Barnstable Free Press

How much will it cost to sewer Lake Wequaquet and Stewart's Creek per household?

Here are estimates from the Barnstable Public Works Department on per household costs for sewering the area around Lake Wequaquet and Stewart's Creek compiled by the Cape Cod Times:

Betterment fees:

* Lake Wequaquet project: $30,900 in one payment; $1,870 annually spread over 20 years (including 2 percent interest).
* Stewart's Creek project: $20,500 in one payment; $1,240 annually spread over 20 years (including 2 percent interest).

Connection fee:

*Lincoln Street pump station: $2,000 one-time charge for all 5,400 new sewer users.

Other associated charges:

* $700-$1,500 to install new plumbing lines, or relocate existing pipes to connect to town sewers.
* $500-$3,000 to remove retired septic systems or secure system by filling with sand.

According to the Cape Cod Times, project proponents say the sewer system offers GREAT benefits to go with the EVEN GREATER costs.

Connecting to the municipal sewer system would free homeowners from having to repair or replace existing septic systems — often at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars each, according to Wayne Miller, chairman of the town's board of health.

"This is going to happen," Miller said of the sewer extensions. "Whether its two years from now, five years from now or 10 years from now ... this is the way we're headed. "And we're better off for it," he said citing decreased costs associated with current proposals.

If approved by the June 30 deadline, the Lake Wequaquet and Stewart's Creek projects would land an 8.8-percent subsidy, courtesy of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that would reduce the total price tag from about $61 million to $56 million, saving homeowners thousands each in betterment charges, according to Barnstable Public Works Director Mark Ells. On top of that, favorable construction costs and a state loan complete with a 2-percent interest rate help to shave about $20 million off the total cost, Ells said.

The betterment charges, which would be added to residents' third- and fourth-quarter tax bills, would not be sent out until sewer construction is complete, likely in 2013.

"Economically, we will never find a better environment, moving forward, than now," said Councilor James Crocker Jr., who has not yet decided if he will support the expansions. "We can't be in a better situation for bidding or subsidies."

Such promises haven't reassured many residents who are still facing bills that could approach $40,000 with the betterment fees and other associated costs. In addition to the betterments, homeowners would likely have to pay between $4,000 and $8,000 to connect to the sewer system, including bills to re-route plumbing lines to connect to the municipal sewers and to remove or secure their existing septic system by filling it with sand, said DWP Director Mark Ells.

Additionally, all new sewer users, those on Lake Wequaquet, Stewart's Creek and other areas to be included in the coming years, will have to pay a service charge of about $2,000 to cover a new sewer pump station on Lincoln Street in Hyannis if the $9 million station is approved tomorrow by the council.

"It all just keeps adding up," Centerville resident Charles Pierson said last week. "How do you possibly keep up with all this?"

See: Barnstable homeowners worry about sewer costs

I'm not convinced that this is "going to happen" as the town has proposed.

If you take the time to research the recommendations coming from the DPW, you can clearly see that engineering reports prepared by the Town to support their proposed sewer build out  are half-baked (and, politically motivated).

More to follow...

Patrick-Murray Federal Stimulus Spending Sucks the Life Out of Barnstable

Spending for "green Infrastructure" benefits wealthy lake front owners and commercial property owners.  Everyone else loses.

I'm starting to have serious doubts that Federal Recovery Act Funds will have any meaningful impact on the health, welfare, and pocketbooks of the citizenry of our State. If what we're seeing in Barnstable is considered "stimulus," leave my name off the list. I want no part of it.

Increases in household debt will not stimulate our local economy.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray and state environmental officials announced $185 million dollars in spending yesterday to finance more than 127 statewide drinking water and waste water infrastructure projects that will protect the environment and the public health.

According to a press release by the Lieutenant Governor's office:

“This is great news for cities and towns across the Commonwealth,” said Lieutenant Governor Murray. “Our water infrastructure needs are significant and this funding will go a long way in helping municipalities make important upgrades to their systems.  My sincere thanks to our Congressional delegation for including this funding in the stimulus bill and for their great work on behalf of the Commonwealth.”

“These projects are vital to the health and vitality of communities here in Massachusetts and across the country,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “Federal funds will help write down the total cost of the capital projects for cities and towns, create jobs and, with the energy investments they also make possible, reduce the cost of operating the new treatment plants. Massachusetts spearheaded this approach, and the Recovery Act has taken this program nationwide.”

“EPA is part of the solution in these challenging times. Massachusetts has been a leader in creating green jobs that grow the economy and benefit the environment, and today’s grants build on that work,” said EPA Administrator Jackson. “Keeping the water supply clean and safe for millions of people will bring new jobs and opportunities to Massachusetts communities. Protecting our health and the environment is a great way to put people to work and build a new foundation for prosperity.”

See Press Release: PATRICK-MURRAY ADMINISTRATION RECEIVES $185M IN FEDERAL RECOVERY ACT FUNDS FOR WATER TREATMENT PROJECTS

So tell me, what's so green about sewering the vacation homes of wealthy property owners along the shores of Lake Wequaquet and Long Pond?

$30 million was awarded to Barnstable to partially finance a $69,587,000 Sewer Extension and Hyannis WPCF Improvements.

See: http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/wastewater/09cwiup.pdf

This program will cost homeowners in and around Lake Wequaquet and Long Pond an estimated $30,000 in betterment fees. This shouldn't be a problem, if you own a $1 million dollar second home on the water. But, what about the folks living on fixed incomes in the surrounding area? Can they afford an extra $300 a month? How will this spending stimulate their household discretionary spending, if they live on a fixed income?

An additional $13 million will be spent on Hyannis Water Supply System Improvements.

Hyannis has the highest unemployment rate on the Cape and the third highest foreclosure rate in the state. Do you truly believe that a $100 increase in utility bills is going to help homeowners in Hyannis?

The primary beneficiary of this $13 million dollars in stimulus spending will be commercial property owners who will receive lower insurance costs in exchange for making upgrades to their commercial sprinkler systems.

What's so green about a commercial sprinkler system upgrade?

Residents of the Stewarts Creek area of Hyannis will be have new water pipes and sewers installed. They are on the hook for a $30,000 sewer connection fee, ongoing sewage processing fees of up to $800 a year and a 25% increase in their water rates.

They are just plan screwed.

How do any of these so-called loans stimulate the economy?

Twenty-six percent of Barnstable's residents are over the age of 65 years old. Many of these residents are living on fixed incomes. They will be hard pressed to pay betterments and increased utility charges. They will cut back on daily expenses and pay more and more of their limited income to the town foregoing purchases with local business owners.

If there is a stiumulus here, I don't see it.

We're trading a temporary boost in construction for a 20 year drain on household income.

Eye of the storm

Anyone who thinks the economy has clear sailing ahead hasn't seen this chart of the ten year bond. There's been some talk that the United States might lose their AAA rating. Moody's assured investors by reaffirming their rating (sic) for U.S. government debt.

We're in the eye of the storm, friends. Time to pull in your rigs and head for dry land.

Hank Farnham Warns of Political Swine Flu in Barnstable

Did you read Hank Farnham's somewhat wacky and a little over the top rant?

The following are excerpts from a recent article by West Barnstable Town Councilor Hank Farnham:

Budget: ...I expect the state will continue to cut back their budget due to declining anticipated tax and fee revenue collection. That will result in more reductions of local aid support to Barnstable, which will result in administration having to make additional cuts in the town budget. This current cash flow problem on Beacon Hill will follow us right up to the time we vote on our budget and probably thereafter.

...the fiscal craziness in Washington and on Beacon Hill is making me wonder about the town’s relationship with the state. Is it time for us to say the heck with Beacon Hill and its self-serving growing net extraction of funds from Barnstable’s taxpayers? Would Barnstable be better off as a separate entity? But then I think, who would be the leaders to pull that off if it were possible?

Have you reached the end of your shrinking rope? Is it time to analyze having Barnstable become totally self-sufficient? Is it time to cast off the mismanagement of a political system on Beacon Hill that is running amok, and is devoid of fiscal common sense, accountability and responsibility? I believe that time is long overdue, but I’m not sure that the will is there to turn against the political fat cats on Beacon Hill and start over here on Cape Cod.

When I moved to Barnstable in 1961, Cape Cod was the last conservative bastion remaining in Massachusetts, where fiscal accountability to those who pay the bills really meant something. Now, that accountability is gone, swallowed up by a one-party dictatorship that has spread across the state like swine flu. Don’t misunderstand me. I’d feel the same way if the Republicans held 80-percent-plus control of the state house and were not accountable to the voters.

A viable community needs a balanced system of political leadership, but Massachusetts has drifted far away from that balance. The result is, we get what we deserve: mediocre government reacting to the challenges and throwing money after them rather than thoughtful, conservative planning driven by fiscal reality. And talk about throwing money after a problem, how about what the “leaders” in Washington have done to you, your kids and your grandkids with their never-ending “stimulus” plan and bail outs?

Closer to home, we have the five separate fire districts. Could there be duplication there and tax savings? When I was on the Committee of 150 several years ago, consolidation of the town’s fire districts was the number one item identified to help reduce our taxes. In spite of a subsequent council committee to review the possibility of studying consolidation of the fire districts, no progress has been made toward a serious study of consolidation of the districts.

Town Charter: I just read the proposed new charter. While I don’t always agree with my council colleague, Greg Milne, or his motives, I did agree with his minority opinion piece that was a part of the charter document. Obviously many of you do, too, since I have heard your disappointment that mirrors Greg’s comments. If you have a chance, read the entire document including Greg’s opinion letter.

See: Greg Milne's Minority Report

For more from Hank Farnham, see: Barnstable Star Tabloid

With all due respect to Mr. Farnham, I not believe his brand of special interest, spend-a-holic town government remotely resembles something I would call "conservatism."

What is conservative about tax breaks for his buddies in the industrial park?

What is conservative about taking a million dollars from the Hyannis Water ratepayers to lay a water pipe to the doorstep of a political compatriot?

What is conservative about the millions more in bonding required to build an airport to no-where?

Giving Greg Milne's Minority report a little plug is a good first step toward a more meaningful political alliance, but Farnham needs to do more than write a short little puff piece in a dying newspaper.

Unless or until Hank Farnham puts his votes where his principles are he'll be remembered as nothing more than another free-spending bully in Barnstable's Hall of Shame.

The Dawn of the Living Dead in Hyannis

I was quite annoyed by Stew Goodwin's recent letter in the Cape Cod Times. In case you missed it, here's a copy:

Hyannis poised to profit from boom in retirees
May 15, 2009

Retirement is a growth industry that is going to accelerate. At the moment 26 percent of Cape Cod's inhabitants are over 65, versus 22 percent nationwide. That percentage could increase as the baby boomers begin to turn 65 in 2011.

Hyannis is in a position to benefit from this trend.

Retirees, actual and potential, have special needs that Hyannis could fill. Older people are looking to downsize. They want smaller dwelling units suited to their reduced mobility. They want nearby shopping, preferably that won't require them to drive. They are concerned about health issues and want medical facilities in close range. They want public transportation handy. All of these conditions, and more, can be met in Hyannis while offering connection to cultural and natural advantages.

Hyannis needs complexes of apartments and townhouses with appropriate amenities within walking distance of shopping establishments. Public transportation networks will have to be expanded. Medical outreach from the excellent facilities of Cape Cod Hospital might be advisable. Safety will have to be assured for elderly people to amble about comfortably.

The market awaits. Hyannis is a logical beneficiary.

Stew Goodwin
Cotuit

I don't recall Stew Goodwin asking Hyannis residents about this plan to redevelopment Hyannis into a retirement destination. I think Cotuit is a more appropriate destination.

While twenty-six percent of the Cape's population and most of Cotuit's residents are over the age of 65, this demographic does not describe us. Hyannis is a working town with the largest number of young families and self-employed individuals on the Cape.

Yet,

Hyannis families are paying for the improvements to the water company to increase water pressure and flow to multi-storied buildings.

Hyannis families are paying for the expense of protecting the habor and new hospital from fire and safty hazards.

Hyannis families are asked to pay excessive betterments for improvements to our residential roads while downtown commercial property owners are the beneficiaries of generous State and Federal subsidies.

Hyannis families are paying for new sidewalks for commercial property owners while 200 of our kids walk on "country" roads to their only elementary school in West Hyannis.

Hyannis families are even paying for the land being used for the runway expansion project at the airport.

If Stew thinks Hyannis is such a fabulous investment opportunity, maybe he should put HIS MONEY where his mouth is and pay for some of these so-called improvements. If he lived here, I seriously doubt he would be so enthusiastic about this remake of the 'Dawn of the Living Dead" in Hyannis.

Warrant for the 2009 Annual Meeting of the Hyannis Fire District

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 and Wednesday May 20, 2009

To: Verna R. LaFleur
Clerk of the Hyannis Fire District

Greetings:

In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby requested to notify the inhabitants of the Hyannis Fire District who are qualified to vote to meet at the Hyannis Fire Station/Central, 95 High School Road Extension, Hyannis, Massachusetts, on Tuesday, May 19, 2009, between the hours of 3:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M., then and there to bring in their votes for the following elective office.

Two (2) members of the Board of Commissioners for the term of Three (3) years. One (1) Moderator for the term of Three (3) years.

and to meet subsequently at Hyannis East Elementary School, 165 Bearse’s Way, Hyannis, Massachusetts, on Wednesday, May 20, 2009, at 7:00 P.M., and then and there to act on the following articles:

Article 1. To hear and act upon the reports of the Treasurer, Chief Engineer, Board of Commissioners,and all other Fire District Officers and Committees. (The Board of Commissioners recommends favorable action on all reports.)

Article 2. To see if the District will vote to authorize the Board of Commissioners to enter into acontract for hydrant and water services for the period of July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010. (The Board of Commissioners recommends favorable action.)

Article 3. To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $226,524. for hydrant and water service for the period of July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010. (The Board of Commissioners recommends favorable action.)

Article 4. To see if the District will vote to authorize the Board of Commissioners to enter into contracts for street lighting, power and maintenance for the period July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010. (The Board of Commissioners recommends favorable action.)

Article 5. To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $151,000. for street lighting, power and maintenance for the period July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010. (The Board of Commissioners recommends favorable action.)

Article 6. To see if the District will vote to set the following salaries of elective and appointed District Officers for the fiscal year 2010 as follows: Board of Commissioners, $3,800. each plus an additional $500. for the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners; Clerk/Treasurer, $52,000; Moderator, $300; Assessors, $50. each; and Tax Collector, $2,200. (The Board of Commissioners recommends favorable action.)

Article 7. To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate and/or transfer and appropriate from available funds the following amounts for fiscal year 2010: $317,050. for equipment for fires and rescues; $10,000. for Interest on Anticipation Loans; $74,150. for District Officers; $6,575,480. for Incidental & Current Expenses; and $636,610. for Retirement Fund Assessment. (The Board of Commissioners recommends favorable action.)

Article 8. To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate $40,000. to be set aside in a reserve fund for emergency purposes. (The Board of Commissioners recommends favorable action.)

Article 9. To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $26,813. to pay the Town of Barnstable for tax billing expenses for fiscal year 2010. (The Board of Commissioners recommends favorable action.)

Article 10. To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $784,000. for the purpose of paying compensation to Permanent Personnel for overtime, who respond to fires, drills, and other duty, for the fiscal year 2010. (The Board of Commissioners recommends favorable action.)

Article 11. To see if the District will vote to authorize the Board of Commissioners to sell, or dispose of, in the best interest of the District, miscellaneous materials with a monetary value of less than $500. (The Board of Commissioners recommends favorable action.)

Article 12. To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $100,000. to be set aside in the Stabilization Fund. (The Board of Commissioners recommends favorable action.)

Article 13. To see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $8,000. for the Indemnification Fund. (The Board of Commissioners recommends favorable action.)

Article 14. To see if the District will vote to transfer and appropriate the sum of $61,000. from the Ambulance Account for the Ambulance Billing Expense Account. (The Board of Commissioners recommends favorable action.)

Article 15. To see if the District will vote to authorize the Treasurer to enter into compensating balance agreements for the fiscal year 2010. (The Board of Commissioners recommends favorable action.)

Article 16. To see if the District will vote to transfer any sum from Free Cash in order to reduce the property tax for fiscal year 2010. (The Board of Commissioners will make their recommendation at the meeting.)

Article 17. To transact any other business that may legally come before the meeting.

You are hereby directed to serve this Warrant by posting attested copies thereof in two (2) or more places in the District, advertising in the newspaper published within the Town of Barnstable, fourteen (14) days at least, before the date of said meeting. Given under our hands this tenth day of April 2009

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HYANNIS FIRE DISTRICT

Paul R. Sullivan, Chairman
Richard J. Gallagher, Vice Chairman
Dennis S. Sullivan
Benjamin A. Perry, Jr.
Joseph Chilli, Clerk

A True Copy, Attested
Verna R. LaFleur
Clerk

Gregory Milne's Charter Commission Minority Report

“The fact that a charter commission is authorized is…indicative of an underlying popular urge for substantial improvement…to find the highest attainable level of improvement, not just a token advance…”- National Civic League - Guide For Charter Commissions

The final Charter Commission report does not remedy what is wrong with our current charter. The Charter Commission did not achieve its most basic goal of listening to you and following your lead. Local government belongs to us all. Thirty two months ago concerned citizens began collecting signatures to exercise their constitutional right to ask you to convene a charter commission. By a 3-1 margin you voted for a commission and you elected a majority of commission members who publicly favored an elected chief executive. Despite your preference the commission conducted a process which upheld the status quo. The proposed charter is at best an incremental and token advance.

The final report states that the current Council/Manager form of government was still the best….. “It has worked well for us over the years and should be preserved.” This and other arbitrary statements seek to justify the commission’s timid decision to keep our current form of government. Did petitioners sway 7000 voters to sign the charter petition to support the status quo?…No. Did thousands of Barnstable voters support electing a Charter Commission to preserve the foundation of the council/manager form of our current charter?….No. They took these actions because they saw something fundamentally wrong with our current charter, after virtually no change in twenty years. Media and government officials characterized the Charter Commission as just another town committee routinely charged with updating our town charter. On the contrary, Superior Court Justice Robert J. Kane called this process a “constitutional convention” and thus an instrument of the people. Judge Kane ruled that…“A Charter Commission is not internal or subordinate to a town but rather external and independent. Deriving its authority from the Massachusetts constitution and legislative enactment, a Charter Commission autonomously examines a town’s organizational arrangements, considers alternative forms and proposes structural changes. A Charter Commission’s external and independent authority categorically differentiates it from a town’s office….” Unfortunately, Charter Commissioners chose a conservative, subordinate role to town government by deferring to the town’s legal department, employees of the town manager, thus squandering their independent authority. They didn’t fulfill their legally defined role.

Throughout the 32 month process voters expressed their desire to regain ownership of the executive branch. Proposed charter Section 1-3 Division of Powers states: “All legislative powers of the town shall be exercised by a town council. The administration of all town fiscal, business and municipal affairs shall be vested in the executive branch headed by the Town Manager.” How are these branches divided when the town council hires and fires the town manager? Don’t capable voters deserve the right to elect their chief executive? Why does the final report define the elected council presidency as the highest town office while the proposed charter maintains the chief executive role of the town manager?

Many believe commissioners prematurely rejected the idea of electing the chief executive. My motion to elect the chief executive, although timely and appropriate, was summarily dismissed. The chairman and consultant said it was too late to make such a change. Yet I made this motion at the meeting held the day after the second required public hearing. Public input naturally followed publication of the preliminary report to insure its inclusion in the final report. This begs the question whether the commission sincerely intended to honor the publics’ wishes.

Is a part-time town councilor beholden to a town manager’s power in controlling town resources? Section 1-3 places the town manager in the top government office in this proposed charter. Since the full-time town manager is the most powerful why does it make sense to have part-time town councilors serving a supervisory role over the manager? Is it realistic to expect the newly elected part-time $25,000 per- year council president to be an effective supervisor of the full time $135,000 per-year town manager? Councilors are subject to term limits which do not apply to town manager’s contract extensions. Therefore, as councilors often change every 4 years the manager serves longer which adds  to the managers’ superior authority. Since the manager’s evaluation is not conducted in public, as was originally recommended by the consultant, the written evaluation legally becomes part of the private personnel file of the town manager as a town employee. Wouldn’t you prefer an elected chief executive whose administration you could evaluate at every election, thus providing the greatest level of transparency and accountability? Eighty nine percent of residents polled in a professional survey did.

Almost all public testimony criticized the elected council president. Speakers felt this new position further entangles the legislative and executive branches. This entanglement represents the most fundamental flaw in both our current and the proposed charters. Only two Massachusetts cities independently elect their council president. According to their city councilors their communication is restricted to the council president which prevents them from influencing the town manager. There are several proposed changes which would improve our government. Sadly however, the failure to squarely tackle the question of electing the chief executive represents a fatal flaw at the core of this governing document. If you defeat this proposal we may have an opportunity to support a ballot question asserting our desire to elect our chief executive.

Respectfully Submitted,
J. Gregory Milne
May 1, 2009

What's in a name?

Shouldn't this notice read: Hyannis Water Supply Division

NEW BUSINESS (Refer to Public Hearing June 4, 2009) (Roll-call)
BARNSTABLE TOWN COUNCIL - ITEM# 2009-113
INTRO: 05/07/09

2009-113 APPROPRIATION ORDER TO FUND THE FY10 DPW WATER SUPPLY ENTERPRISE FUND BUDGET

ORDERED, That the sum of $2,731,839 be appropriated for the purpose of funding the Town's FY 2010 Department of Public Works Water Supply Enterprise Fund budget as presented to the Town Council by the Town Manager, and to meet such appropriation that $2,731,839 be raised from current year revenues by the water supply operations.

SPONSOR: Town Manager John C. Klimm

Between Deb Krau and Mark Ells we'll never get clean drinkable water in Hyannis.

Do you remember voting for Deb Krau?

Since when is it "her" Water Board

The Barnstable Patriot published a brief description of a recent Barnstable Planning Board Meeting which included a description of Deb Krau's effort to extort $700,000 from Stu Bornstein for "fire-suppression."

Heather Wysocki wrote for the Patriot:

The Barnstable Planning Board closed its hearing on developer Stuart Bornstein’s proposed five-story, 132-room Hilton Garden Hotel, but held off taking a final vote on the project’s fate.

With the close of the public hearing April 27, the planning board must now decide whether to forward the project to the Barnstable Town council for final approval. Under the Growth Incentive Zone, the planning board negotiates the terms of regulatory agreements, but the town council has final say. 

Deb Krau, chairman of the Hyannis Water Board, said her board concluded that the project will cause a deficit in fire department water needs for the area. That’s contrary to opinions offered by Bornstein’s engineers and Hyannis Fire Department Deputy Chief Dean Melanson.

Water system improvements to accommodate the hotel’s needs would run about $700,000, according to Krau.

Planning board member Paul Curley said that cost shouldn’t be put on a single developer.

“I don’t think it’s fair to ask him to pay the whole thing,” he said. Bornstein has maintained that he would be willing to pay his share for future improvements to the area.

See: Public hearing closes on proposed Bornstein hotel

I find it curious that Deb Krau would over-rule the opinion of Hyannis Fire Department Deputy Chief Dean Melanson on a question of fire suppression.

John Julius commented on Ms. Krau's appearance at the Planning Board on CapeCog.com. He wrote in part:

Mrs. Krau was a JOKE! Does anyone doubt that the Town Manager sent her in there? The planning Board worked their rear ends off on all this for the past YEAR and all of a sudden in walks GOD, the Hyannis Water board.

Look folks, these water Board folks are nothing more than KLIMM HACK APPOINTEES who have no clue about ANYTHING, let alone running a GD water company! This is pitiful!

We've long heard the laments of Town Manager on the issue of "traffic." Is "fire suppression" the new buzz word from Town Hall. Or, was Krau's performance at the Planning Board a warm up for her pending request for a $130 a year in "fire suppression" fee from Hyannis Water ratepayers?

I believe that Ms. Krau seriously overstepped her mandate in this appearance before the Planning Board. I find this performance no less appalling than former Town Council President Janet Joakim's appearance before the Zoning Board of Appeals on behalf of "family" interests.

It is not the purview of the Water Board to align itself with Town Hall on development issues.

Krau has previously stated that the Water Board is "reserving" water capacity for a "planned" hotel in the downtown area.  When this plan emerges from a figment of John Klimm's imagination, will Klimm's Hotel be asked to pay a similar "fire suppression" fee by the UNELECTED Chairperson of the Hyannis Water Board.

I think not.

15 ways to screw your neighborhood

It took me the better part of three weeks to get this map from Town Hall. Take a look at these Precinct boundaries and you'll understand why.

The new Charter combines three precincts for each councilor for a total of five. There will be five councilors elected at large and the council president for a total of eleven councilors. One or more villages will lose direct representation with this schema.

Either Marston Mills goes the way of the dodo bird or Centerville needs to stage a takeover of Barnstable Village. There are only so many ways to chop Barnstable up into 15 pieces.

For a PDF version of this map, see: Barnstable Precincts 15 (1304.9K PDF)

To be fair, I offer the following disclaimer from the Town Clerk:

I found out you have been trying to get a copy of the discussion map of 15 precincts that was created. 

I had spoken with Richard Clark when the charter was in the beginning stages. He was looking to see what a map of the town of Barnstable would look like if it had 15 precincts. I looked to see if we had any of the maps that had been created by Boston for the last census that had a number of different variations of 12, 14 and 15 precincts - we did not. 

Our GIS Dept. was good enough to take what figures we have (based on the 2000 census) and drew a 15 precinct map for the charter commission to get an idea of what it would look like.  This is not an "official" map - it is basically a map that was utilized for discussion purposes.  That is why it was not filed with our official maps.

This is the future Richard Clark is offering you.