Town Administrator Report – July 26, 2022

1. Save the Date!
The Town of Dennis coordinated by the Dennis Police Department will hold National Night Out on Tuesday, August 2, 2022 from 4-7PM at Mike Stacy Park in Dennisport.  The Town will close off Hall Street as we have done in the past, so we will have room to display trucks/equipment.  Please plan to come out and join us for a night of fun activities!

2. MassDot Accepts Dennis Complete Street Policy
Great news from Town Engineer, Tom Andrade!  MassDOT accepted our Complete Street Policy that the Select Board endorsed at the June 14, 2022 meeting.  The approved policy makes the town eligible for a grant up to $38K to hire a consultant to put together a prioritization list.  Once complete, we can request up to $400k from the program.  We are trying to get the Cape Cod Commission to work with us.  The prioritization list requires multiple public outreach meeting so takes a little time to finalize but hopefully we will be in line to ask for funds next year.  Complete Streets is one of the programs that the Governor recently approved to fund over the next 5 years. From simple resurfacing to major reconstruction, most roadway projects provide an opportunity to incorporate Complete Street principles into their design. All municipally-owned roadways are eligible for implementing projects through the Complete Streets Funding Program.  Well done by Tom for all his efforts in getting Dennis accepted into the Complete Streets Program.

3. Summer Library Happenings
Starting Monday, July 25th, the Dennis Libraries present a StoryWalk® at Johnny Kelley Park in Dennis. This summer’s story is called Dance Like a Flamingo: Learn to Move and Groove Like the Animals Do! Written by author Moira Butterfield and illustrated by Claudia Boldt, this friendly, motion-centered book will get youngsters – and maybe some grown-ups, too! – imitating the movements of different animals. For example, readers can stretch like flamingos, leap and bounce like lemurs, wave claws like crabs, and much more. The walk begins across from the picnic area and proceeds right along the Braille Trail. We hope readers of all ages join the fun. Afterwards, enjoy spending time in the park. The StoryWalk® concept was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT, and developed with the help of Rachel Senechal of the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. The Dennis Libraries thank these two innovative women, along with the Recreation Department and the Department of Public Works for the Town of Dennis, for making this event possible.

4. Press Release from EEA – Massachusetts Continues to Experience Drought Conditions
BOSTON — With the majority of the state currently experiencing elevated temperatures and forecasts predicting little to no meaningful precipitation, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Beth Card today declared a Level 3-Critical Drought in the Northeast and Central Regions of the state. The Southeast, and Connecticut River Valley Regions will remain at a Level 2-Significant Drought, and the Cape Cod Region will join the Islands and Western Regions at Level 1-Mild Drought. As outlined in the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan, a Level-3 Critical Drought and a Level 2-Significant Drought calls for the convening of an inter-agency Mission Group, which has already been convened, to more closely coordinate on drought assessments, impacts and response within the government. Additionally, a Level 1-Mild Drought recommends detailed monitoring of drought conditions, close coordination among state and federal agencies, and technical outreach and assistance to the affected municipalities.

Click here for More Information About Town of Dennis: Town Administrator Report - July 26, 2022