SUMMER RESIDENTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Minutes of Meeting of August 21, 2009
Present: Bob Champlin, Don Edge, Kay Flynn, Jill MacDonald, Bill McGagh and Peter Tarrant.
Guest Speaker: Terry Whalen, Principal Planner
Chairman Jill MacDonald called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM.
1. In his remarks, Terry Whalen gave the Committee an overview of the Planning Board and his responsibilities and activities. With the recent difficulties in getting changes approved to the Zoning By-law with respect to affordable housing, his focus is currently on incremental changes to zoning and regulations including: restaurant/chain store; site plan review; mechanical impact (i.e. location of air conditioning units, generators, etc.) and municipal uses. He advised us that FEMA has completed re-mapping the flood plain in Chatham and homeowners will be getting information from FEMA soon. In response to questions from the Committee, he indicated that he was in communication with the West Village Business Group on plans for the West Chatham corridor. He is currently in communication with the
State on the configuration of Rt. 28 and its interchanges in the West Village, but has not yet received direction with respect to a specific “vision” for the area.
2. The Minutes of the prior meeting were approved.
3. Treasurer Bob Champlin reported that the Committee’s fund balance after expense for the Summer Town Meeting was $1490.54.
4. Chairman MacDonald handed out the schedule for our meetings in 2010. A copy is attached to these minutes.
5. Don Edge proposed that the Committee request that non-voting taxpayers be permitted to serve on non-regulatory Town Committees, as long as the chairman of the respective committees agree, and that such proposal be placed as an article in the warrant presented at next year’s Town Meeting. There was discussion as to whether permitting a chairman to veto such membership usurped the authority of the Board of Selectmen to make appointments to Town Committees. A motion was made and seconded to request that an article be included in the warrant to go before the Town Meeting amending the Town By-Laws to permit non-resident taxpayers to serve on non-regulatory Town Committees. The motion passed. Chairman MacDonald will prepare the appropriate request.
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7. Peter Tarrant reported that he had provided Selectman David Whitcomb with the following goal for the West Chatham corridor:
“Segregate bike and pedestrian traffic in an esthetically and safe fashion
on Rt. 28 between George Ryder Road and Barnhill road, including the following:
Add bike lanes along and across Rt. 28 connecting the Bike Path
with Harding’s Beach; and
Add pedestrian and bike crossing signals at Barnhill Road.”
8. Hal Kraus reported on the results of the surveys submitted to the Committee at the Summer Town Meeting. The top three issues were: save the Village Market, keep chain stores out of Chatham and do not permit off road vehicles on South Beach. The Committee got high marks for the meeting from the attendees.
9. Hal Kraus reported that he had concluded his survey of the restrooms in the Town and at the beaches. He has been successful in getting the Town to agree to re-negotiate their contract with the company that provides port-a-potties, so that the port-a-potties at the beaches are serviced seven days a week instead of five. He will also work with the new town facilities manager on his recommendations to improve the appearance of the Town bathrooms.
10. Chairman MacDonald reported that there may be a meeting with other Cape Town non-resident committees in September.
11. Don Edge announced that this is his last meeting as a member of the Committee. He thanked the Committee for its comity, cooperation and tolerance. Chairman MacDonald said that Don has served with distinction, made meaningful contributions and his wise counsel will be missed.
12. The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 AM.
Respectfully submitted,
Jill MacDonald, Acting Secretary
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