Barnstable Court Complex Modernization to Cost $71 million
May 28, 2025 (Barnstable, MA) – Today the Barnstable County Board of Regional Commissioners received two in-depth briefings on key regional initiatives: one focused on a long-term plan to modernize and manage County facilities and another on a private well testing program to protect public health across Cape Cod.
County Courts and Buildings will need $71 million in Upgrades
Paul Ruszala, Barnstable County’s Assets and Infrastructure Manager, presented the Commissioners with an initial assessment on the cost of bringing the county court complex and office facilities up to today’s building code requirements. The “Facilities Condition Assessment” was presented by Arlyn Vogelmann and her team from Gensler, the architecture and planning firm hired by the county to perform the work.
The Assessment is being prepared along with a Master Plan, and it is the first full and comprehensive assessment of County-owned and leased properties. Each building was evaluated for physical condition, accessibility compliance, energy performance, and operational efficiency. These documents provide county officials with a strategic roadmap for modernizing Barnstable County’s court facilities and office buildings.
Barnstable County currently owns or leases 15 buildings across Cape Cod, totaling roughly 275,000 square feet. These include offices, AmeriCorps housing, court facilities, and infrastructure essential to public health and emergency response. Over half (55%) of this space is leased from the County by the Massachusetts Trial Court system. The Facilities Assessment found most facilities in fair to poor condition. Gensler estimates that $70.9 million will be required to repair and modernize these assets.
The Facilities Master Plan – when completed- will provide recommendations to enhance public access to services, co-locate staff to increase their effectiveness, protect County assets, and plan for the current and future space needs of County government. While focused on modernization, the Plan will also address the financial realities of implementation and the need for a phased 10–20-year investment strategy to guide future budgeting and planning.
May 29: Public Meeting on PFAS Barrier Installation at Former Fire Academy
Ruszala also reminded the public of an upcoming PFAS remediation meeting. The meeting, scheduled for Thursday, May 29, 2025, at 5:00 PM, will focus on plans to install a permeable reactive barrier (PRB) at the former County Fire Training Academy in Hyannis. This effort is part of the County’s ongoing collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Details are available at capecod.gov.
Safeguarding Water: Beach and Private Well Testing Across the Cape
Jay Gardiner, Director of the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment, was joined by Jennifer McMullin, Environmental Project Assistant and Beach Program Coordinator to brief the Commissioners on the department’s summer Beach Monitoring Program.
Dr. Katie O’Neill, D.Sc, R.S and William Phelps, Tetra Tech Senior Project Manager, provided an update on the upcoming Private Well Water Quality Testing Program.
Beach Monitoring Program
Ms. McMullin reported that the County’s Beach Monitoring Program has been a cornerstone of regional public health since its formal expansion in 2002. Each summer all public and semi-public beaches across Cape Cod, as well as Nantucket and Wareham, are tested weekly for bacterial contamination in accordance with Massachusetts regulations (105 CMR 445).
In 2024 more than 5,200 samples were analyzed, with over 4,500 collected directly by County staff. These samples are tested in Barnstable County’s state-certified public health laboratory and results are uploaded daily to both the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the County’s own public dashboard at capecod.gov/beach-sample-results. This process ensures rapid notification of any contamination and enables towns to issue timely closures or advisories.
Private Well Water Quality Testing Program
The County’s Private Well Water Quality Testing Program, funded through ARPA and developed in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and Tetra Tech, is a free and voluntary program to help Cape Cod homeowners understand and protect their drinking water.
With more than 14,000 private wells in use across Cape Cod, this program provides lab testing for contaminants like PFAS, VOCs, nitrates, and metals. The program is targeting approximately 2% of wells in its first phase, enough to establish a regional baseline for groundwater conditions.
Dr. O’Neil outlined the program’s public engagement strategy and sample collection process, emphasizing the importance of coordinating outreach with the towns and educating residents about the importance of testing their private wells.
Applicants will apply through a web portal. If their application is accepted, they will be contacted by Tetra Tech and receive a self-sampling kit with step-by-step instructions. The water samples will be analyzed by the County’s Water Quality Laboratory and Tetra Tech will transmit the results to the participant and, if required, to the local Board of Health.
“This program gives residents meaningful insight into their well water quality and supports better protection of Cape Cod’s groundwater for the future,” said Phelps.
Director Gardiner emphasized that both programs reflect Barnstable County’s commitment to science-driven collaboration, helping to protect health and water resources for all 15 towns and their residents.
About Barnstable County Regional Government of Cape Cod: Barnstable County provides exemplary government functions and services to keep our community healthy and safe, promote sustainable growth, and offers a proactive, open government that enhances the quality of life for the citizens of Barnstable County. Learn more at www.capecod.gov.
