SUMMER RESIDENTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Chatham, Massachusetts
Minutes of Meeting of July 6, 2007
Present: Don Edge (chair), Jill McDonald (vice chair), Arnold Trebach (recording secretary), Hugh Moulton, Ivan Sheldon, Peter Tarrant (treasurer).
Also present: The Honorable Douglas Bohman, BOS Liaison to the SRAC
The meeting was called to order by chair Don Edge at 9 am. Since there had been no quorum at the meeting scheduled for June 22nd, the Chair could not call the meeting. In lieu of minutes, notes were made during the informal discussion.
1. The chair led a brief review of a directory, a description of committee membership, a meeting schedule, planned speakers, a Summer Town Meeting plan, and SRAC committee reorganization.
2. It was unanimously agreed that henceforth the recording secretary will be responsible for keeping committee archives, including minutes, position papers, and pertinent correspondence and documents.
3. The chair introduced Bill Hinchey, the town manager, and Jennifer Petit, the town finance director, both of whom proceeded to make presentations on the overall status of Chatham, with particular reference to finances and major future plans. The picture presented by both guests was quite optimistic, which was evidenced in part by the recently reaffirmed high bond rating by Standard and Poor, by the stability of the tax rate, and by the continued growth in property values.
4. Bill Hinchey indicated that the town would probably take a brief hiatus in moving forward on most major elements of the capital plan, but that there still would be forward movement on some of them. The town will continue to focus on waste water projects but slowly and deliberately. He observed that Chatham would probably be working on that sewer issue for approximately twenty years. He also stated that the overall plan is to provide new and improved services of all kinds within a sound financial and budgetary system. That system would have to include consideration of a transfer tax or betterment fees to pay for the new waste management system.
5. The presenters were asked about anticipated problems. Among the most troubling were the drop in the year-round school population, the cost of health care for town employees, and the dramatic recent jump in property insurance rates for residents and for the town itself.
6. There was general agreement that the committee should balance its usual discussion of problems with a statement about the prudent management and sound fiscal position of the town – and with gratitude for the fine work of our guests and other town staff.
7. There was discussion of the Summer Town Meeting which is scheduled for Tuesday, August 7, at 7pm, in the new community center. The discussion included the issues of how to improve attendance by year-round residents and the prospect of air conditioning. Ray Madeiros will assist presenters with Power Point presentations.
8. A number of other matters were also mentioned at the meeting, to wit:
Don Edge will appear before the BOS on July 10th to request permission to place Summer Town Meeting signs at the triangle near the rotary and on the roadside at the juncture of Routes 28 and 137.
Hugh Moulton will look into a possible SRAC position with respect to the Zoning Bylaw Rewrite.
Hugh will also look into developing a score card for Chatham’s management and fiscal matters.
After Ted Keon meets with the SRAC on July 20th, we should discuss taking a position on the Breach and making it known to the town prior to the July 31st Town Meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 11:00 am.
The next meeting of the SRAC will be on next Friday the 13th at 9 AM in Conference Room B, Town Hall. Our guest presenter will be Dr. Robert Duncanson who will discuss water quality and waste water.
Respectfully submitted,
Arnold Trebach,
Recording Secretary
7-9-06 SRAC minutes of 6-6-07 Trebach
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