Bourne meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Bourne Council on Aging accepts minutes, sets officer vote; other boards weigh housing, fire station, sewer

The Bourne Council on Aging made the only formal decisions among recent town board meetings, unanimously accepting the minutes from its May 21 meeting and scheduling officer elections for its August 20 meeting, according to official minutes. The board also noted that approximately 1,100 surveys were returned in the first week of the Aging Well in Bourne Community Needs Assessment. No other substantive decisions were made at that meeting, which was largely informational. Most other recent meetings were agenda-only, with minutes not yet published.

Council on Aging (decided)

At its June 18 meeting, the Council on Aging unanimously accepted the May 21 minutes. Nominations for 2026-2027 officers were made: Jean Hills for chair, Denise Young for vice chair, and Julie Dateo for secretary, with voting scheduled for the August 20 meeting. The board also noted the survey response figure but took no other action.

Other recent meetings (agenda only)

Several boards met in the past two weeks to discuss items and hear updates, but no votes were recorded in the available agendas.

• **South Side Fire Station Building Committee** (Aug. 11): Received updates from project manager Rick Pomroy and architect Mark Saccoccio, reviewed invoices, and heard reports from the town administrator and fire chief. The committee also planned to approve June 2 minutes.
• **Affordable Housing Trust and Housing Partnership** (Aug. 12, joint): Discussed the future of the Old Bourne Police Station, an update on the Horne Ave/Habitat project, and a Community Preservation Committee application due Aug. 28. The boards also considered changing their monthly meeting date from the second to the third Wednesday.
• **Board of Health** (Aug. 12): Considered a septic system variance request for 120 Old Dam Road, heard a presentation from the Pocasset Water Quality Coalition on shortening the cesspool upgrade compliance period from two years to one, and addressed a violation notice at 6 Tower Circle.
• **North Sagamore Water District** (Aug. 13): Deliberated on a new water service application for an accessory dwelling unit on Brigantine Passage, site improvements at Black Pond Well, and a cyber security update from Wright Pierce.
• **Planning Board** (Aug. 13): Considered a bond release for 1 Katie Marie Drive and approved minutes from July 23. The board also introduced Eleanor MacKay, the new building commissioner.
• **Select Board** (Aug. 18): Discussed and potentially voted on access across town property at Electric Beach to 23 Nick Vedder Road, a conservation restriction for 16.79 acres at 53 MacArthur Blvd, FY2028 budget guidance, and a lease for Pre-K classroom space at Bournedale Elementary School.
• **Zoning Board of Appeals** (Aug. 19): Held three continued public hearings, including a 300-unit multifamily comprehensive permit (25% affordable) at Deerpath Rd & Heather Hill Rd, a side yard setback variance at 886 Sandwich Road, and a gross floor area overage request at 510 Williston Road.
• **Housing Authority** (Aug. 20): Considered approving a fee proposal for paving and drainage at 89 Waterhouse Road, reviewed audit and performance reports, and discussed a waiver to keep Unit 34 at Continental offline for office/storage.
• **Conservation Commission** (Aug. 20): Reviewed several coastal permit requests, including a pier reconstruction at 211 Presidents Road and a second-story addition at 4 Sagamore Road, and discussed proposed amendments to the Bourne Wetlands Regulations.
• **Recreation Authority** (Aug. 18): Reviewed lobby addition renderings by Jones Architecture, discussed funding options, and considered a 2027 seasonal rate.
• **ISWM Building Committee** (Aug. 18): Reviewed design, construction, drainage, and electrical updates for the office and maintenance garage, and an updated cost estimate for the Waste Management Facility.

Coming up

• **Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical High School** (Aug. 24): The MSBA School Building Committee will review six proposals for an Owner's Project Manager and select three firms to interview.
• **Historical Commission** (Aug. 25): Demolition delay hearings for 20 Lincoln Avenue in Buzzards Bay and 64 Hunters Brook Road in North Sagamore.
• **Sewer Commissioners** (Aug. 25): Possible votes on FY27 sewer user fees and 2027 overage rates, plus updates on the Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund subsidy and the Buzzards Bay Wastewater Treatment Facility.
• **Recreation Committee** (Aug. 25): Review of proposed modifications to Monument Beach Baseball Field for Intermediate 50/70 play.
• **Planning Board** (Aug. 27): Two special permit amendments for storage buildings in the B-2 District, at 790 MacArthur Blvd and 18 Foster Howard Road, plus a discussion of future zoning bylaw amendments.
• **Select Board Policy Subcommittee** (Aug. 27): First organizational meeting to select a chair and clerk, and develop a list of town policies to review.

Bourne Historical Commission Approves Garage Renovation; Many Boards Meet Without Recorded Votes

The Bourne Historical Commission approved a garage renovation at 28 Wenaumet Bluffs Drive, the only formal decision recorded in the past two weeks. The commission voted 6-0 to remove an existing garage and build a new structure on the existing platform, part of a renovation of a circa 1940 dwelling to meet current building and flood plain codes while maintaining the Cape Cod architectural style.

Other recent meetings

Most other boards met but took no recorded votes, with minutes not yet published. The Select Board (Aug. 4) discussed advertising vacancies for the Planning Board and School Committee, a recommendation to appoint an Owner's Project Manager for the Police Station Roof project, and ratification of a memorandum of agreement with the Bourne Patrolman's Association. The Zoning Board of Appeals (Aug. 5) held hearings on a foundation setback variance at 886 Sandwich Road and a 10% gross floor area overage for a proposed home at 510 Williston Road. The Conservation Commission (Aug. 6) reviewed coastal projects including residential additions, a septic replacement, and the Cape Cod Canal Pipeline Relocation Project, and voted on holding a conservation restriction on 53 MacArthur Blvd. The Library Building Committee (Aug. 5) reviewed a draft request for qualifications for design services. The Cable, Internet & Telecommunications Advisory Committee (July 30) discussed a non-operational fiber connection at a community building. The Community Preservation Committee (July 27) reviewed a revised Community Preservation Act application and discussed the Oct. 19 Special Town Meeting schedule. The Open Space Committee (July 27) discussed appointing two members to the Community Preservation Committee. The Police Station Roof Replacement Building Committee (July 29) interviewed three candidates for the Owner's Project Manager role. The Design Review Committee (Aug. 4) reviewed signage for G & S Marine, Inc. at 8 Holt Road. The Community Engagement Committee met July 30 and Aug. 5 with procedural agendas. The North Sagamore Water District (Aug. 6) discussed closing a solar array purchase.

Coming up

• **Historical Commission** (Aug. 11): Demolition delay hearings for 69 Wianno Road, Gray Gables, and 757 County Road, Pocasset; consultant Brad Shiff on the Town Seal; updates on CPA-funded projects including the Buzzards Bay Bank pediment and Keene House architectural study.
• **South Side Fire Station Building Committee** (Aug. 11): Project manager and architect updates, invoice review, and reports from the town administrator and fire chief.
• **Affordable Housing Trust and Housing Partnership** (joint, Aug. 12): Discussion of the Old Bourne Police Station, Horne Ave/Habitat update, a Community Preservation Committee application due Aug. 28, and a possible change of the monthly meeting date.
• **Board of Health** (Aug. 12): Septic variance request for 120 Old Dam Road, a presentation from the Pocasset Water Quality Coalition on shortening the cesspool upgrade compliance period, and a violation notice at 6 Tower Circle.

Bourne Historical Commission Approves Wenaumet Bluffs Renovation; Select Board Tackles Bridge, Vacancies

The Bourne Historical Commission approved a garage and apartment renovation at 28 Wenaumet Bluffs Drive in a 6-0 vote at its July 28 meeting, the only confirmed decision among more than 20 town board meetings held over the past two weeks. Most other meetings have agendas published but minutes not yet available, so outcomes are not yet part of the public record.

Historical Commission

Commissioners voted 6-0 to approve a project at 28 Wenaumet Bluffs Drive that would remove an existing garage and build a new structure on the existing platform. The project involves renovating a circa 1940 dwelling to meet current building and flood plain codes while maintaining the Cape Cod architectural style.

Select Board

The Select Board held three meetings between July 21 and July 23. Agendas show the board was scheduled to discuss the Sagamore Bridge replacement project, including comments ahead of a July 23 public hearing and a memorandum of understanding request to the Cape Cod Commission. Other scheduled items included a vote on changes to the Pan-Mass Challenge event (Aug. 1-2), appointment of a town moderator to serve until the next annual election, a vote on a letter listing precinct polling locations for the Sept. 1, 2026 state primary, and a vote on a liquor license request from Rep. Vieira's office for Cataumet Fish (H5347). The board also planned an executive session under G.L. c.30A, §21(a) to align the performance review timeframe with the Town Administrator contract. A July 23 agenda listed discussion of attendance at a MassDOT meeting. Minutes for all three meetings are not yet published.

Board of Health

The Board of Health met July 22 to address a body art business at 23 Canal St, Apt 4, for failure to comply with body art regulations and obtain operating permits. According to the agenda, a notice of violation was sent July 2, 2025, and a final notice was sent June 3, 2026. The board was also scheduled to receive an update on the Integrated Solid Waste Management facility project and vote on hiring Peter Durning of Verrill as hearing officer for the site assignment process. Outcomes are not yet available.

Planning Board

The Planning Board met July 23 to continue a hearing on a subdivision application for 115 Red Brook Harbor Road, which would create one unbuildable lot and one buildable single-family lot in an R-40 District. The board was also scheduled to continue a site plan review and special permit application for a change in use at 74 Cranberry Highway, from wholesale/warehouse to mixed-use with multi-family residential units.

Water District and Infrastructure

The North Sagamore Water District opened bids for the Black Pond Well project on July 24, following a July 23 meeting where commissioners discussed the well, Clark Road Tank, a new truck purchase, solar array procurement, and an on-call emergency repair and maintenance contract. Abatement requests for 51 Canal Street and 75 Hunters Brook Road were also on the agenda.

The Police Station Roof Replacement Building Committee met July 22 to rank design firms and schedule interviews, then met July 29 to interview three candidates — ECC Corporation, RGB Architects, and Pomroy — for the Owner's Project Manager role, with a possible vote to recommend a candidate to the Select Board.

Coming Up

• **Aug. 4 — Select Board:** Possible votes to advertise Planning Board and School Committee vacancies; recommendation to appoint an Owner's Project Manager for the Police Station Roof project; ratification of FY26-28 memorandum of agreement with Bourne Patrolman's Association; engineering updates for Pocasset Woods Road, Terra Terrace, Eldridge Road, and Hen Cove drainage.
• **Aug. 5 — Zoning Board of Appeals:** Public hearings on a foundation setback variance at 886 Sandwich Road and a 10% gross floor area overage (5,370 sq ft) for a single-family dwelling at 510 Williston Road.
• **Aug. 6 — Conservation Commission:** Review of coastal projects including residential additions at 16 Wenaumet Bluffs Drive, septic replacement at 120 Old Dam Road, and the Cape Cod Canal Pipeline Relocation Project; vote to hold a conservation restriction on 53 MacArthur Blvd.
• **Aug. 4 — Design Review Committee:** Signage review for G & S Marine, Inc. at 8 Holt Road.