up. So we have a question um about engaging the parents in matters
that are coming in front of the school committee. How would you engage parents more to be more involved in what's going on at the schools? >> Sure. So I feel like I should be more involved in schools as a parent. So, I've made it a
um I've made it a priority of mine. I know my wife has as well to every time they have an open house or parent teacher meeting or they had um at the school they had a uh it was like a a guest the song bingo event that my wife couldn't go so I went with my daughter
and met people while we were there. And so, um, I don't know currently how how it is where, you know, you guys have the school committee set up and and you know, people go to the school committee, but I I think it would be certainly advantageous for to be when you say in
the community, you know, in in the schools and and meeting um parents, kids teachers administration you know, I it's just it's it's it kind of goes back to wanting to get all the information and then and then path forward is that you really can't have all the information unless you are face
to face and and meeting and and you know engaging with everyone. >> Exactly. Very good. >> Ryan, if you were to be uh selected for this position, would you be willing to run for um election to fill the full term at the next
>> I was ready for that question finally. >> Yes. >> Yes. Okay. >> Just making sure. Okay. and we'll let Liz ask. >> The final question is, what would you like to tell us? Anything you want to ramble on about? >> I could ramble on about a lot of things.
I don't think you guys want that. So, um >> I appreciate that. >> Um I kind I kind of gave a brief overview of everything and it it really does encompass everything that um you know, I'm 44 years old now. I never I
never looked beyond a month when I was in my 20s. I never looked beyond two months when I was in my 30s. you know, now married with a 10-year-old, it's a whole it's a whole new world. So, um yeah, so maybe four. We'll see what happens. Um
but it's it's it's what's become important to me is family. And it's it's a it's a silly answer, but it's true. Um, and so anything that I can offer to help my daughter directly, but also to help everyone that's in the same or similar
situation to us is is really become important to me. There's no question about that. >> Wonderful. >> That's wonderful. That's not silly at all. I think um, family's got to be number one for >> and like I said, I definitely wasn't thinking that way when I was in my 20s. I was
>> Well, you can all relate to that, too. >> Well, thank you very much, Ryan. um we will be having a discussion and making a decision but no matter what happens we are just very very grateful for your interest and for you coming forward and >> no matter what hopefully you stay involved.
>> No that's great and uh thank you very much for having me and obviously you have my information. If there's any way I can be of any help you know please feel free to reach out. >> That's great. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> He didn't see you. I didn't know there's
anyone behind me. >> Turns around. >> He didn't see you. >> All right. So, um I'm not going to go to Hi, how are you? Not going to go to announcements and public comment because
I know we have people that are coming to speak to us at 6 and we're a little bit um ahead. So, maybe we can take something out and keep moving >> if that's okay. >> Sure. and then do announcements top of the hour.
>> Yeah, we'll do them at six o'clock. Um do you want to do your board and committee actions or >> um well they're they're um fairly minor. Um, if you take a look at your agenda,
um, it's a question of, uh, um, Deian Deianne McElroy resigning from the personnel board and, uh, I suggest that we, um, accept her resignation with thanks for her service. >> So moved. >> Second.
>> All those in favor? >> I. >> And then the, um, the second item is Dorothy Gunther, also from the personnel board. um has served a number of years and uh I'd like us to accept her resignation with thanks for her years of
service. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I >> lifting this week. What can I say? >> All right. Great. Is there anything else that we can? Can you maybe I could bring something up that's out of order, but I had it as an
item and I just forgot because last time at the last board meeting I had the letter from the conservation commission um regarding the drought and maybe considering um warning letters to first-time violators following by fines. And I was
told to follow up with Conscom. Is that what I was told to do? No, I think what what um we're going to be doing is we're planning a forum with the water department to discuss that very issue and we'll invite the conservation see if they anyone else has
any other questions and um we'll be discussing the all of the water conservation issues right at a public meeting. >> So that'll be in 2026 at some point. >> Um I'm not sure that an exact date has been set. >> Yeah. Okay. Thank you. I I couldn't
remember. So, >> brilliant. >> As usual, >> does anybody need is there anybody coming for the uh acceptance of the grant of the easement? Is that something that we can take a vote on? We do. >> Yeah, I think we can. >> So, in your packet, we have a um grant
of easement for pump station 2. Is there anybody um that was what would like to discuss this or I don't know if there's any questions or if there's a we need a a motion. >> Make a motion.
Um I if this is adequate I I move that we accept the grant of easement for pump station 2 as presented in our package >> and to sign and execute it. >> And we will sign and execute it. Okay. Is that okay? Second. Any discussion on
the motion? All those in favor? >> I. >> Any oppose? That passes unanimously. >> That's what we signed, right? >> Yep. It's in the folder. >> Yeah. >> Um, we have 10 minutes. I don't know if we can assign the >> we want to try to assign the motions.
Typically, what we do is we try to break it up evenly. >> Um, we've got 15 articles and five of us, so we can all take three. >> Those people think we're doing an executive session. Not >> because of the interviews at the top.
>> Yep. Well, we're it's open. >> Just open the door. >> It's open to the public. >> I was going to make a request. I actually in terms of the article uh presentations or the select board making the recommendations. I I was hoping to
recommend the plastic. >> Of course you were. We saw your video. >> I haven't seen it. >> I call it the Liz video. >> Well, you should. >> Is it convincing? did a good job. Very good job. >> All right. Good. Because I haven't seen it yet. >> Um your dog looks Your dog looks great.
>> Yes. >> Does anybody else have any uh requests of articles that are important to them or should we just break it up? >> Planning going to do the zoning ones? >> Yeah. Well, but we still we still usually make a recommendation or we even
though we defer to them to make the um to make the statement, they'll ask us for our position. So, somebody has to do that. Oh, okay. >> So, so I'll take article one through three
airport consulting um MacArthur. >> No, go ahead. >> And um adoption of the LCP. Mark, do you want that section? >> Sure. >> Okay. So, articles four through six is Mark. Liz will do seven through nine.
Um, >> Dorcas, do you want to do >> 10 through 12? >> 10 through 12. And then we can have um >> Joyce do school feasibility in the two zoning. This the zoning um will be moved by the
planning board. So, it will be a light lift. Um, I suspect the feasibility study might >> might even be moved by some school. >> No, no, we'll that's our that'll be us. Um, but we just have to on the other ones make a recommendation. >> Is that okay? >> Yep.
>> Sure. That's fine. >> All right. So, we got Joyce. Did you get that Bob? >> Yes. >> One through three. I'll do Mark's doing four through six. Liz is going to take seven, eight, and nine. Dorcas will do 10, 11, and 12. And Joyce will do 13, 14, and 15.
Perfect. >> So, that's the assignment of the motions. It's taken care of. >> Oh, moving briskly. >> We're trying. We're trying. >> That's a good one. >> All right. Is there anything else that we can?
>> I think we want to do the consent agenda. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> I move that we accept the consent agenda as presented in our package. >> Second. >> Any discussion on the motion? All those in favor? >> I.
>> Any opposed? The consent agenda passes. Uh Bob, we'll let you do your >> want to do that now. >> Do you want You have your items you want to do now? That'd be great. >> Sure. That that that'd be fine. Um I had a few items I wanted to make sure that
the board was aware of. Um we have received our our free cash certification. Uh it's been completed in time for the November town meeting. So, right on schedule for um all of that. And you know, we're very happy to report um 8,173
is the the number which is consistent with where we've been um previous years. It's a very good number. And also um both golf and Septage the um enterprise funds, you know, both come in at over three million, which is, you know, very
healthy for for those as well. So, um, very successful closing of the books and, you know, we're prepared for another tough tight um, fiscal year, but it's it's good to have we need that in place to move ahead with the town meeting. So, um, that is is great. And,
um, of course, last week I was in attendance at the International City Management Association annual conference. excellent learning opportunities and I brought back a wealth of information that pertains specifically to some of the projects we're working on how to move forward
implementation with MUK and things of that nature and I also received recognition for 40 years as a municipal manager can >> congratulations well done day over 40 Bob I don't know how that's possible
>> the funny story is we had that march across the stage at the opening reception and we lined up and I'm lined up with all of the other 40-year managers and I was and it was my god look at all these old people.
So, it was it was terrible. And I want to let the board know that um I did kick off with our communication team's leadership our first podcast this week. Um, and it's in our our our new podcast studio that we're gonna um it's a small area, but it's really quite attractive
and we're going to try to use that to engage all of our select board members to talk about, you know, themselves in issues of um importance to the community. And uh I was um on it and focused on we talked about our form of government um the importance of
participation in town meetings and and also the town meeting issues and just to try to outreach people in a new format to engage them in the types of things that our local government is doing. Um and um so I I I think it's a great medium to share information. It's
another new opportunity. And November 20, I think we're doing um our second podcast and it's going to be um our town planning local comprehensive plan update and then we're um looking to plan future things. So you will be outreached and it's a great opportunity. I'm told that
um the podcast is available everywhere, you know, whether it's the Apple podcast Spotify Amazon YouTube Pandora website, where wherever podcasts are, you'll find it. So look for your garment and u please watch that. And um
also I did prepare an additional video that's a preview of the town meeting. You'll see it's instead of uh filming it in here, we use the the studio now and um we talked about the process of town meeting all of the articles. hopefully with the um video that we have, you
know, from our pre-town meeting this evening, that'll help um get the publication, you know, and publicizing this town meeting process tremendously. And I want to thank the communications team for that. And also to to let you
know um if we haven't sent out the u the special town meeting propo promotional list um at the board's direction we have made a massive effort to expand the pre-Town meeting efforts to publicize that town meeting. Um it's all over you
know the website. It's airing on the radio four times a day, six days a week. Um it's on every possible social media outlet. There's community outreach. We have a handout listing all the articles that we're distributing at the senior
center at the library. We've got videos. Um we've got the interview and the podcast and um channel 8. There's graphics rolling. Cape media's got it. It's um falls under the full monty category that we've worked to develop
and >> careful with that one. >> I I think you know it's it's going to be great. It's a comprehensive way of we want no one existing in our environment not to to know about about the town meeting. But I I think the most
important thing I I wanted to do tonight is really to to welcome and to introduce Amy Frigidi, our new assistant town administrator. I think the most important hire that that we've made in recent years and we're delighted to have Amy. So welcome
Amy. >> Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Anything you want to say, Amy? >> I just want to say that I'm thrilled to be here finally. I know it was a a couple months delay with um the transition, but I really appreciate it. I'm excited to be here and hit the
ground running. I've already started meeting with the various departments and I'm just um looking forward to serving the town. That's excellent. Bob's showed me the schedule. He's got uh all the department heads, so she'll have a chance to meet with everybody, but and
uh I think that's a a great thing. put names with faces and learned a lot and we're excited to finally have you. >> Thank you so much. >> Great. >> Is that it for your updates? All right, we're going to go back to our 6 PM item then and uh go to announcements.
>> I have a >> no surprise. >> I'm just kidding. Um, I wanted everybody to know that I've been attending the world 2025 world tourism forum on sustainable transformation at the Palm
House, uh, which has been fascinating and I'm as a tourist mecca here in Yarmouth on Cape Cod. I'm learning a lot. I also wanted to um announce that I I we got a letter from a a um resident
about fallen leaves and worry was she was worried or he was worried she was worried about. Is there a reason that the leaves have to be cleaned up and disposed of and I um we have done the research and that is not it is not you do not have to clean up your leaves
because there is a movement now to leave some leaves in place because it is good for the birds and the bees. So those are my announcements. Okay, Joyce. >> Hey. Um, I'd like to invite everyone um to an open house at Emmy Small School
tomorrow. It's um 5:30 to 7. Everybody is warmly welcome to come and uh tour the school and uh see what structure we're talking about for that uh that town meeting vote on the 17th.
>> Great. Dorcas, >> no announcements. >> Mark, >> have any announcements. Bob, >> um Amy's got a few announcements we'd like to make. >> So, I just wanted to um let the public know that we have our ABC annual renewals, both the liquor license
renewals and some other renewals for businesses this year. 86 businesses have been contacted by both first class mail and I've emailed everyone with their annual licenses that will expire on December 31st. Um building health and
fire inspections are ongoing and uh those required to be or they're required and they're expected to wrap up by um November 25th. Um thanks to the businesses that have stopped by already reached out and turned in their paperwork. I'm really grateful for the
kindness and uh the cooperation in my new role here. Um Wednesday, November 26th is the deadline for those applications to be back in hand um for them to be submitted on time and that is
a state uh mandate that we need to have them all in place and done um in the month of November. So, um, if anybody has any questions about that in the business community, they can always
reach out to me. Um, licensing.mma. us is a good email to use and our phone number is 5083982231 and I am extension 1268. Um, and just so you know, if people are not able to turn
in their applications on time, then there is a late application period that takes place, but that means you have to reapply for your liquor license, and that new application process can take up to six months. So, we wouldn't want
anybody to lose business or um, you know, or lose any momentum that way. So again, if anybody has any questions, then they can give me a call and I'd be happy to try to navigate. >> Great. If they haven't stopped by and met Amy, they should do so because you're a great resource and
>> the businesses should know that we're here to help. So, um, >> I will relinquish my Amy one role to Amy. >> Amy one and I'll become Amy, too. >> Amy's Amy's. We got a pair of Amy's. All right. So, let us move on to public
comment. Is there anybody here that would like to address the board in public comment? Yes, Dr. Smith. >> Good evening. Uh Mark Smith, superintendent Dennis Yarnouth Regional School District. Um for two things, one um in my role as superintendent and the
other um in a different role. So, first, um I'm not sure if everybody's aware, but we've had a a tough week uh in the school district. Uh we lost a student over the weekend. Um and uh really just want to just take a minute, uh to pause
and say two things. Uh first to that, it's uh it's a completely tragic um experience and u you know, our thoughts are with Gabriel's family. Um and as a district we mourn the loss. He was a a
bright uh young man with a bright future and the district is grieving the process with the family. Um and simultaneously uh you learn about the strength of an organization. Um as a superintendent you have an opportunity to be really proud
of an organization when you see how they respond to such a difficult situation. And I've had that opportunity over the last, you know, started over the weekend when we got the news and um I had to start to work with my team on communication and and response and then
watching the high school respond over the last couple of days. Um the way they've supported the kids, the way they supported each other. Um it's been again I said at school committee last night, it's been a situation of two big buckets
of emotions. one obviously the the significant loss and and the heavy feelings that come with that and then a superintendent a a real strong feeling of pride in watching the organization respond to this significant moment. So I just you know wanted to take this
opportunity wasn't one I was planning on speaking about today but since I had as as an audience I wanted to share that. The second thing um why I planned on coming today uh is I come here on behalf of the Cape Island superintendent. I shared a letter um with the select board
ahead of coming tonight uh and I'm uh uh here with a colleague of mine, Dr. Sarah Hearn from the Barnes public schools and we just want to uh speak uh to a matter that's been in front of the board uh regarding the MacArthur School um and the Cape Collaborative um as it pertains
to all of us. And again, I just want to read the the letter that's already been submitted into the into the record for public comment. So, dear members of the the Arma Select Board, on behalf of the Cape Island Superintendent, we are writing to express our strong support for the Cape Cod Collaborative remaining
in the MacArthur building. The collaborative plays a vital role in providing highquality, cost-effective educational services for students with disabilities who require specialized programs that cannot be offered within traditional school settings. Furthermore, the collaborative is
established as an extension of each each of its member school districts designed to meet the needs of the one of excuse me to meet the needs that no one district can address on its own. If the Cape Cod collaborative were unable to continue operating in Yarmouth, our
districts would be forced to consider more expensive and more restrictive out of district placements for these students. Such placements would not only increase financial strain but would also remove students from the supportive community-based environment that the
collaborative provides. Maintaining a site in Yarmouth is essential because it allows students to receive the services they need closer to home. This pro proximity supports continued continuity with their home schools, enabling students to participate in extracurricular and social activities
that are important to their overall growth and well-being. This further allows students, families to remain closer to their child's learning program, school experience, teachers, and peer community. In addition, having local access to the collaborative significantly
reduces transportation costs. Transportating students to off programs is both logistically challenging and costly, placing a significant substantial burden on municipal budgets. By keeping services on Cape, particularly in a midcape location in Yarmouth, districts can better manage
costs while ensuring students receive the specialized support to which they are entitled. Transportation is a ra rapidly rising cost within school finance. And we feel is vitally important that we advocate for your consideration of the impact that the loss of the Armouth campus would have on
school finances and the resulting demand that this would place on taxpayers. We respectfully urge the select board to support the continued presence of the Cape Cod Collaborative in the MacArthur building. This partnership benefits not only our students and the families, but also the fiscal and educational
well-being being of all of our communities. Thank you for your consideration and your continued support of the public education across Cape Cod and the Islands. Sincerely, and it's signed by each of the uh superintendent of the Cape Island School Districts. And I'd like to uh welcome Dr. Hearn up just to add a little additional context to
the letter. Thank you, Madam Chair. Is that okay? Yes. >> Okay. Uh, good evening. Uh, my name is Sarah Nern. I'm the superintendent of the Barnstable Public Schools. Uh, on behalf of Barnstable Public Schools, I do want to express my condolences and our condolences to the Dennis Yarmouth
community and extend our support uh, in your time of grief. Three years ago, I was a new superintendent and I had an opportunity to tour the MacArthur building with the former executive director, Paul Hilton. Um, we are also joined this evening with
Hope Hansum, who is the new executive director of the Cape Cod Collaborative. Uh, the space was under renovation and I had an opportunity to take a tour uh as the space was being renovated uh as the learning and educational space it is today to serve students from Cape Island
districts. The collaborative itself invested a significant amount of u money, public taxpayer dollars in renovating this space to the tune of several million dollars. The collaborative brings in its revenue from the tuition and other fees of its member districts. So, I just wanted to add that additional
piece of context that the collaborative has invested in this building uh to make it the space that it is today. I'll also take an opportunity to emphasize what Superintendent Smith is sharing about the collaborative and its occupancy uh and the impact to districts in terms of discontinuing services there. There are
really no um alternatives here on Cape Cod to the program that is currently housed in the MacArthur building and we would indeed have to send our students off Cape uh to with um with higher transportation fees which would undoubtedly escalate costs to districts
all over Cape Cod at a time when our budgets are already strained. Uh the purpose of us coming together to belong to a collaborative is to provide local cost-effective educational placements to students due to their unique profiles that each individual district cannot meet. Uh having a local option is
essential to our effective instruction for students and our district's financial management. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Hearn. Uh Dr. Smith, before you go anywhere, um, not related to that topic, but the topic before, um, on behalf of the town, we would like to express our sympathy for your loss. And
if there's anything that you need from us that we can do to assist the district or the family, please don't hesitate to reach out. >> Thank you. Appreciate that. >> Thank you, Dr. Hearn. Um on the
the Zoom user, I don't know uh if you could identify yourself. If you could bring them in, please for public comment. >> Madam Chair, can you hear me? >> Oh, it's Joe. >> Joe Glenn, >> we know that voice >> from South Yarmouth. Um I just wanted to
dovetail what uh Dr. Smith said and what I what we unfortunately have found in our community with uh a number of different tragedies and incidents is um that uh these things happen but our community steps up and uh you know
whether it's u uh the tragic death of officer Ganon or um uh US Marine Nick Exaros uh this community comes together and uh it does the right And I'm sure that Dr. Smith and and uh the people at
DY um as a former school committee member um I uh I think that I know that everybody will do the right thing and and we'll find even more positives in in the community will come together. So I just wanted to follow that up. But in
regards to um my resignation from the school committee um I am very happy uh of the way that uh you have been approaching the um uh replacement. It is
it is uh a uh it it was what my my desire uh to happen when when I chose the timing of uh the resignation because I knew the budget season would be coming up. I knew that the Mass Association of School Committees would be meeting um
and it gives an opportunity for that person to ramp up. But the main thing that you all have known for a long time is that we need to get more people involved uh overall in the community. Whether it's town meeting and votes and unfortunately in both towns, people have
uh just don't show up to vote um and candidates uh don't withdraw uh papers. And so this was a way to do it. Um where and you and thankfully you did get um some good responses and and some quality
people. I dare say probably better. Uh I think it was Mark who and thank um those of you who uh uh wrote kind words to me. Um and I think it was Mark that said it's a we're refilling a big hole. I don't know if he meant it was like
Archimedes principle of displacement. uh but uh uh you know I I don't think he meant to I have a ton of uh intellect that's filled but I uh do appreciate uh all your help. I think that uh you all know that I uh have try to be passionate
um but I also try to be respectful and and humorous on occasion. But uh thank you very much. I I wish you all good luck and uh I'm uh very happy uh by the way everybody's handling these tough situations and uh uh God bless you all and have a great night.
>> Thank you, Joe. >> God bless you too, Joe. >> Is there anybody else who'd like to address the public? >> Yes, ma'am. Please. >> Thank you for this opportunity to speak to you. I'm Reverend Susan Gregory Davis. Having grown up in Yarmouth and being a very lucky former student of the
most amazing Mrs. D and now grateful to be residing year round in our town once again. I wish to speak briefly on behalf of a diverse and numerous group of Yarmouth residents known as Yarmmouth for everyone who have proposed a
resolution to be considered and voted upon at the upcoming December 2nd meeting of the Yarmouth Select Board. This proposed resolution is an invaluable opportunity for our town through the voice of the select board to reaffirm our steadfast values as a town,
particularly in support of the civil liberties, safety, and human rights of all Yarmouth residents and visitors regardless of, for example, our age, ability, race, economic status, citizenship, or immigration status. This
proposal, this proposed resolution reaffirms who we are as a town. It has no implications for local law enforcement. In fact, I and we are very grateful and proud of the Yarmouth Police Department under the leadership
of Chief Lenon. Rather, this resolution lifts up our town's commitment to compliance with state and federal law, including the constitutions of our country and state. Furthermore, the wording of this proposed resolution is
exactly the same as the resolution unanimously passed by the Barnstable Town Council this past August and that as we speak is being proposed for adoption by the Dennis Select Board. My hope and that of many others in Yarmouth
and our Midcape region is that our three Midcape towns will stand together in reaffirming the shared community values of our neighboring towns. Again, I and we are very grateful and proud of you, our select board, for your consideration of this important resolution and
hopefully for your unanimous adoption of the resolution on December 2nd. In addition to the reaffirmation of our values as a town, passage of this resolution will send a very meaningful and impactful message of support to those in our town neighborhoods,
schools, businesses, town buildings, restaurants homes yards offices and all places of work, learning, and play in Yarmouth. that yes, Yarmouth is for everyone and that each and every one of our town residents and visitors is an
invaluable and integral part of the fabric of our community. Thank you to the select board for the positive message you've already conveyed by placing this proposed resolution on the select board agenda for December 2nd. We look forward to supporting you in considering and embracing the tremendous
community and civic opportunity that this presents for December 2nd. And I have copies of the res resolution available which I believe all of you have received and as well for anyone else who might like to read it. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Thank you for your words. Is there anybody else here that would like
to address the board? Nobody on Zoom. Seeing nobody, we're going to move to our 6:15 agenda item which is a recognition of 104th birthday of Miss Eleanor RD. Is somebody from Mist's family here?
Okay. Okay, I'm just going to give a little bit of of background. Um, Miss Eleanor D was born November 15th, 1921. She spent her adolescence and high school years in Taton, graduating from
Paranormal School at first as a first grade teacher at South Yarmouth Elementary because they did not have a pair of teacher conferences. Then, she chose a student of the week and she would go to the student's house and have a tea part party to celebrate. It would allow her to hold an inform
informal conference and get to know the child's family and give the child approp appropriation even if the child was having t a tough time in school. She was also called the hugging and kissing teacher
>> because she kissed everybody. She was strict, but if she punished a student, she always would give them a hug and kiss afterward and take the sting out of the reprimand. Those were the good old days, right? >> That's that's my side note. You can't do that anymore.
>> She was always developing new ideas to help children learning, creating games and posters for the walls. Once a month, the other elementary school teachers would visit her at her home on Long Pond Drive, and she would give them arm loads of materials for possible use in the classroom. She still has a house on Long
Pond Drive, but now resides in Hyannis. When her mother came to live with her, she retired and took up babysitting, taking care of many local children. The children called her Grandma D. She can crawl on the floor with the kids and match a six-year-old's energy. No one
has more love and affection or care. She's a retired school teacher who still remembers all of her first grade students when she sees them around town. In March of 1982, she received a citation from the Massachusetts House of Representatives in recognition of her
dedication to teaching children and her 31 years of service at South Yarmouth Elementary teaching first grade. In January 1994, the Yarmouth Register Sun newspaper article voted her best babysitter.
She was a member of the Federated Church of Hyannis for over 70 years, serving on many committees. She was a member of the Madakis chapter 158 order of Eastern Star since 1951, reaching the rank of deputy grand matron.
So I'm going to read our official certificate of achievement. Be it known that the town of Yarmouth hereby recognizes Eleanor D on the attainment of 104 years well-lived. And be it further known that the town of
Yarmouth wishes her the happiest of birthdays on November 15th and extends its sincere congratulations and thanks to allowing all of us to share in this impressive milestone. They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel is a quote that's in here. This
certificate is approved by the Yarm Select Board on this fourth day of November 2025 and signed by the board. So happy birthday Eleanor. When you asked if there were any family present, I am part of her family.
>> Oh, well, can we give this? >> I would love to if I could. And she is watching. >> Thank you, Amy. >> Absolutely. >> Amy number one. >> Following the tradition of public service. >> Yes, I am. I am. All right. Happy to be
here. So, next we have um on the agenda recognition of retirements from the fire department. I see the chief here and many members of the fire department. So, chief if you'd like to come forward. I have um some
uh certificates that I'll read when you're finished. >> Okay. Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> So, I don't get nervous about much, but bringing Bob Reard in front of this board is making me very nervous. I don't know if I've ever seen him in here before.
>> There he is. I was expecting like a clown outfit or something. I didn't know. >> Oh, I appreciate that. >> Thank you. So, uh, so yeah, why don't we bring Bob up here so Yeah, there he is. >> Thanks for coming.
So, uh, we did a little recognition for Bob at the fire station, but obviously we wanted to bring him here for you guys to see as well. Um, so kind of similar to what I read to you that day, Bob, is uh, you know, with gratitude, we recognize 32 years of service with the Yarmouth Fire Department, 18 as a
lieutenant. Uh, he's an has a lot of honorable service. He was a sergeant in the Army National Guard uh, and had many years of selfless contributions working for FEMA uh, and Task Force One. Bob was front and center on thousands of emergencies here in town and also on the
national stage, including both 911 and Hurricane Katrina. So Bob, your leadership, humility, and devotion to duty, along with your steadfast commitment to training and educating the next generation of firefighters, has left a lasting mark on this department and the town that you
proudly served. Your great attitude and sense of humor lifted those around you, setting an example and inspiring us uh inspiring others to follow. We will miss you, your dedication and obviously your ability to make us all smile. So Bob, >> thank you.
>> I'll just say do we have a minute? Okay. I just want to say uh thank you uh for the opportunity to serve the town. Uh I I can just only say that time went by in a flash. Um I'll miss the job. I'm miss the people. I'm already looking. I I did
send a letter to uh the president uh asking them to recall all retired firefighters and put us back into service. But uh we'll see what happens over time. And uh thank you very much for the >> Hold on one second. I'm gonna I'm gonna read this. >> Thank you. >> The town of Yarmouth Select Board official citation. Be it known that the
town of Yarmouth hereby recognizes Robert J. Rearen on his retirement as fire lieutenant paramedic effective September 30th, 2025 and for your dedicated service to the town of Yarmouth. And be it further known that the town of Yarmouth extends its sincere
thanks and appreciation for over 25 years of full-time service in the fire department with additional years prior as a call firefighter. This citation has been approved by the Yarma Select Board on the 4th day of November in the year of our Lord 2025.
>> You know, do they have like magnets? I can put this on my refrigerator. We'll see if the fire chief can find them in his budget. [Laughter] >> When we read these, it certainly doesn't seem like enough. Um, you know, 25 years
of service is is a long time and as the chief pointed out, uh, the number of calls and the things you've seen and and the way this town has grown from the time you started is is really an amazing accomplishment that we're very very grateful for. So, thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Next. >> Okay. Um, unfortunately the other two uh were not able to make it tonight, but uh Kai Rio, a firefighter who was on the shift uh with these with this uh with this group tonight. Uh he served 20 years full-time on the department uh and
several years as a call firefighter. Uh the Ratios are a family of service to the town of Yarmouth. Uh both his mother and his father were on the department. Uh his father retired as a deputy and his brother's still serving the town uh with the Department of Natural Resources. Uh he served our community
with honor, courage, commitment, sacrifice, and honor. Uh always set the standard and provided an example for others to follow. Uh he was always professional, compassionate, and his bravery will continue to inspire those who follow in his footsteps. Uh so with much gratitude from the fire department
and the community, thank you to Kai Rcio. >> Thank you. And I have a I have a I have a citation that I'll read for him. The town of Yarmouth select board official citation. Be it known that the town of Yarmouth hereby recognizes Kaiio on his retirement as firefighter EMT
effective September 19th, 2025 and for his dedicated service to the town of Yarmouth. And be it further known that the town of Yarmouth extends its sincere thanks and appreciation for 25 and a half years of tireless service in the fire department. This citation has been approved by the Yarm select board on
this fourth day of November in the year of our Lord 2025. Thank you. >> Great. Uh and third but not uh last here is uh fire alarm operator Joseph Gibbs. So Joe uh Joe just left us uh last week.
Uh he had many years almost two decades of dedicated service to the town of Yarmouth uh and the Yarmouth Fire Department as a fire alarm operator. uh marked by his career was marked with professionalism, commitment and a deep sense of duty to others. Uh Joe is our technical guy. His expertise helped us
with many projects and helped us move forward on many uh improvements that will last a lasting impact on our operations and the people that we serve. Uh Joe also served with the Barnes County Regional Dispatch Center and spent many years uh working uh in other
roles. Uh he did work as a call firefighter for a short time and also as a harbor master for a couple communities. Uh his knowledge, presence, and genuine care for others set an example for all who had the privilege to work alongside of him. Uh it is with heartfelt appreciation and gratitude.
Best wishes for a well-earned retirement. >> Thank you, Chief. >> The town of Yarmouth Select Board official citation. Be it known that the town of Yarmouth hereby recognizes Joseph Gibbs on his retirement as fire alarm operator effective October 25th,
2025 and for his dedicated service to the town of Yarmouth. And be it further known that the town of Yarmouth extends its sincere thanks and appreciation for over 21 years of tireless service in the fire department as well as additional times prior time prior as a seasonal
employee in natural resources. The citation has been approved by the Yarmmer Select Board on the 4th day of November in the year of our Lord 2025. >> Thank you very much. >> And deputy, I I want to congratulate you on I'm assuming that your son is u a Marine.
>> Yes. >> Has he finished his >> graduated boot camp on uh September 12th and went to infantry school in North Carolina uh where he's graduated from there. He's now in Missouri. uh uh going doing his MOS school which is a military police officer.
>> Excellent. Congratulations for you. Congratulations. >> His service for us, please. Thank you very much. Next up, we have um we have another citation for a town employee. Bob, do you want to say anything or should I read the >> Yes,
I'll come up to the podium. >> Come to the podium. I I want to say that Jan Ken had actually requested her supervisors not to attend and and make speeches about her and I and I know she's hating me
doing this right now. Um she's a very proud but also a very humble person who has given 29 years of service in our treasurer collector's office and she rose through the ranks to be a departmental assistant manager and she was our our foremost expert on all of
the payroll matters and we have an enormously complicated payroll system here in Yarmouth and she managed that for so many years and um I just want to point out in recent years we've had so much turnover in that office. Um, having
JN uh be there to train everyone on the procedures and never miss a beat. It was something enormously valuable for the town. And JN has also agreed, even though she's retired, there's still been so much turnover, she's going to be coming back part-time to continue to
train some of the new people on the nuances of payroll and some of the other financial issues in the department. But I just wanted to personally thank her for her service. It's been so tremendous. >> Thank you for those words. Um, I'm appreciative that you did that even
though she didn't want it because it's it's it's worth saying and and in a town we we've had um you know, as Bob has said, some turnover to have uh committed employees uh committed to the community and making sure that that transition
happens is uh something that we're very very grateful for because it takes a long time to learn what somebody's institutional knowledge is and 29 years of institutional knowledge is really amazing. So, uh, the town of Yarmouth select board official citation. Be it known that the town of Yarmouth hereby
recognizes J. Anne Ken on her retirement as financial analyst effective September 30th, 2025, and for her dedicated service to the town of Yarmouth. And be it further known that the town of Yarmouth extends its sincere thanks and appreciation for 29 years of tireless service in the treasure collector's
office. This citation has been approved by the Yarmmer Select Board on the 4th day of November in the year of the Lord 2025. Thank you very much, Jay. >> Yeah. >> And we have one um next recognition that's separate on the agenda tonight.
Um and I know that it's a big one because I see Mrs. Colby here. So, so uh we brought out the big guns. Uh Bob, if you want to say a few words about um our wonderful DPW director was recognized as
uh DPW, which is Department of Public Works leader of the year, which is quite an accomplishment. Uh and we're awful proud of Jeff and all the work that he does. And it's nice that he gets recognized beyond the borders of of Yarmouth. So,
>> thank you, Madam Chair Chairman. And again, my deepest congratulations to Jeff on being named the 2025 Massachusetts public works leader of the year. And this was the New England
chapter of the American Public Works Association, which that's a national organization. And so, uh, I think it's extremely important just to take a moment to reflect on what that impressive designation means to us here
in Yarmouth and how it how it all relates in. Um, I I just want to say that Jeff KBY is not just our public works um leader uh of the year. He is truly a community leader in every sense
of the word. and and that extends far beyond just the limits of the normal public works functions um of the town. Jeff understands that his leadership role is not limited only to public works, but it does extend to all areas
of our relationship, whether it's among our various town officials, with local residents in the community, and with all organizations uh in the outside world, whatever the issue is, Jeff can be counted on to represent our
town both professionally and confidently. and he builds great trust and respect in every audience that he comes in contact with. Now the thing a little bit funny is Jeff is very well known for his calm demeanor and his even
temperament, strong and unflapable in the most stressful situations. Jeff leads by example and helps to make everyone around him more effective and calm when
we face challenges. And and I I have to say this on a personal level on more than one occasion. And and Jeff can attest to this. He has helped me keep calm and in control. And I just want to say there is absolutely no one that I'd rather face the strong challenge
alongside than than Jeff Colby. Um, and I think it's important also to to mention that in the time he's been with our community, which has not been 30 years uh yet, but you know, it it seems like it because he's led this community
in modernizing all of our facets of infrastructure and public works services. And that includes the parks and playgrounds that we've developed under his leadership. shared use path
projects, the completely extensive full modernization of our uh water system, all of the improvements there, the highway improvements, the storm water and drainage projects that we've done so much, and now the largest infrastructure project in
the history of our town, the installation of a comprehensive wastewater treatment system. There's no project too big for him to handle and no project that won't end successfully with his leadership. We're extremely fortunate to have Jeff
Colby on our leadership team and it absolutely to me comes as no surprise to see him win this prestigious award for the the best public works director in the state. So, congratulations, Jeff, and thank you to his family for letting
us have him during the day. Uh, and your great service to the town is tremendously appreciated. So, I'm going to let you say a few words, but I'm gonna I'm going to read this citation. Um, >> thank you. into the record. The town of Yarmouth select board official citation.
Be it known that the town of Yarmouth hereby recognizes Jeff Colby for being named public works leader of the year. And be it further known that the town of Yarmouth extends its sincere congratulation congratulations in achieving this prestigious award from the New England chapter of the American Public Works
Association in recognition of outstanding dedication and exceptional leadership in the public works sector. This certificate was approved by this Yarmmer Select Board on this 4th day of November. His doesn't say in the year of the Lord, which is very interesting. >> We need to change that.
>> 2025. >> Congratulations. >> Congratulations. There is not a more deserving person. Um I've watched you. I was um here and fortunate enough to choose you as our as our uh director. Um, the word that I
think about when I think about you is just solid. You're just a solid man of character and um of the work that you do. And you know, a lot of what you do goes without recognition. There's so many um folks out there that are quick
to um say a lot of negative things about a lot of the things that you have to deal with unfortunately. And in every case, as Bob has pointed out, uh your calmness and uh just very matterof fact and getting it done
attitude is what we get every single time, no matter the situation that we're in. Um you know that when when I was pushing for the splash pad and there was this big you were we'll get it done. We'll get it done. It's gonna it's gonna
happen. And in times like that, your leadership um is just is it's just solid. And I'm just so proud that you're part of our team and I don't think you get the recognition that you deserve. So I think that this is a wonderful recognition and I'm I'm just very proud
of you. Thank you. >> Well, thank you very much. Those are very kind words, Bob. Madam Chair, I do want to set the record straight. This is a separate agenda topic from the previous one. I am not retiring. I've had a couple of people ask me that. I'm not retiring. >> Please don't, >> please don't go.
>> It's great to be recognized to be retiring. So, so thank you very much. Uh it's an honor to be uh considered uh by a group of my peers for this award and and the kind words from the board and all of your support over the years has been great. I do also need to recognize
the members of the Department of Public Works who allow me to lead them, which is a great group of hardworking people and uh well deserving of awards themselves. So, that's that's great to be part of that. also do want to thank my family who is here today. It's not just during the day, but it's the snowstorms, it's the evening meetings,
it's all those other things uh that they allow me to do this. So, thank you very much. >> Um, is there anybody else from the board who would like to >> Sure. U Madam Chair. Yeah, I anybody that can keep Bob Written calm and cool and collective is certainly deserving of
this uh recognition. Um, I think I want to join with my fellow board members in underscoring uh everything that Tracy said. Um it's it's great to see that you're getting this kind of recognition. We've known for quite some time that uh you are top shelf and you've done a
great job for the town. Um I also want to uh tell my mom, she's probably watching tonight. Uh when I chaired the board, she would lobby me on a regular basis to have Jeff make presentations to the board because she thought that Jeff was an outstanding public works
director. And so in my household he's been referred to as the EF Hutton of water and sewer. So mom, if you're watching, um I'm sure you're enjoying all this. So Jeff, once again, uh thanks for everything that you're doing for the town and I'm glad
that you made it very very clear that you're not retiring because u usually these kinds of recognitions don't happen until people leave. And uh the thing that's exciting about this is that um you know you deserve to hear the accolades because uh you've done a great job for the town and we really
appreciate it. So thank you. >> Thank you. >> Where do we even begin, Jeff? Oh, thank you so much and please don't retire. Don't even think about that. >> And thank you so much and I'm so happy that we can recognize you today.
Oh, Jeff. Whenever I look at the sewer project and I think it's years, it's millions of dollars, and I start to doubt, I remember who's in charge of it, and I say that sewer project is going to get done. Thank you. >> It will. Yes.
>> Yeah. I ran for this office because of staff people like you and Bob and Kathy and so many others that I'm not I can't name them all, but that's why I thought I want to be a part of this team because I'm so impressed by the job that you do.
So, I'm doing my little part to behind your huge part. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. Okay, we are going to move to our 650 item. Thank you all for coming. Good
evening. >> Bye. >> Thank you. >> Jeff, you can go home tonight. Jeff, you're excused. You're excused. Thank you. >> Well, wait a minute. Let's see what's on the agenda first. Hold on. I am going to read the public notice um
into the record while we prepare. And I see Abby here. So, if she would like to come forward while I'm reading this, that would be great. The town of Yarma Select Board alcohol special alcohol and special entertainment license hearing. The Yarm Select Board acting as the local licensing authority has received
an application from Olivers and Planks Tavern 960 Main Street Route 6A Yarmouthport 02675 for a special entertainment license for a fivepiece band to play indoors with the amplification for the dates that are outside of its regular entertainment
schedule on Wednesday, November 26th and Wednesday, December 31st, 2025 from 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. The hearing will be held Tuesday, November 4th at Yarmouth Town Hall, 11:46 through 28 South Yarmouth. The selectman's meeting begins at 6 PM.
Written comments will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. on October 31st, 2025 in the select board's office or can be submitted electronically to public comment at yarmath.mma. us and verbal comments will be accepted at the hearing. Hi. >> Hi.
>> Good evening. Uh Amy, did we receive any correspondence on this application? We have not and the application is complete. >> Okay. Thank you very much. If you would like to introduce yourself for the record and uh let us know a little bit about what it is that you'd like to do that would be wonderful.
>> Okay. I'm Abby. I'm from Oliver's and Planks Tavern in Yarmouthport. I've been there for an exceptionally long time in my opinion. But um it's been a nice fun little ride over there. But anyway, we have live
entertainment on the weekends. Um, Saturdays this time of year, just Saturdays, but we are applying to do the night before Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve night. Um, which is popular nights for people to go out and listen to live
music. So, we'd like to be a part of that if possible. >> Excellent. So, nothing about what you're doing is going to be different in terms of where the band is. It'll stay in the same place. It's just two extra days than what you're typical um typically licensed for.
>> Yes. >> Okay. And as Amy said, the application is in order. Um would the board like to ask questions or would you like me to go to the public first? >> Public. >> Yes. Okay. Is there anybody from the public who would like to speak for or
against this application? Yes, ma'am. If you could go to the podium and identify yourself for the record, that would be great. >> Thank you. Good evening. My name is Dr. Tiffany Marina Sturge. I live diagonally across from Oliver's Planks Tavern and I am here today as a taxpayer and a
resident of the town of Yarmouth to voice my concerns regarding Oliver's restaurant and their application. As many of you are aware, I have voiced my concerns over the last 15 years regarding this establishment. flagrant disregard for the town's
ordinances ordinances and disregard for its neighbors. The latest instance occurred on September 16th, 2025. That date happened to be the birthday of my late husband. On that date at 8:37, I
telephoned Oliver's and spoke with who I was told was the manager, Melanie, about the noise levels coming from the establishment. I was forced to close my windows because of the noise. Instead of expressing concern, Melanie advised that
it was a private party on the deck and that the establishment was covered by their license. I telephoned the town on September 17th and expressed my concerns about the event that transpired the night before. I was assured I would hear someone regarding my complaint and I did
not receive a response. On October 3rd, I handd delivered a letter to the select board and a copy was sent to each member as well as the town manager. On October 9th, I spoke with Mr. Whittenau regarding my concerns and he assured me he would speak directly with the owners.
On October 28th, over 5 weeks after I lodged a complaint with the town, I received a telephone call from Patrick Quillow, one of the owners, regarding my September 16th complaint. Mr. Mr. Quillo left me a voicemail regarding the quote
challenge that occurred in September. I find it interesting and a bit suspicious that Mr. Quillo telephoned me only 3 days before I received the Abutters notice. In my opinion, a reasonable person might conclude that Mr. Quillow's
phone call was made not to address my concerns, but to plate me so as not to appear at this hearing and raise an objection. Clearly, the timing of the phone call is suspect. Had Mr. Quillo really been concerned about the quote
challenge, as he stated in his voicemail, he would have telephoned me in a timelier manner to address my complaint. On October 31st, I received in a butters notice notifying me of the establishment's desire for a special entertainment license. This letter was
received late on the 31st and I was prevented from filing written comments regarding my concerns. My concerns are as follows. What assurance or guarantee can the owners provide that the music will cease on both occasions at exactly
midnight? What is the town or the owner's definition of amplification? Why would a fivepiece band require amplification if the music is to be confined inside the building? What measures will be undertaken to ensure
that the door to the deck will not be opened or if opened will be immediately closed so as not to allow the noise outside the building? Are they planning to have an employee stationed at the door from 9 to midnight on both nights? Is the event on New Year's Eve a party
where tickets will be sold? Or is it an event being planned only for their dinner patrons? And if it's the latter, why would they need to have music until midnight? What measures will be taken to ensure that the patrons leave the parking lot in a timely manner so that
noise from the parking lot will not disturb neighbors? That's been a problem in the past. I am vehemently opposed to the board approving the application and believe that my rights as a resident and taxpayer are equally important to those
of a business. Approving the license will in all probability jeopardize my right to the quiet enjoyment of my property. >> Dr. Sturge, I appreciate your comments. >> Um,
is there anything you'd like to say to to respond to that? Absolutely. I'm sorry, but I have not had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Sturge. >> Correct. >> Sorry about that. My name's Abby.
>> Um, and like I said, I've been there for a long time and I don't have a list in front of me of things that were concerns. Um, I'd certainly like to address them. Uh, most of the things just ticked off
in my head real quick were things that we do on a regular basis when we have our entertainment. Excuse me. We do make sure that it is stopped by midnight at the latest. There
are no encors. We have a an agreement that's a procedure that we give to every band that they sign for us saying that no encors, no playing after this, this time, all of our
licensed procedures. Um, most of those things I I I don't want to say. I just feel that there's inherently not a lot that I can do about the quiet enjoyment of one's
property when it's directly across the street from a business that has live entertainment. The door is going to open. It is going to close. The people will come in and people will go out. The entertainment is now in the center of the building which it didn't
used to be. A lot of things have changed over the years and to my knowledge under the new ownership this is the only noise complaint that we have received and I'm really sorry that it went
not uh unnoticed but undelt with. I wish that I had been privy to that at the time. >> Understood. Um just in terms of of your license responsibilities though for an inter in indoor license um
>> it is incumbent upon you to maintain the sound within the building to the best of your ability >> um because if a neighbor does call the police and they find it to be a violation >> um then we have to bring you before the board. So just for Dr. sturge to
understand we do take these licenses very very serious and you know it's a balance of us making sure our businesses are successful and also making sure that people are able to live in peace as you mentioned so that's why um you know we've we we do take it serious we we do
follow through and make sure that um any of that sound has to be within the building so you know I know your front door has uh doubles double doors on it so that will help in terms of the the down getting out, but that back deck only has one. So, I don't I'm not sure
how you handle that. Uh your front door has two. Um but it's a real concern and if they are to call the police and you are found to be in violation, then we have to bring you before the board and deal with your license overall. >> So, >> understood.
>> Okay, that's that's it. So, is there anybody else from the public that would like to speak either for or against this application? Okay, seeing nobody, we will take a motion to close the public hearing. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion on the motion? All those in favor? I.
>> Any opposed? Is there any questions or comments from the board? >> I would make a uh a comment. I mean, I think it would be great to to get that list to Abby >> and I um I I think that Tracy was her
message was very well delivered. So, and I um communication is key and and a it should have been taken care of earlier. I agree. >> I'm in agreement. >> Yes. Okay. >> Thank you.
>> So, um nobody else has any questions or comments. Is there is there a um uh and I'm not trying to minimize Dr. Sturge your your comments at all. They're ve they're very much appreciated. We deal with this all the time with with neighbors. So if if there is something
um you know that's outside of the norm after midnight you can call the police and that's how um unfortunately that's that's how it's addressed. I mean we we would hope that you would call Abby and give her the opportunity to rectify it first. But if you can't again you
deserve to live in peace. So that's how we handle those things. But um you know these two days to me aren't you know they they have a regular license so they're doing this on the we're not dealing with that. This is just adding uh two additional days to that. So uh
I'm comfortable with that. I I know Aby's heard you and um you know again she's there if if if you can speak to her and address any of your concerns. Is there a motion from the board? I I move that we approve the one day special
entertainment license for Olivers and Planks Tavern. >> It's not one day though. >> Thank you. Pardon? Yeah. I move that we approve the two-day special entertainment license for Olivers and Planks Tavern at 960 Route 6A Yarmouthport Mass.
>> Second. Is there any discussion on that motion? All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Okay. Good luck. >> Thank you. Thank you. All right. So, um earlier this evening, uh up next we're going to have a
discussion about uh the school committee uh representative. Uh earlier this evening at 5:00 p.m. we interviewed three wonderful candidates. We had four applications. Unfortunately, we're under a time crunch and one of them was unable to make it. Um, but we had three
wonderful very different candidates that uh put their letter of interest and answered some questions and we have 30 days to make an appointment. >> So, um I don't know if the board would like to discuss or they'd like to go >> to make a motion, but I'm I'm not sure
if that's appropriate. I know that's how we handled um more recent. >> It's up to the board, however, they'd like to if they'd like to have a discussion first. Yeah, I think it would be helpful just to have a brief discussion because one of the things that I just want to be clear on and and and I want to ask this of you, Madam
Chair, was is it clear that all of the people that we interviewed tonight expressed interest in running for the seat? Yes. Did they all three? >> They all did that. >> All three of them said yes. >> Yeah. Um I don't have any other questions. I think we got a an opportunity to hear loudly and clearly
from each one of them. And uh I'm I'm prepared to to to make a decision. >> Might I make a motion that we approve Margaret Marshall as our representative to the DY Regional School District School Committee for Yarmouth?
>> Second. >> Is there any discussion on that? >> No, I I Yes, there is. Real briefly, Madam Chair, I think it was great to get all three candidates. I'm comfortable with all three candidates serving, but if there's one that sort of edged out
all of them, it was her. So, I think I think I think she'd be a wonderful addition to the school committee. I'm glad to hear that she's thinking of she's interested in running for the seat when it opens up and I think she'd do a great job. I guess I could comment that my rationale too for the other
candidates to represent to recognize is that she was involved in the committee actions in the past. So she's a little bit up and running. >> Sorry, in what committee actions? >> She participated in finding a superintendent.
>> Oh, okay. >> I think they'd all do a wonderful job. I mean, there's no doubt. Hopefully they all will serve in some capacity. >> I think they all would bring something different to the committee. and it was just wonderful to see so many um younger folks in our willing to step up. So I'm
I'm comfortable with whatever the board decides. I don't I don't think that there's a wrong answer here. >> No. >> Clear that. >> What what I would encourage is is some outreach to the to the to the other candidates to encourage them to be involved in some other capacity if that can be done. >> Garner's on the energy committee.
>> Oh, that's good. >> Yeah, >> that's great. >> Joyce, what were you saying? I was just going to say it seemed um all three are gonna need to do some homework on the regional agreement, but it's it's tough. >> No, I mean I think anytime you join a committee like that, you learn as you go
along. Um you take pieces that are on the agenda and you know I I know only because I know how I felt when I started on the planning board 20 something years ago. You know, I think we we go into these committees thinking we have to memorize and know the entire zoning bylaw. And the fact of the matter is is
you don't. You learn it. >> Yeah. >> As you go along, the pieces that you have and and and and I hope that that doesn't discourage people from from coming out thinking that they have to know the entire um you know, budget process. Our the school budgeting for
regional school districts is a very complicated >> um process and it takes a lot of years to to learn. And so, um, you know, I'm I'm comfortable with, you know, with the level that that they're at and I hope that they all participate because they
were all wonderful candidates. >> So, with that, um, go ahead. >> I I I just also want to say that I was very pleased with all three candidates. I'm um very happy to see parents wanting to become involved in in what's going on
in the school system. I think that it's important for us to hear what the parents want and I hope dearly that all of them will continue to be active in their roles in the schools. >> I mean because you know there will be future openings and let's hope we
haven't seen the last of them. >> Well, even the parent organization you know I mean which is a a strong arm of um each of the school communities. So >> we can only have three. All those in favor? >> I I >> Any opposed? And uh Bob, if you would
make sure that the others um that Margaret knows and that the others um are thanked. Okay. Seven. Oh, we're ahead of the time. This is exciting. Is the um Madakis utilization committee prepared
to start a little early? Good evening. >> Hi Kathy. >> Hi. >> How are you? >> Welcome. Hopefully >> Jeff bag is our consultant. >> Liam, did you hear that? Jeff needs to come in, please.
>> Is Heather out there, too? >> He's in there. Perfect. Thank you, Liam. >> It's like talking to the you think sound like you're talking to yourself. Liam, here. Hello. alter ego, Liam. >> Right.
>> Okay. Wonderful. Thanks for coming back. >> Thanks for still being here. >> Yeah. >> Did you know what you were getting into? >> No. >> We're sure glad you got into it. >> That's for sure. You guys have done a
wonderful job. It's been a lot of work to see the results here. Um, but I'm just so proud of all the community input and all the time you guys put into this. It's um it's really been a wonderful process as tedious as it is. It's just
was just such a um large I guess umbrella of things to to consider without leaving anything out. So that makes your job a little bit more difficult than a a smaller scope. But um just for the public at home, we have uh
>> preliminary recommendations of of the process that they've undertaken some time back and we're excited to hear about it. >> So, >> thank you very much and it's nice to see all of you. >> Nice to see you. And uh I'm here with Kathy. And Kathy is um I
wanted to mention that Kathy is one of the few people that has been to every one of our meetings and she started back in November of 24. So when we lost our administrative assistant, um I would be
kind and I I was kindly received at different times uh from Kathy to help me work some things through. So, um she's a special lady and uh in terms of what she's done and accomplished for her own
job, uh the planning uh with the uh local um vision plan having been completed, it's kind of amazing the amount of work she's done and to also then chip in and help um is greatly
appreciated by myself. So, um, it's it's coming closer to you folks to be the ultimate decider of what you'd like to do. And there's a lot to it and there's a lot we have been doing for a
year. And, uh, I'm going to walk you through a PowerPoint and but first of all, I do want to mention all our committee members. Uh, my name is Sharon Wymer and I am the chair and Andrew Leard has been the vice chair. Lindseay
Petro, the clerk. Uh John Anderson uh has is the finance committee representative. And then tonight we have Barbara Lavoyne here with me. And she's been my buddy when we've gone out to um try to interest people in doing the
survey at Shaws and Stop and Shop and Luke's and Bagels and Beyond. Uh we u went out and Barbara was the one that joined me on occasion. So, um, that was night. Joe Podska, um, you know, and
familiar with, I'm sure, and Casey Schmid and Robbie White House. And Roby, excuse me. Yeah, >> she is online. Oh, terrific. >> And so, um, those are our members. And on Zoom are the BS Group representatives. The director of
planning for, uh, BS Group is Heather Gould, and she's on Zoom with us. And then the senior planner is Jeff Bag and he's done a great job too in terms of the participation that he did and led in
terms of our community outreach. So um we appreciate all of that as we start. I don't know do you Yeah. Good. Can you hear me? >> I don't even know if this is on. So >> it was just working.
>> I touched it. >> Oh jeez. Here we go. >> On. I mean be having to switch to our >> Oh, that Oh, there we go. I just have to go behind behind Sharon. That's key. >> Great point.
>> So, our agenda tonight involves uh updating as we have each time we've come to see you. Uh the last time was June 3rd. So, our updates are going to tell you what we've been doing since and then we're going to uh talk a little bit
about um uh building assessment that we've been going through and the review of key issues along with bubble diagrams which I'm hoping Kathy will help me with so that you can explain it and then our next steps. Um, and the last is we would
like to get your input and we will talk about that a little bit later as we will talk about the the bubble diagrams too. But we want to get to a point where we understand how you receive all of this and some of your thoughts and we have
some particular questions to ask you because we know this is a process and we want to make use good use of our consultants time. So, we'd like to hear your responses to some of what we've
talked about and where we've gone. So, the first uh is an update uh list and we finished getting all of the land use teams. Um, and we reviewed all of their work. And the teams that we've
always talked about has been housing, economic development, uh, recreation, the open space, conservation, water supply committee, education, and municipal services and incorporated these findings into our process. And it
took a while. It took uh a number of months, but uh it was a very worthwhile process because those are the knowledgeable groups that you have within town that know their particular subject. Um the other thing we did with
uh the BSC group, our consultant is prepared and uh presented and released a community survey. I know this was very important from our your conversations to us on June 3 and uh regarding the use of
the the uh uh property and as I say Barbara and I did a little encouragement and in in talking and bringing people to the table of over 656 responses within one month. So we thought we did well for
putting that together and BS group um then did a community meeting with us and um in in middle of July at the town hall and we had over 40 residents um including other um staff as well and and
included a a presentation but also small group discussions and and we also did a mapping exercise with all of those folks. Um actually Liz was at that >> as well. Uh in recreation
um uh now is finally receiving the final um field study that we've been waiting for. So it's not official yet, but we understand it's coming in and it'll be a final report. And um it will uh include
looking at the existing facilities, the assessed overall demand that the community recreation community uses and develop concepts to meet those demands with a preferred option. And so we hope to recognize that.
Um, also we've had conversations uh with the town administrator regarding hazardous materials assessment and mitigation at the Madaki site as one of the first steps in the critical path to prepare the site for any future use. Uh
what I've learned from the committee uh both with Bill and uh my own readings of the materials um is that there's a language of development. So there's a development language and one of those is
critical path. In other words, keep moving and so that you increase the possibilities that something down the line will work in time and and be in. So, um, Vertex was the company that, um,
the Dennis Yarmouth district used for hazardous waste materials, and I believe Bill has had a full conversation in regards to cost estimates, too, if I'm not mistaken. >> Uh, but yeah, we did we did that. So, um, we're going to be having an
additional contract for some, um, more consulting services on the hazardous materials analysis and the building issues. We've got a detailed proposal for that. >> Great. And uh so that's a terrific part of moving keeping it moving. Um the
other thing that has been done has been the catalyst report part report as part of this phase. The catalyst architects is a sub consultant uh of the BS group and has prepared an existing facilities review and opinion of cost with a
comparative evaluation of different options including renovation um as town offices, renovation for recreation, renovation for housing, and demolition of some or all of the buildings. And this is a study in what
is referred to as an order of magnitude. Another one of your development phrases. And so when you look at the spreadsheet that's included in the PowerPoint and in your packet, um it's going to include um
a comparison of those items. It's not a bid that goes out, you know, for an RFP or whatever. What they're trying to do is to compare uh the process and have an order of magnitude so that the cost you can see
the costs as to whether and that would help us decide whether you keep the building or not keep the building. What's the cost per square foot and so kind of kind of hold that in your in your head as you look at some of these
things. um that it's not your typical trying to give you a cost that's uh equal to somebody coming in and building. It's in relationship to comparison of all the items. So that's a hard one to first start.
Um and then after the catalyst report, we're going to be talking about the bubble diagrams that have been uh in process for the past couple months. And I'm going to have um Kathy because she's so nice and volunteered
uh to go through that for you. So those are the um agenda which leads us to existing facilities review and option of cost. And so this is the order
of magnitude and this has helped us to decide whether we think something should be torn down or whether it be used for housing or whether it be used for some other purposes like municipal. So, as we
go through it, um you probably um would have questions, but there are a couple things I would like to say about the page. So, um the Axius report, which we did in January of
2025, shows the cost of repairs as 41,465,428. And that's just to bring it up to um usability has nothing to do with ADA. ADA is not included in that as well as
other uh things. But I do want to note for this particular spreadsheet, the amount of money does include many um money for um repairing and updating parking, driveways, and utilities. So I
want you to keep that in mind in terms of the comparison. You don't have to really keep it in mind, but I just wanted to make sure you're all aware of it. As well as there's no money or consideration of the number of fields, types of fields in this order of
magnitude. There's no money in this these things about fields. Um and also um ADA is not included in the access report. Um the one the other the other type of thing is um
estimates are based on 2025 construction costs and do not include escalation. The other thing is Yarmouth is a Massachusetts stretch energy code community and additional costs should be anticipated to meet the requirements of
the Massachusetts stretch code and then further soft costs including architectural and engineering design owner's project manager etc to range from 15 to 25% of construction costs depending on the chosen scenario and
scope of the project dated provided in the cost represent presents construction costs only. So there are things that are even more expensive uh in term but they're not in that 41 million. Just wanted to let you know that
um there are seven key issues and well I don't know if you have want to do questions as we go or or >> maybe I could jump in here a little bit. I think it's it's relativity is what we were trying to do. apples to apples taking a look at what the demolition
costs would be. Um, Catalyst uh went with a slightly higher um hazardous waste abatement. That's why you see the 42,000 versus or 42 million versus the 41 million um that Sharon was mentioning. But to try and convert the municipal the building into municipal
offices or general offices of some type and the gym and auditorium renovation, that's something that would cost in the range of $55 million. If you wanted to just uh renovate just the recreation center, meaning the gym and the auditorium, you would have a demolition cost associated that because you'd have
to demo the wings and then you'd also have to do a fit up of um of the actual uh recreation center area. And that also included an additional uh 3,000 square feet so they could have um uh offices, make sure that there's ADA restrooms and make sure that there's HVAC because as
you know the HVAC is in the other portion of the building. So, if you've torn that down, you need to make sure that you're accommodating that here. So, that came up to uh about $25.6 million. And then we're like, well, if it's going to cost that much to renovate it, why don't we take a look at what it would cost to create a new recreation a
purpose-built recreation center. And when we took a look at this, we do still had to demo the building. So, that's included in that. But the construction for like an 18,500 or 20,000 square foot recreation facility was about 12 million million. So, the total cost was about 16.5 million. That was based on what was
the recreation department really looking for. They really wanted to have two indoor courts. That gives them so much flexibility. They wanted to make sure that they had offices for their recreation department. Also having u multi-purpose rooms for people to do different uh activities there and also having adequate storage for all of their
um all the equipment that they have. Um, if we were to create something like a true community center, which would be a much larger facility of about 35,000 square feet, that would be uh closer in the range of $27 million. And then we also looked at renovating um the building for housing. Uh again, you are
we're demoing a little bit of the building, I guess, in this particular scenario, but that would be approximately $50 million to generate 60 units. There's a lot of um wasted space in there that's not necessarily conducive to creation of of housing. And
the actual cost per unit was uh $837,000 per unit. And that would be for an apartment style. So you can kind of get an idea. It's going to be very expensive to renovate that. It's not really a good value for cost per per unit. And then we were looking at well okay well what if we wanted to create some additional new housing. Um, as you can see in the
renovation, it was only 60 units, but what they were showing here in the right hand column there was actually generating even more units of 100 units, and it was still less expensive than renovating uh the building to get 60 units. I did have a um an email correspondence with Catalyst that if we
really just wanted to do 60 units, it would be closer to like $30 million. So, you're kind of seeing how the cost to renovate it for housing the existing structure is significantly higher than constructing a new building which is going to be meeting all the energy codes. It's going to be purpose-built.
It's going to be modern. It's going to meet have all of our current amenities in it. >> I had one question on the chart, but I don't know how the chair wants to handle this. >> Go ahead. >> Okay. Um, it's not on this chart, but the chart that we got in our packet.
Yeah. My version of your chart, the square, the dollars per square foot. >> Yep. >> So, I'm using what we were sent previously, which has scenario B, which is the gym and keeping the gym in auditorium and then and adding a
recreation center and I guess another gym. >> No, no. The renovation of the recreation center would would just result in one gym and you'd have the auditorium and then they would add the small small addition to accommodate some additional things that the recreation department
needs including the HVAC. >> Right. So they wouldn't get the two gyms that they want. >> Would not get the two gyms. Good good point. >> All right. because I was looking at the square footage um and the cost per square foot and it looks like it's it it looks like it's
more for a new facility as opposed to the renovation when you look at the square feet cost per square foot >> and talking to the recreation director they don't really need the auditorium as much as they need a second gym. >> Okay. Well, and I'm so I'm at some point
I'm going to lobby very very hard to keep the auditorium, but I don't think that this is the point. So, I have some information I want to share when it's right. >> Okay, please keep going. Y we got a lot of information to get through.
>> Well, it it's it is kind of um overwhelming, I would imagine, for you to get the memo and try to read that and assimilate that. It's taken us a year to kind of go through things. As we've progressed, we have a better
understanding. I think initially we felt very easy about that housing really is not an effective uh use of redoing or renovating uh the school building that we're left with, the 1960s
building. Um so we were that came early. we we didn't think to housing, but we needed this comparison to help us verify that. So, um there are seven key issues in
preliminary votes that we took and um I'll run through them quickly. Um, regarding the Emmy Small, we voted in favor of including an 8 acre area as a potential location for a new new elementary school in at least one of the
three concept plans. The concept plans will not show a layout or design of a new school. It's not their um job to do that. Um obviously the school district will be doing a feasibility study and
and will be uh working to identify what's best for their ch for our kids and it may be this and it may be some somewhere else. I'm not sure the municipal office uh uses um we voted
to eliminate this option from the conceptual plans. The estimated cost to renovate the Madakis building into offices is four $47.3 million. It would result in far more offices than
needed. Um we had several people within the saying you don't need all these offices for the amount of square footage. Um renovation of the gym and auditorium with municipal general office
space is fi 55.1 million. So uh the demolition of the madakis buildings except the gym and auditorium. Muk voted in favor of this op uh option. renovation of the buildings for housing would result in a cost per unit of
800,000 compared to 428,000 per unit for new construction. So again, we can see by this comparison analysis uh the difference in amounts of money. It doesn't necessarily mean you're going to decide that uh but um
there is uh warrant to think about um tearing down the building. Um the gym and auditorium for us was the most discussed issue. Ultimately, MUK voted in preliminary votes of Octo October 9th
meeting in favor of concept plans that show the building demolished provided town recreation was included in a minimum minimum of one of the three concepts as either a new building or part of a public private partnership
with the regional sports facility. So, we felt uh very interested in making sure that our community uh recreation department is represented in some fashion if that's the decision you're going in. Um and those are the kind of
places that it could be. Um, in in that in our new recreation building, um, number five, Muk voted to show a new 20,000 square f foot town-owned recreational building in one or more concepts. In consideration
included this, the cost to build new purpose-built facility was 16.5 million versus the cost to renovate existing gym and auditorium 25 million. Um further the location of the existing right now
the location of the existing gym auditorium creates site design uh constraints. So in other words uh all the other sites will be dictated by the location of this building in its
associated parking. So, our consultant does want to mention that if you leave it standing, you've got to build around it um with other things if you're thinking that it it would be a multi-use site. In capital improvement planning,
there is an existing list of community properties including a new library, elementary school, and wastewater infrastructure expansion among others. So all of those are creating quite a um
money uh money money. >> Um regional sports facility. Muk voted to include a regional sports facility in one or more of the concepts. The inclusion of the regional sports facilities is based on several factors.
opportunity for a public private partnership providing the town with access to interior and exterior sports facilities. Um another um uh factor the Cape Cod Regional Chamber is conducting an
updated feasibility study to illustrate the demand for this type of facility. At present, we only have a 2014 study that they had provided to us before and which is on all of these are on our website um
for anybody to look at. The facility must be large enough to support the desired economic benefits. Um, that's a a statement that I'm not sure I could describe what that is um in
terms of particular, but it's it's one that's developing information that you can perhaps use down the down the road. Um development impacts will be further investigated including but not limited
traffic, sewer, lighting and environmental and seeking select board feedback relative to the site being used solely for a regional sports facility. So we will be coming um to you at talk
about it at the end. Um, housing. The item was discussed in detail and there was no clear MUK consensus. MUK voted five to two, five in favor and two opposed for housing be included in all three conceptual plan. >> The next slide. Oop, sorry.
>> My bad. >> Yeah. Um, in addition, members did not reach consensus relative to a MUK recommendation to include the moderate option for housing identified as most desired by the housing land use team and
important considerations include single family lots along Chicad Lane was supported by the MUK members. Some MUK members felt that additional housing could restrict opportunities for the development of a regional sports facility at the site and seeking select
board input on housing levels desired on the site and whether all three uh conceptual plans should include housing at some level. So these are some of the issues that we're grappling with and we'd like your input and um I know you
have given it in many different places and we're hoping that um you will uh do so here tonight. Um we now go to bubble bubble diagrams and Kathy loves this section so
so I wanted to make her happy. >> Okay. >> Yeah. All right. Could you I asked you to sit back so I could thank you so much. So u we've done a total BSE group um with with consultant with staff in the
in the muck has developed six bubble diagrams that were prepared. These are really kind of using all the information that we've collected um throughout the process. Um and they're very general in nature just to give you an idea. They're just kind of showing in general blocks where different uses might be able to go
uh on the site. The whole idea is to help inform us when we come up with those three conceptual design more detailed conceptual design plans. You kind of start with these bubble diagrams and kind of see where things u particularly fit. Um the first bubble diagram scenarios one through three were really based on the information that we
gathered much earlier in the process and that's before that we had really been looking at demolishing the existing gym in the auditorium. And when that was thought about, we then had did additional diagrams of four through scenarios four through six um where we took a look at de demolition and how we might lay out things with regard to
demolishing the gym. So this is just showing you all at once in one one place the six different diagrams. The gray is the schools, the yellow uh blocks are housing, the green is really fields and buffers, the blue is where a recreation building would be. And then anything that's a dash brown,
those are really kind of more of those environmental resource areas that we'd like to um avoid. And that came out of the open space conservation um land use group just does not want to go. So these these first two are scenarios number one and scenario number four. And
the reason I've lumped them together is these are the two scenarios that address uh a location for the school. So we'll start with scenario one on the left. This really concentrates on school, town recreation and housing. And you can see that we have the as requested the the eight acres has been set aside in a
block, a rectangular block there in the center um for the for the school school system thinking that the school would be out in operation while that school is being built and then once that done the the kids would move over to that school. We have housing along the chickity lane on the left side there where might be
smaller single family homes along that area. Um and then um also up here where the Madakis buildings are in the parking lot. That's where the land uh the housing um team was really interested in having some higher density or medium
density um housing in that particular area. And then we're continuing to keep the the recreation facility. You can see this is where the auditorium and the gym is and that's being retained. And then we're having some smaller uh fields that might be located around that. We also wanted to do things like protect a
larger area of wooded area along here, but knowing that when the uh actually when the school leaves and moves over here, we would have this area that we might be able to have some additional housing. Uh upon further discussion with the town administrator that talked about locating that 8 acres over the existing
schools school building, as you can see in this particular one, we added a couple additional uh housing units along Chicad Lane. We continued and expanded a little bit down into this wooded area of where the housing might be. this might be where more some single family maybe habitat style homes could go. And then
we really concentrated on the rest of actually creating a more of a community recreation facility with having the recreation center where you probably would typically locate it, which would be closer to the roadway, some adjacent parking behind there, and then as you move in, additional parking for some
fields on on either side. >> So would we describe that blue block as a community recreation building? Is that >> that would be a town-owned recreation facility? And where's the solar? What did you do with the solar? >> This this one actually has an opportunity where you might reduce some
of the fields and you could actually retain the solar that's part of the school system. This is really a very town centric. The town would other than the housing would retain a lot of this this land here. And in other ones as we move forward, the the solar is something that we have
shown as being eliminated or moved elsewhere. >> So this is with the school. So the solar stays with the school at least for the moment until you have that full discussion about what to do with the solar, whether you're going to put it on top of a building or move it, you know,
elsewhere. >> Well, I mean, while we're talking about solar, there's solar on top of the the gym too. >> Yes. >> And that's bringing in $68,000 a year. >> Well, we don't have any of the financials. >> It's missing, but it is a consideration. Right. >> Carry on.
So the ones that don't have the school, I'm sorry, the ones that the this does not have the school. Um, so there there's no solar, you know, you don't have need to worry about the solar fields because it goes with the school
>> where the school goes. >> So this is just another scenario without the school. Now this is the second one. >> Okay. Right. No school. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Yeah. So this scenario basically replaces the area that was being used by the school with some lower density housing
and also providing some additional options where you can say well we could keep the existing gym or we could maybe build something new with regard to a recreation center. Housing here stays the same and housing along lane stays the same. Uh conversations with Mary Wagan and the chair of the community housing committee they kind of felt like
this might be too much housing on this particular site. Um and maybe >> ask a favor just as a note for tomorrow. Can you send us these in full? >> Sure. >> Because I I had a hard time full size. >> I can't read any of it. I'm sorry. >> Sure.
>> I couldn't either. >> I agree with you. So, I'm sorry that we didn't >> just get a page for each one. >> I can do that. >> Yep. No problem. >> I'm sorry. >> So, so these are three different scenarios and all of them really are related to housing and some type of for
of sports facility. Over on the on the left, you can see the housing remains exactly where the community housing committee wanted it. We have the nice wooded area in the front. We have retained the possibility in this scenario three of renovating and using the gym of having some type of local
recreation facility here, but then the vast majority of the site would be used for some type of sports complex. And when I say um sports complex, it's not just in indoor sports. It can be some meeting space. It can be place where you have events. It can be a lot of other
things besides just sports. So, it's kind of almost like a sports facility event space area. Um, and you can see that you can allow a lot more fields on here. We have rectangular fields, but then we also have various ball fields as well as a playground area. >> Kathy, do you have a comment about that?
Because I've heard Liz talk about wanting to keep the auditorium. So, just uh so you know that we had the chamber in and uh Yarmouth and the Cape Cot Chamber rep to one of our meetings and actually it was talked about both in our
economic development land use groups and uh our recreation groups. they're fine with this thought is if you do a regional a a larger regional facility that's meant to draw people for economic reasons to the town of Yarmmouth that um
the process would be that you have like two gyms or bad mitten or volleyball or whatever it is in the center >> and that you could then make that an event an event place which is what um
would s you know >> take place of >> place of an auditorium >> when it's appropriate. I have comments about this auditorium but it's not appropriate yet. Tracy will let me know. >> Do you do you have any um
towns that have a a model of this type of >> there's some benchmarking that's been included in the economic section. I think it's like four kicks in Taon is something very similar. Um but yeah, I would go I would go on the website and look under the the land use teams and
you'll see under the economic development it'll include some some additional benchmarking and each one of the land use teams >> has benchmarking. So housing has benchmarking and recreation. >> What we've basically estimated here was a building of about 120,000 square feet.
when we did meet with the various the two chambers um they were looking at something between a um like 90 and 120 and we ended up going with something a little bit larger. The whole idea is this might be an opportunity to have that public part private partnership where we can have some type of an agreement when we go out for an RFP and
basically saying we want to have this x amount of access to an indoor gym. this might be another way for us to get um some indoor recreation space without necessarily having to build our own facility and pay for it with with our local taxes. And is there a place in
each one of these I see, you know, the yellow is obviously housing, but is there a place where it breaks down the number that potential in each one of these bubbles? I I have I have some information on that if you're if you want to look
>> trying to get my mind around in just a a ballpark which each scenario is. >> Yeah. Scenario three is basically about 60 units of housing. Scenario f five is about 66 and then scenario six you can see is a little bit bigger and goes a little bit further into the wooded area.
Could be about 66 to 76 units. >> Thank you. >> And they include parking >> and that and those areas would include parking. Yes. And that's why they also have to find out from you what because they base, you know, absolutely need to know how much parking you need to do and
how that fits. >> So, so we also took a look at scenario five, which is kind of thinking maybe about phasing and when things could potentially be be done. So, we wanted to put the sports facility up over here outside of the area where the school is
because maybe there's the potential of carving this off and and getting rid and disposing of this through uh some type of RFP and then once the um the school is gone, then you could put the housing here. So, again, we would continue to have the housing along Chickity Lane, you'd have the housing here. I think from the surveys in the community, you
might have to start off with something a little bit um smaller scale closer to Higgins Croll and maybe get to to larger maybe multif family buildings that might be in the back, but kind of make it blend into the area a little bit better. But this allows you to have maybe three, maybe even four uh multi-use fields over
here. have still have that 120,000 square foot uh sports complex and then depending on what else we need um maybe having some additional fields here w with parking. Um and then the last scenario was there in scenario six there was a lot of interest in retaining the
chickity lane parcels that could be something that could either be habitat or maybe that's something that is municipal employee rental housing that the town um does and continuing with the housing here. So it reduces the size of the uh sports complex in the center and we really just left it as being more of
multi-use fields versus having ball fields as well but retaining the same size of the um the sports complex. And so ultimately uh what we're trying to do is get input from you guys in order to give some guidance to BSC group
to come up with these three concept site plans. And as you can see on the left, this is an example in Marsden Mills that they worked on. It just shows in more detail the circulation throughout the property, the parking, where the buildings would be laid out, and where the recreation uh would be laid out. And then we'd also include again an order of
magnitude of cost to give you an idea of what each of these three scenarios would cost. So the next steps include our November to January um which the um BSC group will be preparing sort
of conceptual site plans after hearing from you and uh the committee will take your thoughts and we'll all try to work to providing something and review other community studies would the uh job for MUK, which will be the final athletic
fields analysis. Um the um uh short-term rental um would be interesting. Housing study to take a look at. And there's also the uh Cape Cod Chamber has agreed and will be doing a study. Is that up there? Yes. A market study update
because right now all we have is a 2014 one. So they're uh bringing forth their own money to do it. uh because they have an interest in in seeing a private public relationship um develop in for
some of these uh ideas. Um also uh present conceptual site plans to the select board we'd be bringing back in January and in February we would be uh bringing it back to the community that we had seen earlier and bring it back to
them and getting feedback from both places to incorporate into our final report and uh presentation to you sometime probably in March or April as it's written. And then after that is your future town steps
is uh really the elimination of phase six and seven which was the original uh thought. Um and um that will include some efforts to prepare the site for reuse and towards the implementation of
getting there. And um one of the successes that the administration has had uh along with the BSC group is um pro getting winning a a grant from the state of Massachusetts that would help
with this next process in terms of traffic study um and other studies to help um kind of finalize all that. So, >> I think that's when we're going to look more into the financial viability of whatever the ideas that you look at. So, they would be do a much more detailed
comprehensive market study. I think the one the chamber is doing is like a $15,000 update. So, it's not an in-depth study. Um, they would also look at um and it would be specifically for multi-use sports or event facility or some type of facility that generates economic development. That's kind of
what mass development is all about. um they do it a tailored financial strategy, you know, whether it's tax revenues, a diff or a tiff. And then they would um help to develop that RFP where we go out to for potential developers for the site. BSC group's going to be looking doing a more detailed site survey and resource
mapping. They look at the sewer extension costs. They do a traffic analysis and identify what type of improvements might need to be done. um they develop some zoning amendments for the desired development and they kind of fine-tune that final layout and then order of magnitude cost and kind of doing the proformer what are all the
costs associated uh with that. So that's something that is part of the next steps that um hopefully we'll be doing with this mass development grant. So, Muk is hoping uh that you can help us um and input and
comments to define the three conceptual site designs for the property including but not limited to. MUK is requesting input from the select board regarding the level of housing expected on the state site. For instance, moderate is
indicated by the housing land use to team and whether housing uh should be included in each conceptual plan. Two, uh MUK is requesting input from the select board regarding the size and extent of a regional sports complex to
be included in a conceptual plan. Muk was divided as to whether one of the concepts should include only housing along Chic Chickity Lane and a regional sports facility on the entire complex.
And Mak is requesting input on the reuse ideas shown in the bubble diagrams and which should which should be expanded into the three conceptual site plans. Um, and
maybe going back to the bubbles would be helpful for you. I I'm not sure. I do know we've been doing this for a year and uh it's a lot of information that we've just given you and it might be a little bit
too much. I don't know. But uh >> maybe this is an opportunity to at least eliminate or bring forward a piece of it. >> I think we should all um ask our questions and I think you know it's tough because there's a lot that's still
out there. Obviously the financial piece of it is an important piece in our decision. Right? So without having the total cost of what something might be I can tell you what I you know my gut is on it but whether or not it's a viable
thing I you know remains to be seen. Um you guys have done a lot of work >> and I'm really appreciative. I can I ask you a couple questions about the bubble? Do does anybody mind if I go first? So when you're looking at like scenario three, where is the is the school land
the eight acres below this scenario? >> Where's the school piece? >> And that the school is only in going to be in one of the three. So it would be in these options. >> It's the gray. >> So we're we're in those other options.
We're not carving out the piece for a new school building. >> Correct. >> Using all the land for other options. >> Well, that that could when you get the concepts you can juggle too I mean at some point but it would be helpful to
the BS group now to kind of have any kind of thought process about it >> it is difficult because there are so many unknowns we'll know a lot more a year from now with regard to the feasibility study for the school whether that's something that is even going to be here uh if it if it is something that
needs to stay here then it's really going to be limiting if you want to have housing and recreation trying to do something like a a regional sports facility, we just wouldn't have doesn't appear that we would have the land to do something along those lines. >> So my my gut is that we have to
at this point keep something until we know, >> right? I don't >> Well, there's you're going to get three scenarios, >> right? But I'm looking at the scenarios and I'm I'm just going to tell you my gut from from looking at it. Um scenario four
Oops. Um, I I guess I I probably wouldn't go with any of these scenarios. Um, I would like to keep the land set aside for the school. I would like to see a smaller
amount of housing. Um, and perhaps like in scenario four, we just don't do the chickenity lane and we kind of try to keep that and make as big of I I think having a big sports complex and having a draw is going to be huge. Obviously, our
town needs housing. Um, but I would be more comfortable with a bigger sports facility and a a smaller amount of housing, but incorporating both. Um, >> so can I ask you questions back? >> Yeah, of course.
>> So, um, when you say big sports, >> as big as we can get it. >> As big as we can get it. I think it needs to be a draw. I think it's a I think it's a regional um thing. There's been studies that shown that the need for it. I think it's great for the
economy. I think that um it's a a great location for things like that being off the highway. Um, obviously we need housing, but uh, as far as traffic and congestion, um, you know, I I think 60 units is probably appropriate if we can
do that and get a big enough uh, complex to make it I think you need to make it worth it to have the public private partnership. We need the investment from whoever is going to build it. Um, and it needs to be a draw. If we I don't want to I don't want to say the word halfass, but I don't want to halfass it. You know
what I mean? If we're going to build it, let's build it. Let's build it where people are going to come and have what it needs, you know, to do a smaller >> so >> amount. So, could I So, the suggestion was that it was between 90 and 120,000
square feet for a regional sports facility was the square footage that was given to us and we opted to do the 120 >> which would be big. Is that is that in keeping with >> I think if you can fit it all as big as
you can with the fields that are needed, >> right? We don't know the parking part of it. >> Perhaps perhaps we don't do the chickity lane housing until we find out what the school feasibility situation is because at that point in time, >> you know, if we if we don't need >> that parcel for something, we can always
add to it. Um, but I just don't want to short change our community. And I've heard a lot of concerns about um having too much housing on this one site. So, um, my my gut would be to to go with the
regional sports facility to the best to the best we can and and try to accommodate the h housing. And and and my other thing is I love the sports facility near a school. I think that that would be a wonderful uh piece. And I'm not jazzed about the housing being
close to the school. I like the housing being on the other side of it. Those are just when I look at it. >> So the yellow block that they like I would not do the the yellow near the school. I would leave that off and make the sports facility as big as possible.
>> The reason the the chickity lots were placed was to give an option for raising money >> for selling lots. If you can do it being on chickity, it would be >> on the other side of other houses. So, but anyway, um
>> that's just my I'm just talking out loud. I mean, if you can if you can make some type of barrier, I just don't like the the potential of the housing that close to the school. >> Well, that green strip and over some of
that solar field uh scraping uh are buffers. what they call buffers. So, they're trying to eliminate uh and separate by buffers. >> But those are just my just to just to kick us off. Well, >> can I just ask a quick question? Are you
saying you want the school as large a sports complex as we possibly can and 60 units of housing on the site? >> Mhm. >> That's going to be a that's a lot. >> I just can I put my two cents in? >> Hold on. Dis I think it's going to be an
interesting conversation. Go ahead, Dorcas. >> I think we have to economically in town look at ways that we can make money and um much as we need housing, it's the sports complex that's going to help us
and it's not only going to help to draw people here, but it assists our restaurants and our hotels. Um, so I I concur with Tracy. I I don't like seeing us go beyond the 60 units of housing
and potentially if you're saying that Kathy to get all of that in there it's going to be tough. Well, maybe we go back to 40 units of housing and the sports complex. Well there
>> I was gonna say what I understand there's a minimum amount that would allow you to qualify under um you know for >> we're going to need sewers and you know obviously housing. >> So is that 60 >> housing and economic development will
help you get sewers here. Um but I think um I've heard anecdotally like 40 units of affordable is kind of a number. So you'd need more than 40 if it's the four 40 affordable. I don't know exactly. That's one of those things that we need to look
into more and more closely. I can guarantee you whatever we come up with the three concepts, we're going to do all this financial feasibility. It's going to look completely it's going to look different. It's going to be an amogulation of all of these different uh ideas and and whatever. But you need to start with something you feel reasonably
good about. Get the additional information. Go back. It's an iterative process a little bit. And also my leaning is that having heard everything that you're saying, trying to keep some of the existing building just doesn't seem to be viable. I mean, we really
need to be looking we need to be looking at starting with a clean slate in essence for that for that property. >> That's up to you. Um that's what I'm saying. >> That's what I'm saying. But what we've discovered it would in designwise limit
limit uh limit the design of of what >> well it would if you're if you have to go with that footprint. Um but listening to what you've been saying and what the comparative costs would be and so forth. It seems to me that it would be
more ideal to go with clearing the site basically and starting from scratch when you're talking about economic development. Doesn't the sports complex help with that? So that if we're taking off a little of the housing,
we're still making up for it on the um on the sports complex. >> I don't know if Bob knows more because this is not necessarily grants I'm familiar with. Well, the um one of the critical issues is that um
the synergy that we're trying to create here I think is going to center around how do we get as much community facilities without having a huge price tag of the 50 million 55 million because we have other things that we want to use
um for for the bonding. So what what that means is is have we have the site and if we were able to do a regional recreational facility then um you know by giving them site control in return we
get the programming use of the facility whether it's indoor gymnasium space outdoor recreational space and that's a contract that you do and one of the issues that you have to keep in mind is that on its home. Just a a recreational
facility for having the use in there doesn't necessarily pay for itself. There would have to be associated with it some additional economic development opportunities such as like in there a restaurant that has a a liquor license that could uh generate revenue to
support that facility. Um, interestingly enough, the housing may be able to be combined with a single developer. um to create an add an additional revenue stream if there were some market rate units in there that would support the
construction and operation of the recreational facility. Um and I I think finally the one I question I I think is really intriguing but um it I'm a little bit concerned with the order of
magnitude discussion of the amount of money that it would take to renovate the auditorium. The auditorium is a wonderful resource. >> It's brilliant. >> If it were possible and and I don't know, I mean, you don't want to bridge too far that makes the project uneconomic to a private developer, but
I'm just thinking, you know, along the lines of things that would be valuable to the community would include the recreational facility, but also if it were possible to have a performing arts >> Yes. >> facility. Uh that would be valuable. But
if you saddle, that's what we're going to have to do with the analysis. if you if you saddle the project with an additional 25 million in cost, it may not pay for itself. So, I just think that it has to be analyzed for finding that uh appropriate partner that would
be able to to leverage community use and enough economic development space in there. So, I don't know if that answers your question, if there's another part of it, but I've been looking into it already and in fact I had some meetings with um firms that that do this. I' I've
been studying this and I've attended, you know, various sessions that have reviewed um examples of how this has been successful in other communities and those are some of the issues that came up. Um, I just want to add that the housing
aspect of it also generates uh ability to do more grant writing. So, we really need sewer. Um, we're presently in phase five. Um I know they're reconsidering different wells
and different things that are going on with the wastewater, but um if there was there's grant writing that you if you have affordable h or attainable housing, let's say um including market um but
enough of the units, it could qualify you for doing design work for the main coming deck out of um the the sewers the system down Buck Island down Higgins crawl to to design that will be millions
I think is what I think I heard Bill say and so you could get grant to have that done because of h placing h housing which you seem to agree that it needs to be on the site in some fashion I don't know that we've established a number but
that would be and then that there poss possibly other grants that might be available for actually digging. I mean, I don't I don't know because I don't know all that you do with the grants, but the fact that you if you have some
type of housing there with a minimal that qualifies you for, you know, unit numbers, there's other money available to the town that you wouldn't have to raise for the sewage system. Um, it's just >> what did Bill say? Other people's money.
>> Yes. Others. >> Other people. That's Yeah. >> Always good. >> Yeah. >> Dorcas. >> I'm all set. >> I'll let Liz go next. >> Well, thank God it's about to pop. >> I know you were. >> Going to explode. I'm >> probably bright red. Um, so the reason I'm making such a fuss about the
auditorium is because we had a reunion of artists last week and it included people from the Chattam Corral and when and the the reunion was a a group of us who performed and the Chattam Corral sang
and we had a worldclass um um musician Paul Holly who came in and and everybody was praising that auditorium chattam corral people were like it's unbelievably acoustically it's just
brilliant >> saying at the high school or the intermediate school because we have two other auditoriums. >> Yes. No. And unfortunately they do not make it. The Madakis auditorium has a very special acoustic quality that the
people who are into that kind of stuff have recognized. And I think the other reason I would make a case for it is um a lot of us have memories of the Madakis auditorium and I there isn't any reason we couldn't go back to having our town
meetings there if we were to keep it which even u having some of the hearings that we've we've staged in the Madak auditorium all of that I I think there's something to be said for we have a piece
of our history still with with us and the Madakis auditorium is a very strong piece of our history here in Yarmouth. So I and I would very much lobby that we look to including the arts in a recreation center, an event center that
we we'd be crazy to demolish something that's so special. And I know we're looking at the the bottom dollar, but before we do that, let's really look at the bottom dollar because to redo what we have at Madakis is is probably not something that oftenimes you just don't
get it and you try and whatever Madaks has accomplished in terms of the acoustics is very very special and we shouldn't we we shouldn't throw be quick to throw it away and I do think that there's an awful lot of money that's going to come down the pike even with
seasonal communities which we are been been almost promised but not quite we will get that status and the arts is a huge piece of seasonal communities. Uh Mott's Massachusetts office of transportation and tourism is big on
let's get the arts and culture going. So, I think that's that's why I'm lobbying along with the fact that it has a solar system on it that I pointed out is bringing in $68,000 a year. So, that is and and the roof solar systems need
to be looked at, >> right? >> The roof needs to be completely replaced. So, all I don't know >> solar has to go >> solar has to come off for that to happen. And and I don't know whether they would can put back on exactly what's there, but the roof is is causing all kinds of damage right now.
>> Okay. To the Um, yeah, the building's in bad shape. I mean, the plumbing is exploding and causing flooding problems. >> Can I can I just ask some >> I'm just like the the auditori are you looking at envisioning that as a performing arts center or are you
envisioning that as a performing arts center with a gym attached to it? >> With the gym attached to it >> because cuz that gym they use all all the time at nighttime and that type of thing. You're not going to be able to to do both events at the same time. >> Right. Well, and I'm I'm not sure then
you're probably right. When we used it back in the when we staged Misagaya, it was a school. So, we were able to use the gymnasium as part of the the auditorium. And of course, when we have town meetings, we use the gymnasium as part of the auditorium. So, maybe it's
not practical from that sense. >> That that's not a discussion that that you really need to have because I I think a big part of this is to develop some new gyms. >> Yeah. We want to get the recreation out of the auditorium and into a modern gym.
And now that leaves the space and and it it may very well be that that space that the gym is on, which is part of the auditorium, if it was renovated, could create one performing arts center with a size that was capable of generating potentially
some economic benefit. Mhm. >> But like I say, I I'm concerned because the renovation cost is so high, but um you would certainly want to try to renovate it as one space, not not two. >> That's what I was trying to get at. >> Yeah, I agree with you then.
>> Yeah. So, I think that unfortunately it's really going to be hard to put a number on the value of that space because of the fact that it has an intangible or something that's very hard to to put a financial benefit on. But that the acoustically madakis is quite
special >> and it's quite special for many of of our memories too. >> Yeah. I I I see a lot of so I hesitate to say this because it would be give you further um you know nails to put in the the uh
coffin for for not taking it down. And I see a lot of expense as as Bill has mentioned. But if there's >> we miss Bill, he's great. >> At least you both begin with B. >> They both begin with K.
>> Two B's. >> The B's and above. But actually my understanding and having been on the school committee at you know a number of years ago was that they sought uh when they developed that auditorium um experts out of Boston for
the acoustics. >> Exactly. >> So um >> it's really special. >> Yeah. But it is a lot of money. Yeah, >> but the the other thing is maybe um you don't expand uh the seating or whatever and you go and you see if the private
development can pay for this >> in terms of >> preservation money because it's worthy of being preserved. >> Okay. Or wherever. >> But also maybe the gym no longer becomes a gym but an event center that the um
gyms would normally have given you. I I don't know what you want. >> I don't know how you're going to decide, but I'm telling you that there are many options and you're going to need to decide. >> You know, um I I brought a quote um uh
from an English humorist. >> Oh, that's a good plan. >> Yeah, it wait till you hear it. And uh this is how I see you're having uh to take a look at all of this information having done it myself up to this date.
But the quote was knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. >> Uh um wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad. So, I thought that was a kind of a great
kind of thing that that's what's going to have to be given to you um when you finally get this and and the constant moving of getting additional information so that you can move forward. Um I've seen a lot of towns that keep their
schools boarded up and no decision. I ran into a woman that said that's been uh that was a former selectman in Abington. I think she said it's been sitting there for 12 years and they keep talking about it but they don't do anything. So there is that element that
you know you're budgeting right now 200,000 to take care of it and you don't even know if that's going to take care of it if a system goes but you know you could be doing other things if you decide to tear down. It also gives you a vision in terms of a fuller site you
know to do planning around. So there there's lots of issues. Um but we'd love to keep you talking now. Um >> well, I would just I agree with um with Tracy on the lesser uh housing. I don't
think we I'm I'm we're hoping that 28 is going to be a better place for the housing eventually. So I'm I'm with you on that. >> Really? I'm pretty alarmed by the uh old laundromat proposal, but uh
>> it's not >> I I don't think we can put all housing on 28. >> No. >> No. But >> do you have anything you want to any comments on? >> I will be much more able to to think and see when I have the larger size. That would appreciate. I was like doing
screen enlarging, but then that was like playing with my brain. Um, I just appreciate that you've put an enormous amount of of work into this and you've narrowed the choices. So, I mean, we ought to be able to decide um because
they've made it both harder and easier, but they've narrowed the choices, >> right, Mark? >> We want to do this as a public private partnership right? >> Seems that's where the money is. Mhm. >> Well, if we want to use other people, we
we don't have the money that that's being talked about here. >> Right. >> Right. The reality is is, you know, the new school, we got a new library, new fire station, we've got to pay for more phases of wastewater. Uh we've got some big ticket items on our agenda. And I
think when Bill Scott was helping you in helping quarterback this with you, I I think his approach was always focused on what can we to do to leverage other people's money because we don't have any >> or we have very little
>> that we can make available for this. That's just the reality and that's what we really need to focus on which is the reason why there's interest in the housing piece as well as interest in this complex this sports convention
facility whatever it is. Now what I'm curious about is um and has got my interest is this notion that the chamber is doing some investigation and some study because I think the more we get a
better handle on the economic develop the the the components of this that bring in other people's money, the more we'll be able to deal with the things in this project that will cost
that show up on our side of the ledger. All right, the cost side. For example, if someone wants to fix the auditorium or we want to do something with the gym or we want to bulldoze some areas, these are all costs. So, when the developer is
looking at this, um they're looking at, you know, where can I make money and where do I have to spend money, right? What's it going to cost me to get into this development? And um you know, we keep adding on costs, right? Yeah. We'd love to have two gyms, maybe another
gym, maybe doing more with the uh with the auditorium, making it a performing center. Just just, you know, chuch-ching chuch-ching chuch-ching it's just going to keep running up the cost side of the ledger. So I think the sooner we get a better handle on those
aspects of the development that can generate money because we really need to know what kind of development potential what what kind of money can be attracted to this development. So I'm intrigued with the chamber study and the scope of it. Is it going to go far enough or do
we have to augment that with some analysis of our own? I mean, I've seen um other regional sports complexes proposed on the Cape. Not too long ago, there was a major one being proposed for Independence Park. Um and there was some
outside money connected to that. Um we've seen in other parts of the Commonwealth, literally private investment coming in to develop regional sports complexes. Um we know in this community there's a lot of interest. I
mean, let's face it, a lot of our economic development is tied in recreation, outdoor recreation, right? The beaches, you know, the swimming areas, u the golf courses. >> Well, and the arts, let's not forget the arts. >> I'm not I'm not I'm not I'm not dismissing the arts. So, don't don't
don't misrepresent what I'm saying. The arts are important. Yes, that people come here for the arts. There's no question about it. But so much of the the the activity is recreation related. So which is the reason why I'm not sure
how much the arts will generate revenue for the town to pay for let's say the things that have to be developed. >> We can give you some numbers on that. >> That's great on that. Well, that's what I'm saying is I think we need to use the phase we have an idea of the things that we'd like to do. Right now the the
challenge is really to look at the financial side where can we really generate uh income and development and trust. That's why I focus on the sports complex. Um, I'm a little bit nervous about filling up too many of the boxes
without knowing, for example, on the sports convention complex, what's going to be the most attractive, right? Maybe we if there are aspects of the site that we don't necessarily develop right away, there may be things that we might want to wait on until we
get that figured out. like for example the school you know which piece of this site fits best from a from a school perspective but but before that I would want to know more about the potential
opportunities because the thing is if what we're talking about and what we want would like to see happen doesn't really generate much outside private sector interest we're not going to be able to carry that kind of project so I think we need to really assess the
feasibility of that aspect of the project first. So that's kind of my initial re reaction to all of this. I think it's great to create bubbles and scenarios and development scenarios, but the sooner
they become informed by um the financial side uh in terms of what works, the better. And I think quite frankly we shouldn't I think it's premature to settle in on almost anything. >> I think it's good to having the
conversation about what does the community want. I'm looking at your survey. I think >> you know the thing that the thing that we did great with the drive-in site is that Kathy and the planning staff did a survey to hear what the community wanted. Right. So when we look at I
think I think now is not a bad time to focus on what the people in our community would love to see if they could have their brothers. >> We did that. We did. >> Yeah. So >> you did a great job of that too. I mean
a lot of work went into >> I just want to make sure we're clear in terms of what the community has expressed an interest in the site and it's it's largely the >> recreation >> the recreation side of it. It's a community center in quite honestly it is and that's the difference. It's a community center indooroutdoor
recreation event performance space academic education. >> So the question's going to be >> municipal facilities. >> So all of those things are costs right because >> right >> so we so we have an idea now roughly
what we want. The question is going to be >> how do we pay for it? Where's the other people's money? And that's and and I think quite frankly what we're going to be faced with is once we get a better picture on where the other money is
coming from or could come from that will basically inform us as to how ambitious we can be on all the other community things that we want to do because we may have to make some tough decisions. >> Right. >> All right. Well, you speak to a lot of
things that I'd have been asking about, >> which um don't don't go there because we're not there yet, you know, kind of thing. >> And I'm okay with that, you know, I don't need to to do it. But it it's
simple because you have in your power right here in the town to go to your to your um finance director and say, "Tell me everything you know about recreation in terms of what you pull in
for fields, for um pickle ball, for volleyball, tennis, whatever it is in terms of your revol involving accounts just to have that to come say wait a minute now >> let me just I can tell you right now the
revenues associated with those activities are totally insufficient to cover the capital >> I'm not saying that they would but I I'm I'm saying that might be an interest in terms of the developer would would want to see some of this uh in terms of what
our market is but the other other thing that I also wanted to say was that the lo the local um e economic development folks were really talking about a yearround business
>> so they are looking specifically about winter >> and what is winter interior >> so that's why I was thinking you go >> right >> as Tracy said the biggest that you can go to still allow other you know the
parking the driveways the you know but other multiple uses. Yeah. >> Um and that was why we went with the 120,000 square feet to make it a large thing. >> What What is 120,000 square feet?
>> Sports facility, a recreation facility. >> What's that based on? >> It's based on the chamber and the >> No, I understand. But is that based on any market analysis, any kind of study investigation, or is it just a number that's been pulled out of thin air? There is an analysis and of 214 that had
um what marketing you you know does for um that kind of stuff. So I assume he pulled that from um >> old an old study >> which is why they're doing a new study >> you know to get there. So,
>> and also the mass development money. One of the things Kim Moy would be doing would be doing that comp which is the same company that did the diff. >> Okay. >> Um they they would be looking at a comprehensive marketing study in order to do a lot of that information that you're looking for. But they need to
have an idea what kind of what we want. If we're really saying, well, we only have this tiny little space. That's different than what what we could do with something that's much larger. It sounds as though you're talking about what can we do to maximize the success of something like a sports complex. >> Yeah, I think that's what we have to do.
I think we have to study that and understand that. And then I think based on that >> an arts component >> I think then >> I think what >> based on that I think then we're in a better position to assess the feasibility of the other pieces. That's what I think. So I think the sooner we
can figure that out the better off. And if it can be done do we have money budgeted? I think what we need to do, Mark is >> is that's our next step. I I think this committee's done Yman's work. It's an incredible piece of work. I I think they need to hone the basic recommendations
and if you take a look at the um you know their their schedule, we need to wrap up this phase of the project and then what we're going to do is we're going to get involved in getting those exact answers to um the specifics of now that we have the concept that we're
going to put together potentially a recreational facility. It's right down exactly the square footage, the proforma analysis, and we can do we can do all of that. And I and I think it's, you know, the next step after the the muck study committee,
>> right? The mass development grant that we received would be funding. >> So there's an extra. So we're getting money for that. >> How much money? >> It was $200,000 that was received from the mass development. >> Terrific. That that's news. That's news to me. >> It's great. I don't know where we stand
on executing the contract, but >> I don't think that's come before the board yet, has it? >> No, it it has. I did announce it. It's sort of under embargo. They asked us not to talk too much about it. We talked about it at our last meeting. >> It was It's come >> All right. I won't tell anybody. >> You publicize. >> All right. I'll keep it a secret. Okay.
No, but that's the kind of that's the level of effort that we need. We need this kind of analysis. So, I think I think >> on the right page. >> I think we're heading in the right direction. >> Right. Well, it's all part of this development what you do and keep doing. >> What one thing that I, you know, like we
talk about the drive-in site, I can remember a time when we were talking about how great the income was going to be from our drive-in site with our great marina only to turn around and find out that there was no money to be made there. So, um, I highly support the idea
that we need to do as much due diligence as we can. What we have to bring to the table that a lot of communities don't have is we already have in place where everyone is going to stay and where they are going to eat. Yes.
>> And a lot of places don't have that. >> Yeah. >> So that you know we're bringing something with it to to to the table. Um >> can I finish up my question? >> I thought you were finished. >> I'm not done. >> I interrupted Mark. I'm sorry. >> Sorry. I thought you were finished.
>> No. No. The other question that I had and it it relates to what Dorca said about the drive-in site is this making sure making sure that legally we're fully aware of the constraints of the site. >> All right. We never really zeroed down
and nailed down what the cans and can'tss on article 97 land which is what much of the drive-in property is until later in the process a and after we were making decisions on uses of the property. But I think one of the things that we need to do while we're doing
this other analysis is making sure that we have a clear understanding >> of what the legal parameters, the constraints are with respect to the use of the site. Much much like we've been talking about with respect to, you know, the land across the street, making sure
that what we can and can't do with the parcels and the property under consideration for the library. The benefit of this woman is that she already expressed that in terms of wanting to be touch base with the legal folks that you have here in town, get
permission to talk about that issue. >> The Chickity Lane is a weird scenario and I just want to make sure that we would have the ability to create lots off of that. And of course, that whole parcel was created for school purposes. It would obviously need to be modified if it's being used if it's being carved up and used for different things through
town meeting. >> Yeah. I I see I would want to go through the history of the the acquisition of the site conditions the conditions on the acquisition. Were there any conditions placed on it? Things like that. Particularly it being school property, school property in it. If if
we acquired the land for school purposes, we may be limited by virtue of the vote and by statute as to the future uses or potential incumbrances that might be on the property. So >> I think that's a great suggestion and hopefully she'll get permission to go do
that. >> Yeah, I think that's that's so that's the other sort of major area of investigation that we've kind of short we haven't really given it the the the due attention that it really deserves at this point because now that we have
ideas that have been formulated through this process with tremendous amount of community input. Now we have a better idea to start a evaluating whether or not any of them might get ruled out because of uh a legal analysis. I'm assure we did the audit. I would I would
almost place a bet that it that the town meeting vote was for the purposes of building a school. >> It says in the deed for school purposes. >> See, there you go. So we >> told that we would need to go to town meeting to to modify that. >> Well, we need we Exactly. We need a
legal opinion, some legal work to tell us what we can and can't do to modify that. >> Right. >> Right. >> It's a good suggestion. >> It may be a town meeting vote. It may be there may be something else that we have to do. So, we just need to know all of that. You need to know all of that.
>> All right. Now, I'm done, Madam Chair. Thanks. >> Okay. Joyce has been waiting. Sorry. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, it's a huge site and a huge opportunity. I think we understand the constraints of the money that we have in the town, but um it
seems to me that we have to have a chunk of housing as part of this. It's a great big space and we have to think of our yearround people who don't have places that they can afford to live and they have to be in that mix. Otherwise,
there's going to be a huge backlash against people coming for regional sports events when we haven't housed some of our own people. I just and I would make a practical other people's money um argument for that from what
Sharon said about uh housing um being able to be grantfunded and have that thrown in the mix. And I noticed we have some housing people in the background there. And I noticed a nod or two. So I think that is actually the case. Um it's
a huge huge site and I think um that the housing could come to pay for itself and then we could strategize about how to get all the uh the more complex things with the sports and the private public
money. we might have to give over quite a bit of control to the uh private sector to to get them involved. But I think housing has to stay a part of it. Mhm. >> My last question about the site with uh
public private partnership is um the local comprehensive plan and uh the Cape Cut Commission review and if planning's put any potential thought into uh if we could designate this once we get
the LCP approved as as like a growth zone or something to mitigate that >> or growth incentive zone or Because I mean any developer is going to it's going to be a long long process and a very expensive process and it could
really uh put us out of the market. >> Yes. And and and I think if you talk to developers that certainly is one of the things that is detrimental to development on Cape Cod is a regulatory arm of the Cape Cod Commission. >> And I mean 120,000 square feet certainly
would trigger that and I'm concerned about that. Just subdividing a parcel over 30 acres may have some >> implications. Once we get the LCP approved, maybe we can start working on how we carve this out to do some
>> Y zoning work would obviously need to be done because none of this this these uses that we're talking about for a sports facility privately done is covered under our current zoning because it's residential zoning. >> So, we've got a lot of work. >> Got a lot of work to do. Yep. >> I don't know if we've given
>> it enough occur if there's kind of a consensus in different small areas >> that consensus of the board in respect to your concept, right? Your concept items, right? Everybody here's I think
in favor of of the concept of housing and sports 60 unitsish and then as large kind of as a sports complex. I mean I do think that Mark's point about the analogy is really important. It's hard to go forward without knowing but at the
same time >> doing a feasibility without giving parameters is not going to be helpful to them either. So I think we have to narrow it down as some type of consensus. >> Housing is a component as Joyce said that brings money to the project. So you
want to be careful about narrowing the parameters on some of these components until you do further financial work on it. It's as simple as that. I mean for us to be sort of arbitrarily saying it's going to be so many units now is I think is is is is asking too much. I agree
with Joyce. I think housing has to be a part of the project. It brings money to this project. >> But the question is is what what do the other components of the project need in order to be viable? Right. I just want to make sure they have the consensus and direction that they need to be able to
move to their next step. >> Well, I I think we're get we're telling them very candidly what we think they need to do next. And I think that's the most important thing that we can lay out. >> I guess the question gets back to what are the next steps for the muck committee, right? Because the next steps
for the muck committee was to kind of identify in more detail three three concepts and it can be some variations of it of of of it that shows a larger sports complex is kind of like we shown on the last three versions where sorry
you know there's a there's a lot of sports complex options here and varying sizes um and then that's something that then we need to get under contract with Koy and BSC group for that mass development grant then they can start digging in a little bit more deeper. But they need to have an idea of what we're
kind of thinking about as they start vetting it. And again, it's iterative. What we find out in that financial analysis is going to change what ultimately is done with the with the with the >> I I would ra I would rather have the consultants on board and under contract
and there may be aspects of the contract that can be refined a little bit further. Maybe there phases to it, but the reality is is I think having some more financial information at least have a better having a better market assessment on the sports complex. >> So you'd like to start that process?
>> I think we have to start that now before we can get much further and narrowing >> too much of this down. And Mark, would you have a problem with starting um um the exploring of grants for housing um that was sort of in one part of the site and not threatening
other development at the same time? >> I think it all has to be part of it. >> Yeah, it has to be it's all part of the whole project be kind of both of it. I'm not sure, Bob. Um, in terms of narrowing it to three at this point or doing you utilizing the grant, do you have enough
information to get the feasibility or the information we need? >> Yeah, I I think that really the the MUK committee has indicated they needed some feedback. I think they got some great feedback on how to take all of the the bubble diagrams and and hone them down
into some recommendations that that we can use to do that market analysis. and determine the feasibility of a project and and what it would take. I I think it would be extremely helpful if if they could use that information to gear it
toward um slightly on the larger side for the um community facility with a housing component um and you know hopefully some room for a school on there. And some issues that we could
move ahead immediately with is the analysis of those legal constraints, potential article 97, town meeting vote things, get those recommendations. Then I think, you know, we get together and it's it's a separate study to put together that financial analysis, the
feasibility, and um but I think we're poised. this is like the work that they've done >> is is tremendous and and I think the quicker that we get it flipped over into the feasibility analysis piece then we'll come back and we'll have we'll have some real numbers and some choices
that you can make based on hopefully what the market will bear you know with private developers >> can get grants. Yeah. >> So so it sounds like we are going to move forward with developing three of these in a little bit more detail. you're going to have varying sizes of the sports complex because there's going
to be different things that are going to take precedence. Obviously, there's going to need to be uh the school. So, when the school's there, you're probably going to have a smaller sports complex if you still want to have housing with it. So, you're going to have various ranges of options for these that are that are kind of like the moderate and the elevated kind of like what they did
with the land use teams. And then that's the the the place to like start from because we were going to go and have a presentation to you guys with the concepts a little bit more developed and then talk to the community, see how they feel about it and then that's going to be when it gets handed over to you guys
with regard to the final report and the recommendations and then it slides seamlessly into or can probably start earlier even the financial assessment. >> We need to start some of that work now. >> Yeah, I think we need the financial piece. >> Yeah, we do. I don't think the community >> and you want three if you're going to
present three scenarios financially they should be all viable. >> Yeah. That's where I'm stuck at >> homeousing. Yep. >> Right. >> Right. >> Yeah. If I'm going to if we're going to get three scenarios to look at, it'd be nice to be able to get three scenarios that financially are viable. >> We can afford >> So then we're not going to move forward
until we have more financials. No, I I Mark, honest to God, I I think that we need to get the recommendations from the committee on the range and let's take him here and we'll get the the firm on it and we'll do the financial
feasibility analysis and we'll come in, we'll we'll create a project around this. It it it doesn't make sense to throw that at the muck and then it just it's going to it's going to put us behind at least another year. So what we want to take and do is is get the
project development phase which is more of a you know kind of staff discussion and then working with the board and um move it forward like that on the financial feasibility and and putting a project together that that is a a
hardcore detailed process. >> Well, you can move I think what I'm hearing is you can move on with some of this stuff. So the legal part go and with the grant that's received hopefully go you know and get that done as soon as
possible. At the same time, we hope we'll get the uh market analysis from the chamber and all of the other studies that need to be finished and bring this to the to the we'll keep doing this with
the um uh community and then come back to you with it. Well, I think I think the chamber can also be an important partner in terms of if indeed we're all on the same page and seeing the value of it and it helps us financially. I'd like
to see us maybe even ask more from them >> in the final >> in in what phase or how Mark >> that's that's a little premature. Okay, >> we'll put together the chambers our partner >> chambers if if you look at how convention centers and
convention complexes if this is what we're talking about here is a mix of a convention >> sports complex chambers have been very critical in other parts of the commonwealth in generating revenue grants and resources
>> to help make that happen >> right >> all right when you look at Boston for example in the facilities that have been developed there along this line. >> Well, in their presentation to us, they've already indicated that they think there are other monies. Is that that's what you're talking about?
>> That's what I'm talking about. >> And so, we have heard that. So, >> okay, good. >> Yeah. >> We had a meeting with the Paul Nitzwiki and Mville Bond and they came and they gave a great presentation and talked a lot about sports complex convention centers. >> Yeah. Well, well, we haven't had the
benefit of of th those discussions, but what I'm telling you is is that having that kind of partnership can be incredibly helpful in terms of >> revenue and funding to help >> and they're very excited about that possibility. >> There you go. That's great. I see Mary's here. She looks very excited back there.
>> I see if I can pop. >> So, we're going to continue moving forward. >> Yes. >> Hold on. has >> I just want to and Mark started to bring it back from recreation center to convention center and I just really want
us to and Bob has it because I really think that there's so much money right now in arts and culture being being brandied about by the state. I spent the the last two weeks at conferences about um all of the the the effort to bring it forward including one cape where it was
a huge component of one cape. So, it's really I and I will bring to you the numbers of what a theater can bring to you because that's what they're saying. They're saying that's what people want to do. They want to come to Cape Cod and go to the theater, go out to dinner, and
go to their hotel. So, along with the recreation piece, which I think is great, let's not lose sight of the arts and culture. And my last comment is we have an incredible facility that we can't reproduce that we would would not
be able to build again. >> Well, here's what I have to say about Madakis. I went there. I can bring in pictures of nostalgia of me graduating my eighth grade class there watching Jesus Christ Superstar on on stage in 1981.
>> Acoustics were Jesus Christ Superstar. >> I have a lot of memories there, but I got to tell you, you can't I I can't I can't yeah I don't have that emotional connection that that I think you can justify >> we have two other we have two other first of all when we built the
intermediate school they built an auditorium and a captorium and the auditorium in a where there's a school with an auditorium right next door was built for I think about $6 million and it wasn't reimbured by MSBA so we paid for >> the way that auditorium works
>> well you can say that but how many do you need do we need three auditoriums in this auditorium with the acoustics that Madakis has and we don't have any other one. >> Well, I don't think it's I don't think it's $25 million worth of >> has a really good one.
>> The only way you can support spending more money is by getting a grant to to to keep it. So, I'll try to do that. >> That's not our job to do. >> Understood. I mean, I'll look into it. >> Yeah. >> Um we don't we don't let them do their
work. We speak as one board here. We'll have to make decisions at some point in time, but right now again, I think the feasibility so we I mean I don't even think we can bring it to the public and the public can make an informed decision as we can't until we know whether or not
the funding is there. So that's really and I just am I'm so impressed with the way that this has been narrowed down, the time that you've spent, the information, the fact that we can even take this and have >> the conversation that we had. I wasn't expecting that, you know, to be able to
do that. I really was thinking going into it after reading it all that I was going to need to sit with it. But I don't think that there >> you still may need to sit >> I I do need to >> You still need to sit with it. >> There's there's just so there's so much information. Um but at some point in
time, like you said, there's towns that um that don't do anything because they're afraid, right? So we need to like we we need to keep moving forward. Um, I think that it's going to be a a wonderful space that everybody's gonna enjoy at the end. So, I'm excited for that. So, hopefully you have the
direction that we need. Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Did you like the humorist? >> Good job, Sharon. Good job. I did appreciate that. >> Now, we need to make a fruit salad and a garden salad all at the same time.
>> Oh, yeah. Yeah. There you go. Okay, >> good job. >> Thank you all. Next, we have uh Habitat for Humanity, a 40B local initiative >> plan program. Who are you? Good evening.
>> Our housing people that probably just >> watched that and went, "Oh, >> I know there's a lot of talk about housing on Route 28 >> on Wood Road. It's it's it's different." mixed juice.
>> Well, need it. So, sprinkle here and a sprinkle there. I think we'll do it. >> Yep. So, this this um >> you'll introduce yourself. We know who you are, Mary, but >> Sure. So, uh I'm Mary Wagan. Good evening. Um I'm Yarmas, affordable
housing program administrator. >> Um expert. >> Uh I've been doing it, can you believe it? For 20 years. >> I know because you said 20 years. So I was like, "Oh, sister right there." So, um, I'm here tonight with Norine Brown.
She's the director of land acquisition for Habitat for Humanity on Cape Cod. Um, and we're so pleased to present to you the newest, uh, Habitat neighborhood in Yarmouth. Um, and this site that we're talking about, um, which, um,
we've always called 121 Route 28, um, has been a site of interest for the town for a while. So, I I looked up, I was I was coached to look up and give a little history about the property. It came before the town in 2017.
Um, and the site plan was reviewed by the planning board as a mixeduse development under the village center overlay district bylaw. So, it was a local bylaw that inspired the redevelopment of this property. It was approved with a commercial component of
one building and a residential component with nine condominiums. Um, today the commercial building is occupied by MidCape Dental Laboratories. It's doing very well. Um and the residential portion was purchased uh by
Habitat for Humanity with support from the affordable housing trust. Um because of the way that Habitat structures its housing program, the lot had to be split and become fee simple. But before it was a condominium, it was a it was a
mixeduse development. Um so um right now the uh current residential portion of this property uh is proposed to be six habitat homes in place of the formally approved nine
condominiums. Um the proposed permanent is via the state's local initiative program lip friendly chapter 40B comprehensive program. So it's the only type of chapter 40B that I like. Right. It's
that friendly piece. It's that local initiative program um that help us through and and develop a site that fits the needs of the community the best. Um so the lip application that's that thick document
that's in your meeting packet. It's there for your review and approval. And Norine will get us to the point uh about that formal vote that's needed. But at this point, I'd like to hand it over to Norine. She has a nice PowerPoint presentation about the um the proposed
project. >> Thank you for the opportunity to present this this evening. Um I do have a um we're here really about the lip application approval, but I do have a short um PowerPoint presentation. Um it looks like we haven't built here. Uh I joined the Cape Habitat affiliate in
February of this year. So a lot of this has going on be Oh, are you going to do that? Yeah. Um before I got here. Um so um so start say the last time we built in Yarmouth was 2017. So we did six homes on Virginia >> on Virginia.
>> Yeah. >> Great project. >> Um so um this is our mission. Um we build homes in in partnership with families in need um need of affordable home to build one of their own fostering stability, self-reliance, and a strong sense of
self. Oh, you're doing that. Sorry. Go ahead. >> Right. She has it she has it on her own computer. So when you Yeah, there we go. So this is our inspiration to provide family um homes for families in need. Um this is just a a collage of different families throughout the Cape over the
years. >> You can do it. >> Oh no, that's okay. Okay. >> I was doing it here thinking it was working there. >> It's just this button here. This. Okay. >> So this project meets some of the housing goals of the town. um promotes affordable housing opportunities
consistent with the town's housing production plan. Assists the town in attaining at the 10% goal for affordable housing, supports affordable home ownership, preserves affordability of these units in perpetuity. They'll all be eligible for the subsidized housing inventory. Includes a higher percentage
of affordable housing than required. These programs require 25% affordable, but Habitat Oh, I wasn't talking to Habitat um is 100% affordable. So all the homes will be counted um on this subsized housing inventory. Um uh and then we promote local preference
for Yarmouth residents and employees. So that'll be the next phase um past the LIP application and I believe the town's looking at um possible one veteran preference. >> Yeah. So the local preference would apply to >> four units in total and we were hoping
to have one of the four have a veteran preference. um the state is just allowing that. So it would be three, four people who live, work or have a child in our school system and the fourth unit would have a veteran preference.
>> So you don't have to go to a lottery for these. >> We do. >> You do you but you have >> be restricted to just the town. >> There's a preference. There's a preference. So it's six units in total. Two would be open pool, right? Anybody
could apply for it. Um, the other four would have a local preference or a veteran preference. They'll only let us do one unit per development for the veteran preference. >> How come we don't mandate all six to be local? I mean, if we're we're doing a friendly 40b, we're allowing and
granted, we need we need housing. We have a lot of people here that need housing. I don't I just I just feel like every time we we do this, we get short changed with and I know this has been discussions for years. I just don't understand why we can't get 100% of local preference. It would be nice.
>> So, statistically about 75% of all our new units do go to people who live in Yarmouth or live in a neighboring town. So, there's there's a natural, you know, um you know, the vast majority of people
that put in for the lotteryies are people that live on the Cape. So, there's people move for different reasons. And >> I guess I'm asking you not specific to this particular project cuz we're too far down the road, but is it >> is it possible to request in the future
that these that especially where we're doing a a a friendly 40B that that they be 100% local. It's >> a state decision, not habitats. So this this is a state. >> It's not part of the application. It's not part of the application. What you offer
>> that will be denied 100%. Yeah. >> The state doesn't allow that. that doesn't allow. They allow up to 70%. >> So that's HLC. That's their choice. Um yeah, it's not it does not have a tax. >> I'm glad I asked the question. >> So their leniency is just allowing the
veteran now. >> No, they're allowing >> Yeah, that's that's the new leniency. We're also we're also, you know, pushing them for um indigenous people. >> Yeah. Okay. >> But we're not there yet. I mean, I'm happy to have four, but when we're getting six units, it would be nice that
they all come from Yarmouth if we if we had the ability, but clearly we don't. >> Some of them may be people who had to move from Yarmouth and would love to move back. >> Everybody's going to move from Yarmouth because they can't afford to live here. >> So, >> well, they can't afford to live anywhere
on Cape Cod. >> What have they discussed? >> And the unit mix, you'll see the unit mix is it's not just all two bedrooms here. So, it it I'm I'm excited. I think there's going to be a lot of people interested in this lottery. >> So,
um so the Habitat program um requires the homeowners to um help build their homes. So, they do between 250 to 500 hours, which is why it takes us a little longer to build our homes. We give them about a year um nine months to a year to build because they have to work and build a home. Um and we have really
focused on community engagement um in partnership with the town, its residents and businesses. Uh so there will be a total of six homes on this site, right 28 and Wood Road. Three homes will be offered at 60% of AMI um America area median income and
three will be offered at 80 um at or below 80% of the area median income. All six homes will be deeed restricted will remain affordable in perpetuity and will be eligible for the inclusion on the subsidized housing inventory. And as I mentioned earlier that there will be a request for local preference and that
has to be done um uh during the ZBA hearing portion of the of the of the approval. These are the income limits that we're looking for the maximum income limits for households adjusted for household size based on 60% of AMI and 80%.
And these adjust um annually. This is a better looking plan. Um, so here's the six layouts. As um, Mary noted, there's two onebedrooms. I know coming in here. Two, uh, two, uh, two onebedrooms, three two bedrooms, and one threebedroom.
>> Yeah. So, that's nice cuz sometimes home ownership comes in with all three bedrooms, right? And so we're we really because this came to the trust, right, for some funding and there was a lot of support for some
smaller units. >> So we're really excited about that. >> Oh, can you go back? And um so the house that's at the top, right, that's along Route 28. And um when you look at the elevations,
there's a new Habitat one-bedroom home and that was designed specifically for that spot, right? Because their parking is off of that that culde-sac is off of Wood Road, right? So their parking is there. So the
front door was going to be there, but we said, "Well, that's going to look odd from Route 28." Right. >> Right. So we were we were smart enough to include Kathy Williams, our town planner in these meetings, right? And so she came up with the solution and just
use, you know, architecture to to have a door on that part of the house as well. So it that person that that household is going to be able to leave that leave via that door, but it makes it on Route 28. It doesn't look like the back of the house, it looks like the front of the house.
>> It's unique. So Habitat has been great because they spent extra money on the architecture for that unit. So this is one of our typical capes. Um this is up in Brewster Paul Hushway. That's a 14 um 14 home subdivision.
This is our two-bedroom ranch, two bedroom, one bath. So the Cape has um three bedrooms, two full baths. This one has the two bedrooms, one full bath. And then we have our threebedroom, which is just a longer version of the two bedroom. They have one and a half baths
in that ranch. >> This is the one that was designed. Um, so that'll that's actually the back of the house. >> I don't think I have a front. That's the one that's facing. >> That's okay. >> Well, what's the back of the house? >> It's so funny because Kathy and I looked
at it and we still have some comments. >> I got you. >> Yes. >> It's going to be great. And we and we and we didn't and the fencing too is is going to be very neighborhood friendly fencing, right? Um
there was some thought about having tall fencing, you know, we're like, "No, no, no, no, no. This is, you know, this has got to be friendly fencing, what you would see on any any road." So, um, >> the lower fencing, um, and there's a
there's a sidewalk from the culde-sac out to 28. >> Nice. >> So, people Yeah. It's walkable >> walking neighborhood. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And it'll be such a great site with the common and >> other things going there. Wow. >> Really, it's it's going to be a sweet
spot to live. I mean, it's different than other neighborhoods, >> you know, but they're going to be able to walk to Piccadilli Deli, right? And the green spot and the supermarket and, >> you know, the job lot. It's It's going
to be fun. And then they can on Wood Road, they can walk down to the windmill, you know, it's just a it's a sweet spot. >> Yeah. >> Going the wrong way. Hold on. There we go. So, here's the history. We've been kind of working through this since July of 2022. Um, in August, we talked about
the acquisition funding. We recorded the NR plan, which dissolved the condominium. In 2023, we took title of the property. In 24, we met with the site plan review committee just in time because that's when I think they discovered that we're going to be tying into sewer quicker than we should be
putting in septic systems. Mhm. >> So, we delayed the project uh mutually agreed to delay the project so that we'll be connecting to the sewer systems in hopefully January of 28. >> Oh, how wonderful. >> Yeah. Best I heard. >> Yeah. What you don't have on there are all the meetings that you had with the
affordable housing trust, >> right? >> You folks have been incredibly attentive to the trust and and uh and I I appreciate >> Yes. >> your work with us. >> Right. So before it's final approval by
the ZBA, right, it has to go to the trust for final like a blessing of the plan. >> Yes. >> But um and then here we are in November now. Um these are just some of the pictures from a recent build.
Um this is the what's coming up next with our timeline. Um again going getting into the ZBA. Hopefully we'll start infrastructure um once a comp permit is issued in the summer of 26. We'll start picking families in the fall of 26, winter of 26, raising walls in the spring of 27, which kicks off the
volunteer portion of the build. Um, moving in spring of 28 because if the septic's ready in January, we want to give them some time to figure all that out. Um, and then obviously delays can't occur. So, this is some pictures from the Virginia Street um built in 2017 uh
2017. Didn't recognize anyone. Time passes. >> I was there that day. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, it was beautiful. >> Um so then again, we did um attach that we sent over the um lip application. So
if there's any questions on there, I could probably address some of them. Um or and we're here this evening to get some votes and some approvals and some signatures. So I can get to that to the end if anyone has any questions. Again, these are all preliminary. They're not preliminary. They're mostly final, but
these are up for lip application. So, they don't have the same look at the details that the ZBA will do. Like Mary said, there's a few details on our plans. Um the site plan that she brought to my attention about a week ago, but for uh the LIP application review with uh HLC, the application's in good order.
So HLC is the um Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. And um you need uh you need their a letter from them to go to the ZBA. And so this is the application that they make you fill out. It's very
comprehensive. I've looked at it twice. Um, and I think it will, you know, it needs it needs the community housing committee's approval, which happened in May. Um, it needs your approval, then it needs the state's approval. It then
comes back, then it goes to the ZBA, then it comes back to you guys. So you'll see this a couple of times just because of the uh the regulatory pathway. So once we get this submitted, then the state will come out and do a site visit. And right now she's telling me she's got um room on the first week
of December if we get this out the door. Um and then we'll wait for the project eligibility letter project eligibility and then move on to the ZBA hearing. >> Excellent. >> Totally. >> Does anybody have any questions or is there a motion to um approve there? We
have we have three things that need to be approved and signed. >> We have to do each individually. >> Well, we have the uh letter to the executive office of housing and livable communities. Um >> the lip application itself,
>> lip application, >> letter of support from the board, >> the signature on the uh request for the waiver, appraisal waiver, >> approval comprehensive permit project. And then there's a request to recommend that the state wave the requirement for
an appraisal. >> Is there a motion? >> Um Madam Chair, I make a motion to uh I guess it's number one at least in the order I have them. um to approve the local initiative program comprehensive permit application of Habitat for
Humanity um to construct six affordable home ownership units at 1128 Route 28 and 11 Route 28 and Wood Road in South Yarmouth. Um, my motion is to approve um
the letter uh with our support for this um to Miss Rio Hayashi of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. >> Second. >> Any discussion on that motion? All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed?
>> Further correspondence with Ms. Hay Hayes. Um, Madame Chair, I I move to approve the um the second letter to Miss Ms. Hayashi. Um that indicates that uh
the chief executive officer of the that the that the chief exe that she as chief executive officer um um approve the and wave the appraisal requirement
for Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod's Wood Road Community Housing Project. Um, and uh, uh, that would involve you as the chief executive officer of the town. Uh, requesting that. >> Can we can we just rephrase that? That
the the board the board approves the waiver of the appraisal requirement and authorizes me to sign it. >> That's beautiful. Yes. >> Okay. >> Second. >> Any discussion on the motion? All those in favor? I.
>> Any opposed? And then we have the actual um lip application here. Do you need a vote on that one >> to for the ch for the board to authorize the chair to sign that? >> Move that the board authorize the chair to sign the lip application.
>> Second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I oppose. They're signed already in um the folder. Mary >> lovely. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Project. Your organization is just there are no words for it.
>> Thank you. >> Perfect. So green. >> It's a great location. >> Great location. >> Thank you. >> We're going to do a team, right? >> Oh, yeah. Right. >> Yeah. >> Team what? >> Oh, yeah. With hammers. >> A volunteer team. >> Exactly.
>> Finally. Pick up a hammer. >> You better have rescue Nick at lunch. >> You're by before you hand me any power tools. >> Thank you. >> No power tools. You just need a hammer. Even that you could have rescue close by
if I'm wielding it. >> Madam chair, I think we'll have dogs who are more coherent than my tired self for this one. >> Oh, yes. I know. Um, so the town meeting preview.
>> Would you like to run through the articles quick? So, >> we went through them, right? >> Well, we did the recommendations, but this is kind of for the public. This is our town meeting review for the public. >> So, we have a special town meeting that has been scheduled for it's Monday this
year. >> Yeah. >> Because of the dates, we had to set up for Monday, November 17, 2025, and that will be at 6:00 p.m. at the DY Intermediate Middle School on Station Avenue in South Yarmouth. And there is a
nice action-packed agenda. There are 15 articles and what we're going to do this evening is just run through quickly so folks know what each of the articles that we'll be voting on for the November 17 2025 special town meeting.
And article one is for the OPEB transfer which OPE means other post employment benefits which is in a nutshell future retirement um health insurance costs for retirees of the community. And we do
have an unfunded liability that we fund annually. And article one takes 500,000 from the town's free cash account and places it into our oped trust fund to meet that unfunded liability. And that's
an annual vote that we take. Article two is the first of two articles that involves PAS groundwater contamination and those are the forever chemicals that are associated with
non-stick cookware and um water uh retardant materials that can get into the groundwater and contaminate. And article 2 appropriates $100,000 um from a PAS litigation settlement
account. These are funds that the town was in a class action lawsuit. So it's not normal taxpayers money. And we're going to be using that litigation settlement funds to evaluate the PAS contamination that it is in groundwater generally and are there any ecological
impacts with that? We know in certain areas of the community there's higher concentrations because of some of the point sources and that continues work that the town has completed during the previous year and allows us to make more
ground in in studying and hopefully helping clean up some of the PAS groundwater contamination. Article three is for the protection of the PAS contamination in public water supply
wells and this appropriates an additional 300,000 of those litigation funds for design work for a PAS treatment system uh designed to protect water supply wells number 10 and 11 in
our community. and we have those um on the website that are mapped. So there's a map associated with where those wells are located. After that, we move into article four, which is another continued study for an
our airport consultant to work collaboratively with the Cape Cod Gateway Airport in order to mitigate the impacts of noise pollution on local residents in the town of Yarmouth. And through this
process, we hope to develop within the next year along with the airport and the FAA a standard instrument departure system which will be a predetermined flight path which will take the
airplanes taking off and landing from the Gateway airport on a path that is away from the residential areas in the community. And I know that this has been um a key goal of the select board um and it's one we've been working on for the
last couple of years and um it's great to see that there's the possibility of implementing this program. And article 4 funds 75,000 to continue that work to mitigate noise from the airport.
Article five is a structural and design analysis for the former Lawrence C. MacArthur Elementary School building and it's an appropriation of the sum of $130,000 to do a structural and feasibility
design analysis to determine the feasibility and approximate costs of some possible future uses of that building, including possible library or other public use education. And that's in conjunction. The current lease expires in 2030. And in order to
determine what potential uses are for the future, this analysis is required to have that information for the town to evaluate any future lease or use of that facility. [Applause]
From there, we move into article six, which is the adoption of the town's new local comprehensive plan. And this is a historic moment for the community. uh the first time in over 25 years I believe that the local comprehensive
plan has been updated. It's available in its complete detail and summary form on the town's website and we encourage folks to go familiarize yourself with some of the elements of the plan and we're going to have a discussion of the
new plan and hopefully the adoption by town meeting under article six. In article six, it doesn't need to be the entire context of it does not need to be included in in the warrant. >> No, >> it would be a long warrant, wouldn't it?
>> Yeah, it's >> to see the printing cost for that legal ad. >> And and again, it it calls out in the article that the plan is on file in the town's town clerk's office and also posted on the town's website. So um it
directs people toward where that detailed document is. Then we get to article 7 is our plastic reduction article. And what this article does is it resends the previous bylaw
that was adopted pursuant to a petition in favor of the regulations that were promulgated and have been already approved and enacted by the board of health. So the plastic reduction in food service
will be moving forward under the new regulations that the board of health has established. So the bylaw is no longer needed for that purpose and that will be article 7. Article eight is one that I my personal
favorite for this town meeting. It is the update of we use the town meeting time as the guide book for how to run a town meeting. It governs the procedures for making motions, uh, making
approvals, how the mechanics of the process, and it's always good to have a rule book. Um, and we found out there's a brand new updated edition of town meeting time. and our previous bylaw exciting requires that an older version
be used. So, we're updating the bylaw to indicate that the town's official town meeting guide will be the most recent copy of the town meeting time time guide book and that um >> so Ken will have that right >> that's Kenzie >> moderator will have that
>> he actually submitted the article >> will have that too >> they'll have the book will have it memorized and >> it's it came out it's been in effect since >> except for our right >> it's illegal to use it so far in Yarm
>> but but this will make it legal. >> It has any big changes in it. >> Jay had mentioned a few. >> Oh, really? >> So, there are some changes. >> It's great to see town meeting evolving after all of these years. It's one of
our most ancient traditions in America and it's nice to see there's some new rules associated. But maybe we can we'll have to do another fact sheet on what are the changes. no longer mandatory participation. They took that out. >> Oh yeah.
>> From there, we move into some of our town articles for funding. We have article 9 is the golf capital expenses. And it totals $300,000. And there's some interesting projects to um renovate the ba bass river bathrooms
to do some study for the upgrade of the Bayberry Hills cart barn to do some improvements in the driving range and also replace windows at the Bayberry course and it's important to do those um now we separate them out from the normal
capital because uh we like to complete all of the golf capital over the winter so that by the time the Springtown meeting comes along, they're ready to open up and that way it doesn't inconvenience the local residents or players. So, the Gulf Capital is article
9. Article 10 is a situation with the fire department purchasing a new ambulance for 550,000 to be funded under the um ambulance reserve account. And again, we split this away from the normal April capital because there's a
substantial lead time of approximately 2 and 1/2 years for a new ambulance. So, we wanted to get that order in as soon as possible and this saves us probably half a year. And article 11, this is another historic
article for us. Um, it is an open space acquisition to enlarge the Taylor Bray Farm by purchasing property located off Noddingham Drive for open space. And that would be a great addition. And the
new information that we have is the the total project cost here um in order to purchase this 3.14 acres is $600,000. And the town has recently been awarded a
Commonwealth of Massachusetts land grant for $425,000. >> So, we've got this almost all paid for. So the the remainder will be split between community preservation and free cash um for I mean at this point that's
the bargain of the century for >> and and it seriously is a great addition to Taylor Braay Farm because this is the space that we use for things such as the hay rides during the celebrations and forever now this is going to be protected as a part of that wonderful
open space resource. So, that's article 11. Article 12 is our revisions to the town's dog bylaw. And we're going to have this evening, I hope folks stay um >> we have to
>> we're going to have a rundown of some of the details of those changes, but folks need to know that primarily we're seeking compliance with a new state law that governs areas such as the commercial kennels. Um, and while we do that, the town clerk's office has done
some painstaking updates of just various um, items to make sure that it stays current. Um, and we'll be talking in a little bit more detail about the revised dog bylaw. And all of the details in the warrant, if folks pick that up, um, every single
change is is outlined word for word. Then we move into article 13 is the feasibility study for a new elementary school in town to replace the Margaret E. small elementary school and that is a
vote of 1,500,000 and it authorizes the Dennis Yarmouth Regional School District to conduct that study and it is in conjunction with the school building um authority which will fund
the 70 not 78 57% of the cost of this project will be reimbursed for and that will go right back to reimbursing the town's free cash And so um they also if we conduct this feasibility study according to the school building
authority rules were also eligible for grants 57% for construction funds if we get to that portion. So that's article 13 and articles 14 and 15 are zoning articles and they're fascinating
subjects things that have been you know very widely reported in the community. We've discussed over the past year um zoning for live lobsters where when it was determined that um fishermen who catch live lobsters are not allowed to
sell those at their residential homes and that is because in the town zoning for ever it has outlawed retail sales on residential property and that caused quite a bit of consternation and discussion in our community and the
select board had requested the planning board to analyze this subject. And you know, they have after a year-long study, they've developed a zoning amendment which will permit under certain guidelines live lobster sales in
residential areas. So, anyone interested in that topic, it's article 14. Come out, vote on it. And the final one is article 15 on a similar issue that received very much discussion in the the
past year. um as a result of our finding out that boat parking in driveways for the past 50 years is not allowed in our community and um some folks are interested in keeping their boat in their driveway.
It's an oceanfront community and again the planning board had studied that and has made recommendations to relax those rules seasonally by special permit so that boat parking may be allowed
on a residential property in your driveway for a portion of the year. So that should get some very good debate at town meeting as well. And that's our our final article. As you can see, the the warrant is fairly short, but it's very much action-packed with a lot of issues
that have very much have impacts on local residents. So, we encourage all of our voters to come out November 17, 2025, 6 p.m. at the DY Intermediate School on Station A. Please vote these articles. Make your feelings known. And
that's just a review of the articles. >> Excellent. >> Well done, Bob. >> Well done, Bob. >> You've rehearsed this. Thank you, Bob. That was nice. And >> just like on the uh the video at YouTube, well done. >> Everyone will know. >> Everyone He was on a roll. I I couldn't interrupt him anymore.
>> Are we going to talk >> about the Yeah, he's going to >> I had to turn the video off because it got too lengthy for me to be able to continue. So, I was just thinking when we do the articles, maybe we could do them one at a time instead of one that people can watch the ones that they're interested in instead of
>> There you go. >> Great. You can index the video and just go 15. >> I think you can. >> That's what I think you should do. >> Communication director. >> I go listening. >> I like it. We need to do that. Okay. So, we bring this brings us to um Did
anybody have any comments or questions on the town meeting review? >> No. >> Okay, great. >> So, this is uh technically a hearing, Mary. So, I'm going to read the hearing notice. Um the town of Yarmouth notice of dog bylaw revision. The town of Yarmouth Select Board will
be holding a hearing at its meeting on November 4th, 2025 to discuss the recent proposed revisions to the Yarmouth dog bylaw. The meeting will begin at 6 PM in Yarmouth Town Hall Hearing Room 11:46
Route 28 South Yarmouth Mass. Written comments will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. on October 31st, 2025 in the town administrators um administration >> office at town hall or can be submitted electronically to public comment at the
armouth. US and verbal comments will be accepted at the hearing that was posted in the Cape Cod Times on October 29th. So that opens up the hearing. So good evening, Mary Mazowski, your town clerk. Um, I believe at our last meeting when
this the language first came to you folks, the request was to have a public hearing so that people had an opportunity to review it and the public had an opportunity to review it. um in your packet tonight, you obviously have the language from the bylaw in the
warrant which is um tracked so that you can see the changes and then there is a memo uh from last week that has some details on what those individual changes are. So I'm happy to go through the memo with you folks if that's helpful or um I
can take questions however you'd like to address it. Um to to Bob's point, the um the impetus for the change is really the enactment of Ali's law by the state. So they've made some changes to um to the
requirements for kennels and commercial kennels. And in addition to that, it made some of our bylaw provisions um duplicative and superlative. Um, so we, for example, you know, our mult we had a multi-et multiple pet household permit.
Um, the state now has a personal kennel definition. So, um, I'm happy to go right down the memo if that's the easiest thing for you folks to address the changes as we go and you can follow along in the language of the bylaw in article 14, uh, 13 if that's helpful.
>> Different number we're at. 12, I guess, is our number. So the first change you're going to see globally throughout is simply the change to correct board of selectment to select board. Um as you know when we changed the bylaw initially we didn't make that change in the
charter and we didn't make that change throughout the entire code. So just using this as an opportunity to to pick up those changes in that. >> Um >> can I just point out 779-23.3. >> Yes, we those haven't been picked up there yet. So those are there are a
couple of items that I will address that we will do by amendment. Um there's also a minor change that needs to be fixed in one of the personal counel sections. >> So there'll be an amendment to >> it it will be a motion with this already.
>> It has been you you folks signed it. So when you signed it on the 21st um we had just gotten it back. So um in the extra proof reading we picked up just a couple of places. So, we'll do it by amendment on the floor with a motion as amended.
>> And >> under the rules of the new town meeting time. >> Well, technically not yet because you wouldn't have passed it yet and it wouldn't have been approved by the attorney generals yet. >> Oh my. >> That could be a problem. >> So, I don't think so.
>> We're still under the third as opposed to the fourth. Okay. >> For now. Um the next change which really is a convenience I think both for the residents of Yarmouth and for my office is changing the licensing period from
January to December. Um as you folks um probably already know we are taking over sticker sales in my office and in addition to that um it would be helpful to put the dog applications in um licensing applications in. So, we are including in our census not only a
sticker application and a dog licensing application so that when we're opening the census returns, we're opening one envelope for three purposes as opposed to um as opposed to three separate envelopes throughout the course of the year. And that will help us obviously
with also not having to do multiple mailings. We can hit it all with one mailing um at a slightly just a slightly higher charge as opposed to three full mailings. Um the next change you're going to primary
change you're going to see is the definition of um lency. It adds a definition of um a kennel license which wasn't included before. changes the definition of um the
licensing authority uh to clarify that it is u the town clerk under the new statute. Um the fifth is really to add the definition of a personal kennel and what it does is it changes our multiple um
pet permit which under the current bylaw is three or more pets. Under the new Ali's law, it's more than four pets in a in a household would have a personal kennel permit. So instead of >> Oh my
>> instead of you licensing the individual dogs, it is simply a personal kennel permit. Uh you still need to show us the rabies certifications and all of those things for the dogs, but um it is now um more than four dogs 3 months of age or
older in a in a personal residence. So that is the the main impetus for that change which um appears on what would have been page seven of the bylaw as you as you're going through it. Um the next set of changes if you look at to section
79-2.1C um we have been charging $5 for a replacement fee for a dog tag. The bylaw was outdated and is saying it's a dollar. So, we're simply clarifying the the fee on that
>> fee is going down. >> No, no, it was >> right. It's going up. >> Going up. >> It's going up >> from a dollar to >> from a dollar. We've been charging you $5 anyway. So, >> we're correcting the bylaw to match what it >> there was. At some point in time prior
to 2020 when I started the uh the board of selectman must have changed that fee and we've had it in our system as a $5 replacement um since I've been here and of course it was >> not in the bylaw >> significantly outdated in the bylaw.
>> Got it. >> Um so we're taking the opportunity to correct that. >> Hey Mary. Uh the next would be in 1F which again is um just clarifying that my office together with you folks as the
board would set the late fees for um for dog licensing. Um, next section is um again 79-3 uh I'm sorry 2.1G which um is again talking about the
forefeentures of licenses. Um again my office in conjunction with you folks is the board of selectman. Um 79.3.1 gets updated. It simply cautifies the fact that um the reality is that there are many dogs that
can't receive a rabies uh inoculation. We have traditionally always allowed the licensing of that dog as long as it's with a valid letter from a veterinarian. That carve out has never been included in the bylaw. We requested um council
add some language so that we've we're dotting our eyes and crossing our tees in that situation. Um the benefit is for natural resources. those dogs are still licensed. The benefit for us is that if anybody complains that there's no uh rabies certificate along with that dog,
we certainly have the backup of of the veterinarian who is certified that that dog for whatever health reasons couldn't have the inoculation. >> I never knew I thought all dogs just got rached. The next major change you're going to find in 79
7.1 um which details the commercial kennel licensing >> what it is January to December 31st what's included what's excluded from a commercial kennel license and the fact that we now have to report those
commercial kennel licenses to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources by June 1st. So, uh, the January to 30, January to December time frame also gives natural resources plenty of time to get out, inspect a
commercial kennel, have any follow-up with them that's necessary so that we can ensure that we're filing with MDAR in time on June on June 1st for um for each fiscal year. Uh, 79.7.2
too is simply again relating to the commercial kennels. Um ensuring that those kennels maintain accurate records of all the dogs that are in their care um and all their their um records while they're there and again just comes out of the
requirements of Ali's law in the last two sections in 79.73 and 79.81 81. Again, um we're talking about um minor changes to the to the violation section to increase the fees that are allowed by
statute and also to um to ensure who has the ability to revoke the permits. >> Can I ask a question? >> Of course. >> 797.2 where it says all dogs must wear a rabies tag.
>> Yes. There's no exemption there >> to wear a dog tag for a dog tag technically. No. >> So, is a dog tag and a rabies tag the same thing? >> They're not. >> So, so if you're allowing with a letter from a from somebody to have not have a
rabies shot, how can they >> So, we should probably make a car in that section. That's a good catch. >> I'm just >> Yeah. Nope. That's a good point. >> Can't get anything by Tracy, I'll tell you. >> Yep. Nope. >> He's on top of these things. >> I don't know about that, but It's late.
>> No, it >> No, it's No, you're correct. >> And then, as we mentioned, there will be um there's one update needed in one of the personal kennel sections >> to correct the three dogs to the more
than four dogs. And there were a couple of references to select uh select board of selectman that will be corrected to select board. So, as I said, we'll address those as a part of the the motion on the floor. So, I will um reach
out to council and have those >> um changes made and then have um a motion have them review our motion before we go forward. >> On a different note, um when you reach out to council, can you get copy us a letter um what his opinion was on the
significant changes in the t timeing time? I'd like to I'd like to see that just so we we know. Absolutely. Um Jay did draft one of the chapters and I forget which one. >> It would just be nice to >> off the top of my head I don't recall
but we can certainly do that. >> Okay. Are you have you concluded? >> Nothing else for me. I'm happy to address any questions again. There are >> I have a question. >> Sure. >> Just in terms of process on the ecode.
So when we go through the process of what we're doing today, you know, at town meeting and the changes, let's assume town meeting votes and endorses the changes. >> Yes. >> The
who is responsible for making sure that the code is updated? Do you have to do that? >> So we >> service that provides that? How is that? >> So e-code is um hosted by general code. Okay. which is um a large company. They
do a significant portion of code hosting across the Commonwealth and across the country. So the way it typically works is um here in Yarmouth, because we typically only make those changes twice a year, I will do one set of updates at
the end of the year. What happens is in June I will take all of the bylaws that have been approved by the attorney general's >> by that time and then we will send it into general code. They will then take all that documentation pro make the
updates, note all the updated dates for amendments on each section and then they will not only update the online code but also provide us with some um paper supplements for the few code books that we do have. Um unfortunately our code
has been um wolffully out of date. So I have been working on it on a annual basis to try and put more things in. So we in the last year we added the zoning bylaw which was never a part of the online code. So now >> so you've the town zoning bylaws now are
in the e-code system. >> Correct. It is in the e-code system. And then what will happen is what we what we try to do after um after the attorney general's approval comes through is to put um at least a hyperlink to the
article that was passed to give people a notice that it's there. Um those haven't happened as of yet for for May. Um that's part of what I'm working on and then we do have the updates from last year that will go into the code that are already in the system. So once once they
make those updates, they send them to us, the paper codes get updated, the online code is automatically updated. Um, and what we've been trying to do is also update the regulations. So there are a lot of board of health regulations that were out of date. There were a lot of regulations that weren't included.
There are some um fee schedules that are different because they were in the e-code, but then the process changed. they started coming to you folks for changes and some of those changes never made their way to the clerk's office for updating into the
e-code. So, we're trying each year to add a few more changes and try to get everything in there as as best as we can without having to do a full recodification of the of the bylaw. No, I appreciate that update because um it's
it's important, you know, when we when we revise a bylaw to make sure that it gets recorded in all the proper typically when I've when I've gone through the e-code, I've noticed >> at least in the past that >> um the changes that we approved weren't
reflected in. So your um the challenge in starting it was trying to figure out where to start with some of the changes that that just hadn't been made since um >> since before I had had started. >> So >> well I want to commend you for staying
on top of this because it's one of the aspects of the job that really can often get overlooked and not fully understood and appreciated. So, >> so we always sell we sell the zoning bylaw. Um, it gets printed by uh Kathy
Williams. We always have those available for sale, but from my perspective, they're out of date the second that they're printed, right? Because you have another you have another town meeting that that has had other bylaws. So, the hope is that now that it's online, once the attorney general has approved the
changes, even if it's six months or a year until it's it's technically getting codified into the main text, at least there there will appear a hyperlink that will show you the article. So some of those are still being updated um from the May uh town meeting but the the
changes because those just got approved in um in >> so the changes are adopted in the e-code but there's a reference that if the if the attorney general has not yet approved it that information >> they have approved it but so for example the the changes that happened in the end of
April >> it takes 120 days before it comes back from the attorney general's office we have 30 days to get it to the attorney general's office. They then have 90 days to approve it and send it back to us. We typically do the updates just because
the updates are costly. We try to do the updates >> once a year, you know, at the end of the year. So, I typically try to send them out in June. Um, and I'll be honest, it requires a lot of um inter intradep departmental transfers to to make those
happen because those, for example, last year's updates um exceeded $11,000 just for one year's worth of updates because we were trying to add some additional >> regulations that that hadn't been put on the e-code yet that really belonged
there. So, the fact the year before we probably was close to that because we added the zoning bylaw in. >> Yeah. before you arrived, did we really have much of a system at all for updating the e-code? To your to your knowledge, was there any >> It looks It looks like there was, but you know, for example, when I started,
you folks had made a change to the charter. And um >> I was going to ask you about the charter, seeing as we're talking about things that aren't on the agenda, >> it flows out of updating bylaws. It's fine, >> but this is this is related to the whole dog bylaw. I'm getting away with it.
We're talking about the charter. I don't know. Maybe we need >> something. >> So what had happened when I arrived, there was >> a the article that when you folks had made a change in 2019, >> yes >> to the charter, >> right? >> There was a hyperlink in the code for a
new law. So when I started doing our updates, that got codified as part of it. >> So now it doesn't show up as new laws. It shows up um is the in the main text of the charter. I think that was a bylaw that may have required um >> it was a charter change that required I
think you had done it as a home petition if I recall correctly. So it would have been approved in 19 home petition didn't get approved until 2020. So, and that was right in the heart of COVID when everything was
>> um in flux and uh so when I arrived that was on the e-code as the article hadn't been codified yet and then we we picked that up when we started doing our our >> So, is it safe to say that it's current right now in terms of the charter? >> It's relatively it's it's current for
the charter. Correct. Yes. >> And on the bylaws, it'll be updated by the end of the year. >> Correct. Okay. There are some um there are some we didn't have I don't believe we had any zoning changes in May, did we? I'm trying to remember off the top of my head. The um I don't think there's
anything that really has to get hyperl. We have new supplements that I have to um update the individual books for, but for example, we used to have 26 code books. most of them. I have no idea where those 26 code books are and where I can tell
you where all of the old supplements are that were never put into the old books. So, we've reduced the number of books that we're updating. We have um we have supplements for our copies and and a couple of extras so that they're available if if you folks need them. And
then everything is online. Um and it is a relatively easy way to >> use the online system quite a bit. >> Yeah. It's relatively easy to navigate. >> Appreciate this this update. Thank you. >> Can I ask who the town of Yarmouth animal inspector is? >> It is um
>> because in the in the um definitions we have a dog officer and animal control officer, but we don't identify who the inspector is. >> So, I think they are all I do believe they're all inspectors. I will clarify the inspector portion. >> I just think we should be consistent
with our terminology. That's in 7923.2 >> 8.2. Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Anybody else? >> No. >> Okay. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you very much. >> A lot different than a year ago, Mary, for election day.
>> Correct. >> Well, thank you. >> Although we fielded we fielded plenty of phone calls today. >> Only Barnstable Barnstable signs uh threw people off today. So, >> okay, that one we
>> demystified that bylaw. >> Not really, but that's okay. >> So, we have the summary here of the changes that she just read to us in a hearing. >> Yep. Um, I don't see anybody from the public that has any comments. Is there
anybody that would like to speak on this? Seeing none, we will take a motion to close the public portion of that hearing. >> Second. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I opposed. Okay. Um, we are going to
take a position on that at town meeting unless somebody wants to make a motion. >> I don't think it's on the agenda to take a motion. >> No, I think we should do it and make sure it's on the agenda for the next >> the next one. >> It's on the agenda for
>> So, we'll say 5:00 pm. that usually we'll >> schedule a meeting post it for an hour before town meeting we'll get a room >> up at the >> dimes school. >> Okay, great. Is there anything else on the agenda that needs to be in any
individual items? >> I had a um No, I can wait for agenda review. >> I'm good. >> Are we going to do an agenda review or was that it? >> Um it's not on the agenda. It is upcoming
agenda review. >> And then we we do have the water conservation discussion next meeting. That's December December 2. So it's 2025. >> I mean she's she's >> Yeah. >> I thought >> So I just have something to add. Either
I can bring it to individual items or I can ask you to put it on the agenda >> review. It can go either way. Why don't I just jump in? So, I was asked at the last board meeting to look into the um
the the non-refundable Title 5 septic tax credit law to make it a refundable Title 5 septic tax credit. >> Did we already put that on here, Bob? >> And for December 16. >> Oh, very good. Discussion. Title five tax credits. >> Good. Okay.
>> So, are we still on agenda review, Madam Chair? >> On agenda review. You got anything? >> Yeah, I do. Um, I want to make sure that now that we have this news about the open space grant, we want to basically when the time's appropriate, I'm assuming accept the grant and authorize
its expenditure. So, that that should be on the agenda even if it's on a consent agenda. >> I think it's supposed to be under wraps for now, right? >> It's what? Oh, it's under the secret. Yeah, the secret grant that we got that we're not supposed to
>> I don't think the open space is secret. No, they said they sent us a um mass development sent us an email and said there's an embargo on >> right >> on the grant information and so I >> I just want to make sure that we get >> mention that you know
>> yeah that's good >> the um and then obviously the mass development grant we should put that on the agenda madam chair the mass development grant along with maybe a briefing on what that entails bills. That's a that's that's a great
get. >> Okay. Grants. >> So, those are two agenda items. >> Yes. >> Rates. >> And the third item that I just want to flag is that I know there was some talk about picking a date for doing an
opening at the drive-in site. But I think one of the things that we need to have a discussion on is the management plan >> for that property ahead of time. >> We need that. Yes. >> Right. So we need to put >> So there's already been interest in people um trying to you know carve out
time to use it and we don't even have our rules, regulations and use um done yet. So that >> is definitely something that we need to um >> and I know they're working on that in-house. So, we'll have some recommendations um hopefully soon, maybe right around
the first of the year for that >> because what's going to happen is is once we set the date that's going to put pressure on getting that all done, people will want to know how they can use it and access it. And we want we will want to be able to explain to people how that site's going to be used,
how it's going to be managed, and >> any revenue derived from it, where that revenue is going to go and how it's going to be managed. So, there are a lot of there are a lot of questions. >> Is the short-term rental study done? >> Still not. >> They're working on it. I think
>> there's a rough draft and we're going to be u meeting at housing to talk about the rough draft and hopefully um they'll be able to put a draft that we can distribute start reviewing publicly. I notice on the the agenda scheduled to
come, there's review of use of town property procedures for events and then at the very bottom, review policy for alcohol for permitted events on town property. Are they kind of the same thing? >> No. >> Okay. >> One of them had to do with um one of
them had to do with um no alcohol at we had we had the bicycle event. It had alcohol at the beach and there was a it was there was a policy that says no alcohol at the beach. >> Oh, and we're gonna and that's going to
be changed to unless it's permitted. See, >> right. So, they don't we don't want people walking on and off the beach for alcohol, not just like for special events that are permitted and and and regulated. We want to make a carve out an allowance for that. Right now, there's no allowance allowed,
>> but I don't think that that was what it was meant for. It was meant for like individual people bringing alcohol on and off the beach. That >> was a good discussion. >> And what's the other one? I mean the town property procedures for events is different. >> That that is that is what Mark's talking about >> which is different than the town than
the carveout. >> It's on the list twice. In other words, it's two different things. >> Y >> the procedures for events that's going to be, you know, governing the Parker's Landing. >> It's different. >> Okay. >> The other one is all all properties right now. It's just a policy that needs to be updated.
>> Seems like they could be done at the same time, but who knows? >> That would be too easy. >> No, we might be able chair to adjourn. >> Oh, really? Yes. >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? All in favor? >> I
>> Everybody have a good night. >> You got us in on time. 9:45. So,