1998-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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i Tree Warden Report of the Richard Oakley Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Board of Selectmen Reserve Advisory Board Rep William R.Taylor Residents of the Town of Mashpee: Watershed Management Committee Steven Ball The previous year was marked by new ideas and Dennis Balzarini new directions for the Board of Selectmen. With the Curtis Frye addition of two new talented members, Selectmen Wayne Taylor David Leveille and Wayne Taylor,the Board received James Dorgan new energy and vigor to address the host of issues fac- George Green ing our Town. We also salute our outgoing member Leslie Greig George Costa, whose leadership helped to make the Beverly Kane Board so effective throughout the past several years. James E. Regan,III Excitement was also received by the Board when Herb Silver Selectman Nancy Caffyn was elected to serve in the Watershed Management Scientific Sub-Committee Massachusetts House of Representatives in November. Curtis Frye Jim Dorgan With the strong economy in our region, growth F.Thomas Fudala pressures continue to be a major force for our Town. James Hanks Based on this continued pressure, the Board is partic- Brian Howes ularly proud to have adopted the Town's first Ken Malloy Comprehensive Plan at the 1998 May Town Meeting. Herb Silver This plan was many years in the making, and charts a { Wendy Williams path of growth for our Town which will take us to a '! Richard York reasonable build-out while still maintaining the won- Waterways Commission derful rural character of our Town. James P. Hanks Frederick Fordham Also dominating the Town landscape this year has ,j, Herbert Silver been the continual challenge to provide a quality pro- William R.Taylor, Jr. gram of Town services at an affordable rate to taxpay- Donald Lund ers. To help meet this challenge, the Selectmen, with Paul W.Lumsden the Assistance of the Finance Committee and our '.' Gerald J. Daly Town Administrator, have moved forward with the third year of a significant property tax relief program for local residents. In this three-year period, the Town has devoted over $5.2 million to lower our tax rate. The most recent installment consists of $1.4 million used this year to reduce the tax rate from$14.35 in FY 1998 to $13.60 for FY 1999. Despite these efforts to lower the tax rate, with the „! phasing in of our new high school, educational costs ' are projected to continue to increase rapidly through FY 2000. Although the Board fought very hard to j stave off an override for the current year, our financial j projections show the need for an override for educa i� tional purposes for the coming year. Residents are urged to follow Town finances closely to stay apprised of these issues. I The Board has also worked very hard this past year in defining its vision for the direction of the Town,and in developing goals to achieve this vision.The follow ing represents a brief summary of some ideas discussed !� in the visioning process conducted by the Board: 8