FINAL
Present for the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) and attending the meeting were: Janet Weidner, Jane Slater, Pam Goff, Tim Carroll, Bill Rossi, Andy Goldman, Allen Healy and Chuck Hodgkinson. Karin Wetmore and Andrew Fischer were absent. Also attending were Chris Alley, John Flender, Martina Thornton, Mitzi Pratt, Derrill Bazzy, Dan Waters, Bonnie Stacy, Richard Skidmore, Adam Moore, Susan Klein, Philippe Jordi and Warren Doty.
The meeting came to order at 6:00 PM. The Committee thanked Janet Weidner for Chairing the Committee for the past three years. A motion was made to appoint Ms. Slater as Chairman. The motion was seconded and with no discussion passed unanimously with six in favor and one abstention (Ms. Slater).
Ms. Slater thanked the Committee, welcomed all of the guests and opened the public hearing at 6:05 PM to once again review each request for CPA funding. She explained this public hearing is a mandatory procedure as outlined in the Community Preservation Act. She added that since the Committee heard all of the details for each request at the October 16th meeting the applicants may briefly describe their projects and welcomed public comment or questions on each. She added the Committee will review the available CPA funds after hearing all proposals and then vote on whether or not to recommend each to Town voters at the April 28, 2014 Annual Town Meeting.
JOHN FLENDER, CEMETERY COMMISSION: Mr. Flender explained the Cemetery Commission is seeking $3,500 of CPA funds to restore 35 slate gravestones from the late 1700’s to early 1800’s in Abel’s Hill Cemetery. The stones are splitting because of water infiltration and the freeze and thaw effects. He added Kai Nalenz of New England Gravestone Services visited the island for a talk and demonstration on this subject two years ago and has submitted a proposal for the work. Chuck H. said Town Counsel has reviewed the application and determined it is eligible for CPA Historic Preservation funds provided the Historical Commission has declared the project important to preserving the Town’s history and culture. Ms. Slater said the Historical Commission voted to
declare this project as important to preserving Chilmark’s history at its November 19, 2013 meeting. With no public comment Ms. Slater invited Mr. Moore to review his project and application.
ADAM MOORE, SHERIFF’S MEADOW FOUNDATION: Mr. Moore reviewed the Foundation’s plan to meticulously restore the historic Hancock-Mitchell House on Quansoo Farm – circa 1655. The Foundation has been working for two years with the Chilmark Historical Commission to create a plan to save this Chilmark historic treasure. It may be the oldest house on the island that is still in its original location. The total project budget is $1.1million and the Foundation is seeking $100,000 of Chilmark CPA funds. He also said the Foundation has applied to have the house listed in the National Registry of Historic Places. Chuck H. said Town Counsel said this project is eligible for CPA Historic Preservation funds provided the Historical Commission has declared preserving the
house is important to the Town’s history and culture. Also, if approved The Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation would need to file an historic preservation restriction with the deed to the property. The Town would also need to draft an appropriation agreement for dispersing the funds – as done with the Tea Lane Farmhouse appropriation. With no questions from the Committee Ms. Slater invited public comment. Mr. Doty asked if the house would be available to the public. Mr. Moore said the Foundation plans to open the house to the public on certain days of the week and added they have already hosted a guided tour of the house for 25 Chilmark School students. With no further comment Ms. Slater invited the Save the Gay Head Lighthouse Committee to present their proposal.
MITZI PRATT, RICHARD SKIDMORE AND DERRILL BAZZY; SAVE THE GAY HEAD LIGHTHOUSE COMMITTEE: Mr. Skidmore thanked the Committee for its time and reviewed the status of the Town’s plan to relocate and preserve the Gay Head Lighthouse. The Committee is seeking a total of $500,000 of the estimated $3 million total relocation and renovation project cost from the five island Towns with the balance being paid by the Town of Aquinnah and private fund raising. Chilmark’s share is $51,854. He added that if approved Chilmark’s CPA funds would be used for relocating the lighthouse. They would not be used to help fund the land acquisition that is under negotiation. Chuck H. reviewed Town Counsel’s opinion and said it is eligible for CPA Historic Preservation funds
and the Historical Commission does not need to declare the project as important to the Town’s history because the lighthouse is already listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. With no public comment the next presenter reviewed her proposal.
SUSAN KLEIN, MARTHA’S VINEYARD AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY: Mr. Healy recused himself from this discussion as he is a Trustee of the Agricultural Society. Ms. Klein reviewed the history of the Ag Society which was founded in 1858. She explained that about 120 years of Ag Society meeting minutes are missing which is why she is spearheading the project to restore and catalogue the many remaining historic artifacts and documents. She is seeking $3,016 as Chilmark’s share of the total project that is estimated to cost $58,216. Chuck H. reviewed Town Counsel’s opinion that the project as proposed is not eligible for CPA Historic Preservation funds. The Committee discussed the opinion and agreed with its findings. With no public comment Ms. Thornton was invited to review her project.
MARTINA THORNTON, DUKES COUNTY MANAGER FOR THE COMMISSIONERS: Ms. Thornton opened by saying the courthouse is two years younger than the Gay Head Light. She went on to explain how the County Courthouse’s electrical system is inadequate and not safe. It cannot support air conditioning and does not meet today’s electrical code. She estimates the required electrical engineering and system upgrade will cost $55,000 which she is seeking from the six island Towns. Chilmark’s share is $5,847. Chuck H. read Town Counsel’s opinion and it is eligible for CPA Historic Preservation funds. The Historical Commission does not need to declare the project as important to the Town’s history because the building is listed in the National Registry of
Historic Places and the Town has already appropriated CPA funds to restore the courthouse windows. The Committee commented that while it supports this request Ms. Thornton should fund any future capital costs to preserve the courthouse or other county needs from its annual operating budget. Ms. Thornton agreed. With no public comment Mr. Waters was invited to speak.
DAN WATERS, MV MUSEUM: Mr. Waters also thanked the Committee for its time. He first mentioned the Museum fully supports the Gay Head Light project and said if the CPC has to make a choice between his request and that of the Save the Gay Head Lighthouse Committee he recommended supporting the Gay Head Light. He then explained the Museum’s plans to restore the Marine Hospital it purchased for $2.9 million and owns free and clear of any debt. The plan is to restore the original 1898 building as the Museum’s facility for historic artifacts and register it in the National Registry of Historic Places. The total restoration project is estimated to cost $10 million and will take several years to complete. He plans to raise 90 percent of the total cost through private
donations and is seeking $600,000 of CPA funds from the six island Towns to restore the building’s slate roof, several chimneys and building support structure for the roof. Chilmark’s share of the total request is $31,512. Chuck H. reviewed Town Counsel’s opinion that the project is eligible for CPA Historic Preservation funds provided the Historical Commission declares the building as important to the Town’s history and culture. Ms. Slater confirmed the Historical Commission voted so at its November 19th meeting. With no public comment Mr. Jordi was invited to speak.
Ms. Weidner left the meeting at 6:55 PM because of another commitment.
PHILIPPE JORDI, ISLAND HOUSING TRUST: Mr. Jordi thanked the Committee for hearing his application and explained he is seeking $65,000 as Chilmark’s share among three Towns to help fund the restoration of six affordable apartments they purchased in Vineyard Haven. He explained the building is privately owned and needs extensive updates. The Trust has a purchase and sale agreement for $600,000. The plan is to get $300,000 in bank financing by the end of the year. Mr. Jordi added if the bank financing is secured the Island Housing Trust will withdraw its CPA fund requests for raising $195,000 among a total of three towns--@ $65,000 each. The Trust is separately seeking $200,000 of CPA Affordable Housing funds from Tisbury. He added the six apartments will be
available to qualified recipients who earn between 50 % and 60 % of County median income. If Chilmark’s CPA funds are deemed necessary and approved, one of the six apartments will receive preference points for applicants who work in or currently live in Chilmark. Chuck H. added Town Counsel said the project is eligible for CPA Affordable Housing funds. With no public comment Mr. Rossi was invited to discuss the Selectmen’s project.
BOARD OF SELECTMEN: Mr. Rossi explained the Board of Selectmen has been working on a Squibnocket Beach project. The negotiations have been sensitive and were done in executive session over the past few months. The Town has received a letter of intent proposing it lease approximated 10.5-acres of ocean-front land west of the current Squibnocket Town Beach and parking area whose 100-year lease expires in 37 years. If approved by voters this new land would be combined with the current leased land into one new 99-year lease agreement for a total lease cost of $400,000. This would increase the size of Chilmark’s Squibnocket beach shoreline by five times. The Town would also recommend relocating the parking lot. Mr. Doty added Mr. Rossi spent many hours in the
negotiations and the Board of Selectmen fully endorses the project because of the many benefits the Town will receive for future generations. Mr. Rossi recommended the Committee continue the hearing for this request to its December 18th meeting @ 6:00 PM. This will give the Committee the opportunity to learn about the complete proposal and hear public comment on December 3 @ 7:00 PM – when the Selectmen will share a PowerPoint presentation on the concept. A subsequent motion was made to continue the hearing for this request to December 18, 2013 @ 6:00 PM. The motion was seconded and approved with five in favor and one abstention (Mr. Rossi).
MANDATORY FY 2015 ESTIMATED CPA REVENUE AND RESERVE FUND AMOUNTS: Chuck H. explained the estimates for the mandatory FY 2015 CPA fund reservations – 10 % in each of the three funds (Affordable Housing, Open Space and Historic Preservation) with up to 5 % for administration and the balance for the Community Preservation Budgeted Reserve fund. He reviewed the FY 2014 reserve amounts and said the specific estimates for the FY 2015 CPA revenues and reserve amounts will be determined after the FY 2014 tax rate is set.
With no further public comment a motion was made to close the hearing for all of the CPA fund requests except the Selectmen’s request – which will be continued to December 18, 2013 @ 6:00 PM. The motion was seconded and with no further discussion passed unanimously with six in favor.
Chuck H. distributed a schedule of all CPA fund appropriations by category from 2001 when the Act was adopted to the present – including all of the proposed appropriations. Mr. Goldman said if all of the requests are approved as presented the Affordable Housing share of all CPA appropriations would be 62 percent – which is less than the 70 % expressed goal. He added that while he supports the Historical Commission’s recommendations reviewed tonight there are several housing projects that my come together in the next few years and asked the Committee to consider this as it reviews future fund requests.
Ms. Slater thanked Mr. Goldman and then asked the Committee to discuss and vote on whether to recommend each of the CPA fund requests to voters at the April 2014 Annual Town Meeting.
Individual and subsequent motions were made, seconded and unanimously approved with six in favor to recommend the following requests to Town voters at the April 28, 2014 Annual Town Meeting: Cemetery Commission, Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation, Gay Head Light, County Courthouse, Island Housing Trust and the FY 2015 CPA projected Reserve amounts which will be determined at a later date.
A motion was made and seconded to recommend the MV Museum’s request to voters at the April 2014 Annual Town Meeting. In discussion several Committee members expressed opinions that the Museum staff has not yet proven their ability to raise funds for this project. Consequently, if approved there is a risk that a new $600,000 roof, chimneys and required support structure may be installed without completing the planned renovation. There was additional discussion on the Committee’s role in reviewing CPA fund requests. The motion came to a vote and failed as it did not receive a majority vote with three in favor and three opposed.
A motion was made to not recommend the Agricultural Society’s request to Town voters because Town Counsel opinion indicates the project is not eligible for CPA Historic Preservation funds. The motion was seconded and with no discussion passed with five in favor and one abstention (Mr. Healy).
The Committee then discussed at length that while these specific projects are valid for Chilmark consideration, the Town’s CPA funds should be earmarked for Chilmark-specific projects—not just current Chilmark projects but, those that may be possible and take place in the future.
ADMINISTRATION
The October 16, 2013 meeting minutes were reviewed and approved as presented by consensus.
Review of the FY 2015 budget was deferred to the December 18, 2013 meeting.
With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 7:12 PM.
Respectfully submitted, Chuck Hodgkinson, CAS.
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