Sesuit Harbor upgrade approved at Dennis election, after fail at town meeting. Now what?
The Dennis town election on May 13 had some surprise results.
A controversial proposal to reconstruct Sesuit Harbor in Dennis at a cost of $8 million that failed at the May 6 town meeting passed by 38 votes — 1,288-1,250 — in the town election. In other votes, a longtime town moderator was defeated and the constable race had unusual results.
Robert Chamberlain, who ruled the town meetings with a firm hand as Dennis town moderator for many years, was defeated by challenger William L. Carmichael with 1,403 votes to 1,167, for the three-year term. Chamberlain was defeated in all five precincts.
Another incumbent, Diane Chamberlain of the Water District Commission, lost to Joseph P. Walker II for the one-year term, 1, 770-870.
In the three-year terms for three constables, two write-in candidates won with fewer than six total votes. Gerald M. DeSalvatore, who was on the ballot as an approved candidate, garnered 1,964 votes while write-in candidates Korrin Dean got four votes and Timothy Bunce got two.
Town Clerk Terri Bunce explained Wednesday that Dean and Timothy Bunce will also be sworn in Friday along with DeSalvatore since there were three positions available, and under the rules, they have accepted the positions.
The question on the redesign and reconstruction of Sesuit Harbor West was debated extensively at the May 6 town meeting after Select Board member James Plath spoke against the article that the rest of the Select Board had recommended.
'The necessary financial planning was lacking,' Plath said at the meeting as one reason for opposing the project. While he said free cash is appropriate for various uses, he objected to using $1 million on dock spaces for pleasure boat and dock owners. He also said the project did not have a bid and the cost is only an estimate.
The Sesuit Harbor vote for the Proposition 2 ½ debt exclusion was defeated soundly at town meeting, 235-79. Because of the affirmative election vote, however, the proposal may be allowed to be on the fall town meeting warrant if it is in the same wording, Bunce, the town clerk, said after consulting with town counsel. However, it could not be confirmed Wednesday, May 14, with other town officials if the proposal would be on the fall town meeting.
Another debt exclusion question to allow borrowing of $7.5 million for irrigation system replacements at Dennis Highlands and Dennis Pines golf courses passed: 1,607 to 868. The question also passed at the May 6 town meeting.
The purchase of a pumper truck and a brush truck for the Dennis Fire Department for $2 million as a debt exclusion also passed easily 1,960-604. Town meeting voters OK'd the debt exclusion at the May 6 session.
A fourth question to establish a special Municipal Water Infrastructure Investment Fund under a state law was approved. The fund can be used on maintenance, improvements and investments to municipal drinking, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. The question passed at the last fall town meeting as required in order to be on the May 13 ballot.
In other races, Select Board Chair Christopher Lambton won for a third three-year term with 2,115 votes and Plath won for a second three-year term with 1,484 votes.
Jeni Landers, incumbent on the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District Committee, pulled in 2,043 votes in an uncontested seat for another three years.
James M. Pazakis Jr. also got 1,421 votes in an uncontested seat on the Old King's Highway Regional Historic District Commission.
Twenty percent of the town's 13,406 eligible voters cast a total of 2,687 votes, according to official results from Bunce.
Susan Vaughn writes about transportation and other local community issues affecting Cape Cod residents and visitors. She can be reached at smharris@gannett.com.
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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Ballot votes in Dennis on $8M harbor upgrade go against town meeting
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