WELLFLEET - This Monday's special town meeting has plenty of substance: renewable energy, vicious dogs, new room and meal taxes, a road reconstruction project, and an opportunity for expansion of Outer Cape Health Services.

Several of the 14 warrant articles represent opportunities to save money and increase revenues for the town, given what could be a $300,000 deficit for the next fiscal year, Town Administrator Paul Sieloff said. Some articles will also give town officials a chance to test the waters on controversial issues and fill in what town officials say are gaps in local bylaws.

The special town meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at the Wellfleet Elementary School at 100 Lawrence Road. A town election will be held noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Wellfleet Senior Center, for voters to decide on two Proposition 2½ debt exclusions.

The first exclusion is for about $290,000 in pre-construction expenses for a town-owned, land-based wind turbine. The second is $1.3 million to rebuild one mile of Lieutenant Island Road, off Route 6. Town officials hope to recoup $500,000 of that road reconstruction cost through a state grant available as part of the federal economic stimulus packages, said Sieloff.

"We're putting some of these things on, hoping the public will make these decisions on whether they want to go forward," said selectwoman Jacqueline Beebe.

Towns are required by Proposition 2½ to limit their total annual tax increases to no more than 2½ percent over the previous year's level, not including taxes collected from new buildings or additions. Voters must approve anything over that, at both a town meeting and town election.

The opportunities for the town of Wellfleet to save money include a wind turbine planned for town-owned land at White Crest Beach on the Atlantic Ocean. The pre-construction money will pay for a land survey, documents to allow the town to connect to an NStar electric company substation, a bird and wildlife assessment, and contract and bidding documents.

In the long run, the wind turbine could help the town reduce its electricity bill or increase its revenue by about $200,000 annually, according to town documents. Some town officials also are eyeing new local tax options for meals and motel rooms that could generate another $150,000 annually, said selectmen chairman Dale Donovan.

Town officials will also ask voters to approve the sale of eight small "non-essential" lots owned by the town, all one-quarter of an acre. Officials also want to sell off three vehicles worth about $11,000.

Town health and animal control officials will ask voters to generalize a town bylaw for dogs deemed to be dangerous, by eliminating a bylaw that names pit bulls only and replacing it with one that doesn't specify a breed.

Voters also will be asked to strengthen the town's demolition delay bylaw.

Finally, the selectmen have taken a step toward what citizens have sought for several years: helping the nonprofit Outer Cape Health Services, to expand their offices in Wellfleet.

The last article of the warrant would change the use of the 9.5 acres where the Wellfleet Senior Center is on Old Kings Highway from solely that of senior center to general municipal uses.

Wellfleet Special Town Meeting

• WHEN: Monday, Oct. 26, 7 p.m.
• WHERE: Wellfleet Elementary School, 100 Lawrence Road
• Wellfleet Town Election
• WHEN: Tuesday, Oct, 27, noon to 7 p.m.
• WHERE: Wellfleet Senior Center, 715 Old Kings Highway

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