07/14/2025 SELECT BOARD Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Select Board Minutes July 14,2025 The Select Board welcomed Catherine Laurent, Director of Public Works. Laurent requested authorization from the Select Board to send a letter to the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council (MWTC) and the Tribal Chair regarding the Fishway Dam project on Route 130, speciﬁcally to encourage their participation in the public engagement process that has begun. The project concerns the state-regulated ﬁsh ladder dam, which is currently under a state order requiring either repair or removal. A summary of the project’s progress, including two conceptual designs, was provided. Last year, signiﬁcant vegetation clearing was completed along the riverbank, and several grants have been secured to support the project, which is now operating under a deﬁned timeline. Selectman Cotton noted that the two options are removal or rehabilitation, both of which have advantages and disadvantages. One concern raised was that Mill Pond could be drained, temporarily creating a barren area. Laurent clariﬁed that the long-term vision may not include a traditional pond but could involve the restoration of a functioning wetland system, which would be addressed during the design process. Chair Wyman-Colombo added that the project involves transitioning from a man-made pond to a more natural stream system, and Laurent conﬁrmed that Mill Pond currently lacks a deﬁned channel, which confuses migratory herring. Improving ﬁsh passage is a key beneﬁt of the proposed changes. Selectman Weeden asked about the timeline, and Laurent responded that they are hoping to have construction drawings by early winter of this calendar year, followed by the permitting process, which will involve multiple regulatory approvals. Selectman Weeden also expressed appreciation for the potential use of indigenous plantings, referencing the successful ecological restoration at Red Brook RD. Laurent noted that the purpose of this presentation was to bring the matter before the Board for any questions or concerns. Chair Wyman-Colombo concluded by clarifying that the Board’s action would be to authorize outreach to the MWTC and Tribal Chair. Discussion and Approval of End-of-Year Transfer-– Dawn Thayer, Finance Director Town Manager Rodney Collins explained that the Finance Director was not present because the matter involved a fairly routine transfer. Some of the debt has already been permanently bonded when it became due. The Treasurer ensured that the payment was made from the appropriate account. One of the transfer requests relates to the Historical Commission, speciﬁcally to cover a shortfall in the part-time employee budget. The employee worked additional hours during the winter, resulting in a small deﬁcit. These are the two transfer requests currently before the Board, and it is Town Manager Collins’s understanding that the Finance Committee has already approved them.