A shortage in labor is affecting the town’s workforce and ability to plan for the future, despite an active search for candidates to fill the vacancies.
Eversource Energy plans to install two new underground power cables that will run through Falmouth to deliver what the company says will be more reliable energy to Martha’s Vineyard.
Like many businesses in Falmouth, the townâs municipal departments are struggling to hire and retain workers, leading to gaps in town services.
The police department is short 10 officers, and the fire department was just able to fill 10 vacancies after a year of trying. Public works projects have been put on hold and the highway and parks departments are short the staff needed for general maintenance. The town entered the summer season with 12 fewer lifeguards than usual, leaving two town beaches unguarded.
Town of Falmouth Human Resources Director Denise Coleman said the issue is ongoing. She outlined an array of factors causing the shortage.
Members of the Falmouth Select Board on Monday, May 10, lauded the nonprofit Falmouth Housing Corporationâs latest project for providing much-needed affordable rental apartments to lower income residents.
âItâs a pretty exciting project,â Falmouth Assistant Town Manager Peter Johnson-Staub said. âIt is aimed at helping some of the most vulnerable members of our community.â
As proposed, the project is for 48 rental units for people 62 and older at 763 Main Street and 24 Scranton Avenue. The latter is currently vacant and the Main Street parcel is where a now-shuttered Cape Cod 5 branch is located. That building would be torn down to make way for the new development.