Chilmark Board of Selectmen Joint Meeting of Chilmark Library Trustees and Chilmark Planning Board January 13, 2015 Meeting Minutes
Present: Chairman William Rossi, Jonathan Mayhew, Warren Doty, Tim Carroll, Melanie Becker, Janet Weidner, Chuck Hodgkinson, David Damroth, Rosalie Hornblower, Willits Sawyer, Jim Feiner, Ben Retmire, Jessica Roddy, Jim Malkin, Joan Malkin, John Flender, Danielle Pattavina, Andy Goldman, Tim Ritch, Jane Slater, Linda Coutinho, Police Chief Cioffi, Dennis Jason, Lynn Christoffers, Alex Elvin and Edie Prescott.
At 7:00 PM Chairman Rossi called the joint meeting to order in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room.
Trustees of the Library:
Chairman Rossi started the meeting with thanks to Norman Freed for all of his hard work through the years for the town of Chilmark and especially his efforts in our Library.
Mr. Freed has notified the town of his resignation from the Trustees of the Library.
Mr. Doty said he worked with Norman through the years for our Chilmark Library and the Library we have today is largely in part because of Norman’s efforts. Mr. Mayhew agreed with this and said he will accept his resignation with regret.
Mr. Doty moved to accept Mr. Freed’s resignation from the Trustees of the Chilmark Library. Mr. Mayhew seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 3 Ayes
Mr. Rossi said we will be celebrating Norman and Diana Freed’s commitment to our town tomorrow night at 4:30 PM in our Chilmark Library. Mr. Carroll said that the Selectmen will be giving Mr. Freed a proclamation of appreciation at Norman’s celebration tomorrow.
Janet Weidner (library trustee member) said that Heather Quinn has submitted a letter of interest in being elected a member till the Annual Town Elections in April. Ms. Weidner said that the trustees endorse Ms. Quinn for this position.
Mr. Rossi opened the nominations for election to the Library Trustees. Ms. Weidner nominated Heather Quinn to the vacated seat on the Library Trustees till the Annual Town Elections. Chairman Rossi closed nominations and vote was held.
Mr. Doty Aye, Mr. Rossi: Aye, Mr. Mayhew; Aye, Ms. Weidner; Aye
Ms. Quinn was elected.
Planning Board:
Joan Malkin requested that the decision to elect a member to the Planning Board be postponed to allow the Planning Board and the applicant’s time to make their decisions. Mrs. Malkin said we had a single letter of interest up until recently but having received two we would like more time to allow applicants to attend to a few Planning Board meetings.
Danielle Pattavina spoke of her interest at becoming a member of the Planning Board.
Chairman Rossi recommended re-addressing this at the Selectmen’s February 17, 2015 meeting.
Accessory Apartment Amendment Bylaw:
Jessica Roddy of the Housing Committee gave an explanation of the Accessory Apartment Amendment Bylaw. The complete bylaw is located on Chilmark Town Website link:
Ms. Roddy said that if a homeowner already has a guest house or if the lot is smaller than required for guesthouse there would be a 400 square foot accessory apartment allowed. If no guest house and ample lot size then up to 800 square foot would be allowed for an accessory apartment.
Ms. Roddy said the qualifications for accessory apartment would be the following: affordable housing, family member or a caregiver. If being rented as affordable housing all applicants would be vetted through the Dukes County Regional Housing Authority. If the apartment is intended for family member or caregiver the town building inspector will enforce the rules. Discussion ensued.
Mr. Doty moved to place the Accessory Apartment Amendment Bylaw on the April 27, 2015 Annual Town Warrant. Mr. Mayhew seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 3 Ayes
Minutes:
Draft minutes from the Selectmen’s December 16, 2014 meeting were reviewed. A change was recommended. Mr. Doty moved to approve the minutes as changed. Mr. Mayhew seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 3 Ayes
Public Safety Building Site Committee (PSBSC):
Andy Goldman Chairman of the PSBSC committee asked the Selectmen to place on the Special Town Meeting Warrant a $30,000.00 article to proceed with planning our Public Safety Building. Mrs. Slater asked that the Selectmen not put this on the February 2, 2015 warrant and to put it on the Annual Town Meeting Warrant.
Mrs. Slater said she requests this because this was to be a single agenda Special Town Meeting about the Squibnocket Project. Discussion ensued. Selectmen will put this warrant article request on the Annual Town Meeting April 27, 2015.
Chilmark Fireman’s Association Donation:
Mr. Carroll said that the Chilmark Fireman’s Association is seeking to donate an Ultra Terrain Vehicle to the Chilmark Fire Department for their use in rescue work. Mr. Mayhew moved to accept this donation. Mr. Doty seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 3 Ayes
Debt & Investment Policies:
Town Treasurer Melanie Becker presented the Selectmen the draft policies that they received at their last regularly scheduled meeting. Mrs. Becker said she has changed the formatting since they last reviewed per recommendation of FinCom member Mr. Malkin.
Debt & Investment Policies Continued…
Mr. Doty recommended a few sentences be reformed. Mrs. Becker took the recommendations made and left to reprint both policies. Mr. Doty moved to adopt both policies with the changes made tonight. Mr. Mayhew seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 3 Ayes
Mrs. Becker returned with reprinted policies. Selectmen signed them both.
Center for Living & Dukes County:
Chairman Rossi said he is Chilmark’s representative on the County Advisory Board and spoke about the plan to purchase a building for the Center for Living. Mr. Rossi said that he would not be specific as to what property, as there is no formal offer at this time. Mr. Rossi said the plan is for all 6 towns to purchase a building using the 50/50 formula utilizing population and real-estate values to determine amount billed to each town. Mr. Rossi said the purchase cost is approximately $1.6 million dollars. Discussion ensued. No action was taken at this time.
Chilmark Community Center:
Mr. Doty recommended addressing the fee waiver requests for fundraising events from Chilmark PTO, The Yard and MV Slow Foods together. Mr. Doty moved to waive fee for all three events. Mr. Mayhew seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 3 Ayes
Harbor:
Chairman Rossi said there has been a request to transfer mooring permits to the spouse of a permit holder. Mr. Doty said this is an unusual situation; our regulations state that the permits may be transferred to a spouse after the permit holder dies. Mr. Doty said that in this instance the permit holder has been aging rapidly and is not competent anymore and it was suggested that the permits be transferred to wife. Mr. Doty added that transferring permits would help with asset planning and medical coverage for the permit holder.
Mr. Mayhew said he would abstain from commenting as a Selectman because he holds mooring permits.
Mr. Doty moved to transfer Lynn Murphy’s Mooring Permits to his wife Susan Murphy because of these special circumstance discussed tonight. Mr. Rossi seconded the motion.
SO VOTED: 2 ayes, 1 Abstain Jonathan Mayhew
Mr. Mayhew said he would like to talk as a mooring permit holder and not as a Selectman. Mr. Mayhew said he has concerns with the regulations. Mr. Mayhew said that he has had commercial moorings since 1965 and when he dies (and after his spouse dies too) what happens to the people who have had these moorings in Chilmark. Do they lose their permits? Mr. Mayhew said this should be reviewed and changed. Chairman Rossi said that this issue will be reviewed in the future.
Vineyard Health Care Access Program (VHCAP):
VHCAP Director Sarah Kuh has written to the Selectmen to see whether it is possible for Chilmark to add the Access Program funding request to the annual budget, rather than having it as a separate warrant article each year.
Vineyard Health Care Access Program (VHCAP) continued…
Mr. Carroll said that this is a change of purpose, the mission of organization has changed; it was established to get residents signed up for health care. Mr. Doty said that he himself utilized the VHCAP to help make decisions on his health care coverage and said they (VHCAP) are a helpful
organization. Mr. Doty recommended putting into the budget this year. Chairman Rossi said to discuss further at the FinCom budget hearing for the VHCAP.
Vineyard Conservation Society (VCS):
Mr. Carroll said that the VCS are working to ban single use plastic bags for a warrant article for our Annual Town Meeting. Mr. Carroll said that the VCS has asked to work on the wording for a clear article and will not have it ready for the April Town Meeting. Joan Malkin spoke about the project. Discussion ensued. Mr. Mayhew spoke against balloons as an aquatic hazard as well.
Nab’s Corner Update:
Mr. Hodgkinson said he has received 3 quotes for the Road Construction for the Nab’s Corner Affordable Housing Project. Mr. Hodgkinson said the lowest quote was from John Keene Excavation. Mr. Hodgkinson presented a recommendation to award the Road Construction for the Nab’s Corner Affordable Housing Project to John Keene Excavation with a bid of $26,000.00.
Mr. Doty recommended asking MV Land Bank (MVLB) to see if they might contribute financially for construction of the MV Land Bank Parking lot section of the project. Chairman Rossi directed Mr. Hodgkinson to contact MVLB and see what they can offer if anything.
Mr. Doty moved to award Road Construction bid to John Keene Excavation with a bid of $26,000.00. Mr. Mayhew seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 3 Ayes
Mr. Hodgkinson said that the Utilities installation quotes are due 4:30 January 29, 2015.
Nab’s Corner Access Road Name:
Selectmen Doty recommended not naming the road after an individual. Chairman Rossi said if it were named after an individual it should be an individual who has been involved with affordable housing. Discussion ensued. Selectmen recommended seeking input and recommendations from the people who will be living in the lots. The naming of road will be addressed at a future Selectmen’s meeting.
Housing Committee:
Chairman Rossi said the Housing Committee is requesting posting a vacancy notice for Administrative Assistant for the Chilmark Housing Committee. Mr. Doty asked how many hours per week. Mr. Goldman said 5 hour a week. Mr. Doty moved to approve advertising this position. Mr. Mayhew seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 3 Ayes
Harbor STM Pilings Warrant Article
Mr. Doty said this warrant article should be part of our Capital Planning and recommended this item to go on the Annual Town meeting warrant. Chairman Rossi agreed this should go onto the April 27, 2015 Annual Town Meeting warrant.
Cape Light Compact (CLC):
Mr. Carroll said Cape Light Compact will:
- Issue an RFP this January for a fixed priced for electricity supply.
- CLC would ask suppliers for one, two and three year fixed pricing options.
- CLC acknowledged and agreed that the RFP will be structured so that if one participant rejects the bid, the bid will not be binding, so the bid will not be available to any other participant. This is necessary to ensure that the suppliers are providing the best pricing. So, you should not participate in the RFP if you are doing so just as a pricing exercise because one town/district/county not accepting the agreed upon bid will result in all of us rejecting the bid.
Mr. Doty moved to participate with CLC. Mr. Mayhew seconded the motion.
SO VOTED: 3 Ayes
Chilmark Police Vehicle to Declare as Surplus:
Chilmark Police Chief Cioffi notified the Selectmen’s Office in writing that; the unmarked 2006 Ford Crown Victoria is no longer usable for a police response vehicle or an emergency response vehicle. Mr. Doty moved to declare stated vehicle as surplus. Mr. Mayhew seconded the motion.
SO VOTED: 3 Ayes
Chilmark Community Center / Stefanov Architects:
Mr. Carroll presented a bill from Stefanov Architects for plans drawn up for the Community Center renovations project. Mr. Carroll asked if the Selectmen would authorize payment to Stefanov Architects in the amount of $1,160.02.
Mr. Doty moved to approve payment of this invoice. Mr. Mayhew seconded the motion.
SO VOTED: 3 Ayes
Special Town Meeting Warrant:
Chairman Rossi said the primary purpose of this Special Town Meeting is to bring the Squibnocket Project to Chilmark voters. All warrant articles for the Special Town Meeting scheduled for February 2, 2015 were reviewed and discussed.
Mr. Doty moved to approve articles 1-8 of the Special Town Meeting Warrant to be held February 2, 2015. Mr. Mayhew seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 3 Ayes
At 9:15 PM Mr. Doty recommended moving into Executive Session for 2 different agendas one being personnel other being land acquisition and not to return to regular session. Posted for tonight’s agenda:
- To discuss the reputation, character, physical condition or mental health, rather than professional competence, of an individual, or to discuss the discipline or dismissal of, or complaints or charges brought against, a public officer, employee, staff member or individual.
Moving into Executive Session continued…
- To consider the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property if the chair declares that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the public body. Roll Call: Rossi: Aye, Doty: Aye, Mayhew: Aye
Minutes respectfully submitted by Diana DeBlase. Approved 03/03/15
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