L. C., Orleans, MA, 11/17/17 [Read more…]
At the Citizens Forum session on October 12, 125 attendees heard the panel explain the status of the Orleans Wastewater initiative and what remains to be done, as well as covering the items that will appear in the Warrant at Town Meeting on Monday, October 16. [Read more…]
Member Annual Meeting 2017
May 18, 2017
2:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Orleans Senior Center
150 Rock Harbor Road
Orleans, MA
The Annual Meeting of the Orleans Citizens Forum was held on Thursday, May 18, 2017, at the Orleans Senior Center.
The meeting was called to order by the President, Kingsley Nelson. Brief reports were presented on membership status, the year’s financial results and next year’s budget, and nominations for officers and board members.
Thanks were expressed to retiring directors Eileen Bergquist, Jane Chirgwin, Judi Weil, Andreé Yager and Jeff Roy. New directors elected were Sandy Davidson, Tom Hanrahan, Howie Mead and Cyndy Saul. Directors continuing are Joe Cardito, Nancy Jorgensen, King Nelson and George Walsh.
Kent Arnold summarized the past year’s forum topics and introduced the topics being developed for next year’s agenda, which can be seen elsewhere on the website. He presented King with a framed resolution signed by the board of directors thanking and praising King for his leadership of OCF the past two years.
The highlight of the meeting was the talk given by Mike Sherman, the football coach whose career highlights include head coaching posts for 5 years with the Green Bay Packers and 4 years at Texas A&M. Mike had been in the NFL for only 3 years and was 44 years old when he took the job as Head Coach of the Packers!
Mike recounted the tremendous comeback that produced the Superbowl win for the Patriots last February. He said it was the best 4th quarter comeback probably in football history and likened his “retirement” to Cape Cod three years ago to planning to become his personal best 4th quarter of his life. Mike is walking-the-walk, having stepped in to coach the Nauset High School football teams till a permanent coach could be recruited. In addition, he is initiating and leading an effort to raise money to enhance the Nauset Middle School Auditorium features and develop its use as more of a community asset available for people of all ages. His third project is managing partner of a venture to develop and operate a major sports complex in Hyannis with programming, again, for all age groups.
Quality of Life Expo
May 6, 2017
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Nauset Middle School Gym
70 Route 28
Orleans, MA
On a rainy Saturday, May 6, 2017, The Citizens Forum sponsored its first-ever Quality of Life Expo, presenting 54 exhibitors from various cultural and volunteer groups that affect the quality of life on the Lower Cape. The Expo was open to the public for four hours and over 350 people participated in the event.
There were representatives from all corners of the Cape, each of whom presented opportunities to support these organizations, inquire about volunteering and also learn how to access the programs and services they provide. The common thread across all of the Expo participants was they contribute to the quality of life we all enjoy and appreciate here on the Lower Cape.
Below is a partial list of the exhibitors. Scroll way down to see a large gallery of photos taken at the Expo. Find yourself enjoying the event … or see what you missed!
Here is a partial list of those organizations that participated in our Quality of Life Expo:
Click on any thumbnail photo to enlarge it and then scroll through the entire collection.
DPW Update 2017
May 3, 2017
3:30-5:00 p.m.
Orleans Senior Center
150 Rock Harbor Road
Orleans, MA
On Wednesday, May 3, 2017 the Orleans Citizens Forum presented a panel discussion entitled DPW Update 2017, updating what is planned for the DPW buildings project. About 55 people were in attendance.
Members of the panel provided a history of the project, as well as described the make-up, current facilities and needs of the Department. An overview of the planning criteria, building design, technical issues and cost estimates was provided in an extremely comprehensive and well-organized presentation. After the opening presentations, and PowerPoint slide show, the audience asked the panel of four experts questions for 45 minutes.
The panel included:
This project and funding will be on the Warrant at the Orleans Town Meeting on May 8.
Click on a thumbnail to expand the photos and see the captions
Use the arrows to change slides.
OCF_DPW
Candidates Night 2017
April 26, 2017
6:30-8:00 p.m.
Nauset Middle School Auditorium
70 Route 28
Orleans, MA
The Citizens Forum hosted Candidates Night 2017, and an audience of over 165 people heard from three candidates running for Orleans Board of Selectmen. The two incumbent selectmen are not running for re-election so this Candidates Night 2017 was a great opportunity to meet a new slate of potential Selectmen. There are three candidates for the two vacancies:
Each candidate made a brief opening presentation and then responded to audience questions, moderated by David Lyttle. This important event provides an opportunity to hear the candidates’ positions prior to the Town election on May 16. For anyone who missed Candidates Night 2017, the event was recorded and appears below.
Click to view video. Opens in a new tab.
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge and see captions:
CLICK here to see Cape Codder article
CLICK here to see Cape Cod Times article
Findings & Recommendations of the Orleans Revenue Committee
March 1, 2017
3:30-5:00 p.m.
Orleans Senior Center
150 Rock Harbor Road
Orleans, MA
Over 50 people attended the Citizens Forum presentation by the Orleans Revenue Committee on March 1. The committee described their objectives and presented their findings and recommendations for alternative sources of revenue for the Town of Orleans. They began by asking:
The panel for this forum consisted of:
The forum began with a presentation of the Findings & Recommendations by Paul Kelleher, chair of the Revenue Committee. A copy of the slides that formed the presentation are posted here for your review:
Findings and Recommendations
Click on the Revenue Committee Findings & Recommendations or HERE
This is the same presentation that was made on February 15, 2017, to a joint meeting of the Orleans Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee.
