Meetings are held remotely. From wellfleet-ma.gov, hover over a date on the calendar on the right of the screen and click on the meeting you’re interested in to open its agenda. That document will provide information about how to view and take part remotely.
Thursday, May 27
- Zoning Board of Appeals, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, June 1
- Recycling Committee, 10 a.m.
Wednesday, June 2
- Outer Cape Climate Committees, 4 p.m.
Conversation Starters
Still Adding Firefighters
Article 9 on this year’s annual town meeting warrant will ask voters “to raise and appropriate… $168,000 for two new Firefighter/EMT/Paramedic positions.” Recommended unanimously by the select board and the finance committee, the article marks the third consecutive year that Fire Chief Richard Pauley has requested more personnel.
“There’s no one around to do volunteer or part-time work,” said Pauley, citing Wellfleet’s lack of affordable, available housing. “It’s the same old story.”
Town voters have approved each one of Pauley’s prior requests for additional help. He anticipates that, for the department to have adequate staffing, he’ll have to ask again at the 2022 town meeting.
“By next year, we should have enough minimal staff,” said Pauley, stressing the “minimal.” “But there’s a difference between enough staffing and minimal staffing.”
The funds would cover the salary for each position ($62,240) as well as benefits, uniforms, protective clothing, training costs, and holiday and call back costs. The request would add 6.8 cents to the tax rate and “would cost the owner of a median priced ($551,300) single-family home $37.47,” according to the town warrant. —Paul Sullivan