Orleans Citizens Forum

FALL TOWN MEETING: A PREVIEW OF THREE KEY WARRANT ARTICLES

Thursday, October 6, 2022

Watch the recording  by clicking here

The Orleans Citizens Forum hosted a presentation on three key articles to be voted on at the Orleans special Town meeting on Monday October 17, 2022, including:

  • Proposed new rules on short-term rentals (Article 19)
  • A home rule petition from the Town to the State seeking authority to regulate the use of fertilizer in Orleans (Article 32)
  • Interim requirements for management of the Town-owned Governor Prence property. (Article 15)

Andrea Reed, Select Board Chair, addressed Article 19 that would require every owner of a property used for short-term rentals to register the property with the Board of Health.

Michael Herman, Select Board Vice-Chair, spoke to Article 32 which, if passed, would result in a Home Rule Petition to the State Legislature to allow the Town to develop a bylaw that could result in restricting or prohibiting the application of fertilizer in Orleans, with the goal to reduce the adverse impacts of fertilizer on water quality.

John Sargent, Chair of the Governor Prence Planning Committee, explained Article 15 which seeks additional funds for the Governor Prence property to cover annual costs of maintenance and insurance due to new financial needs that have been identified through the planning process to repurpose the property

Lynn Bruneau: Chair Ementa of the Finance Committee, commented on the financial implications of the articles.

Alan McClennan moderated the Forum.

Watch the recording  by clicking here

The Orleans Citizens Forum is an unbiased, public service organization dedicated to keeping the residents of Orleans knowledgeable about the issues confronting our town

OrleansCitizensForum.org 

FALL TOWN MEETING: A PREVIEW OF THREE KEY WARRANT ARTICLES

Thursday, October 6, 2022, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. 

See meeting links below

The Orleans Citizens Forum will host a presentation on three key articles to be voted on at the Orleans special Town meeting on Monday October 17, 2022, including:

  • Proposed new rules on short-term rentals (Article 19)
  • A home rule petition from the Town to the State seeking authority to regulate the use of fertilizer in Orleans (Article 32)
  • Interim requirements for management of the Town-owned Governor Prence property. (Article 15)

Andrea Reed, Select Board Chair, will address Article 19 that would require every owner of a property used for short-term rentals to register the property with the Board of Health.

Michael Herman, Select Board Vice-Chair, will speak to Article 32 which, if passed, would result in a Home Rule Petition to the State Legislature to allow the Town to develop a bylaw that could result in restricting or prohibiting the application of fertilizer in Orleans, with the goal to reduce the adverse impacts of fertilizer on water quality.

John Sargent, Chair of the Governor Prence Planning Committee, will explain Article 15 which seeks additional funds for the Governor Prence property to cover annual costs of maintenance and insurance due to new financial needs that have been identified through the planning process to repurpose the property

A representative of the Finance Committee is expected to comment on the financial implications of the articles.

Alan McClennan will moderate the Forum.

Following the presentations there will be time for questions from the audience.

Join the Zoom meeting by clicking here or watch on Channel 18
By Phone: (646) 558-8656: Webinar ID: 852 8345 5921
Questions can be asked during the forum by raising your hand
or by emailing info@orleanscitizensforum.org before or during the forum

Please attend to discuss these issues that are of vital importance to the future of Orleans

The Orleans Citizens Forum is an unbiased, public service organization dedicated to keeping the residents of Orleans knowledgeable about the issues confronting our town

OrleansCitizensForum.org 

May 2022 Town Meeting Forum

Wastewater Warrants and a Budget Override
What do we need to know?

After more than two years, the Orleans Citizens Forum was back with an in-person event.  We hosted a May Town Meeting review at the Church of the Holy Spirit on April 28.  There were several critical articles on the warrant and a proposal for a budget override.  Key wastewater issues relate to funding the sewering of the Meetinghouse Pond area and the betterment and tax policy to pay for the new system. Our knowledgeable panel addressed these issues and answered questions.

Unfortunately, we were not able to record the forum. Instead, we are posting two of the informative presentations below.

Speakers for the April 28 forum:

Meff Runyon, Chair, Orleans Select Board

Alan McClennan, Chair, Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners  Click here for Alan’s presentation

John Kelly, Orleans Town Administrator

Judy Schumacher, Vice Chair, Nauset Regional School Committee

Lynn Bruneau, Chair, Orleans Finance Committee  Click here for Lynn’s notes

Click here to see more pictures of the forum

 

The Orleans Citizens Forum is an unbiased, public service organization dedicated to keeping the residents of Orleans knowledgeable about the issues confronting our town

May 2022 Town Meeting

Wastewater Warrants and a Budget Override
What do we need to know?

Thursday, April 28, 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Church of the Holy Spirit
204 Monument Road, Orleans

After more than two years, the Orleans Citizens Forum is back with an in-person event.  We will host a May Town Meeting review on April 28.  There are several critical articles on the warrant and a proposal for a budget override.  Key wastewater issues relate to funding the sewering of the Meetinghouse Pond area and the betterment and tax policy to pay for the new system. Our knowledgeable panel will address these issues and answer questions.

Speakers for the April 28 forum will include:

Meff Runyon, Chair, Orleans Select Board

Alan McClennan, Chair, Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners

John Kelly, Orleans Town Administrator

Judy Schumacher, Vice Chair, Nauset Regional School Committee

Lynn Bruneau, Chair, Orleans Finance Committee

Face masks are encouraged.

 

The Orleans Citizens Forum is an unbiased, public service organization dedicated to keeping the residents of Orleans knowledgeable about the issues confronting our town

Climate Change in Orleans: What Can We Do

How Orleans Residents can Adapt Homes, Buildings, and Vehicles
for the Impact of Climate Change?
Orleans Citizens Forum:  April 2, 2022

This forum empowered all of us to take actions that affect us directly and make us all part of the campaign to help our community and ourselves.

[Read more…]

Climate Change in Orleans: What Can We Do

as Orleans Residents, to Adapt Homes, Buildings, and Vehicles
for the Impact of Climate Change in Orleans?
Orleans Citizens Forum: Saturday, April 2 10:00  – 11:30 a.m.

This forum is designed to empower all of us to take actions that affect us directly and make us all part of the campaign to help our community and ourselves.

[Read more…]

Climate Change in Orleans: What We Can Expect?

Orleans Citizens Forum, February 28th, 2022

Research indicates Orleans is a location and economy that will continue to be impacted by developing sea level, temperature, and weather patterns.  How is the Town of Orleans responding and preparing, and what can individuals do to deal with the challenge?

[Read more…]

Climate Change in Orleans: What We Can Expect?

Orleans Citizens Forum
Monday February 28th, 4:00  – 5:30 p.m.

Research indicates Orleans is a location and economy that will continue to be impacted by developing sea level, temperature, and weather patterns.  How is the Town of Orleans responding and preparing, and what can individuals do to deal with the challenge?

[Read more…]

Protecting Our Green Space

What You Can Do
Orleans Citizens Forum
January 26, 2022

You already know that climate change is causing rising temperatures, severe weather and melting ice caps. At this forum our panelists presented another threat to our environment – the destruction of our ecosystem. We discussed the value of green space, the need for open space, the importance of using native plants in our yards, how to identify and deal with invasive plants, and examples of what some people are doing in Orleans to help combat climate change.

[Read more…]

Housing 101 – Affordable Housing

Join the Zoom meeting by clicking here

Join the Zoom meeting by clicking here

By phone: (646) 558-8656 Webinar ID: 827 8347 4448

The Orleans Citizens Forum is an unbiased, public service organization dedicated to keeping the residents of Orleans knowledgeable about the issues confronting our town