Orleans Citizens Forum

Orleans Citizens Forum: Conversation With Kevin Galligan

Thursday May 20, 2021

Kevin Galligan ran for his second term on the Select Board of Orleans. Prior to the election, Kevin agreed to sit down with Bill Stoeckert, president of the Orleans Citizens Forum to provide an opportunity for citizens of Orleans to express their concerns and ask questions on issues important to them.  Watch the video and learn from Kevin how he sees the important issues facing Orleans and its future.

Watch the interview 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

Fee Structure for the New Enterprise Funds

Orleans Citizens Forum
Monday, May 3, 2021

At the October, 2020 Town Meeting Orleans voters approved the creation of enterprise funds for several town operations: beaches, transfer station, moorings, Rock Harbor Marina and wastewater. At the upcoming May 22 Town Meeting we will be asked to approve new fees for each of these services.

Why has Orleans established enterprise funds? Will the fees cover the full cost of these operations? What effect will this have on our taxes?  Will the quality of town services be affected?

Our panelists did a great job of explaining the proposed implementation of enterprise funds.

John Kelly, Town Administrator
Kevin Galligan, Select Board Chair
Lynn Bruneau, Finance Committee Chair
Cathy Doane, Director of Finance

Watch the Video 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

Town Meeting Warrants Forum

Orleans Citizens Forum, May 10, 2021

At the Orleans Town Meeting in May, 2021 Orleans residents will be asked to approve a number of warrants relating to the downtown area of Orleans. This forum focused on the following articles and other topics related to the future of Orleans.

Warrant Article 23-proposed acquisition of the Governor Prence property,
Warrant Article 24-request for funds to undertake a community center feasibility  study,
Warrant Article 46-undertake a downtown economic study.

A discussion of the Cape Cod Five/Pennrose project was also included as it relates to downtown economic development.

Our panel included the following town resources:

  • Kevin Galligan: Chair, Select Board
  • Tracy Murphy: Chair, Recreation Advisory Committee
  • George Meservey: Director Planning
  • Brad Hinote: Town Assessor

Below is an example of Brad’s presentation of Orleans demographics, showing the
breakdown in home purchases between full-time residents and second home owners.

Watch the Video 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

Nauset Regional High School Renovation Project

Orleans Citizens Forum
Monday, March 22

What are the facts about the educational and structural needs of the Nauset Regional High School?  The costs of the renovation?  The impact of School Choice?  With the vote on the renovations just weeks away, The Orleans Citizens Forum held a virtual presentation via remote video participation.

The Nauset Regional School Committee recommended a renovation of the existing facility.  Residents of the towns of Wellfleet, Eastham, Orleans and Brewster would be voting on this proposal on March 30, 2021.

The Select Board and the Finance Committee of the town have reviewed the proposal.

This presentation consisted of four panelists.

  • Judy Schumacher, a representative from the Regional High School Committee outlined the structural needs for the facility and the proposal.
  • Kathleen Tringale, Science Department Chair at the high school discussed the educational aspects of the facility.
  • Mefford Runyon, Select Board Vice Chair provided a perspective from the Board.
  • Lynn Bruneau, Finance Committee Chair reported on the findings of the Finance Committee.

Watch the Video 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

Orleans Community Center: Imagine All It Can Be

Orleans Citizens Forum
Monday, January 25, 2021

Does Orleans need a community center? If so, why and who would benefit? This issue was raised at the Town Meeting in October, preceded by a survey initiated by the town’s Recreation Advisory Committee. To delve a little deeper, four panelists covered various aspects of the questions embedded in the decision making process.

Kevin Galligan, Select Board Chair,  spoke about the history of recreation and community spaces in Town including current efforts of the Community Building Renovation Committee and the increasing need for more space and more recreational offerings for all ages.

Carolyn Carey, Director of the Harwich Community Center, shared lessons learned over her twenty years as Director of the Harwich Community Center.

Tracy Murphy and Kyle Wibby, Chair and Co-chair of the Orleans Recreation Advisory Committee, spoke about data collected from community members including current needs, programs presently offered and their vision of a community center.

Watch the Video 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

Affordable Housing Forum, Nov 19, 2020

The Orleans Citizens Forum (OCF) held a forum on the availability and cost of housing. In Orleans, many residents are experiencing a housing crisis, and others cannot afford to move here. The panel brought us up to date on the challenges facing us and the solutions being worked on. The panel and discussion included: [Read more…]

Town Warrant Articles Forum, Oct 22, 2020

The Orleans Citizens Forum (OCF) held a forum on key issues related to the warrants scheduled for the Special Town Meeting.  The forum provided Orleans citizens an opportunity to learn the background and details of key proposals voted on at the Town meeting on Oct. 31, 2020. [Read more…]

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