Dear Friends and Supporters,

The Town of Orleans will have a Special Town Meeting on October 28, 2024 at the Nauset Middle School Gymnasium at 6:00 PM. There are several important environmental issues on the warrant that may be of interest to OCT members who are registered Orleans voters.

Article 6 allows for the Orleans Conservation Commission and The Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts to hold the Conservation Restriction on 33 Eli Rogers Road, rather than the Select Board, as was approved at the May Town Meeting. This will satisfy the Secretary of Environmental Affairs and will allow permanent protection of this important property. There are no financial implications of this article.

Article 11 allows the Town to purchase 72 Tonset Road for $2,500,000. The 2.2-acre property has an existing home and has water frontage on Town Cove, with topography that would likely allow for shore access. Additionally, the property abuts the Town-owned Sea Call Farm and has the ability to provide unique public recreational opportunities. The Select Board will control this parcel for general municipal purposes. By utilizing free cash there is no tax impact from this purchase.

Article 12 would allow for $100,000 to contract with a consultant to establish a climate action roadmap that is specific to the Town of Orleans. Having a local climate action roadmap will play a critical role in Orleans’ resilience to the impacts of climate change and will ensure we are working towards the climate goals set forth by the Commonwealth. The actions established by this roadmap will be designed to allow for tracking progress. The roadmap may allow for future climate/sustainability/environmental related grants.

Article 15 would allow for $85,000 to be used for the management of Town of Orleans Conservation Properties. The funds would be spent on activities including, but not limited to, capital improvements, maintenance, preparation and distribution of educational materials, etc. The Conservation Commission and Conservation Department staff have carefully identified many pressing management needs across their many landholdings.

Article 22 would allow for $55,000 to support data collection that will inform the development of a management plan for Boland Pond, a 7.3-acre pond behind Nauset Middle and Orleans Elementary Schools. Public health advisories were issued for Boland Pond earlier this year as it experienced algal blooms, and the pond has continued to degrade in the past month. Past Town management plans for the largest freshwater ponds in Orleans have led to actions to protect and restore water quality.

For more info, see addendum, provided by the Town’s Marine & Freshwater Quality Committee