October 29, 2024

“MOTION: To endorse the $33,675 but approve the $17,000 for the Interpretive Signage Historic Sites Project as presented. Motion by: Mark Forest Seconded by: Joyce Flynn Vote: 4 ayes; 0 nays. The motion carried unanimously..” (Motion: Forest, second: Flynn)

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

“MOTION: To approve the concept of the plan and to recommend Article 10. Motion by: Tracy Post Seconded by: Joyce Flynn Vote: 4 ayes; 0 nays. The motion carried unanimously..” (Motion: Post, second: Flynn)

Read it in the official minutes, page 7 (PDF)

“MOTION: Motion to recommend both Articles 13 and 14. Motion by: Mark Forest Seconded by: Tracy Post Vote: 4 ayes; 0 nays. The motion carried unanimously..” (Motion: Forest, second: Post)

Read it in the official minutes, page 8 (PDF)

“MOTION: That the Select Board adopt the findings of fact recommended in the Town Clerk's letter dated October 25, 2024, being items 1 through 8 as revised to reflect in item 7 and 8, that only Precinct 1 is being moved and it is being moved to the Yarmouth Senior Center, and the same change for precinct for item 8 and further adopt the additional findings that a copy of said letter dated October 24, 2024, was posted on the Town website on October 25, 2024. Motion by: Tracy Post Seconded by: Joyce Flynn Discussion: Ms. Post wanted the record to reflect she was making the motion due to not having any other choice. Vote: 4 ayes.” (Motion: Post, second: Flynn)

Read it in the official minutes, page 10 (PDF)

“MOTION: That the Select Board assign the Yarmouth Senior Center at 528 Forest Road, West Yarmouth, as a designated polling location for Precinct 1 for the Special Election to be held in the Town of Yarmouth on December 7, 2024, and direct the Town Clerk to take any act or action necessary on behalf of the Select Board in accordance with the provisions of Mass. General Law Chapter 54, Section 24 and 950 CMR 51 in sequence the regulations for polling place, accessibility for elderly and handicapped voters. Motion by: Joyce Flynn Seconded by: Mark Forest Vote: 4 ayes; 0 nays. The motion carried unanimously..” (Motion: Flynn, second: Forest)

Read it in the official minutes, page 10 (PDF)

“MOTION: That the Select Board adopt the warrant for December 7th, 2024 Special Town Election as presented by the Town Clerk and direct that the Warrant be duly advertised and posted in accordance with Mass. General Laws and the Town of Yarmouth's Charter and Bylaws. Motion by: Tracy Post Seconded by: Joyce Flynn Vote: 4 ayes; 0 nays. The motion carried unanimously..” (Motion: Post, second: Flynn)

Read it in the official minutes, page 10 (PDF)

“MOTION: That the Select Board delegates its authority given under Chapter 92, Section 72 of the Acts of 2022 to detail a sufficient number of police officers or constables for each buiiding that contains the polling places for one or more precincts at every election therein to preserve order and protect the election officers and supervisors from interference with their duties and to aid and enforce the laws relating to the elections to the Chief of Police in consultation with the Town Clerk. Motion by: Tracy Post Seconded by: Joyce Flynn Vote: 4 ayes; 0 nays. The motion carried unanimously..” (Motion: Post, second: Flynn)

Read it in the official minutes, page 10 (PDF)

“MOTION: That the Select Board adopt the Warrant for the November 25th, 2024, Old King's Highway Annual Meeting and Election and direct the Town Clerk to have said warrant duly advertised and posted in accordance with the Charter and Bylaws of the Town of Yarmouth and the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. And further, that the Board of Selectmen set the date and time of Monday, November 18th, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. to be the deadline for candidates to obtain nomination papers from the Town Clerk's Office and Wednesday, November 20th, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. to be the deadline for candidates to return nomination papers to the Town Clerk's Office for certification to be included on the Old King's Highway Annual Meeting Ballot. Motion by: Joyce Flynn Seconded by: Mark Forest Vote: 4 ayes; 0 nays. The motion carried unanimously..” (Motion: Flynn, second: Forest)

Read it in the official minutes, page 10 (PDF)

“MOTION: To approve the Budget Statement prepared for the Board, and the Calendar as presented. Motion by: Mark Forest Seconded by: Tracy Post Discussion: Town Administrator Whritenour opened the discussion on the FY 2026 budget. The detailed budget calendar had been circulated, and he encouraged everyone to use it as a reference document as he highlighted the key milestones. Departmental budget submissions would be due by November 29, at which point his office would take about a month to compile and analyze the information. The goal was to present a balanced budget to the Select Board on December 27. On that same date, the Finance Committee would also receive the budget and begin its review process. The committee would work through the budget over a two-month period and submit its recommendations by February 26. A public hearing on the proposed operating budget and the capital plan was tentatively scheduled for March 4. The entire process will culminate with the Annual Town Meeting on April 29, the last Tuesday in April. He clarified that all the deadlines and responsibilities mentioned in the schedule were consistent with the Town Charter. Mr. Whritenour described the Budget Policy Statement as a critical document and the framework for building a sound and balanced municipal budget. The purpose of the policy, he said, was to eliminate structural deficits, in instances where ongoing costs were not fully supported by recurring revenues, and to preserve the Town's long-term financial health. Among the key elements of the policy, Mr. Whritenour noted the commitment to reserving a minimum of 2.5% growth in revenues for the school departments, which included both the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District and the Cape Cod Technical Regional School. He stressed that all contractual wage increases, and cost-of-living adjustments, had to be supported by available revenue and incorporated into the operating budget. Additionally, major overhead items such as utilities, pensions, health insurance, and general insurance obligations must be fully funded. None of these items were to be deferred or partially funded to balance the budget elsewhere. He pointed out that the Policy also included a requirement to fund the Town's annual contribution to OPEB (Other Post-Employment Benefits), which mainly referred to future retiree health insurance liabilities. The Budget Policy further stipulated that capital spending must be kept in line with recurring revenue streams and included a dedicated line item for road maintenance. Mr. Whritenour also addressed the importance of protecting the Town's reserves, noting that Yarmouth previously had "extremely poor' reserve levels. Today, the Town had built those reserves up to a level that aligned with best managemeni practices. Mr. Whritenour then explained the school funding component of the policy. Each year, early in the budget cycle, the Town would set aside enough funds to accommodate a 2.5% increase in the school assessments. He made clear that any school budget increases beyond that amount would not come at the expense of core Town services such as the Police and Fire Departments. This "hold harmless" provision ensured that while the Town remained committed to supporting education, it would not do so by cutting essential municipal operations. He concluded by reiterating that the policy served as a foundational guideline for himself and all department heads. It ensured consistency and fiscal responsibility in the budget process, starting with the draft that would be presented to the Select Board at the end of December. Vote: 4 ayes.” (Motion: Forest, second: Post)

Read it in the official minutes, page 11 (PDF)

“MOTION: To appoint Glenn Martin to the Disability Commission, for a three-year unexpired term to run through January 2027. Motion by: Tracy Post Seconded by: Mark Forest Vote: 4 ayes.” (Motion: Post, second: Forest)

Read it in the official minutes, page 11 (PDF)

“MOTION: To appoint Caitlin Shea to the Library Board for a three-year unexpired term to run through to February 2027. Motion by: Tracy Post Seconded by: Mark Forest Vote: 4 ayes; 0 nays. The motion carried unanimously..” (Motion: Post, second: Forest)

Read it in the official minutes, page 12 (PDF)

“MOTION: To make the following Planning Board representative assignments, which are one-year appointments through to September 2025: Ken Smith to the Capital Budget Committee; Peter Slovak to the Community & Economic Development Committee; Joanne Crowley to the Community Housing Committee and the Community Preservation Committee; Susan Brita to the Drive-in Site Utilization Committee; Jim Saben to the Design Review Committee and to the Land Disposition Committee; Will Rubenstein to the Water Resources Advisory Committee. Motion by: Tracy Post Seconded by: Mark Forest Vote: 4 ayes.” (Motion: Post, second: Forest)

Read it in the official minutes, page 12 (PDF)

“MOTION: To appoint for 2024 the one-year agents of the Licensing Authority. They will serve until an updated list is submitted by the Police Chief and appointed by the Board of Selectmen. The agents are Chief Kevin Lennon, Deputy Andrew O'Malley, Lieutenant Bryant, Lieutenant Boghdan, Sergeant Coville, Sergeant Reed, Sergeant Tsoukala, Sergeant Wells, Sergeant Sheehan, Sergeant Donohue, Sergeant Fichter, Sergeant Lundegren, Sergeant Aprea, Detective Renzi, Detective Nuss, Detective Schneeweis, Detective Zontini, Detective Rivett, Officer Ambrosini, Officer Burnham, Officer Lanata, Officer Wenberg, Officer Marino, Officer Haire, Officer Giammarco, Officer Ryan Murphy. Motion by: Dorcas McGurrin Seconded by: Mark Forest Vote: 4 ayes; 0 nays. The motion carried unanimously..” (Motion: McGurrin, second: Forest)

Read it in the official minutes, page 12 (PDF)

“MOTION: To approve the Consent Agenda with thanks. Motion by: Tracy Post Seconded by: Mark Forest. Vote: 4 ayes; 0 nays. The motion carried unanimously..” (Motion: Post, second: Forest)

Read it in the official minutes, page 13 (PDF)