Town of Dennis : Town Administrator Report – October 18, 2022

From: Town of Dennis
October 20, 2022

Save the date Special Town Meeting
The Dennis Special Town Meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at 7:00PM in the Nathaniel H. Wixon Innovation School Auditorium.  The Town Meeting Warrant, as well as Town meeting information is available here on the Town’s website and/or hard copies are available at the town Clerk’s office in Town Hall.

Retirement
Golf Director Michael Cummings- Sharing some bittersweet news with the Community.  Michael Cummings the Golf Director, has announced his formal intent to retire effective December 31, 2022.  The Board was previously made aware.

Mike has provided leadership for the Golf Department and the Town of Dennis that has gone above and beyond. His career spans over 39 years in the golf industry, and our municipality has benefited greatly by Mike’s 19.5 years of public service and dedication to the Town of Dennis.  Mike has been an instrumental part of the senior leadership team serving Dennis and his presence will be missed.  With nearly two decades of public service in Dennis, I could not be more proud of his public service career. 
We will all miss Michael but, know that he deserves time with family and travel and so much more!
Recruitment for the upcoming vacancy will commence shortly.

Halloween Events
The Recreation Department will again host the Annual egg Haunt on Saturday October 29th at Johnny Kelley Park.  The non-profit Friends of Dennis Recreation are also sponsoring some festivities as well with food trucks, a beer/wine garden for the adults, live music and some cornhole action.  All happening between 1PM and 4PM.  The egg haunt is free for kids 10 and under and will start at 2PM - be sure to bring a candy bag and wear your costume!

Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee Partners with the American Red Cross on Local Sheltering Initiative
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 15th – Harwich Cape Cod Technical High School
October 29th – Barnstable Intermediate School
November 12th – Falmouth High School
December 3rd – Sandwich High School
December 17th – Dennis Yarmouth High School

The Red Cross aims to recruit 216 volunteers by December 1st. Volunteers must register online with the Red Cross here at 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.  

2022 State Election Information - VOTE-by-Mail, Early Voting & Election Day
Important Voting information from our Town Clerk’s office:

For Voters who have received a Vote-by-Mail ballot that was issued last week, it contained an error conveying inaccurate information regarding a candidate on the ballot.  Accordingly, we are mailing a new corrected ballot for the November 8, 2022 State Election.

Please note that only one ballot will be counted. Please vote and return the corrected ballot in the envelope marked “Corrected Ballot.” 

Early voting in person will begin on October 22nd. Please check the website or call our office for hours.  The deadline to apply for a vote by mail ballot is November 1st. Polls will be open on Election Day, November 8th from 7am until 8pm. 

The Massachusetts State Election will be on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.  Polls will open at 7:00 am and close at 8:00 pm. The polling locations are as follows:

Precinct 1:  Carleton Hall, 1006 Old Bass River Road, Dennis
Precinct 2:  Dennis Senior Center, 1045 Route 134, East Dennis
Precinct 3:   Dennis Public Library, 5 Hall St., Dennis Port
Precinct 4:   1867 West Dennis Graded School House, 67 School Street, West Dennis
Precinct 5:   Dennis Police Station, 90 Bob Crowell Road, South Dennis

Sample Ballot

Residents should feel free to contact the Town Clerk’s Office with any questions at (508) 760-6112.  

Reminder - Snow Plows & Drivers Wanted for 2022 Winter Season
The Dennis Department of Public Works is seeking snow plows and drivers for the upcoming Winter season. Learn more about this opportunity by viewing the FY23 Annual Snow Packet and Application.  Extremely competitive wages and guaranteed minimum pay per call.   Completed packets submitted by 2:00pm November 30, 2022 will receive a bonus of an additional $5.00 per hour for each vehicle.

Questions regarding this opportunity can be directed to (508) 508-760-6220 or email Joe at jgreer@town.dennis.ma.us

Read more

Select a Massachusetts town to find
the Best Things-To-Do and Places To Go around you
Nantucket County