Yarmouth is moving to fortify its waterfront infrastructure against rising sea levels, with the Capital Budget Committee reviewing a $504,000 request to trigger nearly $2 million in state resiliency funding. The Packet Landing Resiliency Project, identified as a priority in recent vulnerability studies, would involve raising the existing parking lot by three feet and installing a new fiberglass sheet pile bulkhead to combat the increasing frequency of King Tides that currently leave the area submerged. The Director of Natural Resources explained that the project is designed to be turnkey by the spring of 2026, ideally reaching completion before the state begins major bridge work in the area later that year. He noted that the current situation is becoming untenable, stating, Packet Landing rated as a critical infrastructure piece. At king high tides and certainly at storms, that parking lot ends up half underwater. The electrical infrastructure ends up underwater. It's time for some love at Packet Landing. Member Ken Smith questioned how the timeline would align with the Department of Transportation’s Bass River bridge project, to which the Director replied that he expects shovels to be in the ground before bridge construction disrupts the site.

The committee also wrestled with a $54,000 request from the Recreation Department to replace its entire fleet of aging sailboats. While the Town Administrator’s current plan suggests delaying the purchase until 2028, the Director of Recreation argued that the existing Cape Cod Knockabouts—some of which are 60 years old—are becoming a liability. The proposed American Sails models feature higher booms to prevent head injuries and can be sailed directly onto the beach, reducing the heavy manpower currently required for seasonal maintenance. It's taking a lot of manpower, labor, and money to get them ready for the season every year, the Director said. By replacing them with a new fleet, that manpower and labor and those costs associated with keeping the Knockabouts up and running basically goes away. Chair Sandy Fife noted the discrepancy in the scheduling, asking if there had been further coordination with administration regarding the 2028 deferral. The Director indicated that he had offered to push back the purchase of a 15-passenger transit van to prioritize the boats for safety and operational efficiency.

The meeting opened with a brief procedural step as Motion Made by A. Laird to approve the minutes of October 6. Member Lindsay Pietro clarified her status for the record, noting, I wasn't here, though Chair Fife confirmed she was still eligible to participate in the collective action. Motion Passed (5-0-0).

Natural Resources officials further outlined a series of maritime investments, including $268,000 for recurring dredging and beach nourishment. Member George Perkins sought to define the specific economic driver associated with these costs. The Director of Natural Resources pointed to the heavy recreational and commercial activity in the region, noting, if you go to Bass River on a weekend in the summer, you can walk from Yarmouth to Dennis because there are so many boats out there. We have eight or ten commercial fishing boats at Packet Landing. Additional requests included $17,000 for navigation buoys to replace hardware corroded by the salt environment and $65,000 for a mid-life refit of the town’s 29-foot Safe Boat. The patrol vessel, which serves as the department's flagship, requires a new foam collar and updated electronics. It's like operating a computer from 2012—it's not going to run right, the Director warned, adding that the department currently relies on charts that haven't been updated in nearly a decade.

The Golf Enterprise Fund is seeking significant capital for both immediate and future needs, including a $250,000 plan to expand parking at Bass River by demolishing a dilapidated cart barn. The Director of Golf described the current 67-space lot as completely undersized, leading to patrons parking in the woods and on fairways. For the upcoming Fall Town Meeting, the department is requesting $100,000 for Bass River bathroom renovations to fix freezing pipes and $75,000 for a study on a new cart barn and 200-person function facility at Bayberry Hills. We don't want to throw good money into bad, the Director said regarding the need for a comprehensive study on modernizing the facilities for electric carts and larger tournaments. Other golf requests include $75,000 for clubhouse windows and $55,000 for a high-capacity driving range ball machine that accepts digital payments.

The committee’s long-term planning efforts face a significant hurdle, as Chair Fife expressed concern over the accuracy of the town’s 10-year capital plan currently in the portal. She noted that many department reports are missing and some figures, such as a million-dollar septage placeholder for 2027, appear incorrect. We have to work on the 10-year plan because it is required by the charter, Fife emphasized, signaling a push to clean up the data before a December presentation to the Selectmen. The committee expects to hear from the Schools and the Library next week, with the School Department slated to present a $1.5 million feasibility study for the Emmy Small school site.