Bourne Select Board Meeting: February 10, 2026
Bourne Select Board Meeting: February 10, 2026
The Bourne Select Board met on February 10, 2026, at 7:00 PM. Key agenda items included the Terra Terrace/Eldridge Street private way betterment, an Enbridge gas main relocation request for the upcoming Town Meeting, FY27 budget updates, and discussion of dissolving the Town Administrator's Advisory Committee on the Pedestrian Bicycle Pathway. The board voted on several motions and heard public testimony.
Consent Calendar
- Approved consent items A–D as amended: executive termination notice for ESCO monitoring (date corrected), walk for hope use of Buzzards Bay Park (July 12, 2026), two donations to the library ($20 anonymous, $100 Upper Cape Photography Club), and nomination of Richard A. Lavoy to the Barnstable County Home Consortium (term through June 30, 2029).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Janet Butler (Monument Beach, Terra Terrace resident) expressed frustration with delays, citing a public safety issue from impassable roads, a child who broke her arm, and the town's failure to act on tax-delinquent parcels since 2005. She urged moving forward with the betterment.
- Eric McPray (Terra Terrace) opposed combining Terra Terrace and Eldridge Street, argued that road maintenance is a property owner obligation, and said the process has been flawed; he supported tabling for more information.
- Nick Schultz (19 Terra Terrace) spoke in favor, citing personal costs (vehicle repairs, daughter's broken hand requiring surgery) and arguing the town needs clearer policies on private roads.
- Bill Chapman (78 Terra Terrace) criticized the process as flawed from the start, argued roads should be separated, and said the town should recognize substandard original construction; he requested transparency.
- Octavio (54 Terra Terrace) noted a 30% contingency in the project and said the 5% cost issue uncovered recently should be absorbed by that contingency.
- Andrew Cooney (67 Terra Terrace, committee member) supported moving forward, noted different frontage lengths on Terra Terrace sections, and suggested working with the Open Space Committee to acquire the delinquent parcel.
- Dustin Thompson (21 Terra Terrace) supported the project, describing road conditions as impassable and a safety hazard.
Discussion Items
Terra Terrace and Eldridge Street Private Way Betterment
- Tim Leiden (Engineering) reported that two open space parcels on Terra Terrace have not paid taxes since 1999 (total $24,700) and the entity owning them has been administratively dissolved, making collection of their betterment share ($56,097.63, ~5% of project) highly uncertain. He recommended tabling the betterment to review policy.
- Town Counsel confirmed the title issues and low likelihood of collecting the betterment from those parcels.
- Select Board member MJ (Mary Jane) argued that tax title issues are not unique to these parcels and should not block the project; she favored proceeding.
- The board discussed separating costs between streets. Tim noted the combined project saves mobilization costs but could be separated.
- Motion: Direct Town Counsel and staff to review the land status and private way betterment policy, providing options in time for the Annual Town Meeting (May 4, 2026). Passed 5-0.
Enbridge Article 97 Land – Gas Main Relocation
- Danny Kist (Enbridge) requested a Town Meeting article for permanent pipeline easements and temporary access on three Article 97-protected parcels (2.76 acres total). Replacement land (2.76 acres) behind Mirisol Drive has been identified.
- Board approved sponsoring the article subject to review by Town Counsel to ensure proper authorization language. Passed 5-0.
FY27 Budget Updates and Amendments
- Finance staff reported continued uncertainty (cherry sheet estimates pending, health insurance analysis scheduled for late February, patrol union contract open). Upper Cape Tech superintendent confirmed for March 3 meeting; joint meeting with School Committee not yet scheduled.
- MJ requested detailed enrollment data from Bourne Public Schools and Upper Cape Tech (by grade, charter, choice in/out). Motion passed 5-0.
Dissolution of Town Administrator's Advisory Committee on Pedestrian Bicycle Pathway
- Ken Shetlin (interim chair) reported the committee recommended delaying Phase 1 of the rail-with-trail project (cost $10.2M for ~half mile) and is now advocating for rail-to-trail with track removal. Falmouth Select Board recently changed its position to support rail-to-trail.
- Town Administrator Marlene recommended dissolving the committee because its specific charge (Bourne Rail Trail) is on hold; she suggested reconstituting a broader select board committee on bicycle/pedestrian issues.
- MJ opposed dissolution, noting $4M in state funding still on the table for Phase 1 and the town's representation on the Bridges Stakeholder Advisory Group.
- John (citizen) argued the committee's charge includes safe routes to schools and that dissolving it could lose representation. He urged keeping a town function for bicycle/pedestrian issues.
- The board agreed to place the matter on a future agenda for further discussion, no vote taken.
Key Outcomes
- Terra Terrace Betterment: Motion passed 5-0 to have Town Counsel and staff review land status and betterment policy before the Annual Town Meeting.
- Enbridge Article: Motion passed 5-0 to sponsor the article contingent on Town Counsel review.
- Budget Data Request: Motion passed 5-0 to formally request enrollment numbers by grade, charter, and choice from Bourne Public Schools and Upper Cape Tech.
- Licensing: One-day liquor licenses approved for Mass Maritime (Feb 21) and St. Margaret Church (Mar 14), both 5-0.
- Minutes: July 25, 2025 (retreat) minutes approved 5-0; January 6, 2026 minutes approved 4-0-1 (Select Board member Peter abstained as he was not present at that meeting).
- Future Agenda Items: Peter requested a list of tax title properties as required by bylaw (to be provided annually); board will schedule review of annual goals.
Meeting adjourned at 8:57 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Thanks. All right. It's just hitting seven o'clock on February 10th, 2026. I'll call the uh select board meeting to order. If anyone from the public wishes to access the meeting, they can do so by calling the conference line one nine two nine two zero five six zero nine nine. The Zoom meeting ID 897 1229 3538 and the password is born all capitalized B-O-U-R-N-E. Note this meeting is being televised, streamed or recorded by Bourne TV. Is there anyone else recording? Ellen, thank you. Um they need to know anyone online recording video taping. Okay, seeing none, all items within the zoom chat will not be monitored. So participants who wish to participate, please raise your hand icon. Um and please refrain from flash photography. All items within the meeting agenda are subject to deliberation and vote. So let's have a moment of silence for our public safety personnel and our troops. Salute to the flag. 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. Thank you. Is there anyone here for a non-agenda public comment on a non-agenda item? Anyone online public comment for non-agenda item. Okay, seeing none. Agenda item four. The annual town meeting is May 4th, 2026. Articles budget and preparation. The first uh agenda item A is Tara and Eldridge, the private way betterment. Tim. Thank you, Madam Chair. Ladies and gentlemen on the board, I'm Tim Leiden from the Engineering Department. Um here on behalf of you for the Terra Terrace and Eldritch Street and Elder Street Extension betterment. Um for the reasons of transparency and making sure we're doing what we need to do. Um we did notice the abutters again. There's another staff who with the timing of the meeting on the notice for the last um mailings. Um for that, we wanted to come back and reaffirm that vote. That being said, we had time to review a few more of the aspects that I think are relevant to the conversation. And before we go any further, I'd like to let inform you of a couple matters that came before us. Um, you know, with with the mailings, we get kicked back, and you know, we look at who's not getting the mailings and and such. The open space parcels over at Terra Terrace have not paid taxes since 1999. Um I believe you do have a memo in your packet from the finance director who is on the call as well tonight. Um for a total of 24,700 in back taxes. That being said, I think it's very important to review what their share of this betterment would be. With them not paying their taxes, it might not be likely that they pay this betterment. The betterment total that they would be on the hook for with this assessment would be 56,097 and 63 cents. That is about 5% of the project. Maybe a little bit more, a little bit more than 5% of the project. So that being said, I think if we reaffirm this vote tonight, you do need to know those facts. I have other things to go on about, but I think at that time I'd take any input from the select board. Has so the the betterment hasn't been finalized, correct? The betterment this this is a this is so the thing about the betterment language, the legal requirements really don't go into great detail until you really go to town meeting and start assessing the estimated order of betterments. With that, that's when you start meeting the law.
openpublica.com