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Wellfleet voters back expanded child care vouchers

Cape Cod Times - 6/17/2020

Jun. 17--WELLFLEET -- Voters at the annual town election Monday approved a ballot question asking town officials to fund a universal child care voucher up to $400,000 each year.

The ballot question was approved 249-59.

The voucher would be administered for child care costs for families with children up to the age of 5.

Child care vouchers are currently available for families with 3- and 4-year-old children.

The town has offered vouchers for 4-year-olds for five years. Two years ago Wellfleet expanded vouchers to cover costs for 3-year-olds.

The progressive measure would provide more seamless child care opportunities for families, according to Select Board member Justina Carlson.

The ballot question cited the elevated cost of living and high property values in town. It also asked the town to direct Gov. Charlie Baker and the state to employ all means available to provide support for the town in pursuit of universal children's education.

The median home price in Wellfleet is $571,600 and the cost of living is 23.2% higher than the national average, according to Salary.com.

The petitioned article named no funding source and will need a vote at town meeting in October.

Voters also approved a ballot question calling for heightened security and more effective storage measures for spent fuel at Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. That petitioned article also will need approval at the fall town meeting. The issue has been placed on ballots or meeting warrants in almost every town in Barnstable County. The measure was initiated by the Cape Downwinders, an advocacy group concerned that radioactive assemblies were still being stored at the site in Plymouth.

No contested races were on the ballot.

Ryan Derek Curley won a three-year seat on the Select Board with 232 of 324 votes.

Martha Gordon received 282 votes for a three-year seat on the Wellfleet School Committee. Write-in candidate Laura Baghetti won a majority for the second open seat.

Daniel R. Silverman will be town moderator, winning the one-year term with 295 votes.

Christopher M. Easley will have a three-year term on the Nauset Regional School Committee. Robin A. Robinson and Andrew L. Freeman will sit on the Board of Library Trustees. Nancy L. Vail was elected to the Cemetery Commission and Gary Sorkin to the Housing Authority.

Material from the Provincetown Banner was used in this report.

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