Bourne Select Board Meeting - March 3, 2026
Bourne Select Board Meeting - March 3, 2026
The Bourne Select Board met on March 3, 2026, at 7:00 PM. The meeting included discussions on the Southside Fire Station borrowing authority, a presentation from MassDOT on the Cape Cod Bridges project and Keith Field parking, budget updates, and other routine matters. The board took several votes, including approving a motion to delay bidding on the fire station until authorized, renewing an erosion protection license, and sending a letter to DESE regarding student residency discrepancies.
Public Comments & Testimony
- John York (resident) discussed inadequate snow removal from state-owned sidewalks along state roadways in Bourne. He noted that after the blizzard of 2026, many state sidewalks, including a newly constructed shared-use path along the Bourne Rail Trail, remained unplowed due to the retirement of a longtime road crew member and the lack of a written agreement between the town and the state. He urged the board to formalize sidewalk maintenance responsibilities.
Discussion Items
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Southside Fire Station Borrowing Authority: The board reviewed options to correct a legal defect in the warrant for the special town election that omitted the ballot question. Financial advisor Brenda (Bond Counsel) outlined three options: (1) wait for pending special legislation (already passed the House, awaiting Senate action), (2) redo the ballot question at a future election, or (3) pass a town meeting article not contingent on Prop 2.5 and then seek legislative exemption. The board noted a current deficit of approximately $500,000 on the article due to ongoing spending. MJ requested clarification of critical deadlines (e.g., warrant close on March 27, ballot creation by early April). The board unanimously voted to direct the building committee to finalize bid documents but not go out to bid until authorized by the select board.
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MassDOT Cape Cod Bridges Project & Keith Field Parking: Louisa Pywanski, Executive Director of Megaprojects Delivery at MassDOT, provided an update: the final Environmental Impact Report was being filed for the Sagamore Bridge replacement, with $1.2 billion in federal funds secured and the state contributing nearly $750 million. Construction on the eastbound span is targeted for completion by 2033. MassDOT intends to request donation of the former fire station parcel (1025 Cranberry Hwy) for a construction area, a ramp, and a bicycle/pedestrian facility. Regarding Keith Field, MassDOT proposed replacing lost roadside parking with a lot on the south side of Sandwich Road, but the Rec Committee and several speakers (Cameron Wilson, John York) strongly opposed the location due to safety concerns for children crossing the road. MassDOT offered to work with the town on a safe crossing, such as a flashing light crosswalk. The board agreed to continue discussions and consider a public forum. No vote was taken, but the board expressed willingness to collaborate on a safe solution.
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Upper Cape Tech Budget and Student Residency: Superintendent presented the FY27 assessment, which was revised to $4,438,051 (a decrease of $128,344 from the original proposal but still $128,344 over the January budget). A key issue emerged: 14 students were reclassified as non-Bourne residents after address verification, but 11 additional students remain in question due to the shared 02532 zip code with Wareham. The board debated the financial impact and the need for a permanent solution. A motion passed unanimously to send a letter to Robert O’Donnell at DESE requesting recalculation of the enrollment data and correction of the assessments.
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FY27 Budget Amendments: Town Finance Director Erica Williams presented a supplemental budget adjustment sheet. Changes included increases for police patrol contract placeholder ($100,000), fire dispatch ($70,125), and adjustments to the governor's budget revenue projections. The net result is a general fund deficit of $478,532. Marlene, the Town Administrator, noted that cuts must be made and she would need time to develop a plan. The board must decide how to allocate reductions between town services and school education.
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Planning Board Articles: Marlene reported that the Planning Board will not move forward with the seasonal communities designation or the tiny homes/small lots article at the May town meeting.
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Memorial Plaque Request: A request to place a memorial plaque for Barbara Lease on an existing town-owned bench in Buzzards Bay Park was discussed. Board members raised concerns about setting a precedent for naming existing benches without donation. The matter was tabled pending a policy review and more detailed presentation from the requester.
Key Outcomes
- Southside Fire Station: Unanimously voted to hold the bid process until the select board authorizes it. The building committee may finalize documents but shall not release them. (Motion by Maria, second by Jean; all yes.)
- Indian Trails Erosion Protection License Renewal: Unanimously approved renewal of the license for a five-year term, with removal of insurance requirements (sections 7A and 7A1). (Motion by Jean, second by Peter; 4-0 as MJ lost connection.)
- Special Event Permits: Unanimously approved two birthday party events at Buzzards Bay Park on March 16 and June 20, 2026.
- DESE Letter on Student Residency: Unanimously authorized the chair to send a letter to Robert O'Donnell at DESE requesting correction of the upper Cape Tech enrollment assessment, with a copy to the delegation. (Motion by Anne Marie, second by Jean; all yes.)
- Consent Agenda: Approved as presented (motion by Anne Marie, second by Jean; roll call vote: all yes.)
- Minutes: Approved for meetings on January 13, 20, 27, and February 26, 2026 (motion by Peter, second by Anne Marie; 4-0 as MJ abstained.)
- Adjournment: Voted to adjourn (motion by Anne Marie, second by Peter; all yes.)
Meeting Transcript
Okay, being 7 p.m. Uh we will start this meeting. Uh note this meeting is being televised, streamed, or recorded by Bourne TV. If anyone in the audience is recording or video taping, they must acknowledge at this time enterprise. Uh please refrain from using flash photography. If anyone from the public wishes to access the meeting, they can do so by calling the following conference line. 1929, 205, 6099, Zoom meeting ID 897-1229-3538, password is all caps born. The Zoom chat will not be monitored. Uh participants who wish to speak must raise the hand icon until the chair asks them to unmute. All items within the meeting agenda are subject to deliberation and votes. Um let's have a moment of silence for our troops and public safety personnel. Salute to the flag. And to the Republicans, one nation and digital liberty and justice for all. Okay. Um before I um go to public comment, I just want to take a point of personal privilege. I just have a short statement I'd like to read for the public. So we all know that last Sunday and to Monday, our community faced the blizzard of 2026. A storm that brought some of the most severe weather conditions Cape Cod has seen in years. Wind gusts across the Cape reached Hurricane Forest, and the combination of the heavy wet snow and damaging winds left more than 250,000 customers without power, including much of our town. Even in those conditions, the people who serve Bourne showed extraordinary dedication. Eversource, the linemen, the contractors who plowed for us and worked long hours in this dangerous weather to keep our roads open, responded to emergencies, and moved us toward restoration. I also want to recognize the quiet work that often goes unseen, essential workers, doctors, nurses, and our loyal residents who shoveled out hydrants who worked on L um work to check on their neighbors and the elders, and uh that had no power, um, who shared resources with one another and who helped one another get through um some long cold days and a very long week. I know some and some even on our select board that were without power until as late as Friday, I do believe, and still some are struggling to get back some in full of services. So that is the heart of Bourne. Um to everyone who stepped up, professionals, neighbors alike were deeply grateful, and it's the storm certainly tested us. Um, but it also reminds us of who we are as a town. So I just wanted to add that tonight. Um so public comment on non-agenda items. Public comments are allowed for up to a total of 12 minutes at the beginning of each meeting. Each speaker is limited to three minutes for comment. Select board members are unable to respond due to post and requirements by the open meeting law. Do we have anyone here tonight or um signed up on the slip for public comment? I see Mr. York's hand up. Nobody in here in the room. All right, John. We're right ahead. Thank you. Um my comments follow on from what Melissa was discussing about how um well our town responded to a very trying situation. Um we haven't had one like that maybe since 2015. We had three of them in one winter, uh, two of which were worse than that. Um so um my comment is about uh hearing the snow from sidewalks. And it's not the town does a beautiful job. It's not about the town's uh uh falling short, but it's about the state falling short. Um we have quite a bit of state-owned roadway in this town and queer that has state from sidewalks. Um abstract uh agreement sort of that the towns will maintain and clear snow from state sidewalks throughout the state. It's not in writing. And in fact, it isn't even a verbal agreement that you could repeat for data. Uh it's so there is no specific agreement, but there's a sort of an understanding. Um so the problem is that uh things happen, like the head of a road crew for many many years, Jimmy Boyle retired, and so certain sidewalks didn't get plowed after he retired just because nobody was paying attention.
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