Town of Chatham, MA - Selectmen's Meeting Minutes 8/7/07

Mr. Whitcomb called the meeting to order with Mrs. Bohman, Mr. Bergstrom, Mr. Summers and Town Manager William Hinchey present.

Mr. Whitcomb announced the televised portion of the Board of Selectmen’s meeting will end at 6:00PM to allow the staff to set up at the Summer Residents Town Meeting.

Mrs. Bohman moved the Board of Selectmen vote to approve the minutes of the July 24, 2007 Board of Selectmen’s meeting. Mr. Bergstrom seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Russell Broad, a placePlaceNameNorth PlaceTypeBeach land owner, thanked the Board of Selectmen for their support on allowing camp owners on the Beach. He urged the Board of Selectmen and the townspeople to take action concerning the new breach.

Mr. Frank Messina asked the Board of Selectmen if they have considered an increase in the “no wake” as suggested by the Monomoy Yaught Club and asked that it be placed on a future agenda. Mr. Whitcomb told Mr. Messina the Board of Selectmen had forwarded the request to the Waterways Advisory Committee.

Mrs. Bohman moved the Board of Selectmen vote to appoint Robert Champlin to the Summer Residents Advisory Committee until June 30, 2008 unless sooner revoked or until his successor is appointed. Mr. Bergstrom seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Mrs. Bohman moved the Board of Selectmen vote to appoint Katherine Flynn to the Summer Residents Advisory Committee until June 30, 2009 unless sooner revoked or until her successor is appointed. Mr. Bergstrom seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Mrs. Bohman moved the Board of Selectmen vote to appoint Dean Hamilton to the Summer Residents Advisory Committee until June 30, 2010 unless sooner revoked or until his successor is appointed. Mr. Bergstrom seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Mrs. Bohman urged all residents to attend the Summer Residents Advisory Committee and spoke about how informative the meetings are.

Mrs. Bohman moved the Board of Selectmen vote to appoint William P. Brown to the Human Services Committee until June 30, 2010 unless sooner revoked or until his successor is appointed. Mr. Bergstrom seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Finance Director PersonNameJennifer Petit attended this meeting to ask the Board of Selectmen to sign a Water or Waste System Grant Agreement and Loan Resolution with the United States Department of Agriculture. The Grant is for $213,000 and contains a provision that the Town borrow $500,000. This money will be used for improvements to the water mains system.

Mr. Bergstrom moved the Board of Selectmen vote to authorize the Chairman to sign the agreement and resolution. Mrs. Bohman seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Caroline Gieshecker, owner of the Chatham Coffee Company, had sent a request to the Board of Selectmen for a one day entertainment license for an open mike session on August 28, 2007. Mr. Bergstrom moved the Board of Selectmen vote to grant the request. Mrs. Bohman seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Highway and Solid Waste Transfer Station Director PersonNameJeff Colby told the Board of Selectmen this relocation will serve to better anchor the wires on addressStreetBay Lane. Mr. Bergstrom moved the Board of Selectmen vote to grant Verizon’s Petition 07-019 for a joint pole relocation as requested. Mrs. Bohman seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Mr. Colby said he has received a response to his inquiry about following up on these petitions with the actual work. Right of Way agent Mr. Horne said Verizon will work with the Town and develop a priority list for completing the moves.

Mr. Colby explained that the spaces that are hatched in yellow were created at the crosswalks for safety and to provide more visibility for both vehicles and pedestrians. He said there has been a request to allow motorcycles to park in those spaces.

When asked, Mr. Colby said he would not object to motorcycles parking in the triangles on addressStreetMain Street adjacent to parking spaces if the triangles were not adjacent to the crosswalks.

Police Chief PersonNameMark Pawlina could not attend this meeting, however, in a memo, he suggested that the Town has been making safety improvements and to allow the parking of motorcycles in the triangles would be counter-productive in his opinion.

Mr. Bergstrom and Mrs. Bohman both expressed sentiment that they support our public safety officials. Mr. Summers said he understood the safety issue at sidewalks but felt some triangles could be left for motorcycle parking.

Mr. William Hammatt, representing some cyclists, said there is some benefit to allow the parking in triangles because it frees up spaces for cars.

Mr. Bergstrom moved the Board of Selectmen vote not to approve the request for parking in the triangles next to the downtown sidewalks. Mr. Bohman seconded the motion. Mr. Whitcomb said the staff has made good progress in organizing the downtown parking and he felt it is important to continue to keep the corridor as safe as possible. The Board voted three in favor one opposed (Mr. Summers).

Mrs. Bohman announced she has a disclosure filed with the Town Clerk because her son works in some of the seasonal businesses. She noted she has no financial interests in the businesses nor does her son.

The discussion included the equity of allowing the extensions and only requiring the businesses to be open three days a week. It was noted the three days applies to the annual licenses as well.

Mr. Bohman said that as the years go by, the shoulder seasons have become more extended. Ms. Connors pointed out the importance of and the contributions made by the Seasonal License holders.

The Board of Selectmen did not vote to change their Alcohol Regulations, but has asked the staff to develop a monitoring program to ensure compliance.

The Board of Selectmen is in receipt of three street petitions. The Department Heads have all reviewed the petitions and forwarded their recommendations.

It was noted the acceptance of these petitions is only the first step and does not bind the Town or the owners/abutters in any way.

Mr. Bergstrom moved the Board of Selectmen vote to accept a petition for the Town to accept addressStreetSpinnaker Lane as a public way. Ms. Connors seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Mr. Bergstrom moved the Board of Selectmen vote to accept a petition for the Town to accept addressStreetSky Way and addressStreetEll Street as public ways. Ms. Connors seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Mr. Bergstrom moved the Board of Selectmen vote to accept a petition for the Town to accept Frost Fish Hill as a public way. Ms. Connors seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Mr. Bergstrom announced that Jeff Colby has been called up for active duty with the National Guard. The Board wished Mr. Colby all the best while serving and sincere hopes for his safe return.

Ms. Connors moved the Board of Selectmen sign a revised Pleasant Bay Memorandum of Agreement, which now includes Brewster as a party to the alliance. Mr. Bergstrom seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Ms. Connors moved the Board of Selectmen vote to sign a conservation restriction on property of Mr. Robert Clem gifted to the Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts, Inc. Mrs. Bohman seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Ms. Connors moved the Board of Selectmen vote to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing land acquisition. Mr. Whitcomb announced the motion and polled the members. All voted to go into Executive Session.