Voting Note: The presidential primary election is Tuesday, March 5. Each party’s candidates, as well as candidates for state and town party committees, are on the ballot. Early in-person voting is underway until March 1. Check the town’s website for when and where you can vote.
Meetings Ahead
Most meetings in Eastham are in person, typically with an online-attendance option. Click on the meeting you want to attend on the calendar at eastham-ma.gov for a link to an agenda and details. All meetings are at Town Hall unless otherwise indicated.
Thursday, Feb. 29
- Board of Health, 2:30 p.m.
- Climate Action Committee, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, March 1
- Nauset Regional School District Capital Asset Subcommittee, 5 p.m., Nauset Administration Office
Tuesday, March 6
- Community Preservation Committee, 4 p.m.
Conversation Starter
Override for Four New Police Officers
At the select board’s meeting on Feb. 26, Police Chief Adam Bohannon proposed including the cost of four new police officers in next year’s budget as a Proposition 2½ override.
“The patrol staff hasn’t grown in size since 1995,” said Bohannon. “We are finding it increasingly difficult to respond to emergency calls, and officers are increasingly responding alone.”
Though Bohannon did not include the cost of the four new hires in his presentation, he will appear before the board again in March to do so.
Bohannon said that in recent years the demands on individual patrol officers have increased, with onerous requirements for documenting incidents and required overtime to cover staffing shortages. He said that sergeants are often serving as patrol officers rather than supervising officers and following up on incidents.
“I have serious concerns that this is going to cause morale problems and fatigue,” said Bohannon. “We need to grow in order to provide the level of police service the town needs and deserves.”
Town Manager Jacqui Beebe said that although the town “does not have the capacity” to fund the new hires given its tight budget this year, “we also don’t have the capacity to not have public safety.”
Select board member Gerald Cerasale said he was pleased that the decision would be in the hands of Eastham residents in the form of an override. “This is difficult,” he said. “It will be up to the citizens to make this decision.” —Olivia Oldham
