Meetings are held remotely. Go to eastham-ma.gov/calendar-by-event-type/16 and click on the meeting you are interested in to read its agenda and find information on how to view and take part remotely.
Thursday, March 25
- Council on Aging Board of Directors, 9:30 a.m.
- Board of Health, 3 p.m.
Tuesday, March 30
- Town election and regional school election, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday, April 1
- Zoning Board of Appeals public hearing, 5 p.m.
Conversation Starters
Short-Term Rental Tax Increase Proposed
The Eastham Select Board agreed to ask town meeting voters in June to increase the short-term rental tax from 4 to 6 percent.
“We would dedicate that extra revenue each year to what we’re calling community impact programs,” said Town Administrator Jacqui Beebe at the board’s March 22 meeting.
In a memo to the board, Beebe recommended that between now and May 2022 uses for the new community impact fund could be explored.
Based on fiscal year 2020 data, a 2 percent increase in the short-term rental tax would have generated about $310,000 in additional revenue, said Finance Director Rich Bienvenue.
“Fiscal year 2021 collections have been far surpassing that, with the great summer we had,” said Bienvenue.
Hotels and motels are included as short-term rentals.
If approved, the increase would not go into effect until Jan. 1, 2022, said Beebe, “to give all the people that have contracts with renters a good heads up.”
Board member Art Autorino asked what the impact would be on people who rent their homes.
“They’ll tell you there’s an impact on them but our experience is that it’s passed along to the renter,” answered Beebe.
Board member Jared Collins said he doubted the increase would keep renters away.
“Sharks didn’t scare them away, a global pandemic didn’t scare them away,” Collins said. “If $300,000 a year can be put into some sort of affordable housing program for people that want to live and work here and be able to afford that — I think this is the perfect plan.”
T-Time Survey
After over a year of research and discussions, the T-Time Development Committee is asking for public input on possible uses for the approximately 11-acre site on Route 6.
As of March 22, an online survey launched on March 16 had received over 1,500 responses. Links to the survey are posted on the town’s website at eastham-ma.gov and at the easthamtttime.org site.
The committee explored three sectors: community services and recreation, housing, and economic development. No decisions have yet been made regarding uses for the site. Ideas for the property include workforce housing and a community center that could house the council on aging and recreation dept.
“We’re looking for the community to help prioritize and narrow what the options might be,” committee chair Karen Straus told the select board on March 15. Survey results will inform what the committee brings to the select board in May.
Other options for responding include a dedicated phone number, 774-801-3803; email, [email protected]; and a Facebook page.
“We will also be doing special outreach to the nontechnically inclined in town to make sure everybody gets a chance to participate in the survey,” said Strauss. —Linda Culhane
