Yarmouth Town Council approves firefighter funding and wastewater discharge ballot measures

The Town of Yarmouth Select Board meeting on March 18, 2025, focused on two significant ballot questions for the upcoming annual town election, alongside discussions on housing initiatives and committee appointments.

The first ballot question proposed an override to allow the town to assess an additional $845,476 in real estate and personal property taxes. This funding aims to hire four additional firefighters and a supervisor, as well as to restructure the wage scale for the fire department. Board members emphasized the importance of clarity in the ballot language to ensure voters understand that the wage restructuring specifically pertains to the fire department. The board unanimously approved placing this question on the ballot.

The second ballot question, which is non-binding, addresses concerns regarding Holtec's discharge of untreated wastewater from the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. The question seeks to direct the town government to communicate with state authorities to ensure the enforcement of laws against this discharge, which is believed to threaten public health and safety. Despite some board members expressing that the town has previously communicated its concerns, the board ultimately agreed to place this question on the ballot due to a petition that met the required number of signatures.

In addition to the ballot discussions, the board briefly touched on the need for a housing workshop to address ongoing housing issues in Yarmouth. This workshop is planned for April 1, where board members will discuss various housing strategies and redevelopment opportunities.

The meeting also included discussions about committee appointments, particularly for the library building committee. Board members expressed the need for diversity in committee representation and decided to table the appointments to allow for further consideration of candidates.

Overall, the meeting highlighted the town's proactive approach to addressing public safety, environmental concerns, and housing challenges, while also ensuring community involvement in governance through ballot initiatives and committee representation. The next steps include finalizing the housing workshop details and revisiting committee appointments in future meetings.