FINAL
Present for the Community Preservation Committee and attending the meeting were: Andy Goldman, Karin Wetmore, Jane Slater, Bill Randol, Russell Maloney, Warren Doty and Chuck Hodgkinson. Absent: John Flender.
Mr. Randol opened the meeting at 7:00 PM as acting chair in Mr. Flender’s absence.
1. PROJECT UPDATE: The status of the public vista restoration project was discussed. The Quitsa Pond view-clearing invoice for $3,650 was approved. The check will be sent when the final cleanup is finished. The Conservation Commission will review the Clam Point Cove view-clearing project on March 1 as it is near an isolated wetland. This project will be completed in March, assuming the Conservation Commission grants approval. The Mass Highway permit has been secured. The Peaked Hill view clearing was discussed. Chuck Hodgkinson will talk with Matthew Dix at the Land Bank about removing the scattered debris. Separately, it was mentioned that Rusty Walton offered to donate several plants for screening around the chain link fence and
antenna. Chuck H. will follow up with Rusty on this.
2. APRIL 24, 2006 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT ARTICLES: The $15,005 warrant article requesting an appropriation to expand the stone wall restoration project was discussed. If approved, this project will not begin for a while. This delay will give the Committee and voters more flexibility to act on a potentially higher priority historic preservation project in Menemsha Village. In the meantime, Chuck Hodgkinson will take photographs of additional stone wall sections that may need restoration. The goal is to continue to expand the restored sections of stone wall corridors on the main roads leading to Town Center.
3. MIDDLE LINE ROAD UPDATE: Mr. Doty summarized the immediate next steps for reviewing the Middle Line Road Request For Proposal (RFP) response. April 20 is the deadline for Town response to the RFP submission.
4. MENEMSHA COMMERCIAL FISHING: The February 14th meeting among the Board of Selectmen and the fishermen was discussed. It was agreed this process would take time. A follow up meeting is scheduled for March 21 @ 4:00 PM. The discussion is focused on securing the commercial fishing services infrastructure and a fish buying operation. It is hoped that a more secure and consistent infrastructure will help preserve the commercial fishing industry in Menemsha Village. Mr. Doty recommended contacting the Governor’s Seaport Council and the Division of Marine Fisheries to explore opportunities for assistance. Chuck H. will follow up on both.
5. NEW CPA FUNDED IDEAS OR INITIATIVES: It was agreed to expand the stone wall restoration project as mentioned earlier. The Committee also recommended finding a way to increase awareness of Chilmark’s unique stone wall heritage and the importance of preserving them. Several ideas were discussed that include:
1. Design a link on the Town’s website with photos and supporting stories about Chilmark’s stone walls.
2. Perhaps including a step-by-step primer on how to restore your own stone wall and branding it “This Old Wall” – similar to the “This Old House” concept.
3. Perhaps sponsor a Saturday morning stone wall workshop at the Library. Several of the Town’s stone wall masons would be invited to explain the different types and styles of stone walls and the special techniques used to build and maintain them.
4. Upon reviewing the CPC’s accomplishments to date – stone wall and public vista preservation; affordable housing programs, possible preservation of Menemsha as a commercial fishing port, burying the power lines at the Menemsha School – the committee discussed if there is an opportunity to initiate a program of some sort that might help preserve the Town’s agricultural heritage. Perhaps the CPC can work with the Agricultural Society, the Slow Food and Farmer’s Markets.
5. An additional idea for historic preservation might also be to find a way to restore and preserve the cemetery records.
Next Steps: Chuck H. will begin working on the stone wall awareness programs. The Committee will monitor the progress of the Menemsha Commercial Fishing initiative with the Board of Selectmen. More thought will be given to Agricultural programs and the cemetery records.
6. CPA FUNDS STATUS: The CPA funds status through 2/28/06 was reviewed. There were no issues.
7. MEETING TIME: The Committee discussed meeting at an earlier time of day. A motion to meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 5:00 PM was made seconded and unanimously approved.
8. MEETING MINUTES: The 1/24/06 meeting minutes will be reviewed at the next CPC meeting.
9. NEXT MEETING: The next CPC meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, March 28, 2006 at 5:00 PM.
With no further business to discuss, a motion to adjourn was seconded, and unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted, Chuck Hodgkinson, CAS.
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