Commission critics adopt goals
A group seeking repeal or reform of the Cape Cod Commission has adopted an official name and a mission statement.
About 40 members of Citizens for Responsible Economic Development, as they now are called, met May 11 in the Rectrix Aerodrome general aviation facility at Hyannis airport. Previously the group had been operating under the title “De-Commission the Commission.”
The group agreed to provide assistance to towns seeking to secede from the commission’s land use regulatory powers and to return that authority back to the towns. The group also discussed changes to the Cape Cod Commission Act that created the county land use agency in 1990, controls on how commission funds are spent, as well as checks and balances on its power.
Selected as cochairmen of the standing committee were Larry Wheatley and Paul Labell. The group also created several subcommittees to include a publicity group to convey to the public where the commission has exceeded its mandate and other concerns such as the cost of commission rules and actions. These include driving businesses and jobs for young people away from Cape Cod, increased real estate costs and other issues. A data committee will compile statistics on the impact of commission regulations and decisions.
The group adopted a mission statement that reads:
“To determine the effectiveness of the Cape Cod Commission to create a balance between environmental protection and economic development in Barnstable County and further to initiate changes that will ensure the effectiveness of the commission.”
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