Having served four years as your representative to the Barnstable Town Council, we have accomplished a lot together. I would like to continue to do so; therefore, I am announcing my campaign for re-election.
I want to acknowledge every one of you who has joined in our work of improving our village and town as a whole, I have learned so much from you, working together to solve problems and diving deeply in critical issues. l have also learned much about how our town government works and I have built up relationships with the town staff and the Town Councilors.
There are less than two months between now and the election. I am asking, in any way you can, for your support and vote so I can continue to represent the residents of Barnstable Village and Cummaquid.
Introduce me to a neighbor Contribute financially Put up a sign in front of your house(let me know) Write a letter to the editor Share this newsletter and look at my website
I would like continue to build upon the accomplishments and the work we have done to date.
Reach out to me with with any questions, concerns, ideas by email, a text, a phone call or visit me during my office hours on Wednesdays, 3–5pm at Sturgis Library.
I look forward to seeing you around our wonderful community as we to continue to make things better, preserve what we love, improve what we can, and prepare for the future.
Barnstable Village Association Newsletter: I have been talking with the Barnstable Village Association and more specifically Sue Eleftherakis, who has taken over their newsletter. We have decided that their newsletter will be focused on local village events and keeping everyone up to date on what different groups are offering. I would like to focus more on issues that concern Barnstable Village, Cummaquid and the wider town, along with town events and meetings that are of interest to residents. Thanks to Sue for taking this on. If you have an event you would like to be in the BVA newsletter contact Sue in the next week for her September 1 newsletter. http://suekurz25@gmail.com
Office Hours: I have restarted office hours at Sturgis Library, the first Wednesday of the month, 3:00–5:00. Come by with you questions and comments on any ideas or thoughts you’d like to discuss. The next day is: September 6th. Five residents showed up to talk about issues including burying electric lines, jet noise, water supply and firetruck access.
Town Council Meeting: The next Town Council Meeting is August 17th at 7:00.
Surveying: The two survey crews working on 6A west of the Village have finished their work. I will set up a meeting with the Mass. Department of Transportation before they begin sidewalk design, so we can learn what their guidelines are for width, ramps and granite curbing.….
Wilkens Lane Housing: The Fire Department has been doing inspections and walk-throughs during construction and the water has been turned on in building #1. As for other buildings on adjacent land, there have been no official filings or inquiries that I am aware of.
The Barnstable Fire District Water Department I try to get to every Water District meeting (the second Tuesday the month at 2:30 at the water District offices.) The fire hydrant was replaced in front of the Cape Cod Organic Farm. The plans for the new water treatment plant are being finished and reviewed. The contract for construction should be awarded by the end of October. With some major redesigns, Superintendent, Sean Anderson, has kept this process moving quickly so we do not lose our place for low interest loans from the State. One reminder is to keep an eye and ear on your toilets as leaks can run up your water bill. For some this has cost hundreds of dollars. Kim checks for meter readings that are anomalies but the meters are only read every three months.
Indian Trail Road. Working with residents and the DPW, signs will be installed soon to limit parking to one side of the road down near the beach. There are concerns with public safety and the inability of emergency vehicles accessing the end of the road.
Scudder’s Lane Ramp This plan is close to being finished but it is presently at the state level for review of the placement of the ADA ramp. As soon as we can we will set up a public meeting to review the plans.
One Cape Conference: July 31 and August 1 This yearly, two day, conference sponsored by the Cape Cod Commission brings together town planners, municipal leaders, State policy makers and those interested on learning more about the planning efforts by different towns. The C. C. Commission also brought in speakers from different parts of the country to share their different perspectives on housing development, transportation, water infrastructure and climate change.
The Vineyard Wind substation along with it’s construction ship Wind Farm Boat Tour I was invited, along with about 100 municipal leaders, State legislators, union workers and press to tour the progress of the Vineyard Wind, wind farm, 14 miles south of the Vineyard. This trip was sponsored by the Environmental League of Mass. and Avangrid. The construction project is now in full forward mode as most of the components are ready at the dock in New Bedford. We saw 6 windmill bases already constructed and the rest of the 62 in total will be done by the middle of September. We also saw the large substation, about 7 stories high, that will be the conduit for all of the cables as they connect to the mainland. Soon a special ship will begin installing the vanes, finishing one windmill a day! The plan is to have power generated by the end of October. This project is one of the integral parts of the State’s goal of reducing our use of greenhouse gases. Commonwealth Wind (Craigville Beach) and Park City Wind(Osterville), are the two remaining wind proposals, There are many questions and concerns still to be worked out with these two projects. Stay tuned.
New Police Officers I recently got to join in a celebration for three new Barnstable Police officers as they were sworn in by Town Clerk, Ann Quirk at the Police Station. I got to meet the three, experienced, dedicated and enthusiastic new recruits. We should all thank them for being willing to serve and strengthening our public safety.
Town Council: Strategic Plan Meeting, August 10. I will mention a few important issues brought up, but it was not the best forum for revisiting and rewriting a strategic plan for the next two years. I brought up a number of items that will need more time and discussion. Hopefully the Town Council can hold some “workshops”, i.e. sections of a a regular meeting to discuss them in more depth.
# Since the Barnstable Town Council passed a policy to “Reduce Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions” in November of 2020, adaption and mitigation should be the lens through which we make all decisions. # We need to have clear zoning regulations in place before we start hooking up to the sewers. We also need to have specific numbers as to how much effluent can be put in to the ground and where. # I suggested a Water Quality Advisory Committee be developed to include Town Councilors and residents to learn about and get periodic updates on construction and planning. The Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CWMP), was developed to be and should be an iterative, evolving process. # The Town should prioritize the completion of the Housing Production Plan. # The town Water Districts should meet regularly and look for ways to plan together and share resources as water supply and quality are town-wide concerns. # Modern building codes should be adopted now to assure that our future and existing housing stocks are energy efficient long into the future.
More? I know this is long, but there is a lot going on. I am liaison to the Board of Health and they are working to finalize their regulations including: the amount of time residents have to hook up to the sewer when the pipe in front of their house is ready. Residents need to know this soon as residents may have to start hooking up in March of 2024.
Unity Day, August 4th was a fun, friendly gathering on the Hyannis Village Green! Cape Cod Gateway Airport sponsored a meeting at Town Hall about their efforts to clean up PFOS. The topic is fairly technical as there are a number of underground plumes headed southeast toward the Maher wells in Hyannis. Who has what responsibilities is still to be worked out. Here is a link to this presentation. https://streaming85.townofbarnstable.us/CablecastPublicSite/show/10669?channel=1
These flags are on the courthouse lawn i the Village.
As the earlier post indicates, Gordon Starr Precinct 1 Town Council Candidate is on the move. As well as Stand Outs & Media Events, Gordon is knocking on doors across Barnstable Village, Centerville, and Hyannis’ “Village Green” and asking the question “do you know who is your town councilor?”
Stand Outs
We need lots of
people!
It is crunch time for the Barnstable Town Council election on
November 5. And we need your help
holding signs from 7:30–9:00am and 3:30–5:00pm on election day.
Please contact Cynthia Cole at cbc33@comcast.net. Text or call her at 508.280.8979.
Please give us an hour or two of your time!
BTW, for those not sure, stand outs are when you stand on the corner, or at a poll holding a Vote for Gordon Starr Town Council sign. It’s fun. You get to wave a lot and people smile back at you. Sometimes they even honk their horns!
Media Events
Sunday, November 3rd @ 12pm – 1pm
First, tune in to hear Precinct 1 Town Council challenger Gordon Starr converse with incumbent John Flores on FM 95.1 Newsradio WXTK hosted by Patrick Desmarais.
Next, call in and engage in the debate between these two town council candidates. The number to call is 508–775-9985.
More Ways to Support Gordon Starr
Visit our Support Gordon Starr page, or to learn about more upcoming Stand Outs & Media Events sign up for Gordon’s newsletter.
It’s not easy keeping up with Gordon. He’s all over town!
Knocking on doors, town meetings, and now, radio shows, he is on the move. His signs are showing up all over the precinct as he reaches out to voters across Barnstable Village, Hyannis, and Centerville.
As busy as Gordon is, so are his supporters. Click the links below to read Letters to the Editor supporting his candidacy and published by the Cape Cod Times this past week.
Association to Preserve Cape Cod’s Executive Director Andrew Gottlieb had this to say in his “What I’m thinking” newsletter…
If you start at the local level, and let’s face it that most of the action on mitigation and adaptation are going to happen as local government projects, your vote really counts. I was elected a selectman by 6 votes. In local scale elections, single votes matter and candidates know it. So, don’t waste your power. Put people in office at the local level who take the science seriously and understand the urgency.
… Don’t think for a minute that who you elect locally doesn’t matter. Even if your local select person doesn’t move up the political food chain, they will be deciding what your town does or doesn’t accomplish on climate and water quality. Barnstable voters, you have an election soon, so it is not too late to flex your environmental muscles.
Gordon cares about Barnstable Village. He is looking forward on all issues impacting our village and our town. Visit About Gordon and learn why he should be our next Precinct 1 town councilor.
Yesterday, Gordon Starr Barnstable Town Council Candidate Precinct 1 was endorsed by U.S. Senator Ed Markey at Nirvana Coffee Shop in Barnstable Village.
“We
need leaders at the local level to influence policies that are going to
help us to avoid the worst and most catastrophic consequences of
climate change, we need to think globally but need to act locally. ”
The Cape Cod Times article notes that the town council election is not a partisan race. Gordon is registered as “un-enrolled” nevertheless, Gordon’s strong record of supporting the environment caught Senator Markey’s attention for an endorsement.
Markey was on the Cape to attend the Net Zero Conference being held at Cape Cod Resort and Conference Center in Hyannis.
Gordon has lived in Barnstable Village for over 40 years
Gordon knows Barnstable Village. He values its traditions and respects its character. Gordon understands what is important to the villagers. He is a great listener and wants to hear what matters to you!
Visit About Gordon to learn more about Gordon’s story. Aside from being endorsed by Senator Ed Markey, Gordon has curried favor with townspeople across the village, as indicated by the many lawn signs lining route 6A.
Here’s a proposal for some big picture thinking. Can we come together to create a Cape Cod climate task force, using common sense and goodwill to create a blueprint, a compact, to guide and unite us all in this new era?
As my bio states, I am the “environmental guy”. Click here to learn more about my story, my interests, and why I believe that I can help to make Barnstable resilient in the face of climate evolution.
And for those of you for whom the link doesn’t work, here’s the copy from Mimi McConnell’s Cape Cod Times Editorial of Sept. 11, 2019.
Hats off to Wellfleet and its neighbors for their enlightened approach in exploring nontraditional methods to reduce wastewater pollution in Wellfleet Harbor (“Wellfleet weighs multifaceted watershed cleanup approach,” Aug. 26, Page 1).
This augurs well for the rest of Cape Cod if we can open our minds to examining and then adopting new solutions proven elsewhere in our country but also in other nations – whether it be to address water quality or other issues. Too often we turn to “horse and buggy” fixes in today’s world of reliable alternatives and new technologies.
But this brings up the larger question facing this peninsula: What are we doing now, today, in concert, to prepare for the escalating impacts of global climate change? We do not have the 10- to 12-year period we hear touted; the changes are cascading now, affecting weather, the economy, rising seas, the balance of nature and ultimately our way of life right here.
Can we come together to create a Cape Cod climate task force, using common sense and goodwill to create a blueprint, a compact, to guide and unite us all in this new era?
This would obviously require legislation, created by the people of Cape Cod after intensive input from all elements of our population. We are blessed with world-class scientists right here in Woods Hole; we have progressive business leadership; we have courageous environmental and groups; we have enlightened political leaders; we have an informed but unorganized public open to new ideas – yet there is no cohesive or united effort yet to address the biggest challenge of our time.
This is not a proposal for a feel-good study group but rather a convening of knowledgeable and determined Cape Codders. Care in forming this task force would be imperative to ensure balance, fairness and doability. Funding for staff and logistics would be needed and could come from financial and real estate entities (whose futures are central to this effort). Might our Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce take the lead in forming this task force, using great care to be inclusive, balanced and practical, with a deadline of, say, 18 months?
Yes, this is complicated, and indeed daunting; but I have faith that we on Cape Cod will find common ground at this extraordinary time of awakening to this local yet international challenge to the planet entrusted to us. It will require ingenuity, integrity and wisdom to play our part in the future of our global village. Let’s make it happen!
As a town councilor, I will communicate & engage regularly with Precinct 1 constituents to keep them up to date on “What’s Happening”. It is one of the most important roles of a town councilor to engage the people in their district.
This is the first installment of weekly updates on village and town issues.
The town council voted to approve CPC (Community Preservation Committee) funding for “improvements” to The Hollow. I hope you can come to the next Hollow meeting at the Unitarian Church this Wednesday (see below for more information).
On August 20th, Dan Santos, head of DPW, spoke at the old Jail about the Streetscape, the Hollow and Maraspin Creek. There is a nice synopsis of the meeting on the Friends of Barnstable Harbor Website.
I am developing a plan for “face to face” meetings for the Barnstable Village Streetscape Project. As the project progresses, I believe it will be important to have a forum to voice our concerns about the project. These concerns will be shared with the Town of Barnstable. And please, feel free to update me on any concerns you may have about the BV Streetscape Project ongoing.
Look forward to seeing you at these important meetings and hearing your concerns regarding the Streetscape Project. And thank you all for being interested in our village be sure to check in regularly to learn “What’s Happening”!
Sincerely,
Gordon
P. S. Thanks to Ann Canedy for these links.
HOLLOW UPDATE MEETING SCHEDULED:
Precinct 1 Town Councilor John Flores will be hosting a meeting for local citizenry input with members of the DPW department and CPC regarding the renovation of the Hollow Field on Wednesday , September 4, 2019 at 6pm. The meeting will be held at the Unitarian Church Warren Hall next to the Hollow Field.
John Flores will put together a sub committee to talk about improvements at the Hollow. If you would like to join, contact him at: johnflores3105@gmail.com
Barnstable Village Streetscape Project
WANT TO BE INFORMED ABOUT THE BARNSTABLE VILLAGE STREETSCAPE PROJECT?
The Town of Barnstable Dept. of Public Works wants you to be updated in a timely, accurate, informative way regarding the upcoming streetscape project. If you want to receive regular updates directly from DPW, submit your email address to : bvproject@town.barnstable.ma.us
Barnstable & West Barnstable Town Council Candidates Gordon Starr & Kris Clark at the 2019 One Cape Summit
I spent Monday and Tuesday at the Cape Cod Commission’s 2019 One Cape Summit. Workshops addressed climate change through adaptation and mitigation. Also fantastic discussions about the issues concerning year-round housing on the Cape.
2019 One Cape Summit: Wequasset Resort patio overlooking Pleasant Bay
This year’s One Cape Summit focused on Environment and Economy. Day #1 featured speakers on environmental concerns. Eric Fisher, CBS Boston’s WBZ-TV’s chief meteorologist recounted not only the conditions leading up to the previous week’s tornadoes, but also stated that July 2019 was the hottest July on record for Boston. In fact, the Washington Post reports that June was the 414th consecutive month with above-average global temperatures.
The One Cape Summit Day #2 agenda included presentations on town planning tools. These tools integrate design, economics and public input to develop strategies for improving quality of life while increasing living space density. Town of Barnstable planners are looking to the future to ensure that affordable workforce housing opportunities are created.
Finally, a presentation by the US Census Bureau emphasized the need
for our participation in the 2020 census. The importance of keeping
respondent data strictly confidential was both emphasized and
reiterated. And, the US Census Bureau is offering census takers jobs at
$19/hour. Here’s a link to see if you qualify 2020 US Census Job Opportunities.
