· Revisions to the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law (OML) went into effect on July 1st. Meeting agendas must be posted 48 hours in advance of the meeting not including weekends and holidays. A Monday meeting needs to be posted by the preceding Thursday. Each community must maintain 24 hour public access to the public meeting schedule. Right now all meetings are posted on the doorway of the handicapped entrance to the Town Hall building. There are plans to post meetings on a computer screen at the Barnstable Police Station to meet this mandated 24 hour access requirement. Also, all items that are used at the meeting (maps, reports etc.) must be listed within the minutes of the meeting. A very special thanks goes to our Town Clerk, Linda Hutchenrider, for helping us implement the new rules.
· At the Monday, July 12th Recreation Commission Meeting, three employees were recognized as Employees of the Year in the Aquatics Program. Each year the Recreation Commission honors three employees whose dedication and hard work deserves special recognition. Each if these individuals has gone above and beyond their normal job responsibilities to provide professional services to our citizens. Pictured from left to right are: Patti Machado, Assistant Director of Recreation; Sam DeLong, Employee of the Year - Beach Attendant; Paul Reardon, Employee of the Year - Gate Attendant; Mark McLaughlin, Employee of the Year - Lifeguard; and Clyde Takala, Recreation Commission Chair.
· On Thursday the Town Council held its July meeting at the Barnstable High School Knight Auditorium. The main agenda item was the discussion of creating a stabilization fund to fund sewer system infrastructure expansion and improvements and private road takings and repairs. The Town Council met as a “Committee of the Whole” for the first part of the meeting. This allowed for a free flowing discussion of the major policy issues before them on the ordinance. Councilors then voted to separate the sewer and road ballot questions. There will now be two ballot questions on the November ballot. One will cover the sewer debt and the second will ask for $3,000,000 for private road repairs. Councilors then voted to have a 50% betterment charge to homeowners getting sewers. They also adopted an increase in the meals tax and an increase in the hotel/motel tax to pay for sewers. The zoning ordinance “Proposed Recreational Shellfish Area and Shellfish Relay Area Dock and Pier Overlay District Map”, came so late in the meeting that Councilors decided to extend the moratorium until October 30, 2010. This will give the Council and the Planning Board time to address this zoning matter over the next few months.
· The tenth Barnstable Harbor community meeting was held at 8 AM this morning at the Dolphin Restaurant in Barnstable Village to discuss the rebuilding project at the Barnstable Harbor Bulkhead. DPW Director Mark Ells reviewed Project Construction Update # 10. Pictured below are 18’ timbers from an old bulkhead that are along the east side of the bulkhead. Once exposed they come out rather easily. Technical questions were raised about the engineering of the bulkhead which Mark Ells will address with the contractor and report back to the group next week. Assistant Harbor Master, Eric Shufelt, covered the operations at the harbor and discussed concerns about construction debris in the harbor.
· This Sunday I will be attending the Wequaquet Lake Protective Association Annual Meeting along with Mark Ells, Director of the Department of Public Works. We will report on ongoing public works projects including recent work completed on Shoot Flying Hill Road and other issues of interest to the Association.
· On Monday, July 19th, at 10:30 AM there will be groundbreaking ceremonies for the Barnstable Municipal Airport’s new Air Traffic Control Tower. The airport is about to embark on a major improvement program designed to enhance services for passengers and airlines. A new $6.6 million air traffic control tower, underwritten totally by federal funds, will upgrade safety and security for the traveling public.
· A Hazardous Waste Collection Day for Barnstable residents only is scheduled for July 24, 2010 from 9:00 AM to Noon at the Barnstable Transfer Station. Proof of residency is required.
· A reminder about the outdoor Farmer’s Market held each Wednesday morning at the Hyannis Youth and Community Center from 8 AM to 1 PM. There is fresh produce and locally grown or produced items for sale.
SPECIAL NOTE: Beach stickers now on sale at the Hyannis Youth and Community Center. Stickers may be purchased Monday through Saturday, 9AM to 4 PM and on Sundays and holidays, 9 AM to Noon. Be sure to bring in your car registration for verification purposes.