Town of Chatham, MA - Selectmen's Meeting Minutes 4/17/07

Vice-chairman Connors called the meeting to order with Mrs. Bohman, Mr. Bergstrom and Mr. Summers present. Town Manager William Hinchey attended this meeting.

Mrs. Bohman Moved the Board of Selectmen vote to approve the minutes of the March 27, 2007 Water and Sewer Commissioners’ meeting. Mr. Bergstrom advised there is a mis-spelling in the Director’s Report for a bid award. Mr. Bergstrom seconded Mrs. Bohman’s motion and the Board voted unanimously in favor.

Water and Sewer Manager William Redfield reported on the day to day operations of those departments including new hookups to the sewer ordered by the Board of Health and replacements and updates to the water system.

Lynn van Sant, Earth Tech Water Operation’s Manager, arranged to have two wells pump and motor replaced through the Cape Light Compact energy conservation program at a savings to the Town of $42,579.00.

Mr. Bergstrom Moved the Board of Selectmen vote to approve the minutes of the April 10, 2007 Board of Selectmen’s meeting. Mrs. Bohman seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Dr. Duncanson announced the contractors working on the project at St. Christopher’s will be re-paving a portion of Main Street on Wednesday.

John Laurell attended this meeting on behalf of the Booster club. The Booster Club is planning a yard sale fund raiser for June 16 (rain date June 23) and is seeking the Board of Selectmen’s approval for placement of a sign at the Rotary and on Crowell Road. It was noted the sign must go in the triangle behind the Rotary. Mrs. Bohman moved the Board of Selectmen vote to approve the request. Mr. Bergstrom seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Caroline Geishecker attended this meeting to ask the Board of Selectmen to allow a one day entertainment license to host the Full Moon Open Mike Coffee House on May 2, 2007. She told the Board of Selectmen the event raised over $400.00 for Habitat for Humanity in December. The proceeds from this Open Mike will benefit Monomoy Community Services. Mrs. Bohman Moved the Board of Selectmen grant this request. Mr. Bergstrom seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Ms. Geishecker told the Board this event will be hosted in Chatham every other month and she would be applying for a year-round Entertainment Permit.

Director of Health and Environment Bob Duncanson attended this meeting. Dr. Duncanson told the Board there is an Article on Brewster’s Annual Town Meeting to ask the voters to join the Pleasant Bay Resource Management Alliance. If Brewster joins the alliance a new Memorandum of Understanding between Chatham, Harwich, Brewster and Orleans will need to be executed.

Mrs. Bohman said she had been told there are several moorings at this beach and the access for boaters’ gear as well as the shellfishermen has been made more difficult because there is not enough room near bath house. She also has concerns that trucks and trailers cannot make the turn on to Pond Street because of the new configuration at the intersection of Queen Anne Road and Pond Street (this is being referred to as the “bump out.”)

Ms. Connors said she would like to discuss the concerns of the project by subject beginning with access by boaters and fishermen.

Mr. Earl Hubbard said the driveways were not wide enough for two cars. It was explained there will be One Way access into and exiting the parking lot. This will be accomplished with signs and road markings when the project is complete.

Mr. Summers asked why the left of bath house, where access for fishermen and boaters was easier, has been made into green space. Jeff Colby, Highway Supervisor and Robert Duncanson, Director of Health and Environment explained this area holds the main portion of the new drainage system. Mr. Colby noted there will be a drop off area near the bath house when the markings are finalized.

Mr. Summers asked why the parking lot went under so much change if the project began as a drainage solution.

Mr. Colby said the designers and engineers needed to raise the elevation of the parking lot and road, and this became an opportunity to make one parking lot combined with green space and to make the area safer by blocking traffic from backing onto Stage Harbor Road, allow a safe drop off for children participating in the swimming program, and improve the flow of traffic through the parking lot.

Dr. Duncanson said the Town has recognized through the storm water studies that the drainage needed to be improved. He said the design was motivated by the need to improve the drainage while keeping as many parking spaces as possible, and included almost as much green space as was previously in the project area.

Mr. Bergstrom noted fishermen have to compete with beach goers for the spaces. It was also noted the Oyster Pond is closed to shellfishing in the warmer months when swimmers frequent the beach.

Mr. Summers suggested the intersection of Pond and Queen was not a safety problem previously so he had reservations concerning the need to change it.

Mr. Hinchey reiterated that the entire project was driven by drainage needs, and since the area needed to be reconstructed and elevated, that became an opportunity to reconfigure the parking and improve traffic flow to make the parking lot and other aspects of the road safer including the constructions of sidewalks.

Several speakers voiced concern about the bump out coming on to Pond Street. One neighbor said it has slowed traffic but was not well lit.

There was also some concern about the turn at Cedar Street and it was explained this intersection has not been finished.

Mr. Summers moved the Board of Selectmen vote to put the road (at Queen Anne and Pond) back the way it was. Mr. Bergstrom seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor. Mr. Colby will get information on revising the plan.

The new guard rail on the project has been a concern for several people who do not believe it is aesthetically pleasing.

Two speakers, Mr. Len Sussman and Ms. Gloria Freeman told the Board they have researched the topic and found alternative, more rural substitutes.

Mr. Bergstrom asked why a guardrail is needed. Mr. Colby explained it is there for protection where there is more than a three foot drop off.

Mr. Hinchey said changing the guard rail could result in an additional $80,000 cost to the project.

Mr. Summers said he understands there is a liability concern, but feels the views need to be protected.

Mr. Summers suggested the Town take the guard rails down and look at alternatives that would be acceptable and more aesthetically pleasing.

Mr. Bergstrom suggested the linear amount of rail could possibly be cut back. He also said he felt the new rail should be left in place until an alternative is determined.

Ms. Conners announced North Beach has been closed because of wash overs. Property owners will have access.