Barnstable Town Clerk Announces Election Timetable for November 8, 2022 Election

(Barnstable, MA – October 12, 2022) Barnstable Town Clerk Ann Quirk shares the following information for Town of Barnstable voters.

To verify your address for voting please go to the following link: 
http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.aspx

In Person Early Voting for State Election begins on Saturday, October 22^nd at Barnstable Town Hall, 367 Main St., 2^ndFloor, Hyannis.

The last day to register to vote for the November 8, 2022 State Election is Saturday, October 29, 2022.   Any person who is currently registered to vote does not have to re-register.

Only individuals who have moved into town, or within the Town of Barnstable, or have changed their address, mailing address or name, need to contact the Town Clerk’s office by October 29th.

The Town Clerk’s office will be open on Saturday, October 29th from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. only for voter registration issues.

The ballots have arrived; however, we have over 8,400 requests for Vote-By-Mail ballots, please be patient as we process the mailings.

If you have any questions on the elections or your registration, please contact the Clerk’s office at 508-862-4044.

Information from Barnstable County

Regional Emergency Planning Committee

Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee Partners with the American Red Cross on Local Sheltering Initiative

Walk-throughs of 5 regional shelters will introduce prospective volunteers to sheltering setup and procedures.

October 11, 2022 (Barnstable, MA) | Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian on Florida’s coast, the Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee (BCREPC) has partnered with the American Red Cross to increase volunteer recruitment for emergency shelter deployment and operation when needed, in order to provide safe refuge for Cape Cod residents and visitors during severe weather events. To promote knowledge regarding shelter operation and usage during a storm event, the recruiting effort will mix shelter visitation and walk-throughs with community outreach.

Anyone interested in volunteering at a regional shelter is encouraged to take the shelter training course and invited to attend one of five upcoming regional shelter walk-through trainings. Participants will tour the shelter while learning about shelter operations and volunteer expectations. Walk-throughs will take place Saturday mornings from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM on the following dates in October, November, and December:

October 15^th – Harwich Cape Cod Technical High School 

October 29^th – Barnstable Intermediate School

November 12^th – Falmouth High School

December 3^rd – Sandwich High School

December 17^th – Dennis Yarmouth High School

The Red Cross aims to recruit 216 volunteers by December 1st. Volunteers must register online with the Red Cross at https:www.redcross.org/volunteertoday and participate in a 3.5-hour online training. 

“With the growing threat of more severe and frequent storms, more people rely on regional shelters and the Red Cross for a warm, safe, and dry place to shelter during storms when the power goes out or homes are damaged. The need for compassionate volunteers has never been greater. The success of this campaign is reliant on our Cape Codders helping neighbors in a time of need,” states Barbara Cotton, American Red Cross Southeastern MA Executive Director.

According to Chip Reilly, Emergency Preparedness Specialist for the BCREPC, “Shelter capability is critical to emergency preparedness and ultimately community resiliency. It cannot be successfully executed without the assistance of trained volunteers, poised to respond in support of their local community when needed.”  

Barnstable County’s regional shelters are a lifeboat for those most in need. They are equipped to provide basic, short-term needs: warmth, food, running water, cots for sleeping, pet sheltering, and access to limited clinical care for those with certain medical needs. They are intended to be a means of last resort, as residents are encouraged to make alternative arrangements with family, friends, or neighbors as part of their personal or family emergency action plans. 

About Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee: The Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee (BCREPC) is a coalition of emergency management, law enforcement, fire service, health care, public health, public works, EMS, military, and numerous other affiliated agencies as outlined by the Massachusetts State Emergency Response Committee (SERC). It represents the towns of Barnstable, Bourne, Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Harwich, Mashpee, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro, Wellfleet, and Yarmouth in Barnstable County, and the town of Nantucket in Nantucket County. The mission of the BCREPC is to harness the power of planning, cooperation, and interoperability to assist Cape Cod communities in mitigating the threat from any hazard which may require the response of multiple jurisdictions.   

ABOUT BARNSTABLE COUNTY REGIONAL GOVERNMENT OF CAPE COD Barnstable County provides exemplary government functions and services to keep our community healthy and safe, promote sustainable growth, and offer a proactive, open government that enhances the quality of life for the citizens of Barnstable County. Learn more at www.capecod.gov

MEDIA CONTACT:  Bethany Traverse, Health Communications Coordinator, bethany.traverse@barnstablecounty.org

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Division of Marine Fisheries
251 Causeway Street, Suite 400, Boston, MA 02114
In accordance with Chapter 130, Section 74A of the Massachusetts General Laws, the Division of Marine Fisheries has re-examined the waters of Cotuit Narrows (SC:21.1), in the town of Barnstable, classified as “CONDITIONALLY APPROVED” and in the “CLOSED” status based on seasonal water quality changes. As a result of this examination the Division has determined that this below defined area now meets the established criteria for the harvest of shellfish and has changed the status to “OPEN TO SHELLFISHING” as of sunrise on October 1, 2022.
The below defined area may be opened to the harvest of shellfish for direct human consumption subject to local rules and regulations under authority of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 130, Section 52.
SC21.1
Cotuit Narrows
CLASSIFICATION: CONDITIONALLY APPROVED
SEASONAL STATUS CHANGE Status: Open To Shellfishing October 1 – June 14
[All Dates Inclusive]
“The waters, flats and all tributaries of Cotuit Bay in the Town of Barnstable, west of a line drawn from Point Isabella to the northernmost point of Grand Island, and east of a line drawn from the southeast end of the pier at #260 North Bay Road to the tip of the boardwalk at 765 Old Post Road.”

The status of the above Conditionally Approved area, SC:21.1 shall automatically revert to “CLOSED TO SHELLFISHING” on June 15, 2023 unless the Division changes the area status prior to said date.

NOTICE OF DOCUMENT AVAILABILITY & COMMENT PERIOD

In 2021, the Town of Barnstable was awarded a $250,000 planning grant by the Massachusetts Office on Disability to hire a consultant to perform the work of developing a self-evaluation and transition plan for the Town.   The Town of Barnstable contracted with the Institute for Human Centered Design to complete a comprehensive review of our policies, facilities, services, and programs.  That plan has been completed and is available for review by the public.  During this process, Town Manager Mark Ells named Tammy Cunningham, Assistant Human Resources Director, as the Town of Barnstable’s ADA Coordinator. 

OVERVIEW

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) was created to provide rights and protections for individuals with disabilities. This law provides rights and protections for both employment related matters and for access to programs and services to individuals with disabilities. Title II of the ADA lists the specific requirements that apply to local governments.  The documentation of an ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan is required to comply with Title II of the ADA. The intent and purpose of an ADA Self-Evaluation Plan is for a public entity to identify issues and conditions that could impact qualified individuals with disabilities. The intent and purpose of a Transition Plan is to set forth a written process and method whereby the public entity can modify, replace, or remove identified ADA compliance issues and conditions over time.

REVIEW THE PLAN

Below is a link to access and review the plan.   Due to the amount of information evaluated with this project, the link to the plan is separated into eight categories: executive summaries; primary asset facilities; secondary asset facilities; beaches, parks, and playgrounds; parking lots; website report; priorities for the ADA Transition Plan; and resources.  

To review the full plan and learn more, please visit the following links:

To review the full plan and learn more, please visit the following links:

·        Part A: Executive Summary

·        Part B: Executive Summary: Evaluation of Non-discriminatory Policies & Practices in Programs, Services & Activities

·        Part C: Self-Evaluation Summary

• Part D: Glossary
• Part E: GIS Summary Report
• Part F: Primary Asset Facilities Reports
• Part G: Secondary Asset Facilities Reports
• Part H: Beaches, Parks, and Playgrounds
• Part I: Parking lots
• Part J: Website Report
• Part K: Transition Plan

In an effort to increase opportunities to view the plan, copies of the Town’s draft ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan can be found at Barnstable Town Hall (Town Manager’s Office), School Administration Building, the Barnstable Adult Community Center, and the seven village libraries (Centerville Public Library, Cotuit Library, Hyannis Public Library, Marstons Mills Public Library, Osterville Village Library, Sturgis Library, and Whelden Memorial Library).

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

Review and Comment

Please share your thoughts with us about this very important topic of accessibility. We want to hear from you.  The Town is currently taking public comment on the draft plan through Friday, October 21, 2022. 

To provide comments and for additional information or are in need of an accommodation to access and view the document, please contact Tammy Cunningham, ADA Coordinator and Assistant Director of Human Resources, at 508-862-4692 Tammy.Cunningham@town.barnstable.ma.us.

View Election Results HERE

UPDATE 3:15pm

POLLS Open to 12 MIDNIGHT Paper ballots have been secured. All polling precincts currently have ballots. Polls to remain open until Midnight.

UPDATE 12:47pm

Paper ballots have been secured. All polling precincts currently have ballots.  We expect polls to remain open past 8:00 PM and will let you know when it is finalized.   

UPDATE 11:11am

POLLS ARE OPEN and have received emergency printed ballots. PLEASE be kind and pack a little patience as our election volunteers get polling stations underway. We will have an additional update on extended voting time through Secretary Galvin’s office. Voters who have questions or concerns can call the Secretary of the State, William Galvin, at 1-800-462-VOTE (8683).

UPDATE 10:44am from MA Secretary of State

Polling places around Barnstable have received or will soon be receiving printed paper ballots. Secretary Galvin is seeking a court order to extend polling hours in Barnstable to make sure everyone gets a chance to vote today.

UPDATE: 8:45am

The town clerk is printing emergency paper ballots for voters to use while work crews continue to work on the vault. Paper ballots will be identical to machine-readable ballots, but will need to be hand-counted at the end of the night.

The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office is exploring all options available to make sure everyone in Barnstable is able to vote today. This may include seeking an order to extend the closing of the polls in Barnstable, if necessary.

UPDATED: Town of Barnstable Election Ballot Vault Issues

At 4:15 AM this morning, the Clerk’s office of the Town of Barnstable tried to open the vault that houses the election ballots and were unable to. The Town of Barnstable precincts, while open, will not be available for voting until the issue has been resolved. We will continue working to address the issue and are awaiting word from the Secretary of State’s office as to how to proceed.