Chilmark Board of Selectmen April 5, 2016 Meeting Minutes
Present: Chairman Jonathan Mayhew, Bill Rossi, Warren Doty, Tim Carroll, Jessica Elder,
Jim Malkin, Isaiah Scheffer, Nan Doty, Jesse Burton, Elisha Wiesner, Brian Ditchfield,
Walter Wlodyka, Jacob Walbert, Alex Elvin, Videographer from MVTV.
At 7:00 PM Chairman Mayhew called meeting to order in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room.
Minutes:
Draft minutes from the March 8, 2016 Selectmen’s meeting were reviewed. Corrections were made. Mr. Doty moved to approve minutes as corrected. Mr. Rossi seconded the motion.
SO VOTED: 3 Ayes
Draft Minutes from March 22, 2016 were tabled to the next meeting.
Public Hearing:
Chairman Mayhew opened the public hearing for a Utility access petition submitted by Eversource at 7:05 PM. Jessica Elder presented information from Eversource application concerning the project to install 80 feet of conduit off North Road to 34 Chilmark Road.
There was no public comment. At 7:06 PM Chairman Mayhew closed the hearing.
Mr. Doty moved to approve this petition from Eversource. Mr. Rossi seconded the motion.
SO VOTED: 3 Ayes
The MV Film Festival / Cinema Circus:
Brian Ditchfield,~program and managing director at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival presented the 2016 summer Cinema Circus proposal. Mr. Ditchfield said the Cinema Circus would like to return fulltime to Chilmark but are planning 4 presentations instead of 8 this summer.
Mr. Ditchfield said in consideration of the Library events on Wednesdays the Cinema Circus will be starting ½ an hour later this coming summer. Start time will be 5:30 PM on Wednesday’s. Discussion turned to the ongoing concern of parking.
Mr. Ditchfield said there will be a Cinema Circus parking attendant at the Library lot on Wednesday event evenings to ensure the Library patrons get to park at the library. Mr. Doty and Mr. Rossi requested to see the plan for the parking in writing. Mr. Doty said that we reached out to the Vineyard Transit Authority so see if there could be a shuttle to the Tabor Lot satellite parking. The Vineyard Transit Authority said it’s too late to schedule that this year but if seeking this service come back to Vineyard Transit Authority in November 2016.
Film Camp:
Mr. Ditchfield discussed a plan to hold 4, 1 week-long film-camp sessions. The proposed plan would be to start the camp after the Community Center Summer Program lets out (afternoon) for 16 to 20 children with 4 adult counselors. The planning is still not complete they are still deciding whether to seek space for the camp at the Chilmark School or the Chilmark Community Center (CCC).
Selectmen recommended getting this plan in writing as well and to return for further discussion at the next Selectmen’s regular scheduled meeting.
Chilmark Community Center Advisory Committee (CCCAC):
Nan Doty, chairman of the CCCAC discussed the projects for the CCC renovations.
- Vestibule 2.) Sliding interior door
Ms. Doty requested permission to advertise and put out to bid for the sliding door for a total cost of $15,000.00.
Mr. Carroll described the steps to take. The timeline for the sliding door replacement and vestibule is proposed to be September 19, 2016-October 29, 2016.
Mr. Doty moved to approve moving forward with the CCC sliding interior door project and to spend up to $15,000.00 from the Joint Maintenance Account. Mr. Rossi seconded the motion.
SO VOTED: 3 Ayes
Surplus Harbor Shack:
Chairman Mayhew announced the Selectmen received a single bid for the old harbor shack to be removed within 5 days of being awarded. Alec Gale submitted a bid for $100.00.
Mr. Rossi moved to accept Mr. Gale’s bid. Mr. Doty seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 3 Ayes
Aquaculture Grants:
Mr. Doty said that he and Isaiah Scheffer have interviewed applicants who submitted business plans and are recommending the following applicants: Walter Wlodyka, Lev Wlodyka, Jesse Burton and Elisha Wiesner.
Chairman Mayhew asked Jacob Walbert to speak if he wanted (applicant for aquaculture grant).
Mr. Walbert said he came to the Island about 2 years ago now when Stanley Larsen hired him from Texas and he worked with Stanley on Stanley’s Mussel Grant. Discussion ensued.
Mr. Scheffer said the lease numbers for the grants that will be awarded are: 7, 8, 9 and 10.
Mr. Doty moved to post a public hearing for May 3, 2016 at 7:05 PM to award the 4 grants to Walter Wlodyka, Lev Wlodyka, Jesse Burton and Elisha Wiesner. Mr. Rossi seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 3 Ayes
Up Island Regional School District Committee/ borrowing bond:
The Selectmen’s office received notice of borrowing the Superintendent’s Office intends for repairs to the West Tisbury and Chilmark Schools in the amount of $995,000.00.
Mr. Carroll said that the Town has a chance to respond or dispute this borrowing within a 60 day period beginning March 21, 2016. If we do nothing it will go through. Mr. Carroll said that the FY17 school budget that we approved will not be increasing the debt service was included so there will not be an increase to our portion for FY17. (Debt service is $100,000.00 per year for 10 years). Mr. Carroll said if the Selectmen wanted to they could call a special town meeting to see what the voters wanted. If not supported the borrowing could be nullified.
Mr. Malkin said that the UIRSC did not submit the final budget until the very last meeting (the FinCom continued the hearings to receive this budget) and he did not know of their plan to borrow $995,000.00. The school committee never mentioned it.
Up Island Regional School District Committee/ borrowing bond Continued…
Mr. Doty said he was concerned that none of this was discussed during our budget hearings.
Mr. Rossi said that Selectmen need to have a discussion with the Superintendent’s Office concerning this borrowing.
Mr. Doty requested writing to the School Superintendent explaining our surprise about this borrowing and asking him to return to Chilmark to discuss this at our May 3, 2016 Selectmen’s meeting. And to have a more detailed description of the repairs available for that meeting.
Cape Light Compact (CLC):
Mr. Carroll said the Selectmen’s Office received a letter from CLC about the Department of Public Utilities notification pertaining to the grid modernization. There is a public hearing pertaining to the Eversource Modernization Plan. CLC asked if the letter supplied for review would be approved by the Chilmark Selectmen.
Mr. Doty moved to approve the letter submitted by CLC for the DPU hearing. Mr. Rossi seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 3 Ayes
Tea Lane Nursery (TLN):
Mr. Carroll said that TLN has sent a notice to the town offering a 2” tree (2” trunk diameter) in honor of Arbor Day. They are offering a Red Swamp Maple, Beach or an ornamental Maraschino Cherry. Mr. Rossi said either the Swamp maple or the Beech would do well in our soil. Mr. Carroll said past discussion was to plant a tree at the school playground or the Community Center.
Mr. Doty moved to appoint Mr. Rossi the liaison with Tea Lane Nursery as to type and where tree will be planted and to thankfully accept this gracious gift. Mr. Mayhew seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 3 Ayes
Comfort Station:
Mr. Carroll said the Selectmen’s office received a report from engineer Kent Healy on the condition of the Comfort station septic system with recommendations. Selectmen have reviewed the report from Mr. Healy. Recommendations from Mr. Healy are:
- the disposal system be kept
- shower and floor drains go to a leaching system
- the interior building could be rearranged to supply waterless urinals for the men’s room
- more toilets to woman’s side
- All interior plumbing is in a concrete slab but could be changed by cutting channels in the concrete.
- More time spent maintaining building including the grounds around clear of vegetation.
- External PVC pipe needs repair
Mr. Rossi said this is a good report to be added to the other reports and items we have discussed
concerning the Menemsha Comfort Station.
Comfort Station Continued:
Mr. Doty said the Board of Health sent a letter regarding their recommendations for the Comfort Station, they are:
- Reinstate stricter time limits on water use for showers
- Waterless urinals
Chairman Mayhew recommended keeping the shower fee reasonable. Mr. Doty recommended that the shower and floor drains be snaked more frequently to ensure drainage.
Schedule Z / Utility:
Mr. Carroll said the credits from the Solar Array at our landfill and the Solar Array from CVEC (Cape & Vineyard Electric Co-op) have been applied to various town electrical accounts. The allocation is called a Schedule Z. The Schedule Z can be adjusted twice annually (spring and fall).
Mr. Carroll and Town Accountant Ellen Biskis reviewed the accounts and re- allocated this spring Schedule Z to the Harbor electrical accounts only. Mr. Carroll said the plan is to then in the fall change back to allocating to Town Hall and Community Center.
Middle Line Road Affordable Rental Housing FY17 Budget:
Mr. Carroll said Dukes County Housing Authority will be supplying the budget for our regular budget hearing time next year. Mr. Rossi (Selectmen’s liaison to the Housing Committee) said at the last Housing Committee meeting there was a request to review the Molly Flender Affordable Housing Trust surplus account.
Mr. Carroll said the MOU between the Selectmen, The Molly Flender Affordable Housing Trust (MFAHT) and the Dukes County Regional Housing Authority and Town Treasurer explains the disbursement plan of income. Mr. Carroll said by July 1st we have our surplus money after an audit is completed we get a check from the DCRHA. The first disbursement of $10,000.00 is put into MFAHT Building Repair Fund for the MLR Rental Units until we reach $150,000. The next $30, 000 goes to the general fund of the town to pay off debt (58 years). Discussion ensued about the rental history of the MLR units.
Mr. Doty moved to approve the MLR FY17 budget. Mr. Rossi seconded the motion.
SO VOTED: 2 Ayes, 1 Abstain Jonathan Mayhew (mother is owner of abutting property)
Martha’s Vineyard Law Enforcement Council (MVLEC):
Mr. Carroll presented a document for Selectmen to approve (not in agenda as it is a security issue) from the Martha’s Vineyard Law Enforcement Council (MVLEC) Interagency Municipal Agreement. Mr. Carroll said this Agreement has been updated and needs their approval. Selectmen reviewed documents.
Mr. Doty moved to approve the MVLEC Agreement, Mr. Rossi seconded the motion.
SO VOTED: 3 Ayes
Housing Production Plan:
Mr. Carroll said the Chilmark Housing Committee was asked by the MVC to write a letter seeking funding for housing production plan. Mr. Rossi spoke to the discussion the Housing Committee has had and a letter from the Committee has been mailed to the MVC.
Mr. Rossi said 50 properties in Chilmark have gone into affordable housing since 1975. Mr. Rossi discussed not making ourselves vulnerable to 40b building. CPC funds are used annually to support affordable housing assistance in Chilmark.
At 8:29 PM Mr. Doty moved to adjourn. Mr. Rossi seconded the motion.
SO VOTED: 3 Ayes
Minutes respectfully submitted by Diana DeBlase. Approved 5/03/20
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