Press & Commentary

From Your Councilor-
Ann Canedy
Barnstable Patriot 7-22-05

As Councilor Hank Farnham discussed in his column last edition, a Roads Subcommittee chaired by Councilor Jim Crocker is spending a good part of its summer discussing ways to improve the roads in our town. These are public meetings and include members of the Council, staff, and Comprehensive Financial Advisory Committee. At this week's meeting, we hosted Sandwich Selectman Tom Keyes, who shared with the Council some of Sandwich's fiscal strategies and road policies.

There is no disagreement among councilor committee members that there is a need for a financial commitment to our roads. This was especially brought home to us after the severe winter of 2005 and the budget-busting snow removal costs. Once the snow melted, potholes and heaves in our roads, requiring immediate repair, put a strain on our capital improvement budget. Where we may disagree in the approach that we choose to take to remedy the problem, we all agree that we must confront and deal with the problem now. Be assured, our roads will continue to deteriorate if we remain on our present course of chronically under-funding (because there is no money to fund) the public roads capital budget.

Barnstable is not alone. Most Cape towns are facing these issues exacerbated by growth and chronic under-funding by the state Legislature. Barnstable has 880 public roads in varied condition. Unlike many other towns, Barnstable also plows and tries to service its 1,100 private roads. Part of our discussion has to include fine-tuning and instituting a private roads policy. There are four approaches for funding on the table. I present them in this column in an intentionally neutral fashion. I have my leanings, as I suspect do other councilors, but I think I speak for all of them in saying that we want to give a fair airing to and consider all of the options. We also want to allow enough time for a full dissemination of information to the citizenry and ample public comment.

Option 1 - Municipal Stabilization Fund: This is a relatively new revenue generating tool. The key components are:

1) It can be created for any purpose specified by the Town Council. In this instance, it would be created for road improvement. It could also be written with as much specificity as the Council wants and could identify particular roads.

2) It would require a 2/3 vote of the Council to put it on a ballot. That means nine councilors would have to vote in favor.

3) It would require a majority referendum vote at the ballot. That means 51 percent of the voters would have to approve

4) If approved by referendum, the Town Council would have to vote the appropriation annually. This is a control mechanism in that, if the goal of road improvement is reached, the Council could vote to lower or eliminate the appropriation. The latter would effectively stop the levy and any new tax levy would have to go before the taxpayer for another vote.

5) The annual appropriation can be increased up to 2.5 percent (similar to a general tax levy) and that increased amount becomes the base for the subsequent year.

6) The Council may also change the purpose of the Fund by a two-thirds vote and a subsequent majority vote by referendum. If all our roads are repaired, and the Town has another pressing need, the fund could shift to address that need.

Option 2 - Debt Exclusion Override: The amount is not fixed as yet, but if, for example, we took out a "loan" for $35 million to pay for all needed road improvements and paid for it over a 10-year period, the advantage would be that the debt would expire without appreciable tax consequences. It is not permanent. The "loan" is actually financed by selling bonds. The disadvantage is that the borrowing costs and interest increases the original expenditure. The historically low interest rates make this more palatable now rather than later.

Option 3 - Capital Exclusion Override: This option is a one-time, voter-approved levy which specifically targets road repairs. It requires a two-thirds vote of the Council and a majority by referendum vote. The Council could elect to name the roads which would be repaired with these funds. The advantage is that the voter knows exactly where his tax levy is going. The disadvantage is that the Council would have to come back to the voter every year or two and request additional funds to repair the second or third list of roads needing repair. This method assures accountability by the Council and by the town staff for those Doubting Thomases out there, but it very well could lead to "override fatigue."

Option 4: Prop. 2 1/2 Operating Override: This is the tax tool with which most citizens are familiar. As with the previous three options, a two-thirds Council vote and majority referendum is required. The amount of the tax could be front-loaded (a lump sum which adds to the future tax base) or back-loaded (an amount incrementally introduced to the tax base over time). This is a permanent tax. It can be targeted specifically for roads. However, after a number of years and at a date certain, the tax revenue reverts to the General Fund and can get lost in the overall budget.

In addition to these four mechanisms, Town Manager John Klimm will propose a roads policy that he has generally outlined at Town Council meetings and which he will unveil with specifics in a future subcommittee meeting. Mr. Klimm addresses road funding using available or anticipated funds in FY2007 by realigning the budget priorities. We look forward to hearing his proposal but my understanding is that it refers only to public roads, not private. Please consider this overview and share your thoughts with me by e-mailing me at acanedy@comcast.net or visiting my Web site www.anncanedy.com.

Other news:
Trayser Museum is open for business. The ribbon-cutting will be Aug. 12. The Barnstable Harbor Advisory group, an informal contingent of commercial and residential representatives dedicated to harbor improvement, is having an open meeting at Barnstable Marine Service on July 27 at 4 pm. Several Town employees will be present to answer questions.

Shell fishing in Barnstable Harbor is now open to commercial shell fishermen Monday through Friday for a limited time period (until October). The extra day was added by emergency proclamation in response to the economic hardship endured as a consequence of red tide.

The Planning Board, to which I am the Town Council liaison, is reworking the 2-acre zoning proposal and it will be presented to the Town Council in August. The new proposal is 2 acres west of the sewer line to West Barnstable, 1 acre where sewered and 1 1/2 acres east of the sewer line to Yarmouth. The key to its passage is Barnstable and Cummaquid residents showing up for the vote.

There will be a meeting at the Cummaquid Golf Course Clubhouse in early August (TBA). Town officials will outline calming device (speed bumps, etc) alternatives for Marstons, Althea and Oakmont roads. Public comment and input are essential. Watch for a date and time posting at Yarmouth and Cummaquid Post Offices.

Please support the Sturgis Library's Pull Up A Chair Auction July 31.
If you are interested in contributing to and participating in Town government (beats complaining), consider joining a committee. There are openings in the newly formed Land Acquisition and Preservation committee, Conservation, Housing, Comprehensive Financial Advisory Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Cable TV Advisory Board, Jane Eshbaugh Community Service Award Committee, Disability Committee, Board of Health, Airport Commission, and Personnel Committee. Send your resume and letter of interest to Councilor Richardson at the Town Hall.

Until next time, enjoy the rest of the summer and thanks for allowing me to serve you.

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Ann B. Canedy
Barnstable Town Council Precinct 1
Box 23, Cummaquid, MA. 02637

I invite your opinion.

What’s your issue? Send me your comments. Thank you, and it continues to be a pleasure to serve the people of Barnstable.