07/14/2025 SELECT BOARD Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Select Board Minutes July 14,2025 of the opioid epidemic, calling it unparalleled in our lifetime, and noted the successful legal action led in part by the current governor against pharmaceutical companies responsible for fueling the crisis. As a result, Massachusetts now oversees the Statewide Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund through the Executive O?ice of Health and Human Services, in coordination with 10 municipal and 10 state appointees. Under the settlement agreement, Mashpee is set to receive approximately $727,000 over a six-year period, with around $139,000 expected in 2025 and $413,000 received so far—placing the town roughly halfway through the timeline and funding total. While some towns on Cape Cod have yet to begin utilizing their allocated funds, Mashpee took early initiative and launched its e?ort in 2023. The program focuses on four key areas: substance abuse prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. This year, the Human Services Committee received 15 applications from various organizations, reﬂecting growing awareness of the program. The committee prioritized distributing available funds equitably among qualiﬁed applicants, ultimately supporting 11 of the 15 organizations. He stressed that delays in receiving funds are tied to the state-level administration of the settlement, which the town cannot control. Town Manager Rodney Collins commended the committee’s work and added that valuable data provided by the Town Attorney, Police, and Fire Departments helped guide decision- making. Update on Local Tra?ic Concerns – Colton Atkinson, Mashpee Resident Colton Atkinson, Mashpee Resident, addressed the Select Board regarding the town’s ongoing e?orts to improve transportation safety and accessibility through the Complete Streets program. Emphasizing both environmental and public safety beneﬁts, Atkinson noted that transitioning some car trips to other modes of transportation, such as walking and biking, can signiﬁcantly reduce the burden of car ownership, which AAA estimates at approximately $12,000 per year. Accessibility is a major concern in Mashpee, particularly for residents under 16 or over 65 who may not be able to drive. According to results from the Local Comprehensive Plan (LCP) survey, 76% of respondents strongly supported improved transportation options, with 91% supporting expanded sidewalks and 81% supporting bike paths. The Cape Cod Commission’s Vision Zero initiative highlights areas of concern based on crash data—particularly along Route 130, Route 151, Route 28, and Great Neck North and South. The town adopted a Complete Streets policy in 2018 to address infrastructure for all users and is currently preparing a ﬁve-year update to its plan, which was originally developed in 2020. However, cost estimates for these projects—such as sidewalk construction—were underestimated, often using a $400,000-per-mile ﬁgure that doesn't reﬂect actual costs according to Atkinson.