From Your Councilor Ann Canedy

Part of getting back to normal after a hard-fought campaign is to write my town council column for the Patriot. Thank you to all my supporters for their support. To those who did not support me, thanks for your participation in the process. I look forward to continuing to devote my energies to the town council, to helping my fellow citizens and to preserving the Cape Cod way of life.

I encourage all of you to remain aware of town issues and to share your views with me. My approach is to study everything available to me and to talk with as many citizens of this town as I can. But I am not a mind reader. If you have an opinion – whether you agree with me or not – I want to, I need to hear it. I do insist that you be courteous and respectful of my views as I am towards you and your views. Sometimes we will agree and sometimes we will not, but my word is my bond and my vote is not for sale. There is no point in threats or intimidation. I am in this for public service, not in any aggrandizement of myself. I am open, however, to vigorous discourse and I encourage it.

As many of you on Old Jail Lane are aware, at long last, the final stage of surfacing the full length of the road has begun. The drainage work that began Nov. 8 will take place between the railroad tracks and Route 6A. According to the town’s Highway Division, residents will have full access to their homes, but may have to be detoured to Route 6A or Hyannis Road on occasion. The work will take place in two stages. Phase 1 will be the installation of a drainage system immediately south of Route 6A. Phase 2 will include a drainage system near the railroad tracks. It is anticipated that Old Jail Lane will remain open during the evenings and weekends. Completion of the project will be dependent upon conditions in the field. Once the drainage systems are completed, surfacing the road where needed will commence, weather permitting.

It was brought to my attention last summer that Barnstable Harbor is in immediate danger of becoming impassable. This is due to the past few severe winters of storms and icing over. The water is as low as 2 feet on some tides. This is detrimental to the economic and recreational interests and to health and environmental concerns. There are two options: a full dredging of the harbor, which would take two to three years to wade through the permitting process, or an emergency dredge that would open the harbor immediately while the town pursues the necessary permits for a full dredge. The town is actively exploring the latter option and I anticipate that the harbor will be dredged on an emergency basis early next spring.

The next Barnstable Civic Association meeting will be held on Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Tales of Cape Cod building on Route 6A. We need volunteers for the Christmas Stroll. Does anyone know of a meeting place that will not charge us for the space, but is more accessible to the elderly and the physically challenged? If so, let me or Barnstable Civic Association President Ralph Cahoon know.

I hope you have all seen the sheep grazing at Bone Hill Farm. It brings to mind the good old days and underscores for me the wisdom of preserving at least one of the lots through Land Bank funds. The Committee to Preserve Northside Open Space is still fund-raising to purchase the second lot which completes the wildlife corridor to the Mill Creek. Contact Duncan Gibson at 508-362-3981 for more information.

By the time you read this, I will have cast my vote for the purchase of the Hyannis Golf Course land. My primary reason for doing so was to protect the several well heads I believe are vital to the village of Barnstable. The Barnstable Water District, Barnstable Land Trust, and Barnstable Open Space Committee also supported this purchase. The District currently has a 30-foot easement, but no other rights which would have survived a sale to a private developer. The town is using Enterprise funds (user fees) and Land Bank funds (surcharge tax) which by statute cannot be used for school or municipal purposes and must only be used for open space and golf.

Still on the agenda: traffic, road and drainage issues for Cummaquid Heights; the future development of Freezer Point; reconsideration of two-acre zoning and other zoning issues; revitalization of Barnstable Harbor (phragmites control); occupation of the Trayser Museum; public awareness of train crossing safety; outdoor lighting ordinance; and review of the town Administrative Code.

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