05/07/2012 Annual Town Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Explanation: The dredging of the Mashpee River is a project that has been under review for a number of years. The Waterways Commission believes that a dredge of the River Entrance would enhance the flushing of the river as well as provide safe vessel navigation into or out of Popponesset Bay from the river. We are also concerned with water quality improvement, fish habitat improvement and improving public access. The monies required are for project design/engineering as required for filing with various Federal and State Agencies to get our Corps of Engineers Permit. The Board of Selectmen recommends approval by a vote of 4-0, 1 absent. Finance Committee recommends approval by a vote of 5-0, 2 absent. Motion made by Selectman John Cahalane. Motion: I move the Town vote to appropriate and transfer $80,000 from the Waterways Improvement Fund Account to the Mashpee River Engineering Account for the purpose of engineering and design services to secure an Improvement Dredge Permit for the Mashpee River. Motion passes unanimously at 8:16 PM. Article 25 To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and transfer from available funds $35,000 to the Mashpee Human Services Consultant Account,to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen, or take any other action relating thereto. Submitted by the Board of Selectmen Explanation: This article requests voter approval to conduct Mashpee's first assessment of human service needs. Town Meeting voters established the Mashpee Human Services Committee in May 1996 and the Human Services Department in May 2001. Since 1996, the Town's population has grown approximately 30 percent,to 14,272. For 15 years,the Town has been addressing perceived human service needs rather than identified, documented needs. This ad hoc approach helps many residents,but we do not know how many families or individuals are missed because we don't know what their needs are; or they do not know that the Town has services and information available to help them. Given the growing pressures on Mashpee's budget and on the budgets of families and individuals, the Mashpee Human Services Committee believes it would be fiscally and socially responsible to seek a professional assessment of the community's actual human service needs and how the Town can best address them. *Approved by a unanimous vote of the Mashpee Human Services Committee January 19, 2012. The Board of Selectmen recommends approval by a vote of 4-0, 1 abstained. Finance Committee recommends approval by a vote of 5-0, 2 absent. Motion made by Selectman Thomas O'Hara. 23