Thursday, February 6, 2025

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Over the past several years frauds, scams and identity theft have become increasingly more frequent, causing thousands of people to lose some or all their life savings and their peace of mind. This criminal behavior has become more sophisticated and harder to identify, making it much more important to stay up to date on what these crimes might look like and what to do if you become a target. This forum looked at:

• The various ways these crimes may present themselves
• Safety measures to put in place to protect yourself from becoming a victim
• Identifying and blocking a potential scam or fraud
• What to do if you have been a target
• Who to contact for help

• Andy McLaughlin, an Orleans Police Detective with 24 years as a full-time officer.  He has focused on cases involving identity theft, fraud, and scams. During the past 5 years his investigations have led to recovering approximately $200,000 in stolen funds.

• Amanda Constant, AVP, Orleans Banking Center Manager, Cape Cod Five, has over 18 years of experience helping clients with consumer and commercial bank fraud.   Amanda also volunteers with the Elder Services Money Management and AARP BankSafe programs.

WHAT LIES AHEAD

Thursday, November 21, 2024
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Much progress has been made to promote and support Affordable and Attainable Housing in Orleans.  Yet, the need to continue these efforts is very real. Economic dynamics have made affordable housing a national issue, especially in seasonally desirable areas such as Cape Cod and the Lower Cape region. This forum focused on:

• The foundations Orleans has laid to address this housing crisis
• Projects and products in process
• A roadmap for what lays ahead.

There is no one magic solution to solve the affordable housing crisis – nor will one type of project fulfill Orleans’ long-term housing needs.  There are, however, new ideas, initiatives, and models for addressing the issue that are working in other cities and towns.  In addition, the State has just enacted a major piece of housing legislation that could unlock new resources and initiatives.   A multi-faceted and holistic approach is required to address the different challenges that residents, business owners, and others face.

Panelists included:

• Amanda Berbin, Director of Housing Advocacy, Community Development Partnership, addressed housing from a regional perspective, provided a quick overview of common housing terms, and let you know how you can get involved.
• Matt Cole, Chair, Orleans Affordable Housing Trust, spoke to the need for a multi-faceted solution to housing issues, what business owners and developers want and need, and where Orleans is now, how we got here, and where we need to go.
• Kristy Senatori, Executive Director, Cape Cod Commission, discussed the Commission’s regional housing implementation strategies and recommendations, and coordination with municipalities including Orleans.

Alan McClennan moderated the forum

What do we need to know to be informed voters?

Thursday, October 17, 2024
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To help raise awareness about important articles in the warrant, the Orleans Citizens Forum hosted a presentation to discuss these at The Orleans Senior Center.

The panel, moderated by Walter North, included the following speakers and topics:

• Mark Mathison, Select Board Chair, reviewed Funding Housing Trust (Article 20) and Housing Initiatives (Article 21)

• Jamie Balliett, Vice Chair, Advisory Recreation Committee shared the Recreation Committee’s work on the Pickle Ball (Articles 9) and Recreational Facilities (Article 10)

• Hakim Janah, Vice Chair of the Energy and Climate Action Committee shared their work on Climate, Sustainability, and Environmental Action Funding, (Article 12)

• Kim Newman, Town Manager, discussed free cash: What is it?  How is free cash determined and how is it spent?  As part of this discussion, she shared information on Article 11: Acquire Land Located at 72 Tonset Rd

• Constance Kremer, Chair of the Finance Committee was available to discuss more information on the warrant.

Each presentation was followed by a question-and-answer session.

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

Orleans Citizen’s Forum
Thursday, May 2, 2024
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Major projects, a revamped budget, and new feasibility studies will be voted on at the 2024 Spring Town Meeting on Monday, May 13, at 6 p.m. at the Nauset Middle School Gymnasium. Warrant articles include Rock Harbor Commercial Wharf improvements, the FY 25 Town/Schools Budget, and funding requests for three studies: the creation of a Town Campus at 46 and 58 Eldredge Parkway, the creation of a shared, multi-use pathway to and from Nauset Beach, and a “regionalization and efficiency” study for “future elementary school needs,” in collaboration with the other Nauset Regional School District towns.

Our panelists:

• Kimberly Newman, Orleans Town Manager, described changes in the budget for 2024-2025 and the proposed study for a Town Campus
• Michael Herman, Chair, Orleans Select Board, provided an overview of the warrant articles and shared the Select Board’s perspectives
• Nicholas Athanassiou, Chair, Orleans Finance Committee, summarized the Finance Committee’s review of the upcoming warrant and its assessment of town finances in general
• Nate Sears, Natural Resources Manager, will discussed Article 33 which asks for $8.3 million to fund improvements to the Rock Harbor Commercial Wharf

Martha Sherrill and Emily Miller from EXIT 89, the hyperlocal e-digest, moderated.

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

Thursday, February 29

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Home to Nauset Beach and surrounded by coves and inlets, Orleans rhttps://vimeo.com/906867711elies heavily on the ocean, ponds, and bays for work and play.  The forum on Cape Cod’s Blue Economy focused on how it has shaped the Cape, and how its impact may change in the coming years.

We learned more about this important resource with questions by such as:

• What is the Blue Economy? 
• What Blue Economy initiatives currently exist?
• How is the changing climate impacting our waters and what effect will that have on our businesses and tourism? 
• How has the fishing industry changed throughout the Cape’s history and what will it look like 10 years from now?
• How can the Cape continue to benefit from our largest and most abundant resource?

• Aubrey Church, Policy Director, Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance
• Hemant Chikarmane, Professor of Microbiology and Chair, Department of Science, Cape Cod Community College
• Katy Acheson, Economic Development Director for the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce and Cape Cod Blue Economy Foundation, Inc.
• Cameron Hadfield will moderate this meeting

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

Thursday, January 25, 2024

Each year, at the Annual Town Meeting, voters assemble to debate and ultimately approve funding for operating the town during the next fiscal year.  Included are funds for the maintenance, improvement, and creation of capital facilities.

Orleans has over 40 buildings or fixed equipment and owns over 100 pieces of rolling stock. The Town Charter sets up procedures for maintaining and updating these capital assets by requiring the development of a five-year Capital Improvements Plan.  The plan is prepared by the Town Manager annually and submitted for a review process on January 15^th.

This forum provided an overview of three critical parts of this process, presented by the following panelists.

• Kim Newman, Town Manager, presented the draft of the five-year Capital Improvements Plan
• John Ostman, Member of the Long Range Capital Planning Committee, presented the recent work of the committee, which is charged with projecting out an additional 15 years to alert the town about longer-range needs
• Alan McClennen, member of the Long Range Capital Planning Committee and OCF board member, moderated

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