Bourne Select Board Joint Meeting with Planning Board - September 8, 2026

The Bourne Select Board held a joint meeting with the Planning Board on September 8, 2026. The meeting covered appointments, updates on the Growth Incentive Zone, a proposal for affordable housing at the former police station, a fire response report, and preliminary budget discussions for fiscal year 2028. The meeting was conducted virtually due to technical issues.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the consent agenda as presented by a roll call vote of 4-0-0 (Jean Ozeverovicz, Peter Meyer, Mary Jane Mistrangelo, and the chair voting yes).

Discussion Items

Appointment of Associate Member to Planning Board

• The Planning Board had vacancies for an alternate member. Two applicants (Liz Brown and Corinne Moore Covey) were considered, but only Corinne Moore Covey was present. Planning Board member Steve Stroni nominated Corinne Moore Covey, seconded by Robert. The Select Board also voted. The joint vote was unanimous: all Planning Board members (Steve, Chris, David, Mandy, Robert) and Select Board members (Jean, Peter, Mary Jane, and the chair) voted in favor. Absent: Anne Marie Sarunian. The appointment is for a term ending June 30, 2029. Peter Meyer suggested considering a bylaw change to expand alternate members from two to three to accommodate future candidates.

Growth Incentive Zone Update

• Town Planner Jennifer Copeland summarized the Growth Incentive Zone (GIZ) history, adopted in 2012 and amended in 2019. Current allowances are 360 housing units and 650,000 square feet commercial space. The town is requesting additional units to include MBTA multifamily housing overlay district units (up to 750 units). Projects over 30 units require a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) review by the Cape Cod Commission. The Commission has requested additional information, including policies for historic resources, updated hazard mitigation plan, water and sewer calculations, floodplain bylaw, open space and recreation plan, design standards, and a capital improvement plan. Jennifer noted the process will take longer than anticipated. Discussion included:
  • Mary Jane Mistrangelo suggested providing the sewer allocation spreadsheet to demonstrate capacity.
  • Peter Meyer asked about mitigation funds held by the Cape Cod Commission; Rob Ashley (town's Commission representative) will investigate.
  • John York raised concerns about pedestrian walkability in the GIZ and urged the town to push back on MassDOT bridge designs that add extra distance for pedestrians.
  • Mary Jane Mistrangelo proposed separating the MBTA units (which lack sewer allocation) from the existing projects with allocated sewer to avoid delays. Jennifer Copeland indicated the sewer system cannot support 750 additional MBTA units currently. The town may seek grant funding (Catalyst Fund) for sewer expansion.

Future Use of Former Police Station on Main Street (Affordable Housing)

• Sue Ross (Affordable Housing Trust) presented a proposal for workforce housing, focusing on town employees. The Trust hired architect Leonardi to assess the existing building. Leonardi reported that the building (built 1955, second floor added 1970s) is structurally unsound for residential conversion due to obsolete mechanical/electrical systems, hazardous materials, and floodplain location. The Trust recommends demolition. Leonardi presented a conceptual design for two three-story buildings on the site (173 Main Street and the other side) with ground-level parking and residential units above, yielding an estimated 24–26 units. First floor would be parking and non-residential use. Parking ratio of 1:1 (about 35 spaces). The Trust seeks control of the property to apply for funding from Mass Housing Partnership (application deadline September 15, 2026). The Select Board agreed to place on a future agenda to discuss transferring control, with town counsel advice. Mary Jane Mistrangelo noted town meeting previously authorized the Select Board to dispose of the building, and a similar agreement with a reverter clause (like Hoxie) could be used.

Boat Fire Response (August 8, 2026)

• Fire Chief David Pallonzi briefed the board on the department's response to a boat fire in Monument Beach. Key facts: original 911 call at 4:26:59 PM reported only a boat fire (no injury). The initial response included Engine 5 and Marine Unit with typical staffing of nine personnel on duty. A full department recall was initiated. At 4:33:05 PM, the 14th call identified an injured person. Medical dispatch occurred 52 seconds later; an ambulance from Buzzards Bay (not Monument Beach) responded and arrived 13 minutes after the medical call (19 minutes from the original fire call). Chief Pallonzi stated that the response was appropriate given the information available, and a 30-minute ambulance response did not occur. He clarified that an ambulance at Monument Beach station was not staffed because all three on-duty personnel responded to the fire. Public comments:
  • Carla Emmons (Monument Beach resident) expressed concern that the local ambulance could not respond immediately, asking what would need to change for a faster response.
  • Joe (likely union representative) emphasized the need to add staff and raise minimum manning (currently 9), noting that only three personnel cover the entire south side of the canal. He urged board to plan for future staffing.
  • Jeff (former firefighter) had connectivity issues but raised manning concerns.
  • John York noted the population is roughly 50-50 north and south of the canal, calling for equal services.
  • Chief Pallonzi noted current staffing challenges: two vacancies (conditional offers accepted), three long-term injuries, and firefighters attending academy. He addressed mandatory holdover policies, which rotate by seniority.
• Discussion included minimum manning: Select Board members asked about the costs of increasing staffing. MJ noted the Safer grant previously added eight firefighters, but after grant termination only four were retained. The department currently has four shifts of ten personnel when fully staffed; minimum is nine.

FY28 Budget Deficit and Debt Service Policy

• Town Administrator Marlene McKernan and Finance Director Erica outlined a potential operating budget deficit for FY28. Four major revenue sources: property taxes (75%, limited by Prop 2.5 with low new growth ~$300k-$450k), state aid (unpredictable), local receipts (10-12%, should not exceed 90% of prior actuals), and other funds (ambulance, conservation, waterways). The town has been using capital stabilization funds to cover debt service (approx. $492,000 in FY27) rather than including it in the operating budget. The Select Board had a goal to transition debt service funding into the operating budget. Mary Jane Mistrangelo stressed the need for a detailed capital plan showing all projects, costs, and funding sources (as recommended by DLS). She noted that the previous administration stopped borrowing and used free cash for capital, but now capital stabilization is being depleted. Marlene asked the board to consider holding space in the FY28 operating budget for pay-as-you-go capital and debt service. The board agreed to continue the discussion at a future meeting, with a need for more detailed projections and a policy subcommittee. Peter Meyer suggested starting budget discussions after the fall town meeting (late October).

Key Outcomes

• Appointment: Corinne Moore Covey was appointed as Associate Member of the Planning Board for a term ending June 30, 2029 (unanimous joint vote).
• License Agreement: Approved the execution of a license agreement with NSTAR Electric for electrical service to the new fire station at 171 Clay Pond Road (motion by Peter Meyer, second by Jean Ozeverovicz; roll call vote: 4-0-0).
• Article 97 Transfer: Authorized the execution of assignment and assumption of conservation restriction for property on Dr. Julius Kelly Lane, authorizing town counsel and Marlene to finalize documents (motion by Peter Meyer, second by Jean; roll call vote: 4-0-0).
• Minutes Approved: Meeting minutes from August 18, 2026, were approved (motion by Peter Meyer, second by Jean; roll call vote: 4-0-0).
• Future Agenda Items: The board agreed to:
  • Schedule a discussion on transferring control of the former police station to the Affordable Housing Trust, with town counsel advice.
  • Continue FY28 budget and debt service policy discussions, possibly after fall town meeting.
  • Review correspondence response policy at a future meeting.
  • Consider implementing a waiting room for Zoom meetings to prevent disruptions.
• Town Administrator Report: Noted planning board zoning article for special town meeting (five-foot height allowance for non-conforming lots), splash pad closure (Sept 14), Cape Cod Commission open space survey, ISWIM food waste diversion (25.28 tons), and ADA compliance improvements.
• Adjourned: Motion by Peter Meyer, second by Jean Ozeverovicz; roll call vote: 3-0-0 (Mary Jane Mistrangelo had dropped off).