Special town election set for Tuesday in Eastham

By Denice Coffey

Posted Oct 4, 2020

EASTHAM — Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday for a special town election to decide three ballot questions.

Question 1: Shall the Town of Eastham be allowed to assess an additional $400,000 in real estate and personal property taxes via a Proposition 2 1/2 override in order to provide for permanent funding of the Town’s capital plan?

There is no recurring funding available for the capital plan. Future year revenues from this override will go towards funding the Town capital plan to minimize future borrowing costs and limit the need to continue to ask for one-time capital exclusions.

The $400,000 would be used to purchase new police radio and dispatch equipment. The purchases are necessary because of the state’s conversion to a new 911 system format this year.

It’s been 22 years since the equipment was last upgraded, and the police and fire departments currently do not have compatible systems.

The cost for the first year in additional taxes would be $62.86 for a median home valued at $449,000.

Question 2: Shall the town of Eastham be allowed to assess an additional $490,500 in real estate and personal property taxes via a Proposition 2 1/2 override in order to fund the Family Support Package?

Funding for the package, if approved, would provide funding for education, housing and human services needs in town.

The package has been described as a critical investment in attracting younger individuals and families to Eastham. The package will fund preschool for 3- and 4-year-old residents, provide school lunch and nutrition assistance to all resident children, fund free summer lunch and elementary after school programs and provide additional funding to the Affordable Housing Trust.

The cost for the first year in additional taxes would be $71.84 for a median home valued at $449,000.

Question 3: Shall the people of the town of Eastham direct the local government to request that Gov. Charlie Baker and the state legislature employ all means available to ensure that: (1) spent nuclear fuel is secured in better quality dry casks and hardened, on-site storage; and (2) spent fuel pool and casks are protected with heightened security at the decommissioned Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant?

The nonbinding petition article, which passed by majority vote at town meeting on Sept. 26, cited a host of reasons for the request. The article noted that the casks hold half the radioactive cesium released at Chernobyl; that visitors to the plant can get within line-of-sight of the dry casks; and that Pilgrim owner Holtec was approved for reduced offsite emergency planning, reduced off-site liability insurance and reduced cybersecurity by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday.