Town Administrator's Report May 16, 2023
1. Summer Beach Opening Information
- The beaches will be opening back to the regular schedule. We will be open Memorial Day Weekend (Sat, Sun, Mon. the holiday) May 27, 28, 29
- We will open the following weekend (Sat., Sun) June 3-4
- There are no parking restrictions currently (plover closures expected)
- We will open 7 days a week through Labor Day Monday starting Saturday June 10th.
- The gates will be locked according to our summer schedule by the police as well
- The permanent bathrooms will be cleaned twice a day (locked at dusk)
- Temporary rest facilities will be cleaned and pumped daily as well
- Concessions will be open Starting the Saturday of Memorial Day as well and following the same schedule above.
2. DPW Seasonal Operations Schedule
Beaches / Harbor:
- By 02 May the Sesuit Harbor East bathrooms will be open.
- By 22 May bathrooms at ALL beaches in Town will be operational.
- By 26 May (the Friday before Memorial Day), Mayflower, Corporation, Cold Storage and West Dennis will be fully opened with all chairs and mat’s placed, parking lots graded, bathrooms operational, beaches raked, etc. Plovers may affect raking; has already prevented raking on West Dennis.
- All remaining beaches will be fully opened before 10 June however the goal is to have them all done by the Friday before Memorial Day.
- On 01 May daily trash removal begins, Monday – Friday. On or about 08 June trash removal begins its every day service, i.e. seven days per week.
- 0n 10 June daily raking of the beaches begins; one day northside, the next day southside. Again, as the plover situation permits.
Sweeping:
- Southside roads, beach lots and all municipal lots are already complete.
- Northside roads begins on or about 08 May; anticipated completion is one month. This be extended as will need to focus resources on potential chip-seal projects. Do not have definitive schedule from them.
3. Natural Resources - Plover Updates
Crowes Pasture has 8 pairs of birds. Currently there are 4 nests with eggs. If the eggs hatch, the chicks on the west will close ORV access to the flats and shellfish grants. The chicks on the east will limit access to the shellfish grants. Tentative closing date for flats access is June 1st. Tentative closing date for the east access is June 2nd. We anticipate having the ability to conduct a vehicle escort plan for the shellfishermen at the east access only at this time.
South Village Landing had a pair but they seem to have moved away, perhaps to the opposite side of Swan Pond River. We are monitoring this situation. Nesting in this location has the ability to disrupt launching activities at the landing and/or pedestrian beach use at South Village Beach.
Chapin Beach has 2 or 3 pairs of birds. One active nest at this time.
West Dennis Beach has 11 pairs of birds. We currently have 7 active nests. The tentative date to close the west parking area is May 26th. New this year is a nesting pair on the resident beach which may affect pedestrian use of the beach. We also have a nest on the volleyball court and a tentative date to close the entire parking lot and construct a “chick walk” on June 5th.
Keep in mind that closures remain in effect until chicks fledge (fly) at approximately 35 days of age. Given the number and location of nests at West Dennis, closures may occur, as necessary, to comply with local, state and federal permitting. Please monitor the DNR website for updates throughout the season.
4. Division of Marine Fisheries – Shellfish Closure
In accordance with Chapter 130, Section 74A of the Massachusetts General Laws, the Division of Marine Fisheries has determined that the below defined "CONDITIONALLY APPROVED" shellfish growing area, Mayfair Boat Yard (SC35.4), in the Town of Dennis, no longer meets the established criteria for the harvest of shellfish. Closures of waters within marinas and impacted areas adjacent to marinas are mandatory under provisions of the National Shellfish Sanitation Program while marinas are in operation. The status of this area will be changed to “CLOSED TO SHELLFISHING” as of sunrise on May 15, 2023.
Therefore, under authority of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 130, Section 74A, the status of the below defined area has been changed to “CLOSED TO SHELLFISHING” to the taking of all shellfish. Digging, harvesting, or collecting and/or attempting to dig, harvest or collect shellfish and the possession of shellfish from the below defined area is prohibited.
Under authority of 322 CMR 7.01(7) all permits issued thereunder are hereby conditioned to prohibit the taking, selling or possession of shellfish from the below defined area.
SEASONAL MARINA STATUS CHANGE
Status: Closed to Shellfishing
May 15 - November 30
5. Town of Dennis Memorial Day Ceremony
Dennis Village- On Memorial Day, Monday, May 29th, the Town of Dennis’ Memorial Day Observance Committee will honor the more than one million men and women who have lost their lives defending America since the Revolutionary War. A formal ceremony will be presented by town leaders, and Patriots of Dennis. The ceremony will commence at 10:00am at the Dennis Village Green, on the corner of Route 6A (Main St.) and Old Bass River Road.
This free event is open to the public. It is an opportunity for those who wish to preserve the memory of our fallen heroes, and those survivors still suffering from the ravages of war. It is a time to reflect on their courage, sacrifice, and their dedication to a cause greater than themselves. It is a time to recommit ourselves to the cause of freedom, justice and democracy, so that the legacy of our fallen heroes will live on for generations to come. We continue to mourn their loss, but most of all, we celebrate their lives.
6. Town of Dennis Notice of Road Work
The Town of Dennis will be performing road work on the following sections of Route 134 starting Thursday, May 18, 2023.
Route 134 in the Theophilus F. Smith Road to Patriot Square/Market Place area
Route 134 at the intersection of Bob Crowell Road
Route 134 at the intersection of Setucket Road
The work will be performed between 6:00am to 5:00pm and will take approximately 1-2 weeks to complete (weather permitting). Two-way traffic will be maintained when possible but detours may be required during certain parts of the operation. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible. As always, motorists should use caution when driving through work areas.
We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience during construction.
For more information, please contact the Town of Dennis Engineering Department at (508) 760-6166.
7. Town Planner Dan Fortier Retires
Last year Town Planner Dan Fortier announced his intent to retire after over 21 years of dedicated service to the Town of Dennis. Dan stayed on assisting the Town over the last year while a recruitment for the vacancy was completed. His last day of employment was May 5th. Dan began his time with Dennis in 2001. Congratulations to Dan for his incredible public service career, I know we are all wishing you well as you plan on spending more time traveling with family! Thank you for all your tireless and diligent service to the Town of Dennis!!
8. Dennis Center for Active Living Receives Respite Innovations Grant
TOTAL GRANT AWARD AMOUNT: $352,000.00
Congratulations! The Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) has awarded your program, Bridging the GAP Collaborative, $352,000.00 to complete the activities outlined in your grant proposal under the Respite Innovations Grant Program. Your organization must use funds solely for the costs associated with the program listed above, based on the costs you identified and described in the grant proposal submitted to EOHHS. As you may recall, the Request for Applications in response to which you submitted your proposal required that recipients must submit to EOHHS a Baseline Metrics Report covering July 1, 2022, to December 30, 2022, that is due prior to receipt of funds through this Grant Program.
9. Results of the Annual Town Meeting
Thank you to all that came to the Dennis Annual Town Meeting, on May2, 2023. See the attached information for the results for each article. You can find more information including the warrant, supplemental information for Warrant Articles and more by visiting the Town’s Town Meeting webpage.
| May 3, 2022 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING RESULTS ATTENDANCE: 339-REGISTERED VOTERS 12,904 |
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ARTICLE NO. | ARTICLE DESCRIPTIONS | QUANTUM OF VOTE |
1 |
Written Reports | No Written Reports, no vote needed. |
2 |
Oral Reports | No Oral Reports, no voted needed. |
3 |
FY2023 Budget Supplements (Fire OT, Snow & Ice) | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
4 |
FY2024 Operating Budget | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
5 |
Elected Officials Salaries FY24 | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
6 | Cape Cod Regional Technical High School Operating Assessment and Debt Service | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
7 | Dennis/Yarmouth Regional School District Assessment and Debt Service | Article passed by Majority Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
8 | Dennis/Yarmouth Regional School District PEG Access Funding | Article passed by Majority Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
9 |
Cape Media Center PEG Access Funding | Article passed by Majority Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
10 |
Shellfish Mitigation Fund Transfer | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
11 |
Capital Outlay - Raise & Appropriate | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
12 |
Capital Outlay - Other Funding Sources | Article passed by a hand count 290 yes to 2 no, in Favor declared by the Moderator |
13 |
Building Repairs and Maintenance | Article passed by Majority Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
14 |
Revolving Funds | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
15 |
Community Preservation Committee Budget | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
16 |
Security Upgrades | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
17 |
Rooms Tax to Wastewater Stabilization Fund | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
18 | Amendment - Rooms Tax Allocation to Wastewater Stabilization Fund | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
19 |
Web Site Platform Migration | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
20 |
Electrical Vehicle Charging Station - Five Year Lease | Article passed by Majority Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
21 |
Transfer to Wastewater Stabilization Fund | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
22 | Temporary Road Repairs - Old Hills Road | Article passed by a hand count 273 yes to 9 no, in Favor declared by the Moderator |
23 | Transfer from Barrier Beach Stabilization Fund | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
24 | Transfer from Beach Capital Improvement Fund to Reserve Fund for Haigis Beach Improvements | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
25 | Transfer from Beach Capital Improvement Fund to Reserve Fund for Beach Nourishment | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
26 | Transfer to Capital Improvement Stabilization Fund | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
27 | By-Law Amendment - Publication of Warrants | Article passed by Majority Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
28 | Zoning By-Law Amendment - Flood Zone | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
29 | Fuel Assistance | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
30 |
Transfer to Other Post-Employment Benefits Trust Fund | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
31 |
By-Law Amendment - Allocation of Solid Waste and Recycling Capital Improvement Fund | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
32 |
Wixon School | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
33 |
Fire Station 2 Supplemental Costs (Paddocks Path) | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
34 |
187 Depot Road Affordable Housing | Article passed by a hand count 289 yes to 12 no, in Favor declared by the Moderator |
35 |
30 Bob Crowell Road Affordable Housing | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
36 |
Nitrogen Loading Restriction and Easement - 8 Acorn Drive | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
37 |
National Opioid Settlement Funds | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
38 |
Transfer to General Purpose Stabilization Fund | Article passed by a Unanimous Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
39 |
By-Law Amendment - Town Meeting Outside of the Town | Article passed by Majority Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator |
40 | Citizens Petition - Dispersal of School Choice Funds to Include Homeschools and Private Schools | Article defeated by a Unanimous Vote and declared by the Moderator |
41 | Fire Station 2 Demolition (Old Bass River Road) | Article was Indefinitely Postponed by a Unanimous Vote declared by the Moderator |
42 |
Childcare Subsidies | Article passed by Majority Vote in Favor declared by the Moderator
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10. Dennis Center for Active Living – Building Project Update
- Appears to be on schedule for September completion
- On budget
- Site is clean and organized
- Floor leveling throughout is complete
- Floor tile being installed in the bathrooms
- Sheetrock about 75%
- Sheetrock taping ongoing
- New retaining wall and guard rail complete in the rear
- Paving on the Setucket side planned in the next 2 weeks
- Rough MEP’s are all complete
- Finish MEP’s will be starting once sheetrock is complete
Have a great week everyone!
Respectfully,
Elizabeth C. Sullivan
Town Administrator