Cape Cod National Seashore Advisory Commission Three Hundred Ninth Meeting
Held at Cape Cod National Seashore, Salt Pond Visitors Center, Eastham, Massachusetts, on Monday, April 8, 2024, commencing at 1:00pm
SITTING
Richard Delaney, Chair
Sheila Lyons
Thomas Dougherty
David Crary
Lawrence Spaulding
Mary-Jo Avellar
Susan Areson
Lilli-Ann Green (virtual)
Leslie Ann Jonas (virtual)
Mark Robinson (virtual)
Theodore Keon, alternate
Joanna Stevens, alternate
John Carlson, alternate
Leslie Sandberg, alternate
Wayne Clough, alternate
Heather McElroy, alternate
Also present:
Jennifer S. Flynn, Superintendent
Leslie Reynolds, Deputy Superintendent
Stacey Ferguson, Chief Administration and Business Services
Susan Reece, Chief, Interpretation Cultural Resources
Linzy French, Public Affairs Officer
Adam Baghetti, IT Specialist
Cheryl Johnson, Executive Assistant
Audience members (in person/virtual)
Meeting opened at 1:00pm
Welcome
Chair, Rich Delaney welcomed back the commission and thanked Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Edward Markey and Congressman Bill Keating for their support in the reinstatement of the Commission.
- Congressman Bill Keating welcomed the commission virtually.
- State Senator Julian Cyr was present and welcomed the commission and thanked them for their service to the community.
- A moment of silence was held in honor of Massachusetts U.S. Representative, William Delahunt.
- Agenda was adopted.
- Introduction of Membership
- Review Commission charter and scale of mandate
- Superintendent Report: Jennifer S. Flynn, Superintendent (complete presentation linked below)
- Solicit recommended areas for focus for the Commission.
Mary-Jo Avellar – Provincetown
- Provincetown Airport concerned about lease.
- Truro Air Force center cancer rate, asbestos, radiation
- Dune shacks – how leasing RFP was handled; how will new leases maintain them.
- Battery in the landfill
Dave Crary – Eastham
- Beach parking for residents
- Water quality interface
- Natural resources – beach erosion, open areas
Larry Spaulding – Orleans
- Beach management
- Seals/sharks
- All issues raised impact entire Cape.
Susan Areson – Truro
- Water – wastewater, development of Walsh property, water tower, new well sites
- ADU’s
- Housing
Tom Dougherty – Chatham
- Non-lethal measures to handle predators
- Protocol exposed shipwrecks
Lilli-Ann Green – Wellfleet
- Mosquito schedule
- Fire safety/prevention
- Land swaps
- Broadband
- Alcohol on beaches
- Herring River project – land exchange
- Woodchuck – volunteer group
- Kite surfing
- Herring River restoration project
Sheila Lyons – Barnstable
- Tree cutting
- Zoning
- Mosquito control
Leslie Ann Jonas – Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- Maintenance of Wampanoag relationship; access cultural land easement
- WHOI science
- Support and revitalization of plovers; loss of seagrass
Mark Robinson – Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- Cape Cod Compact’s relationship w/NPS land conservation (would like to highlight)
- Erosion of homes
Alternates expressed concerns over:
Sharing water, fire, erosion, housing, climate change, making most of the resources, working collaboratively as a group
Chair Rich Delaney led the recap discussion of priorities:
- Water
- Housing
- Fire
- Climate change
- Herring River project
- Beach parking
Superintendent Jen Flynn suggested these topics:
- ADU
- Zoning
- Freshwater access
- Water quality
- Fire
- Mosquito control
6. Determine next four meeting dates and subject for each meeting:
- Monday, July 1 – Water
- Monday, August 5 – Fire
- Monday September 9 – Zoning/Policies
- Monday, October 7 – Climate
7. Public Comment
Would like open and frequent communication regarding Herring River restoration project. Many members of the public commented on Dune shacks within the seashore. Zoning issues were raised (see transcript for full text).
8. Meeting was adjourned at 3:58pm
These minutes were certified by the Chair of the Cape Cod National Seashore Advisory Commission on July 1, 2024.
