Meetings Ahead
Monday, Jan. 20
- Town hall closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Tuesday, Jan. 21
- Historical Commission, 4 p.m., Eastham Room, Public Library
- Charter Review Committee, 5:30 p.m., Small Meeting Room, Town Hall
Wednesday, Jan. 22
- Community Preservation Committee, 5:30 p.m., Earle Mountain Room, Town Hall
- Open Space Committee, 6:30 p.m., Small Meeting Room, Town Hall
Thursday, Jan. 23
- Joint School Committee, 6 p.m., Earle Mountain Room, Town Hall
Conversation Starters
Tax Exemption Trigger
The select board voted 5-0 not to adopt a residential tax exemption (RTE) at this time. But the board also voted 4-0-1 to create a policy that would trigger the RTE should the proportion of parcels owned by nonresidents reach 60 percent for two consecutive years. Select Board Member Al Cestaro abstained from that vote.
In reality, the trigger decision expresses the board’s intentions but could not actually put a future RTE in effect. Current Select Board Chair Aimee Eckman and member Jamie Rivers said they hope the policy will influence how a future board would vote on the issue and create a plan for town staff to prepare for this possibility.
Currently of the 6,204 total residential parcels in town, 48 percent are owned by residents and 52 percent by nonresidents.
Warrant Is Open
The warrant for the Eastham Annual Town Meeting, to be held on Monday, May 4, opened on Monday, Jan. 13 and will close on Monday, Feb. 24 at 4 p.m. Petitioned article forms can be found online at eastham-ma.gov.
Select board member Martin McDonald announced he will not be seeking re-election this year, while Aimee Eckman said she does plan to running for re-election.
Community Preservation
The Community Preservation Act committee will meet on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss FY21 applications from the Eastham Methodist Church, DPW, and Affordable Housing Trust.
The committee studies the needs and possibilities for community preservation in the town and hears applications from different departments each year on proposed projects. The committee brings recommendations to the select board based on project proposals.
In every fiscal year, the committee must recommend either that the legislative body spend, or set aside for later spending, not less than 10 percent of the annual revenues in the Community Preservation Fund in each of the following areas: open space (not including land for recreational use), historic resources, or affordable housing, according to state law.
View the Waterways Draft
The draft harbor and waterways management plan is now posted on the town website at eastham-ma.gov.
The town welcomes feedback from the public, appointed officials, and staff through Friday, Jan. 31. Written comments may be emailed to conservation@eastham-ma.gov, or delivered to 555 Old Orchard Road, Eastham.
The plan provides a snapshot of Eastham’s programs, assets, and policies as they exist today, and offers strategic goals and objectives to guide management initiatives over the next five to seven years. The plan is based on public feedback received from four forums, written comments, and staff and resident interviews.
The harbor planning committee is holding a public hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 5 p.m. at the Eastham Library and will be presenting the final plan to the select board on Monday, Feb. 24, at 5:30 p.m.
Committee Appointment
The select board appointed Mark Herman to the historical commission. —Ryan Fitzgerald
