Cemetery, museum preservation passes at Dennis town meeting. Wixon school future uncertain
SOUTH YARMOUTH — Out of the 24 articles on Thursday's special town meeting warrant, seven focused on Community Preservation Act money to pay for upkeep of town historical sites.
Article 5 asked voters to transfer $41,000 for renovations at the Dennis Village Cemetery and Article 6 asked for a transfer of $28,358 for architectural consultants to repair the Josiah Dennis Manse Museum.
For the first time, the Dennis town meeting was held at the new Dennis-Yarmouth Intermediate School in South Yarmouth. Dennis residents passed all the articles with limited discussions, questions and comments.
Article 4 asked voters to transfer $720,000 out of ambulance receipts to buy a new ambulance. The town will need two new ambulances in the coming years and since there is a two-year wait for ambulances to get approved, the Select Board recommended getting a head start. Another ambulance purchase is set to be discussed at the annual town meeting next year.
The Dennis Historical Commission is planning to build a brand new memorial to the American Revolution and during the meeting voters approved a transfer of $5,000 to the commission to create the memorial.
About the future of the former Nathaniel H. Wixon Innovation School in South Dennis, Finance Committee Chair Bob Prall urged residents to be patient.
"We're not there just yet," said Prall. "We've heard the town speak. We've seen all these recommendations that were made by everyone."
The former school is a valuable piece of property "and we will get there," Prall said. "I ask for your patience, we're continuing to work on this as we speak."
TOWN MEETING RESULTS
WARRANT ARTICLE NUMBER | WHAT IS THE ARTICLE ABOUT? | PASSED, FAILED, POSTPONED |
1. Fiscal Year 2024 budget supplement | Appropriate and transfer of $336,747 to supplement the Fiscal Year 2024 line item appropriations. | Passed |
4. Ambulance purchase | Transfer $720,000 out of ambulance receipts to buy a new ambulance. | Passed |
5. Dennis Village Cemetery | Transfer of $41,000 for renovations at the Dennis Village Cemetery | Passed |
6. Josiah Dennis Manse Museum repair | Transfer of $28,358 to repair the Josiah Dennis Manse Museum. | Passed |
9. CPC grant; Upper Bass River Watershed Restoration | Transfer of $99,000 from the CPC grant to fund the Upper Bass River Watershed Restoration project | Passed |
10. American Revolution Memorial | Transfer of $5000 to Dennis Historical Commission for an American Revolution Memorial | Passed |
17. Wastewater Stabilization Fund | Transfer of $1.5 million to the wastewater stabilization fund | Passed |
22. Fire Station 2 Supplemental Funding | Transfer $100,000 to complete the Fire Station 2 project | Passed |
23. Wixon School | Transfer of $300,000 for the cost of assessment, survey and testing of the grounds. | Passed |
For more information about the articles on the special town meeting warrant go to: https://www.town.dennis.ma.us/town-clerk/pages/town-meeting-information
Rasheek Tabassum Mujib writes about health care and education. Reach her at rmujib@capecodonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Votes at Dennis town meeting allow Wixon school property assessment
