Cape official caught on hot mic saying 'I'm sick of those people'

Local News

A Cape Cod official publicly apologized last week after a hot mic caught her muttering, “God, I'm sick of these people” at the tip of a lengthy meeting.

The comment from Yarmouth Select board member Joyce Flynn followed discussion of a non-binding decision to relocate a small pumping station from an existing cranberry lavatory and farm stand. The resolution was approved at a special city meeting on December ninth with 100 votes in favor and 88 against.

In one public apology, Flynn said her “careless comment” was made out of frustration after someone “objected to the hand count of votes.” She also noted that the comment was originally incorrectly attributed to City Clerk Mary Maslowski, who oversaw the count.

“I want to make it clear that the comment was made by me, not Ms. Maslowski, and I apologize for my expression of impatience,” Flynn said. “I remain committed to serving the residents of Yarmouth and ensuring our meetings are places where everyone feels valued and heard.”

The controversial pumping station is slated to be built at 316 Route 28 next to Fresh From the Vine Cranberry Bog. During the town's special meeting, Chris Wilson, operator of Fresh From the Vine, raised concerns about possible environmental impacts to the farm and surrounding waterways, economic impacts to farm stock and risks to pedestrian safety, amongst other concerns.

Yarmouth officials said it was the pumping station doesn’t pose a danger to the environment to cranberry lavatory.

“The bottom line is that the long-planned pump station at 316 Route 28, the cranberry bog operation and local businesses can coexist and benefit each other,” Yarmouth Public Works Director Jeff Colby said in a press release Informational video last month.

The pump station is an element of the $207.2 million initial phase of the Yarmouth wastewater project. passed by the community assembly in 2023. Colby said the town's flexibility in locating its pumping stations was limited because that they had to be placed next to low points in the gathering system.

During last week's meeting, Flynn addressed the assembled residents following her hot mic moment.

“This is a reminder that if you don’t go to the annual town meetings, you lose your voice in the Yarmouth Legislature,” she said. “So I hope that things will be decided, as they must be, many years in advance and I hope that from now on we will see everyone who is new here.”