Latest news with #MunicipalWaterInfrastructureInvestmentFund
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
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@ Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Ballot votes in Dennis on $8M harbor upgrade go against town meeting
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sandwich town election 2025: Who's on the ballot, where to vote
The annual Sandwich town election will include three contested races, a race for Planning Board that currently has no candidates, and two ballot questions. "The Planning Board is always kind of a difficult seat to fill," said Town Clerk Taylor White. "But it's never been completely blank before." Elections will be held on May 8. There is one seat open with two people running for constable; three people running for two seats in the School Committee race, and three people running for one seat for the Select Board. Candus Susan Thomson of Sandwich is running against Ralph Anthony Vitacco of Forestdale for the three-year constable post. School Committee incumbent Danielle M. Binienda of East Sandwich, is running against Alexandra Marie Higgins of East Sandwich, and Megan Tammaro of Sandwich for one three-year School Committee seat. Dennis Edwin Newman of Forestdale; Gene John Parini of Sandwich and David J. Sampson of Forestdale are all running for a one-year unexpired term on the Select Board. The position became vacant upon the death of board member Michael Miller. With no candidates running for Planning Board, and two full three-year seats open, the ballot will have two write-in candidate options. "Both spots are up for grabs," said White. Ballot Question 1 is related to a surcharge amendment for the town's special Municipal Water Infrastructure Investment Fund. The dedicated funding source can be spent on maintenance, improvements and investments to municipal drinking, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure assets. The funding source is a surcharge on the annual property tax assessed on real property. The surcharge originally accepted by the town is 2%. The amendment will increase the surcharge from 2 to 3%, starting July 1, 2026. Voters will also consider a non-binding public advisory ballot question related to Holtec, owner of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth. Voters will decide whether they want the town to tell Gov. Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Campbell to do whatever's necessary to stop Holtec from releasing gaseous discharge of the radioactively and chemically contaminated industrial wastewater at Pilgrim. According to the ballot question, releasing the gaseous discharge violates the Ocean Sanctuary Act. Precincts 1-3 will vote at Corpus Christi Parish Hall, 324 Quaker Meetinghouse Road and voters in Precincts 4-6 will vote at Center For Active Living, 70 Quaker Meetinghouse Road. Rachael Devaney writes about community and culture. Reach her at rdevaney@ Follow her on Twitter: @RachaelDevaney. Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Town election in Sandwich set for May 8. Who's running
