September 2021
Volume 1 Issue 1
In this issue of Truro Talks
Meeting the Town Manager
Explore childcare options
Water issues
Department of public works projects
Upcoming events
Employee spotlight
Explore childcare options
Water issues
Department of public works projects
Upcoming events
Employee spotlight
Hello, my name is Darrin Tangeman, and I've had the honor of serving as Truro's Town Manager for the past eight months. I'd like to welcome you to Truro Talks, the Town of Truro's brand-new official Town newsletter. Truro Talks will be the Town of Truro's only official newsletter, with the objective of giving unfiltered Town news and notifications of programs, services, projects, planning updates, issues, and events that are important to you. This is the first of many Town Manager-focused posts to address critical concerns affecting our town. The Town staff is excited to communicate and engage with our residents and visitors through this medium, and we welcome your suggestions for content ideas and improvements to be forwarded to our Public Information Officer at pio@truro-ma.gov.
Until December 2020, the Town of Truro was aided in publishing our Town branded and sponsored eNewsletter by local volunteers. This newsletter utilized the Town’s funding, email address, resources, and volunteers who were legally classified as Town employees. The Town wishes to thank those who offered their time throughout this ten-year period of service to our community.
Unfortunately, in recent years, the eNewsletter began to publish impermissible political content in violation of the Conflict of Interest Law, G.L. c. 268A, Sec. 23 and the Campaign Finance Law, G.L. c. 55. This content contained articles and information that could be viewed as biased, lacking objectivity, or one-sided in its advocacy of Town Meeting articles and election ballot topics.
Furthermore, the eNewsletter began to incorporate advocacy information from private organizations such as Climate Action Truro and Docs for Truro, giving the appearance that these were Town-sanctioned groups with verified content. The Town requested that this type of content stop, but the volunteers declined to support the level of heightened neutrality we requested, therefore the Town made the necessary choice in December 2020 to end the partnership with the previous Town eNewsletter.
Recognizing the need to deliver unfiltered Town content and news in order to consistently increase the openness, accountability, and engagement of our Town government, we have decided to transfer the Town Manager's weekly report to a monthly Newsletter with engaging and informative content. Truro Talks will be our Town's go-to source for accurate information on all matters concerning your Town’s governance and services. We invite you to spread awareness to other residents and visitors so that they, too, can subscribe to this vital source of community information in the future.
Truro Talks will feature articles and content focusing on the Town's 2021 Local Comprehensive Plan, Economic Development Planning, COVID public health updates, Walsh Property Planning Committee, Water Quality, Environmental Planning, Budget Task Force, Climate Action Planning, and the 2022 Annual Town Meeting in the coming months.
We are excited to be your one official stop for Truro community news.
Darrin Tangeman, Town Manager
Click here for the Town Manager’s Bio
Until December 2020, the Town of Truro was aided in publishing our Town branded and sponsored eNewsletter by local volunteers. This newsletter utilized the Town’s funding, email address, resources, and volunteers who were legally classified as Town employees. The Town wishes to thank those who offered their time throughout this ten-year period of service to our community.
Unfortunately, in recent years, the eNewsletter began to publish impermissible political content in violation of the Conflict of Interest Law, G.L. c. 268A, Sec. 23 and the Campaign Finance Law, G.L. c. 55. This content contained articles and information that could be viewed as biased, lacking objectivity, or one-sided in its advocacy of Town Meeting articles and election ballot topics.
Furthermore, the eNewsletter began to incorporate advocacy information from private organizations such as Climate Action Truro and Docs for Truro, giving the appearance that these were Town-sanctioned groups with verified content. The Town requested that this type of content stop, but the volunteers declined to support the level of heightened neutrality we requested, therefore the Town made the necessary choice in December 2020 to end the partnership with the previous Town eNewsletter.
Recognizing the need to deliver unfiltered Town content and news in order to consistently increase the openness, accountability, and engagement of our Town government, we have decided to transfer the Town Manager's weekly report to a monthly Newsletter with engaging and informative content. Truro Talks will be our Town's go-to source for accurate information on all matters concerning your Town’s governance and services. We invite you to spread awareness to other residents and visitors so that they, too, can subscribe to this vital source of community information in the future.
Truro Talks will feature articles and content focusing on the Town's 2021 Local Comprehensive Plan, Economic Development Planning, COVID public health updates, Walsh Property Planning Committee, Water Quality, Environmental Planning, Budget Task Force, Climate Action Planning, and the 2022 Annual Town Meeting in the coming months.
We are excited to be your one official stop for Truro community news.
Darrin Tangeman, Town Manager
Click here for the Town Manager’s Bio
Water studies underway in Truro
The Health and Conservation Department exits August from the summer tasks of bathing beach monitoring and the shorebird nesting program. We now and turn our focus on the end of the year tasks such as license renewals and wrapping up inspections. The office will be working with other Town staff to recommend changes to the rental registration process and application form. These changes will include notifying property owners that they need to comply with Truro Board of Health regulations to produce a valid water test (within the previous year) from their well along with their rental certificate renewal application.
Work on the Village Pond Watershed Assessment project continues. Last week, the office sent 61 letters to the property owners within the recharge area of the Village Pond inviting them to participate in our private well water testing project.
The recharge area of the Pond includes the land area where water infiltrates the ground and makes its way to the groundwater. The department relied upon the USGS mapped recharge area of the pond to develop a list of homeowners in that area.
The watershed study is being conducted by the Cape Cod Commission to evaluate the nutrient inputs and the stormwater issues in the watershed of the pond. Sampling is being conducted each week on Tuesday and Thursday mornings by Health and Conservation department staff, and the department staff will continue water sampling until Columbus Day.
Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC) is monitoring the Village Pond as part of their cyanobacteria program this summer. To view monitoring updates, visit APCC’s cyano map: Cyanobacteria | Association to Preserve Cape Cod (apcc.org). The good news is that they have not detected any cyanobacteria blooms this summer in the Village Pond. Certain environmental conditions such as nutrient loading and high temperatures can increase the prevalence of algal blooms.
A bloom is an overabundance of algae. Cyanobacteria can sometimes produce harmful algal blooms that have a toxin that can harm people, animals and the aquatic ecosystem. The APCC takes a leading role in surveillance for Cyanobacteria blooms, and Truro benefits greatly from their work.
Certain environmental conditions such as nutrient loading and high temperatures can increase the prevalence of algal blooms. A bloom is an overabundance of the algae. Cyanobacteria can sometimes produce harmful algal blooms that have a toxin that can harm people, animals, and the aquatic ecosystem. The APCC has taken a leading role in surveillance for Cyanobacteria blooms and we are most grateful for their work in Truro this year.
Emily Beebe, Health Agent and Conservation
The Health and Conservation Department exits August from the summer tasks of bathing beach monitoring and the shorebird nesting program. We now and turn our focus on the end of the year tasks such as license renewals and wrapping up inspections. The office will be working with other Town staff to recommend changes to the rental registration process and application form. These changes will include notifying property owners that they need to comply with Truro Board of Health regulations to produce a valid water test (within the previous year) from their well along with their rental certificate renewal application.
Work on the Village Pond Watershed Assessment project continues. Last week, the office sent 61 letters to the property owners within the recharge area of the Village Pond inviting them to participate in our private well water testing project.
The recharge area of the Pond includes the land area where water infiltrates the ground and makes its way to the groundwater. The department relied upon the USGS mapped recharge area of the pond to develop a list of homeowners in that area.
The watershed study is being conducted by the Cape Cod Commission to evaluate the nutrient inputs and the stormwater issues in the watershed of the pond. Sampling is being conducted each week on Tuesday and Thursday mornings by Health and Conservation department staff, and the department staff will continue water sampling until Columbus Day.
Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC) is monitoring the Village Pond as part of their cyanobacteria program this summer. To view monitoring updates, visit APCC’s cyano map: Cyanobacteria | Association to Preserve Cape Cod (apcc.org). The good news is that they have not detected any cyanobacteria blooms this summer in the Village Pond. Certain environmental conditions such as nutrient loading and high temperatures can increase the prevalence of algal blooms.
A bloom is an overabundance of algae. Cyanobacteria can sometimes produce harmful algal blooms that have a toxin that can harm people, animals and the aquatic ecosystem. The APCC takes a leading role in surveillance for Cyanobacteria blooms, and Truro benefits greatly from their work.
Certain environmental conditions such as nutrient loading and high temperatures can increase the prevalence of algal blooms. A bloom is an overabundance of the algae. Cyanobacteria can sometimes produce harmful algal blooms that have a toxin that can harm people, animals, and the aquatic ecosystem. The APCC has taken a leading role in surveillance for Cyanobacteria blooms and we are most grateful for their work in Truro this year.
Emily Beebe, Health Agent and Conservation
Town Meeting voters approved funding for a childcare voucher program that will provide vouchers in the form of direct-to-provider tuition assistance for two-year-old children of Truro residents and Town of Truro employees. This one-year pilot program will provide vouchers to children enrolled in a State-licensed childcare program who are no less than two-years-old as of August 31, 2021 and, are not three-years or older as of August 31, 2021.
Following the completion of the pilot, town meeting voters will need to vote to make the program permanent. Currently, the Truro Central School Pre-School Program offers free pre-school to three-and four-year-old children of Truro residents and Town of Truro employees. As noted at the July 26, 2021 Town Meeting by Select Board Chair Robert Weinstein, this program attempts to provide a childcare assistance program similar to what surrounding towns provide, which will make Truro competitive in retaining young families and staff.
The program is not need-based and provides tuition support of up to $7,500 per eligible child. As voter, Raphael Richter and original petitioner of a similar childcare voucher article, explained to Town Meeting, Truro has lost 55% of its population under the age of 25 in the past ten years according to the American Community Survey.
He wondered what Truro would look like in ten to twenty years and who is going to take care of Truro’s aging community and staff local businesses. Richter argued that the program “provides direct benefit to families struggling to stay in this community today. It also sends, even more importantly, a message to people considering relocating or staying in this community when they have a family in the future. ‘Our town cares about families’ is what a vote means here.” The article passed by majority vote.
Information and applications for the voucher program are available on the Town of Truro website on September 1, 2021.
For more information : https://www.truro-ma.gov/childcarevoucherprogram
Kelly Clark, Assistant Town Manager
Following the completion of the pilot, town meeting voters will need to vote to make the program permanent. Currently, the Truro Central School Pre-School Program offers free pre-school to three-and four-year-old children of Truro residents and Town of Truro employees. As noted at the July 26, 2021 Town Meeting by Select Board Chair Robert Weinstein, this program attempts to provide a childcare assistance program similar to what surrounding towns provide, which will make Truro competitive in retaining young families and staff.
The program is not need-based and provides tuition support of up to $7,500 per eligible child. As voter, Raphael Richter and original petitioner of a similar childcare voucher article, explained to Town Meeting, Truro has lost 55% of its population under the age of 25 in the past ten years according to the American Community Survey.
He wondered what Truro would look like in ten to twenty years and who is going to take care of Truro’s aging community and staff local businesses. Richter argued that the program “provides direct benefit to families struggling to stay in this community today. It also sends, even more importantly, a message to people considering relocating or staying in this community when they have a family in the future. ‘Our town cares about families’ is what a vote means here.” The article passed by majority vote.
Information and applications for the voucher program are available on the Town of Truro website on September 1, 2021.
For more information : https://www.truro-ma.gov/childcarevoucherprogram
Kelly Clark, Assistant Town Manager
The summer show must go on
The Truro Recreation and Beach Department reports that the summer of 2021 was quite busy, between the Summer Rec Youth Program and the Beach Operation. The Department faced some challenges, but we believe the season was a success. The Department looks forward to reviewing this past season and seeing where it can improve.
Unfortunately, the staffing crisis hit our Summer Rec Youth program hard this season. For a program that typically hires 15 full-time staff members, the Sumer Rec Youth program was only able to hire 4 full-time staff. While the program was scaled down from the typical program, it was still successful. Led by Lauren Cowing, Program Supervisor, the program offered arts and crafts, water days, and games in a structured, safe environment. Once again, the department was lucky enough to have the Food 4 Kids program provide free snacks and lunches to our participants.
The Beach Operation had a successful season, despite rainy days and having a staff shortage. New this year was an online beach fire system, allowing customers to request and pay for beach fires online. Also new this year, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy set up an informational tent on Fridays at Head of the Meadow Beach to provide information to the public about White Sharks. The beach office, under the leadership of Hannah Gonsalves, Program Supervisor, provided customers with friendly service while selling beach stickers and Transfer Station access. As always, the Beach Attendants did an amazing job at keeping the beach parking lots in order.
The Truro lifeguards, under the management of Jonathan Eramian, Interim Program Supervisor, continued to keep beach goers safe from rip currents and shark sightings at Head of the Meadow Beach. All the lifeguards demonstrated dedication and commitment to the program, even while being short-staffed.
We look forward to what the future holds for the Recreation and Beach Department.
We envision working with the Town to obtain some form of staff housing, enhancing safety at the beaches with power, phone, and internet, building outdoor pickleball courts, and expanding on programs for all ages by collaborating with the Truro COA and Truro Public Library.
Damion Clements, Recreation and Beach Director
For more information visit:
Beach and Recreation Department
The Truro Recreation and Beach Department reports that the summer of 2021 was quite busy, between the Summer Rec Youth Program and the Beach Operation. The Department faced some challenges, but we believe the season was a success. The Department looks forward to reviewing this past season and seeing where it can improve.
Unfortunately, the staffing crisis hit our Summer Rec Youth program hard this season. For a program that typically hires 15 full-time staff members, the Sumer Rec Youth program was only able to hire 4 full-time staff. While the program was scaled down from the typical program, it was still successful. Led by Lauren Cowing, Program Supervisor, the program offered arts and crafts, water days, and games in a structured, safe environment. Once again, the department was lucky enough to have the Food 4 Kids program provide free snacks and lunches to our participants.
The Beach Operation had a successful season, despite rainy days and having a staff shortage. New this year was an online beach fire system, allowing customers to request and pay for beach fires online. Also new this year, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy set up an informational tent on Fridays at Head of the Meadow Beach to provide information to the public about White Sharks. The beach office, under the leadership of Hannah Gonsalves, Program Supervisor, provided customers with friendly service while selling beach stickers and Transfer Station access. As always, the Beach Attendants did an amazing job at keeping the beach parking lots in order.
The Truro lifeguards, under the management of Jonathan Eramian, Interim Program Supervisor, continued to keep beach goers safe from rip currents and shark sightings at Head of the Meadow Beach. All the lifeguards demonstrated dedication and commitment to the program, even while being short-staffed.
We look forward to what the future holds for the Recreation and Beach Department.
We envision working with the Town to obtain some form of staff housing, enhancing safety at the beaches with power, phone, and internet, building outdoor pickleball courts, and expanding on programs for all ages by collaborating with the Truro COA and Truro Public Library.
Damion Clements, Recreation and Beach Director
For more information visit:
Beach and Recreation Department
In 2019, Town Meeting approved the acquisition of the 69.9-acre Walsh property, off Route 6 and adjacent to the School. The Select Board appointed a committee representing diverse interests (the Walsh Property Community Planning Committee, or WPCPC) to lead a community planning process to develop a proposal for uses of the property. The proposal that results from this planning process will be submitted to Town Meeting for approval.
The Town retained the Consensus Building Institute to facilitate the WPCPC’s work, and monthly public meetings of the WPCPC started in April 2021. Fred Gaechter and Paul Wisotzky are co-chairs of the Committee, and Stephanie Rein is the Select Board Liaison. The WPCPC is now embarking on public outreach to engage the community through surveys, workshops, and other means for the public to contribute to the planning process.
There are seven cottages on the Walsh property; the remainder of the property is undeveloped. A piece of the Walsh puzzle is whether these cottages might be renovated and reoccupied to address in part the Town’s critical housing need. Potential uses of the Walsh property include additional housing, recreation use, open space, and Town facilities or infrastructure. To assist in the WPCPC’s work in envisioning a plan for the property, the Town will be retaining a firm with engineering, site planning and design expertise. It is no exaggeration to state that the Walsh property offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the Town to plan ambitiously and creatively for its future.
Barbara Carboni, Town Planner
The Town retained the Consensus Building Institute to facilitate the WPCPC’s work, and monthly public meetings of the WPCPC started in April 2021. Fred Gaechter and Paul Wisotzky are co-chairs of the Committee, and Stephanie Rein is the Select Board Liaison. The WPCPC is now embarking on public outreach to engage the community through surveys, workshops, and other means for the public to contribute to the planning process.
There are seven cottages on the Walsh property; the remainder of the property is undeveloped. A piece of the Walsh puzzle is whether these cottages might be renovated and reoccupied to address in part the Town’s critical housing need. Potential uses of the Walsh property include additional housing, recreation use, open space, and Town facilities or infrastructure. To assist in the WPCPC’s work in envisioning a plan for the property, the Town will be retaining a firm with engineering, site planning and design expertise. It is no exaggeration to state that the Walsh property offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the Town to plan ambitiously and creatively for its future.
Barbara Carboni, Town Planner
What’s on the horizon for environmental projects
Completing this summer presented additional challenges with the increase in solid waste and the departure of two truck drivers during the busiest part of the season. The departure of two personnel resulted in the occasional outsourcing of the hauling of solid waste and recycling. Additionally having a shortfall of staff members has resulted in overtime expenditures. Despite these challenges , the staff was able to maintain our standard summertime taskings with the assistance of the occasional outsourcing. Retention and hiring have developed into one of our main challenges due to salaries/wages, housing costs, and housing availability.
The Department has multiple projects on the horizon; East Harbor and Eagle Neck Creek culvert projects were put out to bid this month and all bids submitted are currently under review. To date grants have been secured for all of the Eagle Neck Creek project, including approximately 1.9M in grant funding from the USDA, which will cover 75% of the construction phase for Eagle Neck Creek. Around the corner from Eagle Neck Creek is the Mill Pond Road Culvert where the first phase of the engineering analysis was recently completed. The Department will continue with this project in the coming months. Mill Pond is a priority project with the Division of Ecological Restoration (DER). All preliminary engineering will be funded by DER as part of a grant award.
The Pamet River culvert located on Truro Center Road progressed through an engineering review of all existing data and a preliminary design analysis to develop feasible alternative replacements for the culvert under Truro Center Road is complete. The next phase will include permitting, final design and public outreach. All engineering thus far has been funded by a grant from the Cape Cod Conservation District.
The Little Pamet water shed area and culvert study has progressed through the alternatives analysis for the culvert replacements on Corn Hill Road and Castle Road. The next phase will include final design, permitting and outreach.
The installation portion of the watermain extension project is complete. Post construction work including drainage and remediation efforts will continue in the coming months . The installation watermain now extends east on Highland Road through the Cloverleaf parcel under Route 6 and connects to Fire House Road. Additionally, the Department has kicked off an engineering review with Horsley Witten to evaluate a design for a waterline extension and storm water retro fits on Pond Road. This work will be done in conjunction with paving, storm water retrofits, and erosion control, on abutting Highland Road. Data will be shared between the two Town consultants and DOT.
The Cape Cod Commission completed a Pilgrim Pond Village stormwater and watershed study. The draft report is currently under review by staff . All data will be shared with Town consultants who are working simultaneously in the same area of Highland Road and Pond Road.
Other capital projects of note for FY22, include the purchase of a the heavy-duty tractor truck. The proposal was signed and the truck is on order. The generator for the Beach Office is on order and due to shipping delays is six months out. Playground surfacing and equipment for both Puma Park and the school’s playground are on order, and the DPW will be doing the prep work. The school siding project will begin the week of the 16th, and material is already onsite. Power for Corn Hill and Head of the Meadow beaches will be installed pending a start date from Eversource.
Over the last year construction, and material costs increase by 15%-20%, and from $400.00 per square foot to $600.00 per square foot for vertical construction projects. This coupled with municipal landfill closures throughout the state that increased municipal tonnage costs, present great challenges to the Town and the DPW.
The Swap Shop operates in accordance with all Town of Truro COVID protocols and is now open from 8:00am – 2:00pm Saturday through Monday, provided that qualified volunteers are present. All volunteers must complete all required administrative taskings prior to volunteering, complete online Ethic's training, sign (acknowledgements).
Reminder: Residents can check their Transfer Station license plate status on the Town website by viewing News and Announcements under the DPW/Transfer Station website and clicking “Transfer Station Access/License Plate Lookup”. Just enter your plate number and view your expiration date. Email reminders are sent to individuals who have purchased online in the past.
Jarrod Cabral, DPW Director
For more information visit: Department of Public Works
Completing this summer presented additional challenges with the increase in solid waste and the departure of two truck drivers during the busiest part of the season. The departure of two personnel resulted in the occasional outsourcing of the hauling of solid waste and recycling. Additionally having a shortfall of staff members has resulted in overtime expenditures. Despite these challenges , the staff was able to maintain our standard summertime taskings with the assistance of the occasional outsourcing. Retention and hiring have developed into one of our main challenges due to salaries/wages, housing costs, and housing availability.
The Department has multiple projects on the horizon; East Harbor and Eagle Neck Creek culvert projects were put out to bid this month and all bids submitted are currently under review. To date grants have been secured for all of the Eagle Neck Creek project, including approximately 1.9M in grant funding from the USDA, which will cover 75% of the construction phase for Eagle Neck Creek. Around the corner from Eagle Neck Creek is the Mill Pond Road Culvert where the first phase of the engineering analysis was recently completed. The Department will continue with this project in the coming months. Mill Pond is a priority project with the Division of Ecological Restoration (DER). All preliminary engineering will be funded by DER as part of a grant award.
The Pamet River culvert located on Truro Center Road progressed through an engineering review of all existing data and a preliminary design analysis to develop feasible alternative replacements for the culvert under Truro Center Road is complete. The next phase will include permitting, final design and public outreach. All engineering thus far has been funded by a grant from the Cape Cod Conservation District.
The Little Pamet water shed area and culvert study has progressed through the alternatives analysis for the culvert replacements on Corn Hill Road and Castle Road. The next phase will include final design, permitting and outreach.
The installation portion of the watermain extension project is complete. Post construction work including drainage and remediation efforts will continue in the coming months . The installation watermain now extends east on Highland Road through the Cloverleaf parcel under Route 6 and connects to Fire House Road. Additionally, the Department has kicked off an engineering review with Horsley Witten to evaluate a design for a waterline extension and storm water retro fits on Pond Road. This work will be done in conjunction with paving, storm water retrofits, and erosion control, on abutting Highland Road. Data will be shared between the two Town consultants and DOT.
The Cape Cod Commission completed a Pilgrim Pond Village stormwater and watershed study. The draft report is currently under review by staff . All data will be shared with Town consultants who are working simultaneously in the same area of Highland Road and Pond Road.
Other capital projects of note for FY22, include the purchase of a the heavy-duty tractor truck. The proposal was signed and the truck is on order. The generator for the Beach Office is on order and due to shipping delays is six months out. Playground surfacing and equipment for both Puma Park and the school’s playground are on order, and the DPW will be doing the prep work. The school siding project will begin the week of the 16th, and material is already onsite. Power for Corn Hill and Head of the Meadow beaches will be installed pending a start date from Eversource.
Over the last year construction, and material costs increase by 15%-20%, and from $400.00 per square foot to $600.00 per square foot for vertical construction projects. This coupled with municipal landfill closures throughout the state that increased municipal tonnage costs, present great challenges to the Town and the DPW.
The Swap Shop operates in accordance with all Town of Truro COVID protocols and is now open from 8:00am – 2:00pm Saturday through Monday, provided that qualified volunteers are present. All volunteers must complete all required administrative taskings prior to volunteering, complete online Ethic's training, sign (acknowledgements).
Reminder: Residents can check their Transfer Station license plate status on the Town website by viewing News and Announcements under the DPW/Transfer Station website and clicking “Transfer Station Access/License Plate Lookup”. Just enter your plate number and view your expiration date. Email reminders are sent to individuals who have purchased online in the past.
Jarrod Cabral, DPW Director
For more information visit: Department of Public Works
Residential exemption increased to 25 percent
The Town of Truro held its annual Tax Classification Hearing on Tuesday August 24, 2021, whereupon the Board of Assessors provided the Select Board with information that allows them the vote on the Taxation options offered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the fiscal year. The taxation options are as follows: 1. Deciding whether to “SPLIT” the Tax rate-or shift a portion of the residential levy to the commercial/industrial/personal property class. 2. Deciding whether to vote for an “OPEN SPACE DISCOUNT” however we do not have any parcels that are classified as open space. 3. Deciding whether to offer a “SMALL BUSINESS EXEMPTION” within the commercial class for small businesses with 10 or less employees more than nine months a year. And 4. Whether to offer a “RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION” which grants an exemption off the tax bill for those residents that make Truro their primary domicile for income tax purposes.
At the meeting, the Select Board voted NO to approve the following taxation options: splitting the tax rate, granting an Open Space discount, and granting a small business commercial exemption. The Select Board vote YES to approve extending and increasing the residential exemption to a rate of 25% of the average residential parcel value of the Town. Recipients of the residential exemption will receive an exemption of $174,978 (25% of $699,911-the average residential parcel value) removed from their taxable value. Currently the Town of Truro has 616 out of 3344 parcels that will receive the residential exemption for FY22. The residential exemption is designed to provide a benefit to residents who make Truro their primary domicile as determined for income tax purposes and providing a proportionately greater benefit to lower valued homes (everyone receives the same amount of the exemption-provided one pays at least 10% of their original taxable amount). This only impacts the residential class and results in a higher tax rate for the entire residential class and does not affect the commercial/industrial and personal property classes.
If Truro is your primary domicile feel free to visit the Assessors Department webpage for more information on the residential exemption.
NEW for FY2022 is the EXPANDED RENTAL RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION which reduces the same amount of value as the residential exemption for OWNERS who rent their home on a YEAR-ROUND basis to tenants who make Truro their primary domicile for income tax purposes. This new program promotes year-round housing options rather than short term leasing. The tenants must be registered on the Town’s census-street list as of Jan. 1 prior to the fiscal year. Furthermore, they should have a MA ID card, pay motor vehicle excise tax, and file their taxes from the property they rent. Annually, owners must reapply for the expanded rental residential exemption, providing a copy of the year-round lease agreement signed by both the owner and tenant, as well as their tenant’s information proving the tenants make Truro their primary domicile. Questions on the program can be found HERE or by calling the Assessors office @ 508.349.7004 x 116.
Jon Nahas, Principal Assessor
The Town of Truro held its annual Tax Classification Hearing on Tuesday August 24, 2021, whereupon the Board of Assessors provided the Select Board with information that allows them the vote on the Taxation options offered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the fiscal year. The taxation options are as follows: 1. Deciding whether to “SPLIT” the Tax rate-or shift a portion of the residential levy to the commercial/industrial/personal property class. 2. Deciding whether to vote for an “OPEN SPACE DISCOUNT” however we do not have any parcels that are classified as open space. 3. Deciding whether to offer a “SMALL BUSINESS EXEMPTION” within the commercial class for small businesses with 10 or less employees more than nine months a year. And 4. Whether to offer a “RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION” which grants an exemption off the tax bill for those residents that make Truro their primary domicile for income tax purposes.
At the meeting, the Select Board voted NO to approve the following taxation options: splitting the tax rate, granting an Open Space discount, and granting a small business commercial exemption. The Select Board vote YES to approve extending and increasing the residential exemption to a rate of 25% of the average residential parcel value of the Town. Recipients of the residential exemption will receive an exemption of $174,978 (25% of $699,911-the average residential parcel value) removed from their taxable value. Currently the Town of Truro has 616 out of 3344 parcels that will receive the residential exemption for FY22. The residential exemption is designed to provide a benefit to residents who make Truro their primary domicile as determined for income tax purposes and providing a proportionately greater benefit to lower valued homes (everyone receives the same amount of the exemption-provided one pays at least 10% of their original taxable amount). This only impacts the residential class and results in a higher tax rate for the entire residential class and does not affect the commercial/industrial and personal property classes.
If Truro is your primary domicile feel free to visit the Assessors Department webpage for more information on the residential exemption.
NEW for FY2022 is the EXPANDED RENTAL RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION which reduces the same amount of value as the residential exemption for OWNERS who rent their home on a YEAR-ROUND basis to tenants who make Truro their primary domicile for income tax purposes. This new program promotes year-round housing options rather than short term leasing. The tenants must be registered on the Town’s census-street list as of Jan. 1 prior to the fiscal year. Furthermore, they should have a MA ID card, pay motor vehicle excise tax, and file their taxes from the property they rent. Annually, owners must reapply for the expanded rental residential exemption, providing a copy of the year-round lease agreement signed by both the owner and tenant, as well as their tenant’s information proving the tenants make Truro their primary domicile. Questions on the program can be found HERE or by calling the Assessors office @ 508.349.7004 x 116.
Jon Nahas, Principal Assessor
Employee Spotlight: Truro Police Department
Michael Waite-Bourgeois joined the Truro Police Department in January of 2021 following his graduation from the police academy. At present, he is assigned to the day shift, where he consistently demonstrates his commitment to public service.
If you have had the opportunity to meet him, you would see that Officer Waite-Bourgeois is friendly and professional, and is always willing to lend a helping hand.
He is a graduate of Harwich High School, and he obtained his Law Enforcement Certificate from Cape Cod Community College in 2019.
We wish him well in his career with the Truro Police Department!
Jamie Calise, Truro Police Chief
Michael Waite-Bourgeois joined the Truro Police Department in January of 2021 following his graduation from the police academy. At present, he is assigned to the day shift, where he consistently demonstrates his commitment to public service.
If you have had the opportunity to meet him, you would see that Officer Waite-Bourgeois is friendly and professional, and is always willing to lend a helping hand.
He is a graduate of Harwich High School, and he obtained his Law Enforcement Certificate from Cape Cod Community College in 2019.
We wish him well in his career with the Truro Police Department!
Jamie Calise, Truro Police Chief
Free Range Cattle!
On Thursday, August 12, 2021, Truro Police received a report of two escapees from confinement in South Truro. The suspects, two juveniles, reported to be approximately 3'6" and wearing brown and white coats, evaded police for most of the day until they were safely apprehended and mooooved back to confinement. The Truro Police beefed up patrols in the area and Truro Public Works assisted with securing the perimeter so that the suspects from yesterday’s "Cow Caper" will be deterred from escaping again.
The juvenile suspects will not be charged in their recent graze with the law.
Chief Jamie Calise
Photo Courtesy of the Truro Police Department
On Thursday, August 12, 2021, Truro Police received a report of two escapees from confinement in South Truro. The suspects, two juveniles, reported to be approximately 3'6" and wearing brown and white coats, evaded police for most of the day until they were safely apprehended and mooooved back to confinement. The Truro Police beefed up patrols in the area and Truro Public Works assisted with securing the perimeter so that the suspects from yesterday’s "Cow Caper" will be deterred from escaping again.
The juvenile suspects will not be charged in their recent graze with the law.
Chief Jamie Calise
Photo Courtesy of the Truro Police Department
Department News:
Building/Health and Conservation
As of July 1, 2021 the applications must be submitted with routine water test analysis:
Building/Health and Conservation
As of July 1, 2021 the applications must be submitted with routine water test analysis:
- Building Permits, with the exception of Express Permits, solar and pool permits.
- Application for a septic installation and repair permits, new construction, upgrade and replacement of septic tanks, pump-chambers and leaching facilities.
- Rental registration certificate-both renewal and new.
- Septic System Inspection Report (SSIR)
As of July 1, 2021, there is a $50.00 fee for the submission of a SSIR, and a local report checklist
- Outside story-time-Thursdays at 10:30am
- Truro Library Book Group-Akin by Emma Donaghue, September 29th at 2:00pm
- Author Talk-Catch us when we fall by Juliette Fay, September 29th at 6:30pm
For information: https://trurolibrary.org/event
Upcoming Events and Happenings
Upcoming Events and Happenings
- Shanah Tovah to all our community members celebrating Rosh Hashanah-September 6th-8th
- First day of School Truro Central School-September 7th (Grade 1-6th)
- First day of School Truro Central School-September 9th (Pre-K-K)
- Council on Aging Community Lunch Pickup or Delivery-September 10th and 24th
- Truro Remembers-September 11th
- Council on Aging Podiatry appointments-September 17th
- Fiscal Year 2022-Select Board Goals and Objectives Public Hearing with the Town Moderator -September 28th
