Town of Chatham, MA - Selectmen's Meeting Minutes 3/6/07

Ms. Connors moved the Board of Selectmen vote to approve the minutes of the February 27, 2007 Board of Selectmen’s meeting. Mrs. Bohman seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Russell Broad asked for an update on discussions with Orleans concerning access to North Beach. Mr. Whitcomb told Mr. Broad there have been no discussions since the agreement was formalized. Mr. Whitcomb suggested Mr. Broad write asking to be placed on a future agenda to discuss operations on North Beach.

Mr. Stephen Buckley said future discussions concerning affordable housing should include definitions of “affordable” to make clear who is eligible, because last week the Board of Selectmen discussed both “affordable” and “work force” housing.

Mr. Victor Di Cristina, Chairman of the Land Bank Open Space Committee, attended this meeting. He thanked the members of the Land Bank Open Space Committee Richard Batchelder, George Cooper, Jack Farrell, Emilie Kimball, David Oppenheim, and William Plumer for their work. Mr. De Cristina also thanked Associate Members Jean Young and Ali van der Burg and staff support Kristen Andres and Terry Whalen.

He introduced Ms. Kimball to discuss the proposed Article for Land Bank Management Funds. Ms. Kimball told the Board of Selectmen the Land Bank Act allows the Town to appropriate 3% of Land Bank funds to be used for maintenance and improvements of acquired parcels.

Ms. Connors moved the Board of Selectmen vote to place this Article on the Annual Town Meeting Warrant. Mr. Bergstrom seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Ms. Connors Moved the Board of Selectmen recommend approval of this Article to the Annual Town Meeting. Mrs. Bohman seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Mr. DiCristina explained the Land Bank Committee proposes an Article to purchase 9.1 acres of land at 129 Stephen Drive in Chatham. The Town will fund $194,667 and The Chatham Conservation Foundation will contribute $97,333 for the purchase.

Ms. Connors moved the Board of Selectmen vote to place this Article on the Annual Town Meeting Warrant. Mr. Bergstrom Seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Ms. Connors Moved the Board of Selectmen recommend approval of this Article to the Annual Town Meeting. Mrs. Bohman seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted four in favor and one opposed (Mr. Summers). The motion carried.

Mr. Summers felt this purchase is not necessary to protect the land and wildlife since only one house could be built upon it. He feels the Town funds could be best spent elsewhere.

Mr. Farrell told the Board of Selectmen the Land Bank Committee proposes an Article to appropriate $2,225,000 for the purchase of land on Mill Hill Road commonly known as the TW Nickerson property.

Ms. Connors moved the Board of Selectmen vote to place this Article on the Annual Town Meeting Warrant. Mrs. Bohman seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Mr. Summers raised questions concerning the current lease on the property and the availability of a disposal area for materials from Chatham landscapers and others. It was determined the lease will be extended for several years and planning for future disposal of wood products can be studied in the mean time. Mr. Bergstrom noted the disposal area on the property is now being monitored, so it is more environmentally safe than it has been historically.

Mr. Summers also raised concerns about liability if the Town-owned property is leased. Mr. Hinchey said the liability would be shared by the owner (Town) and the renter.

Mr. Farrell told the Board of Selectmen the last Article for discussion was a proposal to place an Article on the Warrant to purchase the Mobil Station at the rotary in downtown Chatham. This purchase will be for two parcels. The front being purchased by the Land Bank and the rear parcel being purchased with other Town funds.

Mrs. Bohman commented this purchase would allow a park which would be a lovely entrance into the downtown area. Ms. Connors Moved the Board of Selectmen vote to place this Article on the Annual Town Meeting Warrant. Mrs. Bohman Seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Ms. Connors Moved the Board of Selectmen recommend approval of this Article to the Annual Town Meeting. Mrs. Bohman seconded the motion.

Mr. Bergstrom felt that the downtown is not the proper place for open space, but should be used as part of a thriving center so open space will not be lost in other areas.

Mr. Whitcomb said he supports this purchase because several curb cuts will be eliminated and the Community Center will be more connected to and a bigger part of the downtown area.

Ms. Connors moved the Board of Selectmen vote to place the following ballot question on the Annual Town Election Ballot:

“Shall the Town of Chatham be allowed to exempt from the provisions of Proposition Two and a Half, so called, the amounts required to pay for the bonds issued for the purpose of purchasing the Mobil Station at 678 and 686 Main Street, Chatham, including all costs incidental and related thereto?” Mrs. Bohman seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Director of Health and Environment Robert Duncanson, Phd. attended this meeting. Dr. Duncanson said he has met with the merchants to notify them that the phase of construction at St Christopher’s, which will require road work, will begin on March 12, 2007. Main Street from the rotary to Seaview street will be closed until Friday March 16. Some delivery traffic will be allowed to pass at the discretion of the officer on duty. Beginning March 19^th the Town will try to keep one lane open to traffic. People should be aware the construction of drainage and sewer will last about four weeks total.

Dr. Duncanson said he met with the production staff who are making a movie, parts of which will be filmed in Chatham. He updated the Board on the move production staff’s plans for using Main Street.

Mr. Whitcomb read the Public Notice which was duly advertised for this date to consider a request from the Chatham Historical Commission to amend Section 158-3, sub-section D, paragraph (1) of the General bylaws as set forth:

(1) If after such hearing and within 14 days therefrom the Commission determines by written finding that the building or structure is historically significant and that the proposed work would materially diminish its historical significance, then the commission is hereby empowered to impose a demolition delay of up to (delete current 365 days) (insert 540days) from the date of such determination.

Ms. Nancy Yeaw, a member of the Chatham Historical Commission, told the Board of Selectmen the Commission would like to make this change to allow more time to find alternatives to demolition of a building and help homeowners work with designers and others to combine the preservation of historic portions of homes with the desire to provide modern living amenities.

Ms. Connors moved the Board of Selectmen vote to place this Article on the Annual Town Meeting Warrant. Mr. Bergstrom Seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted four in favor one opposed (Mr. Summers). Mr. Summers felt the extra time will not serve to change a homeowners desire for demolition.

Ms. Connors Moved the Board of Selectmen recommend approval of this Article to the Annual Town Meeting. Mr. Bergstrom seconded the motion.

Mr. Whitcomb said he supported the change from the original Demolition Delay Bylaw but feels the current delay of one year is sufficient. The Board of Selectmen voted two in favor, three opposed. The motion was lost.

Mr. Peter Farber, who wrote the ten Articles proposing changes to the Protective Zoning Bylaw, attended this meeting. Mr. Farber said he did not feel a complete re-write of the Bylaw is necessary but did want to offer these ten changes.

Mrs. Bohman moved to accept the ten petitions for placement on the warrant. Mr. Bergstrom seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Mr. Summers said he agreed that the complete re-write may not be necessary, but was concerned with the process of submitting the changes by petition at such a late date. Mrs. Bohman agreed and said she fears the voters who have consternation over the process to date, may vote changes out of frustration.

The Board of Selectmen will await the Planning Board’s recommendations before making a recommendation on these ten petitions.

Mr. Ray Braz announced the Chatham Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a visit from State Representative Sarah Peake on March 8 from 5:30 to 7:00PM at Christian’s Restaurant to answer question from constituents.

Ms. Connors moved the Board of Selectmen vote to appoint Frederick Bearse to the Local State Building Code Board of Appeals until June 30, 2009 unless sooner revoked or until a successor is appointed. Mr. Bergstrom seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.