Falmouth Select Board adopts revised letter urging GBH to continue talks on Captain Davis House and CAI

FALMOUTH — The Falmouth Select Board on Monday unanimously approved a revised letter asking GBH to continue discussions with the Woods Hole community about the future of the Captain Davis House, a historic property at 3 Water Street, and the possible relocation of CAI, the Cape and Islands public radio service.

Board members debated how strongly to press GBH to preserve public use of the property during a lengthy discussion of a draft that board member Ms. Goldstone circulated; select board members ultimately agreed to a softened version proposed by Mr. Roeschaux and adopted the letter as amended.

“We want to encourage continued dialogue with the Woods Hole community,” a presenting board member said in support of the letter, noting the station and neighborhood have been negotiating possible next steps. The presenter added that the building “did receive…$267,600 in 2010 of community preservation funds for the historic preservation of that building,” a point several members cited in arguing for preserving the site’s community value.

Members also clarified the legal effect of the existing preservation restriction on the property. The chair noted the restriction “does not prohibit the owner from selling it,” but that the owner is required to notify the town of a proposed sale; board members cited that notice requirement as a reason to stay engaged in the process rather than take a prescriptive legal stance.

Some members urged restraint in the letter’s language. Mr. Roeschaux, who circulated a more conciliatory draft, said he did not want the town to presume the community association would have the resources or capacity to assume stewardship, and argued the board should avoid taking a position that could be read as binding the town to an outcome. Those amendments were accepted and the board moved, seconded and approved the revised letter unanimously.

The vote to adopt the letter was recorded on the meeting agenda as an official board action; no dissenting votes were recorded. The board’s action directs the chair to send the amended letter to GBH and to continue monitoring conversations with Woods Hole community stakeholders.

What happens next: The letter asks for continued dialogue and expresses the town’s interest in the property’s continued community use; it does not create new legal obligations or prevent a private sale. The Select Board did not vote on any ordinance or adopt new restrictions at Monday’s meeting.