The most notable event of the meeting was the unanimous approval of an all-alcoholic beverage restaurant license for Manset Circle, Inc., doing business as Daily Brew, set to operate on North Falmouth Highway. Attorney Kevin Clower represented the applicants, Kathy and John Hickey, along with their daughter Sarah Hannon, who is proposed as the manager. Clower detailed the Hickeys’ 13-year history operating Daily Brew in Kamit and their plans to recreate a family-friendly atmosphere at the new location. The establishment will serve coffee, light fare, and alcohol, with a capacity for 144 indoor seats. The board’s questions focused on Hannon’s experience with liquor licenses, her role as manager, and her commitment to being present during the restaurant’s operating hours. Public comments supported the Hickeys.

Another topic was the potential relocation of Cape Cod Gateway Airport to Joint Base Cape Cod, which sparked considerable discussion among residents and board members. Concerns centered around increased noise and traffic, environmental implications, and the impact on property values. A resident from the Balme neighborhood expressed worry over the longer runways at the Joint Base potentially accommodating larger jets, thereby increasing air traffic. Other concerns included the potential for increased ground traffic due to new terminal and parking construction coinciding with other infrastructure projects.

The board discussed whether to take a formal stance on the feasibility study requested by the Barnstable Town Council. While some members felt it was premature to oppose the study due to insufficient information, others advocated for a more definitive stance against the potential airport relocation, citing environmental and community concerns. Ultimately, the board agreed to draft a letter to express community concerns without formally opposing the feasibility study.

The meeting also addressed various public health and environmental management initiatives. The board discussed a $1 million grant aimed at enhancing regional collaboration among police departments for issues like substance use disorders and elder fraud. The grant will fund a full-time employee to ensure timely information dissemination across the Cape Cod region, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket.

Elder fraud emerged as a issue, with Barnstable County recording 397 cases or calls related to elder fraud, resulting in only 13 charges. The board considered a proposal to hire additional forensic examiners, prosecutors, and victim witness assistants, seeking $580,000 in funding with support from councils on aging and police chiefs.

Environmental management was highlighted with updates on the Barnstable County Dredge operation, essential for maintaining navigable waterways. Despite challenges such as high operational costs and federal permitting delays, the board discussed plans to educate the community on the economic importance of dredging and efforts to streamline the permitting process.

The board also touched on public safety improvements, such as a new public safety sign funded by a $25,000 grant from the Falmouth Road Race. The board agreed that the digital portion of the sign could be classified as public safety use, reducing the need for a variance. The sign will be used for emergency alerts and public announcements.

In other business, the board approved fee waivers for the Falmouth Art Market’s special event permit and discussed the draft of a Select Board handbook, emphasizing clarity on conflict of interest laws and the board’s relationship with the town manager.