TRURO NON-RESIDENT TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION
PO Box 324 Truro, MA 02666
Fall 2003 Vol. 7 No.2
Alan Frankel, President
Anthony Garrett, Past President
Frank Korahais, Secretary
Regan McCarthy, Treasurer
Mark Poster, Nominations
Gwyn Korahais, Communications Tom Bow Mary Frankel
Cathy Haynes Wendy Levine
Neil Moynihan Larry Parcell
Larry Pisapio Kenneth Reich
David Schwartz Richard Smith
Dear Neighbors,
As we head towards 2004, new challenges face Truro that may have significant implications for our pocketbooks and the continuation of the quality of life we want. In our last newsletter and at our Annual Meeting we provided information to you on the issue of water. This surely represents the greatest long term problem and threat to the outer Cape. At present, however, two new items have arisen that need your immediate attention. These are the planned combined Council on Aging and Community Center project and the possible relocation of the Cape End Manor project.
Initially, the Council on Aging had proposed to build their own facility at their own cost. This building would have cost $1 million dollars with $600 thousand coming from a grant and the balance from fundraising. Since the town would have been required to provide the land for the building, it was taken as an opportunity to combine the COA with a community center. This project was presented to Town Meeting in the Spring and approved by the voters. Subsequently, as details of the plan have been fleshed out, a $400 thousand cost overrun was identified. A significant portion of this overrun is the desire of a small group of individuals to change the plan for a half-court basketball gym to a full-court one. As this newsletter goes out to you, the Truro Building Committee has decided to adopt a revised plan closer to the original one. However, this remains an important issue. Presently, 10% of Truro’s budget is made up of debt repayment requirements. The community center could increase that percentage to over 11%. In comparison, Wellfleet’s debt represents about 2% of its budget. This differential is the result of the building of the library, public safety facility and renovation of Town Hall all within the relatively recent past.
The possible move of the Cape End Manor from Provincetown to Truro has the potential impact of the Stop & Shop project. Your Board is concerned that the discussions to date have not provided the public scrutiny we feel is warranted. Eleven potential sites in Truro have been identified. The proposed plan would take the Manor from a 72-bed nursing facility to a greatly expanded campus including more nursing beds, over 100 living units, and an activities facility. To date, no marketing or demographic plans have been presented. Among the questions yet to be asked are, whose responsibility would it be to manage the facility if something happens to the original operator? Whose financial burden would it be if the project fails? What are the implications for traffic and water usage. Would a facility of this magnitude require Truro to have a fulltime fire department?
We will continue to monitor these situations, ask the questions you would want to ask and report back to you with instructions on how you may help. Rest assured that TNRTA will be a leader on these issues as we were on the Stop & Shop issue.
Kind regards,
Alan N. Frankel
President
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SUMMER MEETINGS
TNRTA met with several town specialists over the course of the summer months. Kevin Keuchler, representing the Truro Water Resources Oversight Commission, met with the board to describe the serious concerns with water supply.
At the annual membership meeting, Susan Kadar, Town Moderator and Truro Representative to the Cape Cod Commission, described the roles of various governing bodies that affect Truro, including the processes of Board of Selectmen and Town Meeting; the Barnstable County Government; the Cape Cod Commission and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Gary Palmer, Vice Chair of the Truro Water Resources Oversight Commission gave a presentation on the water issues and some of the solutions available to the town.
The annual meeting with the Board of Selectmen was chaired by Sally Sears-Mack who presented the issues facing the board at the time, the most serious of these being the water supply. The board’s goal is to encourage and support a plan to create a regional commission which would supervise the solutions to this problem.
Maria Burks, National Seashore Superintendent, also spoke at the meeting, describing the zoning regulations as they affect property owners in the Park. The Truro Planning Board is currently working on town zoning regulations for the National Seashore district of the town. The board is working with the Park Service to incorporate Park zoning guidelines into local bylaw. Their greatest concern is for regulations on the expansion of existing homes.
TOWN NEWS UPDATE
The project to relocate the Cape End Manor nursing home and create a “care campus” in Truro is being considered. The Manor is operated by Provincetown. The proposal to purchase property in Truro and expand the home’s functions to include assisted living, rehabilitation facilities and nursing care occurred as a possible solution for seriously overcrowded circumstances and a need to expand the existing Provincetown facility.
Water supply and resources continue to pose serious problems. Truro and Provincetown share the Pamet lens under a 1982 intermunicipal agreement. New well sites in the areas of North Union Field and Higgins Hollow Road are being explored in an attempt to meet an increasing demand.
The Board of Selectmen is proposing the establishment of an independent regional water district to ensure equitable sharing of the water supply between Truro and Provincetown.
The construction of a new community center that would house the Council on Aging and provide other recreational facilities for the town was approved at the Spring Town Meeting. After some discussion to increase the budget to include a gymnasium with basketball court, it was recently resolved to maintain the $2.9 million cap on construction and adhere to the original design of two wings, one for COA activities and one for recreation, including a partial basketball court and stage.
The National Park Service has selected four local nonprofit organizations as program partners at the Highlands Center in North Truro. The partners were selected based on proposals submitted by them to the Park in June. They are the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, Payomet Performing Arts in Truro and the AmeriCorps Cape Cod program of the Barnstable County Commissioners.
The Truro Historical Commission is advocating a conservation-minded approach to any future subdivision of the approximately 35 acres of undeveloped land which lies on the south side of Pilgrim Pond in Pond Village. The Massachusetts Historical Commission recently declared Pond Village eligible for listing on the National Register of Historical Places.
Last but not least…, some “old” news worth repeating: The Stop&Shop project planned for the Noons property, one which met with much local opposition and faced rigorous environmental review, was withdrawn by Stop&Shop in June, 2003. The company is instead concentrating its efforts on the expansion of its property in Orleans.
The project to build a 50,000+ square foot “big box” store on the Noons property located on the west side of Route 6 a few yards from the merge of Route 6 with 6A posed many possible problems and quality of life issues.
Through the efforts of local resident groups and TNRTA, seasonal and year-round residents were notified of the issues and encouraged to write letters and attend public hearings on the project. The difficulties inherent in the project were made very clear to all state committees, the Cape Cod Commission, and the Truro Board of Selectmen who opposed the project, 4 to 1.
TNRTA will continue to involve its members in any future plans for the site which would impact on the quality of life in Truro.
TAX ALERT
Massachusetts State Senator Rob O’Leary is sponsoring a bill (#S1803) to apply an occupancy tax to the rental of private homes on Cape Cod and the Islands. Senator O’Leary represents the Cape and Islands.
The legislation, if adopted, would also permit local jurisdictions to enact similar taxes. At this time, the proposed legislation is in the Joint Ways and Means Committee.
Stay in touch with www.TNRTA.org for further information and recommended action.
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TNRTA MEMBERSHIP
TNRTA needs your continued support and membership to maintain and continue the progress and work we have achieved in our seven years of existence. We are a young organization, but we have accomplished much in those seven short years. We now have an organized presence in the town, a voice at Town Meeting, and collaboration with year-round residents on issues which affect all residents in the town.
TNRTA has worked on representing your views and opinions on issues such as the Stop&Shop project, RyderBeach/Sexton House, JetSki ban, and ocean beach lifeguards. We will continue to monitor activities and issues in the town, keep you up to date on town actions, and make the town aware of your positions.
VISIT US AT WWW.TNRTA.ORG
FOR INFORMATION ON TRURO
We thank you for renewing your membership for 2003-2004. If you have not renewed, we urge you to do so now. Annual spring dues are $35.00 per household. It is your support and our size that give us the strength to influence events in our town.
Renew your membership by sending a check in the amount of $35.00 to TNRTA
PO Box 324
Truro, MA 02666
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TRURO NONRESIDENT TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION
PO BOX 324
TRURO, MA 02666