Annual Town Meeting

The Town Meeting is completed. It was a full house on April 26, 2011. All of Truro was to turn out at the Community Center. The warrants were printed, the chairs in place, the sound system turned on. It was a meeting that lasted until 11:00pm. A meeting full of opinions and parliamentary procedure. The large crowd voted in the affirmative to pay the Selectmen and the Town Moderator in fiscal year 2012. The FY 2012 budget was perused, taken apart, turned upside down and finally approved. Usual articles such as Chapter 90 (Highway money from the federal government) and the free cash were examined and approved. The real fireworks started with Article 17, the first zoning article. The zoning articles are why the meeting went so long.

The Town of Truro passed the Stretch Code and the Solar Array articles easily. It was those tricky building and lot size articles that caused all the commotion. They always will!!

Democracy At Its Best

When I first came to Massachusetts, seventeen years ago, after serving as the Chief of Staff to a mayor in New York State, I almost immediately served in my first Town Meeting. I must admit, I had never experienced anything like it. I was pleasantly surprised at the vigorous response from residents of the Town of Weymouth. In New York there are no Town Meetings, nor has there ever been a Town Meeting. I had a new experience, and I thought it was just wonderful! I had long been a member of the League of Woman Voters so I had experience with “in depth study” of government and its functions. But, this was democracy in action! I could feel it all around me.

I honestly believe it is the finest example of democracy I have ever seen. I still feel that way. Truro and all of the Commonwealth should be proud of the tradition of Town Meeting. Residents are encouraged to voice their concerns and even to present articles for consideration at the Town Meeting. This tradition is not found in other states. I worked in Rhode Island – they did away with all Town Meetings in the 1960's. So, cherish your tradition, enjoy it and participate in it. Never let it go away.

Beach Operations

Back to the seasonal operations of town government. Now is the time we prepare for summer and the onslaught of visitors to our beautiful beaches. Truro has eleven beaches. The beaches are prepared and kept open thanks to the efforts of our Beach Supervisor, Dick Seed and the wonderful Truro DPW and its Director, Paul Morris. The beaches must be safe for our use and use by our visitors. Think about it, this is no easy task. If you live here year round, you know what can wash up on our beaches....that is....anything and everything!

Beach Supervisor Dick Seed supervises the daily operations of the beach office on Route 6A and the daily operations of the Lifeguards and Parking Lot Attendants. It is time to line up applicants, interview them, and assign them to the beach season. Dick has supervision of a good many young people. These young people may be serving in their first job. It is a big responsibility and I depend on the Beach Supervisor to show the young employees a good work experience.

Recreation Department

Another town department that often gives young people their first working experience is the Recreation Department. Now that we have the Community Center, the Recreation Department has grown exponentially. They now have a full day summer program and an after school program during the school year. They also offer all kinds of events for grown up people and often sponsor events with the COA. So, Director Kelly Sullivan is eager to get her summer employees lined up and ready for work this summer.

Town Hall Tea and Crumpets

As I write this, Prince William and Princess Catherine are married and experiencing a full day of wedding activities. The employees at Town Hall, led by Margie Childs of the Treasurer's Office and Nicole Tudor of the Administration Office are dressed for the occasion. Margie in a big flowered hat and Nicole in Princess Catherine's blue engagement dress with a “glow in the dark” ring and high black boots. Several employees are celebrating by wearing hats and all are having tea and crumpets in the Town Hall kitchen. Yes, real “crumpets” baked by Margie Childs. Now, all of this is a great show of support for the UK and her citizens and Royal Family.

As I close....the trees are just starting to leaf out. Oh joy! Leaves are back! It is truly spring.

Pam Nolan
Town Administrator
townadm@truro-ma.gov
(508) 349-7004, ext 10