Depending on who you were, ATM was either a resounding success or a grave disappointment.  For part-timers, it is simply troubling.

The DPW:  Article 4 requested an appropriation to cover the unappropriated cost of a $29M DPW.  remember, in 2024, $2.83 M was appropriated for a design schematic, though that amount was not bonded (made subject to long-term debt) until this year.

Article 4 was defeated by failure to achieve a 2/3 majority.  after the vote was called, about 60 seniors left –  sitting for a long time is hard – and after that the vote was “reconsidered” –  and this time it barely passed by a 2/3 majority.

This action alone cause great joy among DPW supporters and deep anger among those who opposed the $29M DPW price tag  ($53M with debt service) and felt that the motion for reconsideration was impermissible and unfair.

It set a divisive and angry tone for much of the remaining meeting.

Other major outcomes:

• The North Truro Overlay was defeated – sparing North Truro from massive overdevelopment and environmental stress.
• The Municipal Affordable Housing Trust was approved, giving enormous and broad powers to a committee that will largely be independent of the Elect Board and voters.
• The Senior Perks program giving discounts to Beach and Transfer station fees for resident over 65 – was extended for another “pilot” year.
• New “Special Permit” regulations failed -current regs remain in place
• The Growth Management Bylaw failed, though there was general recognition that we need one.
• The Walsh re-zoning articles – to rescind and replace Walsh Overlay District with Walsh Residential Zoning – failed in part because the Moderator would not permit an amendment to be moved that would have addressed officials’ concerns.
• The Dogs regulation article passed, requiring the Town to consult before imposing regulations on pet access and behavior on beaches.
• Right to Farm/Fish passed
• Continue with Electronic Voting passed

During the meeting, part-timers were regularly touted as paying the tab for the Town’s big-ticket items.  For example, the DPW was promoted before ATM and at ATM  as of little cost to full-timer if they “get the RTE.”   Officials were heard to comment that “part-timers will pay for infrastructure” – implying that the massive, anticipated water infrastructure costs will fall on part-timers.

The head of the Planning Board has already called for the RTE to be raised to 50%.

Many remarks were also made disparaging seniors – the large bulk of part-timers.  Remarks from officials and voters suggesting Truro should not be a “retirement community” were code for “time to go.”

Clearly, among the younger cohort of emerging leaders in Town, part-timers are the bank, but otherwise an inconvenience.

From a part-timers’ perspective, it was discouraging and offensive, to say the least.