We're good. Yeah, I do think it is National Police Week as well. So, we should recording in progress. I didn't know. I know. Public works and police. Good evening. And welcome to the Yarmouth Select Board
for May 13, 2025 at 5:15 p.m. here in the Yarmouth Town Hall hearing room at 11:46 Route 28 South Yarmouth, Mass 02664. For those of you who may be watching at home, um please be advised that
information is available on the town website on how you can zoom. The Armor Select Board will consider entering into executive session pursuant to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 30A section 21A6 to consider the purchase, exchange,
lease, or value of real property pertaining to pump station number two. As the chair declares that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the negotiation position of the public today.
I would call okay. Okay. I'll take a v voice vote on that to move to executive session. Mark roll call vote. Mark Forest votes I I. Tracy post I. Joyce I. Lazargo I. Dorcas McGarin I. We are now
in executive session. We will return at 6 pm. Thank you very much for your patience. buy a rehab or this was the first on the first law. This is for affordable housing
preservation 157,000. Who's that? I have no idea. Well, you should. It says affordable housing preservation. Good evening, everyone. We are now back in regular session. Would you like to join me, please, in the pledge of al
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. We're going to take items a little bit out of um order on the agenda today. We're going to go down to board and committee actions. Liz, yes. Um we do have a resignation letter
from Ellie Tierney. She is resigning from the library building committee. She is um also on um conservation commission conservation commission and she wants to focus more fully on that. So that's a letter of
resignation. Move the resignation with thanks. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I opposed. That's unanimous. And we have uh two alternates that we would like to appoint to the zoning
board of appeals. We have Timothy Scanland, excuse me, that um who has been general counsel to a publicly traded manufacturing company. His experience covers legal, purchasing, finance, and operations. He also held
several teaching positions and has his G JD from New England School of Law and his BA from UMass Boston. He's now retired, living in South Yarmouth. He'd like to get involved and help make the community in which he lives and make the town a better place for all of its residents, business, and visitors. This
would be for one-year term to run through January 2026. So moved. Second. Discussion. All those in favor? I opposed. That's unanimous. We have Richard who would also like to become an
alternate on the zoning board of appeals. Mr. Schwastiak has his real estate license with Massachusetts which was favorable to the zoning board of appeals and he is in the Rotary. He's currently the external affairs manager for the Cape Symphony. He received his undergraduate degree from the University
of Florida and his masters from the New England Conservatory of Music. He wishes to get more involved and is a fan of history and old buildings and living in one on 6A. He has worked with Kathy Williams on the route 6A improvements under the Department of Transportation.
also a one-year term to run through January 2026. So moved. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I opposed. That's unanimous. Okay. Upcoming agenda
review for our next agenda will be for June 3. One thing that uh Mark Smith I believe Tracy did you want to mention about I'd like to put that on the upcoming agenda. The the um school committee had voted on
appointments to the school building um committee and um we'd like to have a select person represented on there. So, I'd like to put that on a future agenda to appoint. I' I'd like to to do it, but for the board's discussion of who to
appoint. That's a great idea. Glad to see it because when we were talking before, we weren't sure there was going to be board representation. So, it wasn't on the original round, right? So, we're happy to see it. And then, while we're talking about um appointments and liaison, so like board liaison, we have
a public art committee that is being formed. And the charge does not include a select board liaison. So I asked Mr. Writtenau how we wanted to proceed and he asked me to ask you. Well, I think that that's an advisory board. So most
committees don't have select person. I don't know. Is that true? Yeah. So what ultimately they would bring their recommendations to us board. So no select board leaison just Okay. And and are we not appointing these as this will be advisory? So there's no
need to swear them in and so on. No, they still have to there's still a they still have they need to get reviewed and approved, right? Yes. Okay. They do. So that would be that that'll be under appointments for next next time. Um there's also the request that we get on
the agenda or maybe it's just under appointments um board and committee actions. Joyce was on the plastics task committee and um we decided amongst the two of us because I was urged I was urging that that we move on that and she
said why don't you just go ahead and make some phone calls that I take over as the select board person on the plastics plastic task committee that should be a another um agenda item for us to discuss whether or not so that should go on the agenda for I think
because it's a much broader subject also So, we definitely need to have that on the agenda. That's just the plastics, not just for appointments though, but but looking at their um uh looking at what their mission is. Yes. So, all right. So, first though, the replacement
of Joyce by Liz, that will be on the agenda for the third, right? And include and we'll also be adding the plastics. about that. H we should I think we should have it shouldn't just be Yeah, it should be we should put it on the agenda to have discussion for us to
recommend somebody. We don't just pick but we did that. We did that by do a reorganization. So I'm trying to I'm trying to follow process how Okay. So, I think you should just have it on because we have a a we actually have a election
coming up next week and there's going to be a lot of reorganization that will go on after that. So, I would just put that on. Not as Liz though. No, no, no, no. Just as plastics and the appointment of the um liaison. All right. So, we will
combine those then. Right. Okay. And I know I'm not using the right word. What is it when we talk about the charge to the committee about what they're supposed to be doing? I think we need to outline that as part of our discussion on June 3rd. Yes. There seems to be a
little bit of confusion about that. Yep. Now, also, and just so that this group knows, the plastics task force task committee plans would like to come in front of you on June 3rd to be a part of
that discussion. I have no problem with that. Do any of any of the board members have a problem with the folks that have been selected so far to be present for that discussion as well? Seems to be good communication. Open government. We have I haven't seen
the agenda for June 3rd, but we're just talking about adding it, Tracy. I know, but I haven't looked at What do we have on the agenda already? We have uh the swearing in of elected officials, reorganization of the board, hearing special entertainment rituals,
uh tentatively we have honor requests for the use of town property by the lobster sales and tentatively managing parks and buildings and discussion of um the next time set for the goal setting workshop. I would say there's definitely
space for it. Okay, that's good. And we've also were requested today to have a Madakis utilization committee update if there's room on the agenda for the third. Um, is it because they need the
timeliness of the third or could they wait for June 24th when we have ample time on the agenda? I think they need to move it. They need the timeliness. Okay, then we'll make a room for them. Sure. And for a July meeting, um I would
love to uh ask uh director and staff from the Cape Media Center to come just give us a little summary of what they're up to. Sounds like a good idea. We'll put that on the list. Aren't you the liazison, Dorcas? I am.
Nice to get an update from them. While we're talking about agenda updates, I looked at the agenda update um that I believe is more recent. I beg your pardon. It's um pollen. Um and I saw that we review hiring practices may
have been slipped off the list. Have that. Can you check on that, Bob? Um, what would you like to to to do with that? We did we scratch it? Yeah, we took it off. Um, very good. Yeah, it can
come back anytime that you want to review the hiring practices. One thing we did have that uh Joyce had brought up was um and then we kind of put it on hold because we were kind of waiting to see how the state was going to come out and
changing um the the laws was on the um appointments committee their task and their um policies and procedures and updating that. You had and I've been working on that. You have been working. Would that be something that we can bring up or do you need more time? No,
that would be fine. You mean June 3rd or June 24th? June 24th. Okay, sure. Easily done. Would that be called appointments? Um, policies and procedures. Okay, great. Does anyone have any other items?
I know arts committee discussion is on the list and we are in the pro process of bringing forward an arts committee, a public art committee. Okay, put that down for the 24th. What's
the ask though? I'm sorry. I think we have to form the committee. I thought we did that already. We just need it's and I don't know what this refers to on the list. Arts Committee discussion. I don't know. Maybe it's old. We voted the charge. Yeah, they have their charge. So, all they have to do is just be
appointed. Okay, then we don't need that. That can be under appointments. Yep. Okay. Any other items regarding this? Okay. Then what I'd like to do is to start back with the regularly scheduled
um agenda. And the first item that we have is uh announcements. Um Madam Chair, I have um an announcement about how people can um access the candidates night forum. Um
but I I'd like to make it at 6 or after because people are going to be tuning in at home right at 6 if that's okay. Sure. I could make an announcement while we have uh the time to the people at home and the people in the audience. We have
a public art committee and we're looking for people to join and we also need members um alternates for the zoning board of appeals. The energy committee is looking for um participants and historical commission would also like to
have somebody on it. So, if anybody's willing to get involved, let you can either fill out your um your your form that's online um showing your interest or just let us know. I see it's a little earlier than I thought it was. Um
actually, u would I have anyone that would um Why don't we take up the consent agenda? Would I have anyone to move the consent agenda? Can move the consent agenda for it's at the end.
It's basically an Eversource license for the water resources recovery facility and the Yarmouth Police Department 5K roadways license. Okay. Okay. I have a motion to accept the uh
consent agenda. So move. Oh, she second. I have a second. Do I have any discussion? All those in favor? I opposed. That's unanimous. Okay. Got three minutes. A chance to get out and run around the
building. Not quite that. Does anyone else have any individual items that they'd like to bring up at this time? Maybe Bob has some updates for us. I do. Um certainly just a by way
of um a few updates for the board. Um, I wanted to um make sure board members knew that we were following very closely the bids on the housing authority um project on Forest Avenue and the deadline um occurred last week and no
bids were um received uh on that project. So I I think that that gives some additional opportunity for um feedback. It's I would say it's not entirely uncommon for some of these projects to um when you just put them
out to not get any bids. I know when we work on projects, there's a a fair amount of um culturing the process and preparing um potential developers to come in and and make a bid. So I I think that that
um in all likelihood would be some of the activity that the um housing authority would would have to engage in and I would just you know bring it up. I wanted everyone to know and I I think it gives us an additional opportunity. I I know that we had discussed it a little
before and um I I think all of us were a little disappointed that the critical issues that we had identified for the housing authority that were potential obstacles for the development of that site which included first and foremost um potential impacts on the public water
supply wells uh in terms of both nitrogen and other emerging contaminants was was never really called out in any detail in the request for proposals. and also the issues associated with storm water and groundwater management that is
a very high groundwater area um area um homes have been impacted and there wasn't anything specific that that really um called out the development of systems to manage storm water for the project and so um I do think it
potentially gives us um an opportunity before this thing is um advertised again if that is what they choose to do to um have some additional communications with the housing authority. So, I I bring that up because I I think it's something that we should be aware of and um you
know, maybe discuss in a future meeting. Yeah. I don't know. Do we need an executive session? Um I don't know if it can. I would I would recommend that we just do it all in open session. Boom. Um well, maybe talk to the invite the housing authority or something along
those lines. I mean, it it's um that's that's where it is. And um and so, you know, maybe we can talk a little more about that with the with the chair, but I wanted to make sure people knew where it stood. I'd like to put it on for a discussion.
Yep. And and I support that idea. I think, you know, Tracy's recommendation, Madam Madam Chair, I do too. I think that would be an item that um hopefully we could bring up at our first July
meeting. I think would be a good excellent time. July 8th should give it ample time to be able to uh invite the housing authority. We shouldn't invite them right away though. I don't think we should wait because um I think that I think that um it would be
an unfortunate missed opportunity if they go down that road again without us having the opportunity to to um I mean I think it's difficult but I I would like to see what we can do to exchange property in some manner. I have
a followup question for Bob or actually for any can we wait on this one? So, what you're saying is that for that agenda item, it shouldn't be one where we're meeting with the housing authority. I mean, that's why I didn't know if we wanted to go into executive session for
us to come up with a strategy to make an um my my personal opinion is that's the wrong site. So, however we go forward, um that's and obviously that's a very different discussion than that you could do that in executive session.
Absolutely. If you wanted to identify I'm not trying to hide anything from the public. I just think as far as strategy from our position, I would love to meet with them, but I and I think that that we should let them know as soon as possible that we have an interest um in at least discussing the future before
they go forward. Um but where we go from there, that's that's up up to this board. I can only tell you my personal that would be my opinion that I would love to see us go in that direction. Um my question is um do any of us know
whether the uh addendum to the uh bid process was made? Remember there was some discussion with our housing uh forum on the 22nd of last month that uh um they could add these these things
about storm water and one other item that was considered key. Then there was a discussion and Liz had done it for CVEC contracts so she knew that for the bidding process you could do addendums to do you know if they did that they did
not addend to include our items. Ah interesting to know. Thank you. So um the second item I I wanted to update the board make sure just you know everyone is uh aware that um I I did
follow up at the with the direction of the board at the last meeting with respect to the um the lobster fisherman that was vending lobsters um at his home and had a problem with the um with the zoning and um all of the the communications was established between
that vendor and the planning board and last week um the planning board conducted a a meeting directly with them and um I'm told it was a very cordial meeting. I know it's been filmed and you can you know view it on the town's website and they um had developed uh
some potential strategies to work towards um some zoning amendments that may lead to uh the ability to conduct that type of sale in a residential zone that's not currently allowed under the
the town zoning. and I have um discussed a couple of times with with that vendor his um experience with that and I and I think it was a very positive experience. So I you know my my thanks very much go out to the planning board the select board for encouraging the the
communications and and I think that that issue is you know working through the normal zoning system. Uh and at that meeting there was additional concerns raised for this current season uh which
obviously it takes to get to fall to design any zoning amendments and then have a town meeting to approve those. And um I know that the the vendor mentioned a short-term potential use of town property um for lobster sales in
the commercial zone on on Route 28. And I just want to um let board members know that I did outreach the lobsterman to um you know confirm that he was interested in potentially using town property. And
he indicated that that he was and he had suggested the town property that is located on Route 28 at Higgins Croll Road, which is the former Sha Lenar property. West Yarmouth Road. West Yamoth Road. West Yamouth. West Yamouth
Road. Yeah. And um so we've had those discussions. He's indicated a desire and um I we do have a process that you fill out the town use form and you just need to have a liability certificate and approval um of the board. So um the
process is ongoing. Um again, we've had some very positive discussions and it's on your proposed agenda for the next meeting um to enable him to do that use which you'd like to to try in June. And so I'll with the board's approval continue to work with him to get that
application and have it in front of you, but as expedited as possible. That'd be great. Absolutely. And and thanks very much to the board for just making sure everyone got together and and discussed it. Um and um we did talk about the the
plastics um bylaw task force. I I just want to mention folks know that that did kick off um last night and I I think it is a great example of an opportunity for um the business community um all of the
regulatory bodies uh and the select board to get together and discuss. It's a ba major change for the town to eliminate all of the plastics. And so how we do that is going to be critically important. And um I'm happy to see that it's going to go on the next agenda for
um a full discussion and that members of the task force are going to be here and that we can just hear what everybody says and come up with the best strategy moving forward. I just could not be more delighted to have that discussion in in public. Um and um hopefully we'll have a
direction at that time that everyone is on board with. So but I'm happy to see the discussions. I'm happy to see the collaboration and um just another example how we're kind of bringing members of the community that don't don't ordinarily all participate
directly in these major things in front of the select board to um hopefully develop some these policy initiatives when they have major impacts. It's good to just get everybody sort of lined up so we know what to expect and um so I think everyone will appreciate that discussion. So, thanks to the board for
that. And that's kind of the key updates I had for tonight. Okay. Thanks, Bob. Uh, going back then to our item at 6 this evening, announcements. Joyce, you had an announcement. Oh, yes. Thank you. Um the Yarmmouth
candidate forum with the three uh candidates for the select board took place um at Cape Media Center and uh the League of Women Voters was uh presiding. Um there are several different ways that you can see this. Um, one is that uh you
can go to the town YouTube channel and you can enter um Yarmouth candidates forum 2025 and then it will come right up on the video. Um, if you don't put 2025, you'll get u all the old candidates
forums. You might not see some some of which were, you know, golden hits, some not. Five. I get it. Then the second is um if you want to go a different way, you can go in through the Cape Media Center and that's um
www.capedia.org and then you can go through their menu of choices and it will come up. Um the third thing is um it's being rebroadcast over channel 26 which is the Cape Media channel but um the town is also hosting rebroadcasts of
it. Um and here's the thing though, you don't have a um a clear sense of the schedule on that because it depends how long meetings run. So, I'd suggest if you want to pursue it sooner rather than later, um you think of the uh Cape Media
Center route or the uh YouTube route. Thank you, Joyce. And we open it now to public comments. Do we have anyone in the room that would like to make a public comment? Chris? Yes. Uh good evening, Select Board. Chris George, uh
resident. Um, I'd like to make a public comment about the uh recent um development of a statue at Fred Thatcher Playground. Um, I would like uh to submit a request or I'm here to
encourage the select board to do what you can to rework the issue. Um, I think the best outcome that I'm hoping for here is to have the statue moved to a different
location. And some reasons for that are well overriding issue is that it best does not belong at the playground. Um, which I believe should be reserved as a
playground. And towards that end uh the reason supporting that uh the process of the historic commission um getting people to come uh add their comment on the statue did not include any
significant uh engagement from parents or children who were especially parents and children who use that playground like myself. So there was not a lot of uh input from the people this affects most. Um that's the
overriding one. I had some difficulties getting uh this kind of public well first of all it's difficult for parents and impossible for children to submit their comments on that. And I know a lot of other parents who aren't particularly happy about having a statue come to the
playground which has been a playground for decades and are also parents who remember it as a playground. Um, I think the like most attention getting one is the fact that there was a uh child lured behind the bathroom at
Townhouse Park and molested last year. So, parents I talked to who used the playground uh are not excited about the idea of any new occasions to be at a children's play area other than children playing there. Um, so I'd like you to
consider that. And then I have another uh point was that I tried to make comment and at the town meeting where uh I tried to voice up on the amendment um at that point having asked the
historic district commission late in the game. These were difficult meetings to get to. Some of them one of them was announced on December 19th and the meeting was January 8th. a notoriously difficult time for parents to get to or be
interested in public affairs uh over the holidays. Um so I tried to voice up at the town meeting and if you watch it the amendment was badly botched. The
uh I was not able to make public comment although three people were and the vote was divided into two parts. one where some yays were heard prior to comment and then they admitted three comments and took a nay. So I I don't know if
that was actually a vote and you might consider that. So I think if you could help me bring this back to whatever power you have as the slack board who I believe approves the statue. Um if you could work it from that angle that's great. I would also whatever you have to do
with this, return it to town meeting via petition. Um perhaps broken out of uh the other CPC fundings to its own project item or letter D if you were at the meeting. Uh that would be one way to
go. I think would be a little bit more uh you know it it would block funding, but maybe just moving the statue. So if you can do anything about that, have another public comment and decision on where it's should be placed. Uh I have a
stance on it and you know political breakouts and opinions from there. I've sent those in uh via Bob and to the historic district commission or the historic commission. I encourage you to read those and we'll spare you at this
moment from stumping. Um thank you for your time. Please contact me if you have any uh you know if I can be uh engaged with here. Thank you select board. Thank you Chris. Do we have anyone else for public comment?
Hi, my name is Jerry Oonnell. I live in Yamathport. Uh when I go around the town and I meet people, a lot of the people tell me that um their property abuts conservation. and with the fire over at um the place up in Yamothport over the
last fall that some people are concerned about the brush in the conservation area around their homes. Now, some folks have taken it upon themselves to cut the stuff and you know, some people are taking it to the dump. Some people are cleaning up some of the conservation areas around town and but some people
have asked is there some type of special maybe the dump could allow them to just come in and dump it since it's not theirs. They really don't want to. Some people just feel bad that they have to pay for it. It's coming out of the conservation. So, is there something we can do to help people uh to relieve them of of dumping that, you know, the cost
of dumping it? It's coming out of conservation areas. They're really doing the town a service. And some people have done, you know, they take pride in their yard and the property next to theirs. And some in some cases, it's two or three homes that are really taking care of our our land as a town. So, is there
something we can do to relieve them of the cost of disposing of that? Thank you. Thank you, Jerry. Do we have any other public comment today? I don't see any on the board for anyone at home on Zoom.
So, we'll be moving on to our next item. Um, we have an update today from our district attorney, uh, Robert Gallabis, who's with us. Welcome. Thank you for joining us this evening. Appreciate the
opportunity. Apologies in advance to board member Mark Forest who heard my comments just a few days ago when I appeared before your county commission. Uh, thank you, Madam Chair, for the opportunity to come before the board again. I've been doing this annually. This is my third time now presenting to this board. Um before I begin, I just
want to and I realize it's been several months, but I haven't appeared before the board since. Uh offer my condolences on the passing of attorney Michael Stone. Uh Michael Stone was always very professional towards me when we were both practitioners uh and certainly was professional towards me uh when I appeared before him in this particular
board. So my condolences on that loss. Um I realize you have quite an agenda carrying you past 9:00 tonight. Um, and so I will and I understand that might be early night for you, but um, and I will I will add I I do this with every single town. I have 22 and I go before county
boards. You definitely have uh perhaps the uh most engaging agenda uh across the district. I'll just offer that for the record. Um, I do want to touch upon uh five topics. I'll keep it inside of 10 minutes, I promise. Uh, I wanted to lead off with um a program that we
launched about six or seven weeks ago now. It's referred to as the Cert program or child emergency response team. Um it is a collaborative effort between prosecutors and victim witness assistants in our office as well of course law enforcement partners. Uh the
department of child and family services and children's Cove who I know all of you know uh is located here in Yarmouth conducts our forensic interviews and examinations. Um it is led by Courtney Scaliz who's the chief of our child protection unit. uh and she has engaged
a prosecutor and a victim witness assistant from each of our district courts across the district. Um since its launch uh again six or seven weeks ago, she's conducted two trainings uh both trainings of which have had north of 60
people. Um so we're pretty excited that this is off to a pretty good start. Uh we've had I believe five uh child victims since we launched it uh between physical assaults and sexual assaults. Uh it does allow us to try to provide uh
services uh to the child and the child's family as quickly as possible as well as try to allow us to fully investigate the case uh as quickly as possible. So, we're we're feeling encouraged with the responses uh that we've had so far and I'm looking forward to coming back here
a year from now and updating you on this particular program. Uh I wanted to speak for a moment about human trafficking and I'm really not going to regurgitate what I've presented to the board previously, but I want to touch historically a little bit on this before I explain what we've been doing. Um the last year I
came before you and I said that we received a grant from the state for about $97,000 which allowed us to conduct a series of trainings two here in Barnesville County, one in Nucket and one in Martha's Vineyard uh for law enforcement partners, hospitality and the transportation industry as well as
promote awareness to the issue of human trafficking. Um, I offered that that allowed us to present with credibility to the Office of CR Grants and Research when we came back saying we'd like another $100,000 this time for a statewide conference. Uh, they gave us the
$100,000 and we just had our two-day statewide conference on April 10th and April 11th of this year. We had 38 presenters from across the country arrive to present to 214 uh registrants for the two-day
conference. Uh while we did have a nationwide panel, so to speak, of presenters, we also had a lot of local folks, Detective Katie Parachi from the Barnesville Police Department, she's kind of known as the guru or the queen of uh human trafficking investigations across the Cape. We had Sergeant Mark
Sullivan and Dr. Abigail Judge from the Boston Police Department present. We had a team from the FBI and all five members from the US Attorney's Office, human trafficking unit came down and gave a presentation and they were introduced by the US attorney, Leah Foley. So, uh,
that was definitely encouraging. Um, we had two members from the Office of Grants and Research uh, also come for the two-day conference. They were basically checking up on us to see how we would do. They said some nice things afterwards and literally a couple hours ago this afternoon we regrouped our
human trafficking civilian task force to kind of okay revisit it was a debrief on how the conference went and kind of looking forward to what we might do next year and the conversation is leaning towards hosting a New Englandwide uh conference. So I'll certainly keep this board in the loop to see how we're doing
there. I wanted to touch upon fentanyl for a second. You might remember uh when I came before you last time uh I instituted a policy on literally day one of my administration in January 2023. Anyone charged in trafficking in fentanyl, my office was going to seek to
hold them without bail. There's a very powerful statute that we can employ called the dangerousness statute. Uh and essentially uh when I speak of the drug traffickers and fentanyl, I'm talking about the business dealers, those that are pushing the poison for profit. Um, and like any other business, they
prepare for the rainy day. They prepare for when they're going to get charged, and they uh have that savings account to post a bail. Under the dangerousness statute, you don't get bail. You're held from the outset for the pendency of your case. We began moving uh uh moving for dangerousness on drug traffickers on day
one. Literally day one, we had cases or a case. And uh we got buyin from the judges all across the district. We now have some interesting data to kind of look back to see if how it's working. Um the data from calendar year 2023
uh indicated that non-fatal overdoses were down 10% across the district and fatal overdoses were down 7%. Encouraging, of course. 2024 data came in. 2024 non-fatal overdoses were down
25% from 2023 and fatal overdoses were down 35% from 2023. Now I have to recognize that the availability of Narcan is much greater now than it was when I first took office. That's absolutely a great thing. Uh but also too I think you can draw reasonable
inference that this position that we're taking is having a good impact across the district. Um, I wanted to briefly mention uh something regarding the um Cape Cod Healthcare. Many of you might know they just uh opened a new building on their
campus uh to treat cancer patients. Early last summer, it came to my attention that to get the permits to open up that new cancer patient uh tower, um they needed to invest in stakeholders across the district. So, I
went back to my team and I said, "Hey, you know, how can we try to tap into some grant money that might be out there?" And we started having some conversations regarding SIMS or critical incident management systems. Um, it's a database that when there's an overdose experience, the responding officer goes
back to the station and enters the information into this SIMS database. Yarmth is a participant in this program. I believe it was launched in 2019. Um, and we saw an opportunity perhaps to try to expand the SIMS database program in a
couple of different ways. So, um, this literally started on a napkin at a restaurant. Uh, I was at a a local restaurant to where I live and the CEO for Cape Cod Healthcare, Michael Loff, happens to live in the area. We saw each other. He happened to be with one of his senior VPs and we started taking some
notes. Uh, that napkin led to a 10-page single space uh, application or proposal to Cape Cod Healthcare. We had half dozen or so meetings with them. That led to meetings with the Department of Public Health and after about nine months, we were formally awarded $1 million to try to improve the SIMS
database uh system. Um we have two areas where we're looking to improve it. As I speak to you, there are 14 out of 15 police departments on the Cape that participate. We want to, of course, reach that 15th department. We're looking to expand it to Dukes County or Martha's Vineyard, and we're also
looking to expand it to Nantucket. We've already had preliminary conversations with the six police departments on Martha's Vineyard and uh the chief over on Nantucket and they have an interest. It also the database itself as we look at it has great potential. We think we
think we can expand it to include interpretive services. We think we can expand it to include housing opportunities and we think we can expand it to perhaps consider wellness matters as well. So, this is something that I'm truly excited about to come back next year and I'm hopefully explaining to you
how we've been able to expand it into other departments as well as the nature of the information that we can put into this database. Uh, and finally, I wanted to touch upon elder fraud. Um, every single month, uh, the detectives across the Cape have a monthly meeting. It's
hosted by the Howard Police Department. Uh, and I try to get to as many of the meetings as I can. Uh for a long time it was essentially discussions surrounding B&Es into cars, B&Es into seasonal homes and B be benees into abandoned
properties. Then again late spring early summer last year I noticed a trend developing every single department going around the table. Elder fraud, elder fraud, elder fraud, elder fraud. So last fall I asked for some data. I asked for 2023 numbers and 2024 year to date which
was roughly October 1st. Um, I happen to know the Barnesville numbers off the top of my head. In that time frame, Barnesville had 393 calls for elder fraud. 253 of those calls made their way into a report. 15 of those 253 led to
charges against someone. So, hovering around 5% or so. Um, they just quite honestly don't have the resources, our police department, to absorb the number of calls that are coming in. So to that end, and I come with an ask, um we put together a proposal uh for an increase
in our budget. The total was $580,000. How we got there was we would like to hire two forensic examiners. We're thinking of CPAs towards the tail end of their career uh that have made their money in private sector and want to perhaps give back to public safety. We want to hire two prosecutors and we
want to hire two victim witness assistants uh to help work with our police departments to conduct the investigations and bring more cases. Um, all I have 21 signed letters of my 22 police chiefs supporting this initiative. I have 10 of my 20
counseling on aging uh supporting this initiative. I have uh our largest financial institution, local financial institution, Cape C, excuse me, yeah, Cape Cod 5 uh looking to support this initiative. I've been doing this going around the district. I have Baronville
Town Council, uh the town of Falmouth and Baronville County Commissioners have expressed an interest in supporting this initiative. So, if this is something that the board would consider uh uh supporting, and I understand you can't do it tonight, um I can get the information in particulars to your board through the chair uh for your next
meeting if you were so inclined to take a vote on whether you wanted to support our initiative and perhaps write a letter to our Cape delegation. It's actually the delegation's letter from January 13 to the legislature um is in our packet. It is it's um a
letter that it should be uh to ANF. Do you see that? Account accounting and finance. Secretary Gosskowski dated January 13th. So the the information is in there for us to be able to use. Um, I would I would ask that we write that letter and put it on
our consent agenda for our next Thank you. Just I don't know. Great idea. Thank you. I appreciate that. Can I just be reminded is the full what's the full weight? What What are you asking for in financing? The the Please correct me if
I'm wrong since you have I think it's 58 here 586,56. I'm sorry. It gives a lot of data in there as well that talks about um you know the district attorney's office has faced 33% smaller budget despite bringing 20% more cases. There's
a lot there's a lot of um you know and we have one of the highest uh elderly populations in the country. Um so and um our senior services director is behind you tonight. So um she's listening.
Thank you. But anything that you know we we're fortunate in our police department. I think um officer Gibney has been um pretty much the point person I believe with working with um elders and fraud and she's amazing. But you know these these things take a lot of
time and if you had those resources I think that it would be something that the they the criminals they just get smarter. It's crazy what they're able to do electronically and you know with AI now I with the voices and all the crazy
stuff people literally think it's their grandchildren calling. It's awful. So um I I wholeheartedly support that. Thank you. And I will say for the record, uh, the very first police chief to respond was Chief Lennon. I'm sure
you know that. We also were able to thank some of our police officers for the wonderful job they did in a particular case of elder abuse. Uh, that elder fraud that we the one going to Worester, is that the case? Yeah, that was incredible. Um that was terrific
outreach by local PD kind of informing the public of like what's going on by way of scams, the bank getting involved, saying, "Hey, we think something here is going on." Bank communicating with police and them jumping right on it. That was a really, really good story. Hopefully, we'll see a lot more of that
proactive approach in the future. We just went down to Florida to pick up one of the two defendants in that case. We went down last week. Not me, but one of my one of my law enforcement partners. Yeah. Was there was there any funding that was given to you based in the
letter that the legislators wrote? Um um we we struck out with the governor's budget. We struck out with the house budget. Uh we initially struck out with the Senate Ways and Means budget. Um I've been advised that Senator Fernandees has submitted an amendment to the Senate budget. Um I'm waiting for
the number, but I understand that is in. So now our hope is to put all these uh support letters in front of him and the Senate. I can tell you from my previous experience as the director at Heatherwood, a senior living community
where I worked for over 30 years, it was uh we had to work with the u FBI and some of our residents on a couple of cases that became that severe. And we had one resident u
who shall remain nameless but um was taken for over $50,000 and we couldn't convince her otherwise. Y it's horrible. It is. There's I always say there's a special place in hell,
shall we say, for those that do this. We'd be happy to put special place in prison, too. I'm glad to hear that you have the key. We'll be glad to put it on the consent agenda. Appreciate very much. Thank you very much for your time. Appreciate it. Thank you very much.
Okay, now we have some happy news to talk about. We're going to have a proclamation for the public works appreciation week. And I'd like to read that procla proclamation. Whereas public works professionals focus on infrastructure, facilities and services
that are of vital importance to sustainable and resilient communities and to the public health, high quality of life and well-being of the people of town of Yarmouth. And whereas these infrastructures, facilities, and services could not be provided without
the dedicated efforts of public works professionals who are engineers, managers, and employees at all levels of government and the private sector who are responsible for rebuilding, improving, and protecting our nation's transportation, water supply, water
treatment, and solid waste systems, public buildings, and other structures and facilities essential for our citizens. And whereas it is in the public interest for the citizens, civic leaders and children in town of Yarma to gain knowledge of and to maintain a
progressive interest and understanding of the importance of public works and public works programs in their respective communities. And whereas the year 2025 marks the 65th annual National Public Works Week sponsored by the
American Public Works Association, Canadian Public Works Association. Be it now resolved we the select board for the town of Yarmouth, Mass do hereby designate the week May 18th to May 24th, 2025 as National Public Works Week. I
urge all citizens to join with representatives of the American Public Works Association, Canadian Public Works Association and Government agencies in activities, events, and ceremonies designed to pay tribute to our public works professionals, engineers,
managers, and employees, and to recognize the substantial contributions they make to protecting our national health, safety, and quality of life given this 13th day of May, 2025. Five.
Thank you very much to public works. Jeff, perhaps you'd like to come up and accept this. And Roby, is Roby here? Yeah. I didn't see her in the background. Come on up, Roby. You have to have part of your a team, Jeff.
Thank you very much. Thank you. Can I say one thing, Dor? Please do. We will, as we usually do every year, we will have a food collection for the Yarmouth food pantry at the disposal area. We'll fill a truck. We look at it as giving service back to our community
and it's one way that we can do that. So, when when are you collecting? It'll be the week that was just during that collection week. Okay. The public works week celebration public works celebrating giving back. All right. Excellent. Thank you very much.
And we also have a proclamation on Jack Braggington Smith Day. Is Jack's family here with us? No, I I'm I'm here on behalf of the family, Madam Chair, to to say a few words if that's okay. Sure. Go right ahead. So, um before we get to the
proclamation, I just want to just talk a little bit about uh Jack. Um this month on May 25th, we will celebrate the 100th year of his uh his birthday. Um I think as just about everybody in this town knows, Jack Braggington Smith was a very
unique uh colorful iconic figure in our community. Um some considered him to be the the mayor of Yarmathport. Um he owned the Sandy Pond Club. He uh obviously was famous for uh
his uh ownership of Jacks Outback. Um it was the only restaurant that had a sign out front that said go away. Some might recall. Um I recall customers would come to have not only
great food, but a few good laughs and uh and get your own coffee. To get your own coffee and also get insulted. um slipped and at the I think at the end of every visit um the people that came there came
out with a big smile. Um everyone left with a smile. You know, Jack was many things. He was an entrepreneur. He was an artist and he was a historian. Uh but inside that crusty exterior was a man with a huge heart. He loved this
community. He loved Yarmouthport. He loved the people of this community. And I think in so many ways when we reflect on Jack's life, he enriched our lives. He truly did. And that's why I think today as a board, it's wonderful that
we're coming together to remember Jack, to let him know how much we remember him and his service of to this community and why that we come together to designate and vote for um May 25th to be Jack
Bregington Smith Day in Yas. Thank you. And with to that end we have a proclamation John Jack Braggington Smith Day. Whereas John Braggington Smith, known to all as Jack, who formerly ran
the original legendary Jack's Outback restaurant off Route 6A in Yarmouthport for 23 years with his partner Bob Edwards, allowing his devoted customers to write their own order slips, pour their own coffee, wipe down their own tables, and save their personal mugs on
the restaurant shelf. Whereas Jack, who according to the Cape Cod Times Cheers and Cheers column, July 2005, in his younger days, would preside over the Sandy Pond Club in the backwoods of Yarmouth, serving huge pots of spaghetti or his famous stuffed cohogs and playing
chess with whoever dared challenge him. Whereas Jack, who is part of a tightlyk knit community of unique characters, including artist author Edward Gory, Parnasses Book Service owner Ben Muse, and set designers Herbert Sen and Helen
Pond, and who faithfully served the community in his capacity as village antiquarian and toquarian, donating donating many historic down documents throughout his life in his beloved Yarmathport, and did tirelessly volunteer her services to
raised funds for the library and Friday club with much good cheer and village camaraderie. Whereas Jack, who is known for his crotchety sense of humor and was considered the unofficial mayor of Yarmouthport. Therefore, the Yarmmer Select Board is honored to officially
designate Jack's 100th birthday, the 25th of May, 2025, as Jack Braggington Smith Day. Congratulations, Jack. be sure that his family receives that. So, Madam Chair, I'd just like to
officially move that we designate that day as Jack Braggington Smith Day. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I opposed. That's a
unanimous. I can hear him smiling. And madam chair, I'd like to speak to the next item if that's okay. Um, this is the item on the the vote and the discussion on a memorial bench. Um, in your packet is uh some material uh
submitted by Diana Braggington Smith, Jack's daughter. Um, Jack has Diana has actually uh put forward an application to locate a bench on the Yarmouth Port Common and uh the details of the bench
that she is going to buy that she will purchase. The details of the bench and the site um all that information is in our packet. Um, I know there probably some logistics and some details that have to get worked out with
DPW. Um, but I would like to move that we as a board approve the application uh subject to whatever conditions um that may be appropriate by town staff in terms of the sighting of it. But
everything seems to be in reasonably good shape. I think there one of the items that was mentioned in the uh in the documents that we received was that the old Kings Highway may have to review it. So there may be some reviews, there may be some other conditions that might be placed on it, but I think from our
point of view in terms of giving approval, I think uh obviously subject to those signoffs, I think we should give it the green light. Do I have a second? Second subject to the uh reviews.
Okay. Do we have any more discussion? All those in favor? I I opposed. That's unanimous. Thank you. Just on an aside, I used to have Herb and Helen and Jack to my house for dinner at night. I wish I had filmed
them. I mean, they were I just sat back and listened to the three of them. They were unbelievable. Okay, moving on to our next item. We have the second hearing for the fees update. So that's why was a little bit long.
We don't have to read all this again or you don't have to read all this again. Oh, isn't that a lovely thought? Oh boy. I mean, do we even need to has there been any public input? The only changes I see are from the planning board. Maybe we just want to talk about
these and see if there's any public input before we go into a whole if there's nobody here from the public. I don't see anyone with their hands up on Zoom. Do we have anyone in the public that would like to give any
comment? Can we just read what we've been handed that's changed and other than that we can just take it as a Okay, let me just read what has been handed to us as changed. Planning board approval not
required plan uh eliminate fee categories highlighted in pink. Preliminary plan of $250 uh less than or equal to three lots. then $75 each additional lot and
proposed was $550 for less than or equal to three lots than $105 each additional lot. The cost to notify a butters currently at $5 per nut butter included in uh the proposed is included in the
permit fees and the cost of legal advertisement currently is an actual cost but the uh proposed is included in the permit fees. subdivision subdivision reition. I don't know why I have trouble with that in the word. Uh, currently
$350 plus $175 per changed lot. And proposed was $550 plus $250 per changed lot. And so those are being eliminated. These are being eliminated
potentially to come back at a further time. And they'll come back at a further time. Do we have any public comment? No, there's somebody else. We do now. Tom Nickello, you have to unmute yourself. Good evening, Madam Chair. Uh Tomo from the
very historic bathroom. Thank you all tonight for showing up and doing your due diligence. Uh, I just took a quick rundown in all the numbers and I just wanted to point out that we were collecting about $6,000 and change for
the fees and uh that was current. We're up to about $8,500 now with the proposed new fees and the fee updates. So, that's about a 40% increase and I just thought that would be important to know. Thank you all very much. Thank you, Tom. Do we
have anyone else that has any comments? Anyone else in the room that has any comments? Hearing none, we will close the hearing. Um, well, I guess my only concern is that uh it says 7:15 on the agenda. We had it continued to just this
meeting, not a specific time, right? I just don't want to close it and and and take somebody's opportunity to speak away. It wasn't continued to 7:15. It was continued to sometime after 6 p.m. Okay. If the board's comfortable with doing it
now or unless they want to wait till 7:15, we could take things out of order, I suppose. Can we just leave the hearing open and then we'll leave it open and come back to it at 7:15? Okay with everybody. We we maybe we can do the licensing one and then come back to it for a final vote in
case anybody else has any comments. And I'd be happy to turn the gavvel over to Tracy for the next portion of the agenda. Let me get to the hearing notice. Okay. Do you want the town of Yarma
Select Board New Alcohol Licensing Hearing? Yarm Select Board acting as the local licensing authority has received an application from One Hope Inc. doing business as Heavenly Restaurant. Leji Young Leger. Is it Leger or Leger? Li le
li young owner manager for a new section 12 restaurant on premises alcohol license to sell and serve wine malt cordial beverages at 194 Route 28 West Jarmath Mass 02673. The restaurant is one level with
two dining rooms that have a combination of booths and tables. There are two bathrooms, one storage room, one kitchen, and an enclosed outdoor patio with nine tables. The total square footage is 9,398 square foot. Hearing to be held
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 in the hearing room 11:46 Route 28 South, Masso2664. The select board meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. Written comments will be accepted until 4:30 Friday, May 9th, 2025 at the Select Board's office or can be submitted
electronic electronically to public comment at yarmath.mma. us. So now that that has been read into the record, we will open the public hearing if you don't mind introducing yourself for Good evening, Madame Chair
and board members. Let me come up a little closer. Okay, so my name is Li Young representing Heavenly Restaurant and um we've been in business about eight years now. I did apply for a license in 2019 and I was approved but
we didn't move forward with it. But I think it was a blessing in disguise because 2020 it was co. So here I am again today because we're currently planning on re-extending our operations into dinner again. And having the liquor
license would not only be profitable to the business, but it would provide a lot more jobs in the community cuz I would have two shifts. My regular breakfast and lunch shift that I have now. And then I'm planning on hiring more people for the evening. We're going to go up to about 8 9:00 so it won't be too too
late. And yes. Awesome. Okay. So, the hours that you're um I see on here you're asking for are even though you're open from 6:00 a.m. to 1000 p.m. You're asking for service
from 8 was it 8 to I don't see it outlined on here. So, I think it's just a flat license for this. I submitted a document with the hours. It's Monday to Friday, I mean Monday to Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on
Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. And um if you would just explain to the to the board um what you plan on serving, how you plan on serving it, training um your employees, managing um that alcohol
doesn't get into the hands of minors. um if you've met with the police department already. So the um the point of contact at the police department was on vacation. He came back I think May 31st. So he approved it with Amber Thomas
prior to going on vacation. But before um I'm able to proceed if I'm approved I have to meet with him at some point which I'm aware of. So, are you familiar with the town's rules and regulations that um you really need to to meet with
him because um we have very strict rules and regulations uh about what needs to happen. I see in here that you're tips trained. Um yes, I am. You have a patio. Uh do you have do you uh is there a request for any outdoor service on the
patio or was it for only indoors? So, there was a request for outdoor service. Okay. And can you talk about how that patio is? Um, so it's on 28. It's close to the So we have two um
entrance and exits. It's on 28. It's enclosed. It's an little enclosed area. And then we were able to use a tent over the years. So it's about nine tables. It's paved off. It's really not
a lot of seating out there, I'll say. Is there um is it contained or can people easily walk on and off the um patio with their drinks? So, it is enclosed, but you are able to walk in if you're in the
parking lot to walk in onto the patio. Correct. Okay. So, um, one of the things that we as a board need to make sure of is that the the alcohol that is served is served only to people that are over the age of 21 and not in the hands of
minors. So, um, and that it's contained in your premises. So, there has to be some type of management outside to make sure that that alcohol isn't being brought into the into the parking area or so. You have to talk a little bit
about how you plan on controlling that. Absolutely. So, first my number one priority, like I said, I've lived here for 15 years and um I love being here. So, I'm committed to responsible alcohol
service and you spoke earlier about speaking on like the tips training and my staff and so on. So, I'm going to start from there. So, we I will be providing tip certification training for all my employees. I'm currently in the process of hiring people for the season
cuz next weekend is memorial weekend. So I am looking for tip certified employees and we are going to provide training for those who are not tip certified and um in starting if anyone is not trained I will continue to reinforce the carding
policy um the cuto off policies and teaching them how to look for alterations on like IDs ensuring that the photo matches the person and so on date of birth and so on and so forth.
and also to let them know our refusal policy for people who are underage and or intoxicated and having strict policies where we document everything and there
are two managers Dave who is a kitchen manager myself actually three and Applin so everyone's going to be on site they know they can come and speak to us about anything and my number one priority is also So, not only for my employees, but
also for the community because I do know our law enforcement officers, they work day in day out to protect our community. So, having that contained will ease the pressure of our law enforcement officers. Also, um like I said, three
managers. So, usually in the summer, we have it section where we have outdoor um servers. This year, we're going to have a manager on the outside. It's not a huge patio, like I said, but we're going to have someone on the outside managing and then on the inside for both dining
rooms. So, someone's who is in management will be on the outside at all times. Okay, great. So, you'll have a manager on site if you if you're not there. Oh, yes, absolutely. And I noticed the abutters list is in here. Um I did not
notice on the checklist that you have all the green cards. Okay. And did they you have those aren't green cards. You have an affidavit or These are the receipts, right? Did you get the green cards back in the mail? So, no, I didn't receive anything in the mail.
Okay. All right. Um Okay. Is there anything else you'd like to say before we go to questions? Um, in closing, I would like to say even though as a business we are about maximizing profits and revenue, like I I want to reiterate
that our number my number one focus as a business as well is protecting my community. Like I said, I lived here 15 years. I love it here. And thank you so much for your time and consideration on this matter and allowing me the
opportunity to be here this evening. Okay, thank you so much. Um, before we go to the board, we'll go to the public if that's okay. Is is there anybody from the public that would like to speak on this application either for or
against? Anybody on Zoom? Anybody at all? Nobody. Okay, we'll take questions from the board. Liz, do you have any questions? I I I really don't have any questions. It's um sounds the manager on the patio sounds key. Um, I did read the
the menu and was uh had a hard time finishing the menu because I wanted to go eat something, but um I wish you the best of luck and I'll be coming to visit. Thank you so much. Great. Joyce, do you have any questions? Thank you. Um I don't. Um it sounds like a
wellthoughtout proposal and again the the idea of the outdoor manager seems like a very proactive and wise step. Thank you for doing that. Thank you so much, Dorcas. I don't have any questions. I'd like to thank you also for the outside manager. That's
definitely very proactive. And uh like Liz, I've read the menu. I'll be coming just as soon as you're open, Mark. No, I just want to wish you well. Good luck. Thank you so much. Congratulations on getting into
business. Um we we we we very much cherish our small businesses here in Yarmouth and uh we wish you nothing but the best. Thank you. Excellent. With that, I will take a motion to close the public hearing. So moved. Second. Any discussion on the motion? All those in
favor? I. Any opposed? I uh would recommend that um the board approve the application as presented with the um stipulation that you meet with um the liaison, the alcohol liaison from the
police department prior to um prior to service. Absolutely. Thank you so much for your time. So moved. Second. Any discussion on the motion? All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Passes unanimously. Good luck. We take this um
very serious. We hope not to see you um back here uh with any violations at the restaurant. See you at your place. We'll see you at the restaurant. Your restaurant. Thank you very much and hope you have a wonderful season. Thank you so much. Thank you. Best of luck. Thank
you so much. I've got great memories about that place. When I was in kindergarten, my mom went to work for the first time. We only had one car and we shared it. And when I was sick from school, she was a waitress at at Heavenly. And when I was sick from school, I remember laying on
the flower back in the stock room. And the waitress that worked there would used to bring me sodas. Oh. So I used to pretend I was sick all the time. That explains a lot. Okay, moving on. On the agenda, we have the summer season program update.
Recreation. I see Steve in the back. It's that time of year again. Time of the year. This time of the year. It is. Memorial Day is next weekend. It is. And oh my goodness. We're opening. Good evening. So, I'm Steve Reynolds,
uh, the director of recreation, and I'm here with Jack Jud. He's our new assistant director, and this is actually his second day, and I'm bringing him here. Welcome, Jack. Jack. I'm happy. Younger all the time, don't we? Still smiling. I like
it. He's still He came back a second day. So, I think we're doing well. Um, so yeah, I've come to give you guys some summer updates. Uh, talk about staffing, talk about some programs we're running for this summer, and basically where we're at. Um, so for Flax Pond, we're
fully staffed. Uh, we have all of our counselors, junior counselors, um, directors, we have our health and safety supervisor. So, we're in great shape for Flax Pond Summer Camp, and it'll be here right around the corner, starting next month, June 23rd. Uh, we have only 32
total spots left throughout the entire program of, uh, it's in your packets, I believe. Um, I broke it down. Our pioneers, grades one and two, um, for weeks one and two, we only have nine spots and seven spots, respectively,
left. Um, we're full for our grades three and four. We're full for our um explorers, grades seven and eight. And our quest seekers, grades five and six, we have only three spots left in week one. And uh in week two, we have 13
spots left. So other than that, we're we're fully packed for camp and um ready for the kids to be there. Uh for lifeguards, um again, we're also fully staffed for them. We're finishing up the hiring paperwork um for the six new
lifeguards that we've offered positions to and the four new junior lifeguards we've offered positions to. Uh currently right now we're in the process of doing the swim evaluations at the Y. Um our LGI um has been doing the swim evals
there and then we're going to be in early June starting the training for the new guards. Um what's an LGI? lifeguard instructor. Okay. Um so she um basically puts them through a swim test, able to swim the 300 yards, able to tread water
for two minutes with their hands in the air, uh just using their legs, and then they have to dive down uh 10 ft for a brick. Um and then that's the basic swim val. And then that's when we move forward with the hiring process and getting them trained to be a fully
certified guard. Um, and then for sailing, um, we're fully staffed with the exception of a launch tender operator. Um, and the launch tender operator is, um, who brings the kids from the dock to the sailboats. Uh, so we're still looking to fill that
position. Um, it's been posted. We're we're reaching out to different um, ship shops and, uh, different marine marinas looking to fill that position. Um, but we're pretty confident we'll be able to fill that. And we've also have a backup plan on how to get the kids to the boat
if we aren't able to fill it. So, good idea. We're in good space there. Um, we do have open spaces left in the sailing program uh for kids and adults to sign up for. It's not just for kids. Adults can come and do the instructional sale.
Um, they can do the racing. They're able to participate as well. um if they don't want to commit to a full week of sailing, we do have the dropins that they can just drop in for a day of sailing um instructional or racing as well. So, gives people the opportunity
if they're not here for the full week, if they're only here for say a Monday and Tuesday, they can drop in those two days and fill up some of our empty spots. Um so, that's our three major programs for the summer, but we have some other programs that we're running as well. Um this is actually our second
summer of doing a summer basketball program. Um last year we did grades or ages 12 to 16, but this year based on demand we've increased the age range uh from 10 to 17. So now we have a girls division, a younger boys division, and
an older co-ed division. Um so we're excited to have a second season of that because it was really popular last season. Um and it builds on our winter basketball which has been doing great um so far. So why not have it winter and summer keeps the kids engaged um both
seasons. Um we're also doing our indoor basketball clinics that were also popular last season. Uh those are filling up pretty quick. Um and we did a beginner and an intermediate clinic for this season. Um we did our open gym basketball utilizing Madakis. Once again
all these are going to be at Madakis. will be there. Um, as always, we're there at least 5 days a week. Um, doing basketball, doing open gym, doing different programs within the school to utilize that to the best of our ability. Um, so we'll be doing open gym
basketball on Saturdays from for youth and adults um in two separate times. Uh, our ever popular Soccer on the beach, we'll be doing again at Smugglers Beach U where we do pickup soccer games for ages 5 to 12. um they get to Smugglers
Beach and we have nets and the balls and they take their shoes off and they're able to play soccer on the beach. Awesome. It's always been really fun. You know, Jack's going to be leading that this year. So exciting. So, they get to experience the fun in that. Um we're doing a multisport for toddlers
cuz we've recognized there's not enough activities, at least through the recreation department, for toddlers. So, we're doing a multisport for ages 2 to seven. So, we're doing a toddler age group from 2 to 4 and then a big kid age group from 5 to 7. Um, so it's basically
going to just be introducing them to a different sport each week. Uh, whether it's T-ball, kickball, we could play tag. Um, we have little mini golf. Um, like just a putting range. Um, just exposing them to different sports. Um,
seeing what what they like to do. Um, and then that gives us a better idea too of if the group really likes a certain activity, then we can then offer that activity later on in the fall. Yeah. Um, we're doing again our Tai Chi by the Sea
at Smuggler's Beach. Um, I know a lot of people enjoy that um with Sensei John Morash. Uh, we're doing yoga at the beach at Sea View. Uh that's going to be in the mornings um from June all the way to August um from 7 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. on
C view. Um we're also doing our swim lessons, level one through three swim lessons for ages 4 to 12. Uh we did it last year. We were doing three days a week, but we did drop it down to only two days a week, but kept it's a 3-week
period, so we kept the same amount of classes. it's just not as big of a commitment to three days a week versus the two. We noticed that a lot of people would sign up for the three days and only show up for two. So, we uh decided to keep the same amount of classes but drop down the the commitment for the
week. Um and that uh one more we have our summer painting series where we do step-by-step painting. Um, at Madakis, we have an instructor who basically, if you guys have gone to a a paint night, um, at bars and stuff like that, it's just
step-by-step painting. Um, we've just brought it to Madakis um, as a familyfriendly version of it where they can bring their kids and adults do it together. So, and you're painting the walls. So, we get a fixing up madakis at the same time. Yeah, we're making murals
there. Yeah. But yeah, they get to bring home their painting that they've created together as a a family. So, that's been pretty popular so far, too. Um, and a couple things we don't have posted yet, but are in the works is um our skating program. We've done started a roller
skating program with Skate Cape Cod. Oh, wow. Love it. Um, and that's been super popular. It filled immediately and um we were really surprised. So, we've we've done more sessions and uh in the spring we did it inside Madakis and uh we're going to do it again and uh maybe end up
expanding it to roller derby. We've expanded it to adult fitness skate and dance. We have a roller derby Yeah. uh group on the Cape. Yeah. And um it's a place to practice and and um get better at skating. And the our instructor is super passionate about it. And she's
buying more and more equipment. She's like, I'm so happy how this is um how this is expanded and and we are too. So, we're going to continue to offer that. Awesome. Um so, we have the dates for that and we'll get that posted as soon as possible. Uh we're also doing our boost pickle ball lessons. Um we'll do
that at Flax Pond uh pickle ball right after our membership group is there. Um and yeah, that's um basically all we have. I I actually didn't mention our pickle ball membership group. Um, I don't know how I forgot forgot them. Um,
450 members strong, uh, pickle ball membership group that's Monday through Saturday from 900 a.m. to 12 um, at Flax Pond. So, did you say 450? 450 members strong and with a huge waiting list as
well. So, um, there's definitely a need for pickle ball in the summer here. So, is the junior lifeguard program working out well as a feeder for you to the lifeguards? Yeah, it definitely is. Uh, we get a ton of junior guard applicants. Um, and we have we've hired four junior
guards this year. Um, and the American Red Cross has actually expanded their um their age range. So now they can become fully certified guards at 15 while we're still keeping them as junior lifeguards
and keeping them in that role of they're not the ones to give that that first aid. They're not the first responders. They're still shadowing the guards, but we're going to become have them certified and put them through the class. So they know the basics while not having to actually do it. They still get
a season of shadowing. they'll have that in-person experience to to walk through it. Um, and that was the American Red Cross expanding it. So, we utilize that to get them certified so then next year they're ready to go right right when
they turn 16, ready to become a a full-time lifeguard. Um, and we've also done things to expand our junior lifeguard program. We talked with our uh lifeguard instructor. She's going to be putting together a plan for every Friday. They're going to do after their morning workout. They're going to go
with Susan, who's our lifeguard instructor, and she's going to have a course prepared for them each week on just different things that they'll see as lifeguards um and walk them through different um events that could occur um for an hour or two before they are
assigned to their different beaches. Um just to kind of even expand and teach them a little more than just sitting and shadowing the lifeguards. try to give them some extra training so they're even more prepared for when they become fully certified. In years past, we've always
had a great difficulty in filling our lifeguard slots. Are you finding that now with your junior lifeguard program that's making a little bit of a difference for you? Yeah, I think it's um not just that. I think it's just people and um they're just want to be lifeguards again. It's it ends up being
a cool job again. And I think the testament is really to our current lifeguards is a lot of it's been word of mouth is oh my friend is really interested in becoming a lifeguard because I've told them how awesome it is. Um and we've had it's amazing how
many of those applicants we've gotten with their um referral as one of our current guards. Um a lot of siblings are wanting to become lifeguards. Uh actually three of our junior guards this year that we've hired are siblings of
some of our current guards on staff. Um and funny enough, we actually have had some older siblings who have been in the job force. They're coming back to us now and guarding with us again this summer um while they transition between
different jobs. So awesome. It's been awesome our the turnaround on how hard it was to get guards just two years ago and where we're at now where we're having to turn applications away. Um it's been it's been really great. Love
to hear it. Love to hear it. I know. Me too. How about um your coverage, lifeguard coverage out there on the beaches? Is it going to be basically the same as it was last summer? Yeah, it's going to be basically the exact same as it was last year. We'll be able to cover a majority of the southside. We'll be at
Graves Beach. Uh we'll be at Seagull Beach. Um and obviously we'll be at Flax during camp. Unfortunately, we won't be able to guard the ponds uh this season. Um like Flax Pond on the weekend, Sandy Pond, Dennis Pond, and Long Pond. Um we
don't have the the capacity u um to be able to afford to um uh budget to budget um all those beaches. Um, we could probably staff them. Um, it's just a matter of budgeting to staff
the the major beaches. Um, we think is important. Those lifeguards do a tremendous job. I mean, each year we hear more stories of what they've encountered on the beaches and the lives that they've saved along the way. Yeah, definitely. Um, we we're
really proud of our staff and we're proud of our our supervisors on staff to to be able to have that relationship and make sure everything runs smoothly. And um, myself and our beach supervisors always say too, the best rescues is prevention. And I think they do an even
better job at preventing a lot of rescues or potential rescues. Um, whether it's at Grace Beach, they know they know the tides. We make sure to do a tide update every morning. So, especially at Grace Beach, knowing the tides when you see them out on the sandbarss, when to call them in before
the tide starts coming in quick, um we think is really important. Um same way if they're getting close to the jetty at Bass River, make sure we're preventing them from getting even getting close to the jetty so we don't have to make that rescue. So, that's our motto is the best
rescues are prevention. Um, and that's kind of been the motto for our guards for a while now. So, and Flax Pond, I mean, that program has just been extraordinary. Yeah, it has. And I think last time I was here, I was raving about our camp directors there, Maria, Dan,
uh, the whole staff do amazing job from pre-season all the way until cleanup. They they they make it so much so easy for the recreation staff in administrative staff uh that they handle a lot of the stuff. They keep us
informed with everything and we're there more for support and they run with it and they do a terrific job and I can't be uh happier with the staff that we have there year in and year out. So, I really want to give a shout out to our Flax Pond staff from top to bottom. And
some of your staff, the counselors are coming from having been participants in the program. Oh, definitely. Previously. And I think our junior counselor uh program helps with that is basically right when they age out of the camp, they're able to start becoming a junior
counselor and getting paid to to have fun at the camp instead of paying to go there. So I think and then it gives them a sense of a summer job making money, learning finances. It's it's just amazing. For many of them, it's their very first job. Yeah, exactly. And um I
think it builds a foundation for their future. So Well, you all do a tremendous job. Thank you. Are there any questions from any of the board? No, I I mean I got a nice pair of roll skates for my 50th birthday. They they actually light up, so I'd like to use them if you'd let
me. You have light up. So, please sign up for it. We have the adult fitness and learn to skate. So, looking forward to it. Yes. Any other questions for Steve? Welcome, Jack. Thank you. You're be here. We're glad to have you on board. Yeah. I don't know who's happier. I
think I think I might be a little happier. So, before summer is awesome to have him in and get him acclimated before the the craziness ensues. So, best of luck for the season to come. Thank you so much for joining us tonight. Appreciate Thank you. Thank you
for time. Okay, next item we have on the agenda, we have our new director of natural resources. I see him in the back of the room there. Come on up. He's missing his assistant, however,
Jack. Little the little guy. This is Well, oh, no, your son. Oh, that little guy. I thought you meant the little guy, Anthony. Uh, Steve had um Yeah, Dave Gondan, uh, new director of natural resources. Thank you again for that. Uh, and I'm joined tonight by Julian Mallet.
He's the chair of the waterways and shellfish advisory committee. Um, so we just have a a quick uh update. I want to keep the board aware of a project that we're working on um regarding the town ways to water. So um
the sort this whole thing sort of started as a lot of town things do. Um no one really knew who was in charge of the town ways to water. They're not beaches, so it's not parks. They're not roads, so it's not DPW. They're not um
boat ramps, so they're not DNR. And I think the department head has kind of got together and said, "Well, maybe there should be a DNR thing." So, here we are. Um, and that start the our town ways to water project. It's um it's a project we're we're really just kicking off. It's going to be a multi-year
thing. Um, but the the way it started is we went to CPC seeking funding for um repairs and improvements to the Driftwood Lane uh stairway and and town way to water um on Fallen Pond. The
stairs were really just falling apart, unsafe. We had to close them for a uh a period of time because it was just unsafe. And we were like, "Well, well, maybe we should we we got just click it to go through." Yeah, that click. Thank you.
Um so our plan was to try and seek funding to replace those stairs. Uh we went to the CPC committee and and they were they asked some really good questions. One of which was, "Well, how do you know that's the one that's in the worst shape?" We're like, well, that was again a great question. We we knew it had issues, but
we we couldn't confidently say it was in the worst shape. So, CPC kind of steered us back to do a townwide assessment of all the town ways, which has snowballed into quite a project um that I'm going to talk talk about just a little bit tonight. We're still in the beginning of it. Um but again, we'll talk it through
and I think you'll you'll see that we're pretty excited about it. Uh, and just before I get too far, driftwood, we did make some emergency repairs just so make it safe again and it is open, but it's not totally done yet. So, the question is, what is a town
way to water? Um, and that again that always comes back to that it's not a beach, although a lot of people do use them to sit by the water, but it's not a place where you're going to find a lifeguard. You're not going to find a swim zone. Um, the primary purpose is for truly for accessing the water. Uh,
whether that's getting getting to your boat on a moing, whether it's launching a kayak, whether it's fishing, whether it's accessing a shellfish area, that is the point and purpose of a town way. Um, and we're we're very lucky that there's a whole bunch in town in the town of Yarmouth.
Um, so again, like I said, it started as a as a project for CPC for repairing one area. uh they ended up funding this instead. Um and our plan is to assess identify every town we had of water,
assess the condition of each town we had of water, and then come up with a plan for however many years going forward to address the needs and repairs that each each site may or may not need. Um and again, you see on there we have over 60 sites, which is more than any of us thought we had. Um, we did have an old
map that we looked at and we we I think that might have had 45 or something on it and as we went through and tried to identify what we thought we actually had, we ended up over 60. Uh, this is a draft so I don't really want to keep this screen up too long because it's not final yet and
there are some that may be removed, but this is just the northern half of town. It gives you an idea of how many we actually have. Uh, they're all over the place, freshwater, saltwater. Um, and again, some are things that people may or may not know about, and I think that's something we need to
change, and this is going to be a result of this project. Again, the south side of town, I mean, it's it's staggering how many there are. And, uh, some of these are truly a unimproved deadend road that just stops at a couple of boulders and then there's
some sand in the water and it might only be 40 feet wide. But then other ones are are a boat ramp or you know a fishing pier or whatever. So there's they range from completely unimproved to some with structures and parking and uh buildings and all
that. So here's the goal and this is where again we're going to be working with the waterways committee. Um the goal is to identify the list of sites. Um and at the end of of this project, we anticipate we're going to have almost a handbook where
um working with the consultant that we've hired, Horsely Whitten, um we'll have almost a handbook where we can say, "All right, well, we're going to do a project at whatever Grove Street, whatever." And we're going to be able to flip open the book and say, "All right, Grove Street meets the following requirements for
permitting. we're going to do nourishment or we're going to do whatever it is, some type of improvement, we'll know what permits we will and won't need to file just by looking at the handbook. Um, we're going to end up with a interactive GIS-based map um on that'll
be hosted on the town website, which we currently don't have. Um, and that'll be something that Horseley Whitten will produce and then turn over to town GIS when it's complete. and you'll be able to view the town, scroll in on each site, hover your mouse over each site, it'll give you the name and a little
basic info. Click on it and get a whole rundown of each site for what the public may may or may not need to know about that particular location. Um, and then the final report will include the top three priority sites for repairs in the future and
limited limited engineering limited plans for how that would look for whatever those three sites are. uh they'll identify what improvements we could do and again just limited to engineering to go with that. Uh another another major portion of it is determining legal access
which is turning into be a bit of a a thing more than we thought it would be. Um again some of these are documented as town parcels like a packet landing there's two town parcels it's very clear the town owns it clear boundaries. Uh others are these roads that truly just
end at the water. There's no parcel associated with it. Um so part of the research that Horley Whiten is doing um is they're doing deed research on each location. Um a butters deed research if they need to to determine boundaries. Um and based on that, there will be some
that we may remove because we don't have enough documentation to support their town owned. Um, but on the flip side, I know of one that I won't mention, but it has a split rail fence. Says private property, no trespassing,
and in my opinion, it's 100% town-owned. So, oh, you'll see my truck down there knocking that fence over once we have it on paper. But, uh, we're not there yet, but I I know of at least one that I think we're going to get back. Um, again, so the the main reason I'm here
tonight is to talk about public input. Oh, I'm sorry. I can tell you where we are in the process. It's really just kicked off. We we're doing um bi-weekly meetings with Horsely Whitten. We're developing field forms for what the site visits will look like, what information they're going to collect. They've done
uh some um legal access um research and identified a few sites that again are questionable, but they they're about halfway through the legal access summary on all 63 64 sites. Um but the next step is our public meetings. So we're going to have two
public meetings. The first one well three total but two in the beginning. Um first one is May 29th. Second one is June 10th. And I have that info on a further slide. Um but I'm here to hopefully get the word out that we can we're we're going to have the meetings here in this room. We're going to have we're going to set it up hybrid so
people can view it online, but ideally they will interact with us and come to the meeting. We're going to kind of set up stations where if you have questions about freshwater access, you can talk to one of our staff members. If you have questions about saltwater access, you can talk to me. If you have questions about, you know, whatever the other uses
are, we'll have different stations where people can ask their questions. Uh during the month of July, Horsely Whitten and DNR staff will be out visiting these sites and completing these field forms to gather all the info of what uses we see out there currently, what um improvements the sites do have,
whether they have lined parking, and if they do, do they have parking signs, are there rules and regulations, are there fences, are there structures, are there dingies, are there all that stuff that we just they're inconsistent across the whole town. So, the field assessments will be conducted over the summer. Um,
Horseley Whitten will again compile all that into a report and we should have it by the end of the year and I uh at that point I'll be coming back to you all uh to present that. Um, my plan will be again just to keep you guys you know involved as we go forward. I'll be
updating the waterways committee every month. Um, but as we near the final the final stretch there, I'll come back when we're like 85 or 90% there and present to you a draft report just so you guys understand where we are and if there's any further input that you guys would like to have at that point, um, I'll
make sure we can get it in before the project is complete. Um, and then down on the bottom, it's kind of hard to see there, but the most important part of this again is the public input. So, aside from the two public meetings we're having, um, there will also be a public survey and that's going to be hosted
online. It's going to be very quick. We're trying to keep it for for data tracking. We're trying to keep it multiple choice right on the right on through and then there'll be an open response at the end for any questions or concerns for specific sites. But we'll be asking, you know, you know, how do you use the site currently? What do you
wish was there? What shouldn't be there? Um, what concerns are you currently having? Is this up now? It's not up yet. It will be up shortly. It'll be up before the first public meeting, which is the 29th. Okay. And it's going to remain open uh right on through the summer. So, we're going to be pushing
this out on our social media. I'll ask the town to share on on the town social media. We're going to send it out to our 600 and some odd mooring customers and slip customers to get the word out that way. Um, and again, I'm here tonight hoping to get the word out to the public as well. Um, so we'll gather all the
data via the survey and um, compile that at the end. Again, like I said, the two public meetings are the 29th and the 10th. Um, two different options. And again, we're hoping that people really turn out for it. And we'll have likely we'll have iPads and stuff
here for people that want to complete the survey while they're here on site. And if not, we will probably have a few paper forms that we can input after the fact. Uh, so all the data is in one place. And again, like I gave an example of what comments we may or may not get. No
parking, no signs, overgrown, whatever the the question or concern may be. Um, some examples of what we're looking for. Great. That is mostly the presentation. Um, and just if
I can touch briefly on the waterways committee's input. So Julian and I have spoken quite a bit about this and the plan that we've we've talked about and talking with Bill Scott. Um the waterways committee will kind of be the the lead public liaison or whatever with
with uh natural resources staff and we also are going to compile another small group kind of like a steering committee if you will or navigating committee since they are water-based. Um probably a couple people from uh the conservation commission. uh we'll have
town engineering and then we have two volunteers to be our day-to-day leaison from the waterways committee that'll kind of be our again navigating committee as we go through this reporting back to waterways and obviously ultimately to the select board um as we make progress. So any questions
or concerns about the about the plan? I again it's something we're really excited about. I think it's going to turn out awesome and I'm I'm curious if you guys have any thoughts. Mark. Yes. Thank you and thank you for the presentation. Um this is an incredibly important project uh for the town. So I
want to commend you for the uh the amount of energy and time that you that you're all putting into it. Um this also happens to be an endeavor that tends to fall through the cracks in many other communities. Having worked in many myself, this is often something that um
usually falls at the bottom of the list of things to do. Um but it's long overdue here. I mean, the reality is is that as a select board, we're responsible for public property. And if there's one area of public property where we need to do a better job, it's
it's here. There are other areas that are in need of improvement, but this is one that's incredibly important. Um, and there's been historically a tradition um that goes back to the colonial days where public access to the water and
preserving that access and maintaining public the public's access to water is one of the fundamental responsibilities of government. But in recent years, it often sort of falls down the priority list. And in some cases, you'll find people putting up fences like you've
seen, right? there'll be other things that are done uh that basically discourage access or restrict access. So we have an important job to fulfill here as a as as the town government and that is to protect the public's rights of
access to all of these waters where we do have townways. Now, where where where we have our beaches, where we have the other more established um access points, um we do we do a reasonably good job on on those, but it's these areas, the
typically the the the the roadway or the pathway, um that need to be protected and we need to be vigilant about it. So, uh I think this board's going to be very interested in um your recommendations and the things that we need to do to stay on top
of this going forward. Um, as you're aware, we have a we we have the challenge of maintaining it's been it's going to be a topic of conversation that we have as a board in the coming weeks and months. And that is how do we do a better job in caring for our public
properties and uh and and this should be part of that conversation. We may not be uh ready for it, but we need to add this into the whole conversation because uh it does require staff. It does require work. Um, and we need to elevate it as a
as a function of management as well, cuz typically when when a complaint comes in or an issue comes up, um, like I said, these things tend to fall at the bottom of the priority list. So, I'm glad you're you're diving into this. I'm glad you're getting the support and, you
know, kudos to the waterways committee for taking an active role in and in and assisting you in this because it's a it's it's a it's a big job. And um uh for me as a as a board member here um I I want us to you know hear from you and
uh update us and uh I I'm glad that you're you're making plans to come back to update us and keep us posted because um this is an incredible priority that uh that needs attention and I appreciate the fact that you're giving it attention. So thank you. Thank you for
that. Tracy, yes, this is great. Thank you very much. I lived near Driftwood and walked down there and watched it basically deteriorate to the point where you couldn't use it. But like I think most of us live on the Cape because we want to be close to the water. And um
you know having a map for people to be able to see those places uh is going to be great. I would love to see also like a legend on the map with what you're able to do there, whether it's launch a kayak, just walk, um whatever. But it would be great for the public to be able
to have that. Um I'm excited to watch you move forward. Um I'm I'm wondering with your outreach, uh there are people who become very um protective of what they believe is
their land. And um it would be nice if we could outreach specifically to some of the people that are close to these um access points to potentially come to your meetings. Um, I I think education
is a huge piece of of what you're going to end up doing because um, you know, I I go to a to the beach in the summertime and we have a particular beach on the south side that is private and I put my chair in the
water and I was told to leave and I was like, I don't think so. I this is not your property. and they were hired by the land owners to keep anybody in front of that off. So, you know, I felt bad for the for the kid, but I said to him,
"This I'm in the water. I'm below the the um mean low tide and this is public." Um but it's the same thing with the fence, right? We we we had this discussion at and I was trying to rack my brain. It was something about Southshore Drive some time back when we
were years ago in the planning board talking about redeveloping um and I and I believe it was putting those three pieces together. There was something in the middle that somebody that there was an argument about um the neighborhood believed that they had the
access to the water. So if they put those three uh Devport hotels at the time together. So, there was quite a discussion about rights at that point in time um back then before the uh plans for redevelopment down on Southshore
Drive were approved and um people are very protective of their space on both sides. So, um you got your work cut out for you. Um but I I I think the process of finding out and delineating it and just educating people and um is
extremely important. So, I'm looking forward to for you to have the process. One of the things that might be helpful, too, is in some of these spots, they have obviously signage there, but a QR code that will that will bring them right to your survey maybe in the interim. So, if somebody goes there and
they they can click on a QR code and it brings them to the survey like, "What do you think about this spot?" And then just have the QR code there. So, anybody who's frequenting those places can can uh talk to you or answer some questions about how they feel about it. That's great. Good luck,
Joyce. Oh, thank you. Um, I was curious what you said about parking. Um, do you see any way that the select board can be of assistance with parking? Because if so, I would love to hear that when you do come back because it does seem that
that's an obstacle that might keep a number of people away from these delightful little passages down to the water. Right. I think that's something we're going to find out is again a lot of these townways they are truly unimproved dead end no signs or maybe a
sign that says town way but no any other parking signs no lines what side do I park on how close can I be to this this person's driveway there's a lot of hurdles there um and yes I think that we're going to come into some issues
with that and I'm sure we'll look for support at that point um as we identify which ones are the in the our shape for parking. Thank you both for coming tonight. Thank you, Liz. Um, I live right uh the the
first picture of the Fallen's Pond Road and uh we had a meeting at my house and one person who was didn't show up finally called and she said, "I'm in the water." She drove down Fallen's Pond Road into the water and there's a place
where it's there's a big pothole below the high tide line. So, she couldn't get out. So, we had the the arm of the police came and got her out. But, yeah. So, we might need to do a little work there. But, um and I f I I do worry a
little bit though. Um well, trash cans. I think that if we're going to make these um wonderful little jewels more accessible and more um transparent, we're g because I I walk that and collect so much trash off the
beach and then I have to bring it home because there's no place to to bring it anywhere. But and I last comment is that the this really seems to uh jive with the local comprehensive plan that was pres presented to us at our last board
meeting where the walking trails are being um they're going to be mapped and kind of called out in order to um make us more of a a go-to place, a a destination. And I so it seems like this
and that are hand in hand and hopefully if there is a walking trail that ends up in one of your ways that will be made clear too. So wonderful. This is great. Pretty much everything I would have said has already been said. We took our thunder. It's tough to be chair. But I
also want I just want to reach out um to the community preservation committee because they seem to have gotten the ball rolling right from the beginning. So thank you to them. And also, thank you for when you're going to do this. You're talking about peak occupancy uh
time here on the Cape uh when this survey is going to be done. We're not doing it in January or February. And uh kudos for doing that as well. And I look forward to seeing what you have when you come back. Yeah. And thank you for your participation in volunteering as well.
Welcome. Is there anything that you would like to say? No, I don't think there's anything particularly to add, but um you know, we have seen I mean I saw an instance just today but in Dennis where someone is putting plantings on
one of the access ways. These kinds of things happen all the time if you're not watching. Yeah. Well, thank you very much, Madam Chair. Just to your point about the CPC, they were great and they were upfront saying, "Look, we don't typically like giving we
don't typically like funding assessments or studies, but in this case, they said it was such a slam dunk for for the long-term goal of uh you know, again, identifying any issues and concerns and giving us a a real foundation for coming back down the road for for funding for
other projects related to this. This really is the only starting point that makes sense and again, kudos to them for that. Perfect. Thank you very much. Right. Thank you. Appreciate it. Okay. Returning to our uh fee increase hearing.
I want to give anyone an opportunity if they have not had a chance before to speak to the fee increase that this is their opportunity. Do we have anyone in the room that would like to speak? Do we have anyone on Zoom that
would like to speak? I don't see anyone on Zoom and I don't see anyone in the room. Madame Chair, I move that we close the public hearing. Do I have a second? Second. Any
discussion? All those in favor? I I opposed. That's a unanimous. Thank you all very much. Wait a minute. You closed the public hearing. You didn't vote on the I'm sorry. Voting. Do I have a motion to approve the uh
fees as presented? So moved. Second. Can I just I'm just going to reiterate this one more time to Tom McNel's point. I think we h have we need to carve out in our agenda an annual review because 40%
is um is steep and I think we should be you know not waiting as long in between. And I think, you know, it's it's easier for us to justify the increases because it's been so long and some of these fees are so old. But, you know, in the future, it would be nice to, you know,
we used to have a policy. Well, especially like with golf, golf, we have a policy. You can't increase more than 5%. Every everybody should every town should be like that. We should do our best to stay within, you know, a smaller percentage, which means obviously looking at it more often. So, those are
those I'm I mean, I support these this time, but I'm not, you know, I don't think anybody's jazzed about raising fees the way that that this is. It shouldn't be an annual occurrence. I agree with you on that. And as I
mentioned before, I think it that January, the start of a new year should be when we're reviewing these because particularly when it comes to what potentially may be there as far as the beach uh stickers are concerned and the um dump stickers, I think we need to
give people an opportunity to speak and we also need to give them an opportunity to get ready for it if there is. So I think we should direct Bob that every January every January we do a full review.
Are there any other comments? Hearing none. All those in favor of um approving the Well, I'll entertain a motion to accept the uh fees as proposed. Did I get one? I'm sorry. I did. And I got a
second, didn't I? Okay. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? That passes unanimous. Thank you all very much. I do not see any other items that we have this evening on the agenda. Chair, I'd like to move to adjourn our meeting. Do
I have a second? Second. I did disbelieve. I mean 7:40. I thought we were going to be here a while. All in favor of adjournment. Vote against the motion. All in favor of adjournment. I I. Any opposed? That's a unanimous too.
Thank you all. And one last thing, just a reminder that there is a town election on Tuesday, uh, which is May 20th. Uh, it will be held at our local polling uh, locations. And that in addition to a
selection of two of the seats for the board of selectmen, we also have a proposed two and a half override for the fire department. So I non-binding and a non-binding u question about and a
non-binding question about committee member even though it's unopposed yeah one school committ school committee unosed housing authority and school committee un opposed so we really encourage everyone this is your opportunity to go out and vote so please join us thank you very much and good
evening