OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Bourne Select Board Meeting Summary – September 17, 2025 (Discrepancy: Transcript says Sept. 30)

Select Board — Wednesday, September 17, 2025
BodyBourne, Massachusetts
SessionSelect Board
DateWednesday, September 17, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:14:43

Transcript — Verbatim
0:08

I'll call this meeting to order in September 30th, 2025.

0:12

Note this meeting is being televised, streamed, or recorded by Bourne TV.

0:16

If anyone in the audience is recording or videotaping, please acknowledge now.

0:22

We have Owen here, Born Enterprise.

0:24

Please refrain from flash photography, please.

0:27

If anyone from the public wishes to access the meeting, they may do so by calling the following conference line.

0:34

One nine two nine two zero five, six zero nine nine.

0:38

Zoom meeting ID 89729-3538.

0:44

Password, all caps, born.

0:47

The Zoom chat will not be monitored.

0:49

Participants who uh sorry.

0:53

The gym chat will not be monitored.

0:55

Participants who wish to speak must raise the hand icon until the chair asks them to unmute.

1:01

All items within the agenda are subject to deliberation and votes.

1:06

Um let's have a moment of silence for our troops and our public safety personnel.

1:15

Salute to the flag.

1:24

Undergard.

1:28

Thank you.

1:35

So I don't know if we have anybody here for public comment.

1:38

Okay, great.

1:39

So public comments on non-agenda items are allowed for up to a total of 12 minutes at the beginning of each of our meetings.

1:46

Each speaker is limited to three minutes for comment.

1:49

Board members are unable to respond due to the posting requirement of the open meeting law.

1:56

And please come up.

2:02

Good evening.

2:03

Keith Barber, Percasset Water Quality Coalition.

2:07

So I would like to get on the record our uh thanks and appreciation to the many groups and people who helped us build our rain gardens.

2:17

So the three of them were completed on the 17th of uh September.

2:22

We still have some work to do tweaking things and working on the plants.

2:27

But um so the the simple solution we our goal when we started this in 2019 was to be able to enable shell fishing inside the restricted area between Wabash and Hill Street.

2:43

So that area's been closed for 40 years, and pretty much anybody who we asked said it was because of stormwater runoff.

2:51

So we we want to thank the board and Marlene in the beginning when we came and asked for permission to do this project, and we had a nice letter from Marlene supporting us, and the board supported it.

3:04

So you know, we really are thankful not only to you people but also uh more members of the town of Bourne.

3:13

Um the conservation uh agent Stevie Fitch and Bob Gray were extremely helpful for us.

3:21

Um Tim Leiden, another great asset, and Tim's project coming up with the new storm drains kind of works together with our project.

3:31

And we're gonna we're gonna make hencoch turn around.

3:34

I just gotta live long enough.

3:35

Uh also to the DPW, Matt Umicky was a very extremely helpful.

3:42

Uh Southeastern New England Partnership, which was founded by Congressman Keating, our coordinator Tom Ardito.

3:50

Special, special thanks.

3:52

Dan Barnett from Cape Cod and Court Cape Coral Imagineering designed and engineered the entire project and expected no payment.

4:02

Um CMS landscaping.

4:05

The guys did an unbelievable job.

4:07

That's uh Chris Markinson's uh Kiwi signs.

4:10

We have QR codes around all three of the gardens and people are using them and it's a great asset.

4:16

Umies in Falmouth gave us a great bargain on our plants.

4:21

Uh the APCC Association of Preserve Cape Cod, we use their information regarding plants and other things we did.

4:30

Um we had uh Bourne Community TV did a fantastic job.

4:36

I'm sure some of you have seen their video.

4:38

We had 20 students from Upper Cape Technology Environmental Program who came and helped us on Tuesday the 16th.

4:49

We we couldn't have done it without them.

4:51

They're strong like bulls.

4:53

We had over 30 of our neighbors and friends come to help us.

5:00

It was a great community project.

5:01

No one drove.

5:03

Everybody lived close enough.

5:05

I'm over my three minutes.

5:07

Everybody lived close enough to.

5:10

Close enough to walk.

5:11

And it was it we we made all bunch of new friends.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████████████████████39%
Capital Budget Planning███████████████15%
Licensing and Events██████████10%
Public Engagement█████5%
Public Safety█████5%
Environmental Protection████4%
Parking Management████4%
Budget Capital Planning████4%
Historic Preservation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Bourne Select Board Meeting Summary – September 17, 2025

Note: The provided date for this meeting is September 17, 2025, but the meeting transcript begins with "I'll call this meeting to order in September 30th, 2025." This discrepancy is noted; the summary below reflects the content of the September 30 transcript.

The Bourne Select Board convened on September 30, 2025 (per transcript) to address a variety of items including public comments, a liquor license amendment, a no‑parking zone request, special legislation to ratify a town election vote, and a comprehensive review of all 13 articles for the upcoming special town meeting. All votes were unanimous (5‑0) unless otherwise noted.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of September 29, 2025: Approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Keith Barber (Pocasset Water Quality Coalition): Expressed deep gratitude to the town, boards, and numerous volunteers and partners for completing three rain gardens on September 17, 2025. He noted that the project aims to enable shellfishing in an area closed for 40 years due to stormwater runoff. He thanked the Select Board, Conservation Agent Stevie Fitch, Bob Gray, Tim Leiden, DPW’s Matt Umicky, Southeastern New England Partnership, Dan Barnett (Cape Cod Imagineering), CMS Landscaping, Kiwi Signs, Umas in Falmouth, APCC, Bourne Community TV, and 20 students from Upper Cape Tech Environmental Program, plus over 30 neighbors. The project was a community effort with no one driving; all walked.

Discussion Items

  • Ryan Family Amusements LLC – Liquor License Amendment: An attorney representing the applicant introduced Bill Campbell (president). The request was to approve changes in officers, directors, LLC managers, and ownership interest for the annual all‑alcohol general on‑premise license at 200 Main Street. The current manager Pamela Yasino will remain. The public hearing was opened, no public comment, and the board voted to approve the amendment. The hearing was then closed.
  • No‑Parking Zone for Circuit Avenue: The item was introduced but the requester (Keith Barber) had left. Board members discussed the need to protect the newly installed rain gardens from parked vehicles. After initial deferral, a motion was made to approve the no‑parking zone as recommended by DPW. The motion passed unanimously. Discussion noted broader parking issues in the area, particularly with trucks and trailers at the town landing.
  • Southside Fire Station – Special Legislation: The board discussed a procedural error: the debt exclusion ballot question for the fire station was not posted as part of the election warrant. Bond counsel discovered the omission. The town requested the governor file special legislation to ratify, validate, and confirm the May 20, 2025, annual town election and all actions taken pursuant to it. The motion passed unanimously.

Review and Vote on All Special Town Meeting Articles (Articles 1‑13)

The board reviewed and voted on each article for the October 20, 2025 special town meeting. All votes were unanimous (5‑0) except where noted.

  • Article 1 (hear reports): Recommended approval.
  • Article 2 (operating budget adjustment): Includes IAFF collective bargaining settlement, COLA for Bourne Employees Association, change of library personnel from part‑time to full‑time, and use of $100,000 from ambulance reserve for fire department salaries. Recommended approval.
  • Article 3 (transfer $368,000 from free cash to capital stabilization fund, from excess host community fee): Recommended approval. A board member noted the amount is slightly less than last year; the town administrator confirmed it reflects the closing of FY25 books.
  • Article 4 (omnibus capital budget FY2026, part two): Fire department received two grants: $295,454.54 for a forestry vehicle and $505,645.45 for SCBA (the latter slightly less than requested, so local match increased by $200,000, making it a borrowing line item). Recommended approval.
  • Article 5 (police station roof replacement at 35 Armory Road): Discussion included questions about how the roof issues occurred and the building inspector’s role. Recommended approval.
  • Article 6 (Bourne Middle School roof feasibility study and schematic design for MSBA accelerated repair project): Recommended approval.
  • Article 7 (planning, constructing, equipping new garage/office building at ISWEM): Noted that borrowing requires a two‑thirds vote. The town’s total authorized and unissued debt is $24,908,000 (as of June 30, 2025). This article would add $3,975,500 from general fund and $23,900,000 from ISWEM enterprise fund. Recommended approval.
  • Article 8 (design and engineering for new transfer station at ISWEM): Recommended approval.
  • Article 9 (Monument Beach Marina design/engineering via Community Preservation funds): Recommended approval.
  • Article 10 (Sagmore Cemetery tree removal and headstone preservation via Community Preservation funds): A resident spoke passionately about the historical importance of the stones and the danger from large trees. The board expressed strong support. Recommended approval.
  • Article 11 (construction easements for Barlow’s Landing Road/Shore Road intersection improvement): Two easements (57 sq ft at 369 Barlow’s Landing, 302 sq ft at 375 Barlow’s Landing). No additional appropriation needed; funds are within the project. Recommended approval.
  • Article 12 (MBTA multifamily housing zoning): The planning board discussed with the board. Recommended approval.
  • Article 13 (Petition article for special legislation to authorize an annual all‑alcohol package store license for C State Foods dba Katamit Fish): The petitioner, Patrick Ross, spoke. Discussion included concerns about existing available licenses, potential conflict with the Market Basket appeal, and the lack of specified terms in the special legislation. The Finance Committee voted 4‑1‑1 not to recommend. The board voted unanimously to defer making a recommendation and will provide it on the night of town meeting.

Designation of Essential and Contingent Articles

  • Essential articles: Articles 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 were designated essential. Unanimous.
  • Second night of town meeting: Tuesday, October 21, 2025, if necessary. Unanimous.

Article Assignments and Presentations

  • Board members assigned articles for presentation: Melissa (Articles 2, 5), Jean (4, 11, 12), MJ (3, 6), Peter (7, 8, 10), Anne Marie (1, 9, 13).
  • Discussion on improving presentations, particularly for the police station roof article.

Consent Agenda Items

  • Execute warrant for October 20, 2025 special town meeting.
  • Bourne Recreation Department banner for Trunk or Treat (October 30).
  • Mass Maritime Parents Association banner for Christmas Craft Fair.
  • Bonfire permission for Bourne Canalman football bonfire on November 25, 2025 at 75 Waterhouse Road.
  • Set rates for private snow plowing contractors for 2025‑2026 winter season (no increase from last year). Approved unanimously.

Town Administrator’s Report

  • Scenic highway median project: Night work begins Sunday, November 9 (8 p.m. – 6 a.m.); invasive vegetation management started; tree clearing starts November 3.
  • Windows 10 replacement: Fewer than 20 devices need replacement; funds available.
  • Queen Sewell parking lot: Slight delay due to fabrication of drainage components; completion expected before Thanksgiving.
  • Complete streets grant application for Shore Road/Barlow’s Landing intersection not successful; funds already appropriated by town meeting, construction expected spring 2026.
  • Cape Way cannabis project: Planning board site plan review tentatively scheduled October 23.
  • DEP grant application for NSA watersheds: Pre‑application meeting attended; grant application due October 14.

Correspondence & Policy Review

  • Chair read the board’s correspondence policy (Section 8) to clarify procedures for handling emails, responding, and avoiding open meeting law violations. Board members emphasized the importance of following the policy to ensure proper channels.

Key Outcomes

  • Liquor license amendment (Ryan Family Amusements): Approved unanimously. Public hearing closed.
  • No‑parking zone (Circuit Avenue): Approved unanimously to protect rain gardens.
  • Special legislation for Southside Fire Station election: Approved unanimously.
  • All special town meeting articles (1‑13): Recommended approval for Articles 1‑12 unanimously. Article 13 (Katamit Fish special license) – recommendation deferred to town meeting, unanimously.
  • Essential articles: Articles 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 designated essential.
  • Second night of town meeting set: October 21, 2025, if needed.
  • Consent agenda: Approved unanimously.
  • **Minutes approved. **

Meeting Transcript

I'll call this meeting to order in September 30th, 2025. Note this meeting is being televised, streamed, or recorded by Bourne TV. If anyone in the audience is recording or videotaping, please acknowledge now. We have Owen here, Born Enterprise. Please refrain from flash photography, please. If anyone from the public wishes to access the meeting, they may do so by calling the following conference line. One nine two nine two zero five, six zero nine nine. Zoom meeting ID 89729-3538. Password, all caps, born. The Zoom chat will not be monitored. Participants who uh sorry. The gym chat will not be monitored. Participants who wish to speak must raise the hand icon until the chair asks them to unmute. All items within the agenda are subject to deliberation and votes. Um let's have a moment of silence for our troops and our public safety personnel. Salute to the flag. Undergard. Thank you. So I don't know if we have anybody here for public comment. Okay, great. So public comments on non-agenda items are allowed for up to a total of 12 minutes at the beginning of each of our meetings. Each speaker is limited to three minutes for comment. Board members are unable to respond due to the posting requirement of the open meeting law. And please come up. Good evening. Keith Barber, Percasset Water Quality Coalition. So I would like to get on the record our uh thanks and appreciation to the many groups and people who helped us build our rain gardens. So the three of them were completed on the 17th of uh September. We still have some work to do tweaking things and working on the plants. But um so the the simple solution we our goal when we started this in 2019 was to be able to enable shell fishing inside the restricted area between Wabash and Hill Street. So that area's been closed for 40 years, and pretty much anybody who we asked said it was because of stormwater runoff. So we we want to thank the board and Marlene in the beginning when we came and asked for permission to do this project, and we had a nice letter from Marlene supporting us, and the board supported it. So you know, we really are thankful not only to you people but also uh more members of the town of Bourne. Um the conservation uh agent Stevie Fitch and Bob Gray were extremely helpful for us. Um Tim Leiden, another great asset, and Tim's project coming up with the new storm drains kind of works together with our project. And we're gonna we're gonna make hencoch turn around. I just gotta live long enough. Uh also to the DPW, Matt Umicky was a very extremely helpful. Uh Southeastern New England Partnership, which was founded by Congressman Keating, our coordinator Tom Ardito. Special, special thanks. Dan Barnett from Cape Cod and Court Cape Coral Imagineering designed and engineered the entire project and expected no payment. Um CMS landscaping. The guys did an unbelievable job. That's uh Chris Markinson's uh Kiwi signs. We have QR codes around all three of the gardens and people are using them and it's a great asset. Umies in Falmouth gave us a great bargain on our plants. Uh the APCC Association of Preserve Cape Cod, we use their information regarding plants and other things we did. Um we had uh Bourne Community TV did a fantastic job. I'm sure some of you have seen their video. We had 20 students from Upper Cape Technology Environmental Program who came and helped us on Tuesday the 16th.

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