Falmouth Election: Override Passes, Patterson, Taylor Win

FALMOUTH, MA — Selectmen Samuel Patterson won back his seat on the Board of Selectmen, and Nancy Taylor will join him on the board, according to unofficial results. She replaces Susan Moran, who was elected to the state senate in the Plymouth and Barnstable District Tuesday night.

Falmouth voters also approved every ballot question put to a vote — including passing a $971,507 override to hire eight new firefighters.

The override now awaits approval from town meeting members. If approved, it would cost the average homeowner $30.24 annually.Town meeting was scheduled for the third Monday after the expiration of the state of emergency for the coronavirus.

Other measures that passed included changing the name of the Board of Selectmen to the Select Board and getting rid of term limits for members of the Board of Assessors. This was the most hotly contested ballot question having passed by just 373 votes.

>>>See also: Susan Moran Wins Barnstable-Plymouth State Senate Seat

Voting Amid The Coronavirus Pandemic

As of safety precaution, the Secretary of State's office allowed mail-in voting for municipal elections across Massachusetts. And in Falmouth, residents have taken advantage of this option. The ones that did told Patch the process was simple and made them feel safe voting.

"I thought it was great," Arthur Stryke, a 71-year-old resident said after voting by mail for the first time. "I mailed in the card that I got, and in a few days, a ballot came in the mail. I mailed it back. That was it. I hope to do it again in November."

Richard Hughes said he also voted by mail. He described mail-in voting as "a simple process" and "the best way to go for future elections in 2020."

Other voters who physically went to the polls said the locations weren't busy, and poll workers took proper safety precautions. Susie Callahan said all the poll workers had masks on and were "very polite."Resident Lori Bisbee also thanked the poll workers and urged people to take precautions.

"I voted around 10 a.m. All went smoothly," Bisbee said. "Wear a mask, take your own pen. Thanks to those who worked at the polls."

Board of Selectmen (two elected):

School Committee (pick three):

Library Trustee (pick two):

Planning Board (pick three):

Housing Authority:

Ballot Questions

1. Shall the Town of Falmouth be allowed to assess an additional $971,507 in real estate and personal property taxesfor the purpose of funding the salaries and benefits of eight (8) firefighters for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1,2020?

• Yes: 3,592

• No: 2,172

2. Shall the Town of Falmouth request the Board of Selectmen to communicate to Governor Baker and the State Legislature that the Town favors using all means available at the Plymouth Nuclear Power Plant to ensure that: (1) spent nuclear fuel be secured in better quality dry casks and hardened onsite, storage; and (2) spent fuel pool and casks be protected with heightened security to prevent intrusion in order to protect the health, welfare, and economic interests of the Town?

• Yes: 4,889

• No: 804

Town Charter Amendments (approved by town meeting voters in November 2019)

3. Will the Board of Selectmen be renamed the Select Board?

To enhance the clarity and consistency of Charter language, certain words and phrases are changed as follows: a)committees, councils and boards are to be referred to as governmental bodies; b) the Master Plan will be known as the Local Comprehensive Plan; c) the Long Range Plan will be known as the Strategic Plan; d) the Representative Town Meeting will be known as the Town Meeting; and e) the Registrar of Voters will be known as the Board of Registrars. Charter section C1-3 is amended to include a reference to governmental bodies to emphasize their importance in town governance. The Local Comprehensive Plan is defined as the community vision of the future. Charter section C2-14 is amended to rename the Watchman of the Warrant to Watcher of the Warrant. All provisions naming the Board of Selectmen are amended to rename the board as the Select Board.

• Yes: 4,151

• No: 1,158

4. Will the following town charter change be made? The Representative Town Meeting shall consist of not more than two hundred and 252 members chosen for overlapping three-year terms as determined by Chapter 349 of the Acts of 1935 and any amendments thereto. This amendment clarifies the authority for Town Meeting membership but does not change the number of members.

• Yes: 4,554

• No: 761

5. Will the following charter change be made?

Charter provisions relative to the Finance Committee are moved from Article VIII, Financial Provisions and Procedures, to Article II, The Representative Town Meeting, to reflect its legislative function. A vacancy in Finance Committee membership may be filled by vote of Town Meeting at an annual or special town meeting. Certain duties and functions of the Finance Committee are clarified to conform to its duties and responsibilities found in town
bylaws, including the approval of transfers from the reserve fund and coordination with department heads on budgetary matters. The Charter provision allowing members of the Finance Committee to serve on advisory boards in a non-voting capacity has been eliminated.

• Yes: 3,986

• No: 590

6. Will the following charter change be made?

Section C3-3B, Policy Leadership, is amended to provide for the board to hold public meetings with other governmental bodies for consideration of the town’s Master Plan and other planning and policy initiatives.

• Yes: 4,568

• No: 590

7. Will the following charter change be made?

A new section C3-7H is added to the Charter granting to the Board of Selectmen the power and authority to adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of town business, the use of town real and personal property and other matters within the board’s jurisdiction and set penalties for violations thereof.

• Yes: 3,302

• No: 1,724

8. Will the following charter change be made?

Section C4-6D, Planning Board, of the Charter is amended to require that all Planning Board recommendations on proposed amendments to the zoning bylaws include a written explanation of the proposed amendments consistency
with the Master Plan.

• Yes: 4,496

• No: 628

9. Will the following charter change be made?

General Provisions, of the Charter is amended to provide that the charter shall include reference to
appointed town boards which are mandated or authorized by state law and which exercise regulatory or other authority. Sections C7-16 and C7-17 are added to the Charter to include among the appointed town boards included in the Charter the Community Preservation Committee and the Economic Development and Industrial Corporation.

• Yes: 3,972

• No: 882

10. Will the following charter change be made?

Section C9-9, Revision of Bylaws, of the Charter is amended to provide that the Board of Selectmen shall ensure the bylaws are periodically reviewed and revised without a five-year review as previously required. Bylaw review will now be a regular process.

• Yes: 4,349

• No: 755

11. Will the following charter change be made?

Housing Authority, of the Charter is amended to provide that members of the Housing Authority shall be elected for five-year overlapping terms in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth. The number of members of the Housing Authority does not change, but this amendment conforms to recent changes in state law
regarding their election.

• Yes: 4,531

• No: 602

12. Will the following charter change be made?

Section C7-5, Board of Assessors, of the Charter is amended to exempt the Board of Assessors from the term limits imposed on members of appointed town boards by C7-2H of the charter.

• Yes: 2,708

• No: 2,335

This article originally appeared on the Falmouth Patch