Motorboat ban on Santuit Pond in Mashpee, public library staffing featured at town meeting

MASHPEE — Little discussion was held throughout the annual town meeting on Monday, enabling Town Moderator John Miller to sail through 16 warrant articles within 30 minutes.

With 156 voters in attendance, the first 12 articles passed unanimously with no discussion. There were 16 articles in total.

Article 1 will transfer $150,000 from revenue available to the wastewater professional and technical expense account. The money will be used to pay for a consultant, who will be the interim head of the town's wastewater management department, while the town seeks a permanent hire. The article has no impact on the current year tax rate, according to the town meeting warrant.

Both Article 2 and Article 3 pertained to paying off a bond anticipation note that will be due in May. Article 2 will appropriate and transfer $1,254,450 from the wastewater stabilization fund; and Article 3 will appropriate and transfer $1,268,950 from the wastewater infrastructure investment fund. Neither article will impact the current year tax rate, according to the warrant.

Article 6 to 12 all passed unanimously. Article 6 authorizes Eversource Energy a non-exclusive easement to provide 101 Red Brook Road with electric utilities. And Articles 7 to 12 relate to wastewater management and zoning issues. None of these articles will impact the current year tax rate.

Library staff hours

Article 13 proposed an increase in the weekly hours for Mashpee Public Library's circulation supervisor from 34.5 to 37.5 hours. Kate Milde, a member of library Board of Trustees spoke to clarify the wording of the article.

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The Finance Committee, she said, had implied that the hourly increase will allow the library to increase its hours of operations and maintain its state certification long-term.

"The passage of the article is a positive and needed step to strengthen library staff and current staff levels. However the impact these three hours will have on library operations is minimal," Milde said. "This slight increase for one existing position will not result in any increase in operating hours."

With no further discussion, Article 13 passed unanimously.

Waterways bylaw indefinitely postponed

As Miller introduced Article 14, Michaela Wyman-Colombo, the newest member of the Select Board, moved to indefinitely postpone the article until the May town meeting.

A positive vote would have approved an amendment to the use of waterways bylaw, to prohibit the use of motorboats within Santuit Pond. The action was aimed at limiting potential disturbance and would preserve water quality, according to the warrant. The article would have prohibited the use of motorized boats, except for vessels owned or operated by a town, state, county, city, tribal or United States governmental agency.

The term "motorized boat" is defined as any vessel propelled by machinery.

During the discussion, resident and voter Thomas Fudala asked for further information regarding the article's potential indefinite postponement.

In response, Town Manager Rodney Collins said the postponement would allow the town to evaluate the article further, and possibly focus specifically on horsepower.

There were many citizens, Collins said, who voiced concerns to the town natural resources department and town officials regarding the actions proposed in the article.

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"We felt (the postponement) was a reasonable compromise," Collins said.

Article 14 was unanimously postponed.

For Community Preservation Act funds to be spent on open space and recreation, historic preservation and affordable housing, Article 15 was unanimously approved, with 10% in reserve. The budget will be available for use in fiscal year 2023.

Article 16, which was proposed by a citizen petition, pertained to the layout and plan design necessary to convert 11 roads from private to public ways. The roads will subsequently be owned and maintained by the town. The article, which passed unanimously, is a prerequisite for a subsequent road taking, which will also require voter approval, according to the warrant.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Vote postponed in Mashpee on motorboat ban on Santuit Pond