DUKES COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Minutes
April 25, 2007, 5 p.m.
Administration Building
Call to order
Chairman Paul Strauss called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. A quorum was present. Commissioners Carlene Gatting, Les Leland and Tristan Israel were present as well as County Manager E. Winn Davis, and Jennifer Caton, Executive Assistant.
Other representatives or visitors present included County Sheriff Michael McCormack, County Emergency Management Director Chuck Cotnoir, Dr. Jan Cook, Joe Allosso, and MVTV.
Minutes
March 28, 2007
Les Leland / Tristan Israel Moved to accept the March 28, 2007 Minutes as amended, So Voted, unanimous, (4-0-0).
Discussion on the Motion:
On Page 3 the first paragraph, first sentence should read “Jim pointed out that the Dukes County Health Council needed to get approval from the County Commissioners for all grants.”
April 18, 2007
Deferred until next meeting.
County Manager’s Report
Surplus Property
Winn Davis reported that he had recently tried to sell a 1995 Crown Victoria. Two bids came in after the deadline. The Inspector General suggested the Commissioners create a policy for disposition for supplies under $5,000.00 Winn presented a proposal that stated if no bids are received then the Chief Procurement Officer would dispose of the property using their best business practice. (See Attached)
Carlene Gatting / Tristan Israel Moved to accept the draft proposal for disposition of supplies under $5,000 as written, So Voted, (4-0-0) unanimous.
Norton Point Beach Update:
Winn Davis provided the County Commissioners with an update on the breach situation. Winn said that he had notified all of the County Commissioners Friday morning that he had received a call from NEMA. Doug Forbes said there could be relief money available, but an application has to be in by 3pm that day. Winn said he had met and discussed the breach with Chuck Cotnoir the Emergency Management Director and Stephen Berlucchi the County Engineer. They put together a proposal and submitted the application that day. Submitting the proposal will protect the County’s right to apply for funds at a later date. If the proposal was not submitted then the County would not be able to apply for funds. Winn explained there would be a meeting tomorrow with NEMA, FEMA, MASS Highway and Coastal Zone Management
where he will learn more. The Town of Edgartown’s Selectmen, Executive Secretary, Conservation Agent, Shellfish Warden, Harbor Master, Fire Chief, and Emergency Management Director were invited to attend the meeting. Winn suggested that if there is money to apply for, then a task force should be formed consisting of all the interested parties.
Tristan Israel said he thinks it is great that we have the money earmarked, however he is concerned that the County is to far out in front. He would like to see the County facilitate getting the funds and discussions, but would prefer the Town of Edgartown take the lead.
Paul Strauss agreed with Tristan. He also explained that the breaching of a barrier beach is a natural occurrence. He said there are those who feel strongly that nothing should interfere with that. If something is done then it should be done with the blessings of several environmental agencies.
Winn Davis reminded the Commissioners that this is a barrier beach that goes out to an island that is inhabited by hundreds of people. The barrier beach is the only emergency exit for those people. He would like to make sure that emergency access is addressed.
Les Leland asked what time the meeting was with NEMA. Winn responded that they would be meeting here and leaving at 10:30am. He thinks the discussion would take place at the beach and after they would transport them back to the boat.
FAA Checks/ Leases
Winn Davis pointed out a letter from the Airport Manager Sean Flynn thanking the Commissioners for the resolution of the Airport Rental / lease issue. Carlene asked if the money had been exchanged between the County and the airport. Winn said it had. Carlene asked if there was a signed lease that she could review.
Tristan Israel pointed out that Sean Flynn in his letter requested a joint meeting between both Commissions with no specific topic to discuss current status of the Airport. Tristan asked if a meeting could be arranged with in the next month.
Paul Strauss agreed with Tristan and also asked that a copy of the lease be given to each of the Commissioners.
Winn Davis said that he had met with John Bugbee to discuss issues with that concern Tisbury, such as Eastville Beach and their website. He said he had a telephone meeting with Michael Dutton. He was not able to reach Pam Dolby.
SAMHSA Grant Update
Winn Davis reported that the substance abuse grant ran into an issue with Martha’s Vineyard Community Services. He thinks they have found a way to resolve it. He said that Alice Cook and Alice Boyd would be looking at the grant to resolve some of the negative comments on the grant. Winn explained that it is a different grant that the Youth Task Force is applying for, but the same organization. The YTF is applying for a grant through SAMHSA to change the culture for youth. The grant application the County is submitting is for adults.
Subcommittee Reports
Eastville Beach – Tristan Israel
Tristan reported that a group consisting of Paul Strauss County Commissioner and Oak Bluffs Conservation, Emily Reddington from MA Audubon Society, Winn Davis County Manager, Bob Ford, Harriett Barrow Tisbury Waterways, David Nash Surf Casters, Melinda Lowberg Lagoon Pond Beach Committee, Jean Lewellyn Tisbury Waterways, and Sandra Kingston Recreation Committee on April 18th. The group met at Eastville Beach and identified some of the issues and areas of concern such as trash and invasive species. The next meeting will be on Wednesday May 16th at noon.
Paul Strauss said he would like to add that his view of the beach is in passing from Oak Bluffs to Vineyard Haven. He feels that it is heavily used and not well cared for. The area is used for recreation and a haven for birds. He is relieved that there is an organized effort to address the issues of Eastville Beach.
Protocol / Budget Update - Tristan Israel
Tristan provided an update on the meeting that took place to discuss meeting protocol. Tristan said he had also met with Noreen Mavro – Flanders and Lenny Jason as the Budget subcommittee. They were able to review the revenue sheets. The expense side was not looked at and will be reviewed at the next meeting.
Old Business
Hamstern Presentation – Dr. Jan Cook
Dr. Cook distributed a Memorandum of Understanding, which would be an agreement between the County and Northern Star Industries to move forward in the De-Watering and Septage & Wastewater Treatment proposal. The MOU would lead to a letter of intent, which would lead to the implementation of a work plan.
Dr. Cook gave a presentation explaining what a mobile de-watering unit is.
See the attached presentation “Northern Star Industries Septage & Waste Water Treatment Proposal”
Carlene Gatting asked if Joe Alloso the Waste Water Manager for the towns of Edgartown and Oak Bluffs had a chance to review the information that was being presented and asked him for his opinion. She said she does not feel she could vote on how to proceed on the topic until she heard from Joe.
Joe Alloso said that some of the information that was presented was not accurate. He reported that no liquids had been trucked off island in the last five years. He provided the Commissioners with information how the current system works now on the island.
Tristan Israel said he was concerned with the idea of competing with the private truckers. He would like to see the information and offer be made to them first.
The Commissioners decided that they would have a sub committee work session to discuss the proposal and come to a conclusion.
New Business
Discussion of Budget Timeline – Winn Davis
Winn Davis presented a proposed timeline for the Budget Process, titled Administrative Code Section VIII. Appendix 1 – Budget Policies. He would like it to be reviewed. He suggested it be advertised and adopted into Administration Code.
Correspondence
· Letter from Wendy Norbury
· Letter from Sean Flynn
Calendar~
· The Dukes County Retirement Board will meet on Tuesday, May 8th, at 10 am at the County Administration Building
· The Dukes County Charter Study Commission meets April 26, at 5 p.m. at the VTA Administration Building.
· The Dukes County Airport Commission will meet on Wednesday, May 2nd, at 5:30 p.m. at the Airport Administration Building.
· The Dukes County Charter Study Commission meets April 26, at 5 p.m. at the VTA Administration Building.
Adjournment:
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned the meeting at 7:10 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted by:
_______________________________________
JOSEPH E. SOLLITTO JR., Clerk of the Courts
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