Town of Aquinnah

SELECTMEN’S MEETING
MINUTES
JANUARY 9, 2018

Attending: Jim Newman (Chairman), Gary Haley, Juli Vanderhoop, Jeffrey Madison (Town Administrator), Angela Cywinski, Kasie Dobel, Jay McLeod, Elise Lebovit

Selectmen were to meet with the Board of Assessors at 5:00 p.m. to continue discussions. The Board of Assessors did not have a quorum. However, the Selectmen accepted language for several warrant articles and it was agreed to meet again w/ assessors prior to the next meeting of the Selectmen.

Chairman Newman called the Selectmen’s meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. . Those present in addition to Jim Newman, Juli Vanderhoop and Gary Haley were Lisa Vanderhoop, Berta Welch, Sibel Suman, Barbara Bassett, Alexandra Whitcomb, Giles Welch, Jay McLoed, Len Butler, Jay Smalley, Simon Bolin, Richard Skidmore, Megan Ottens, Randhi Belain, Frankie Perez, Betsy Mayhew and Jeffrey Madison (Town Administrator).

Len Butler made a presentation to the Board providing the recommendations of the Lighthouse Advisory Board (LAB) on how to manage the Gay Head Lighthouse during the 2018 tourist season as the contract with the M.V. Museum ended this year. The presentation included a review of receipts at the Lighthouse during the 2017 season (Net: $7,888.00) and projection of 2018 income should the Town accept responsibility for managing tours (Net: $24,520.00), an increase of $16,112.00. Further, Len thanked the M.V. Museum for their excellent management during the time they conducted tours. He expressed the LAB’s desire to avoid a repeat of going through the selection process necessary should the Town decide to select an outside operator. His recommendation was that the Selectmen opt to manage lighthouse operations using town personnel. He requested theat the Town Administrator develop a plan for lighthouse operations.
Elise Lebovit presented a petition signed by town voters indicating support for the town taking over lighthouse management from the Museum. Elise Lebovit submitted a petition signed by 43 +/- voters who were asked to show support for the Town running tours for the lighthouse. Selectmen voted to take the recommendation under advisement until the Town Administrator had a chance to take input from various interested parties and report back to them. Vote was unanimous to accept Len’s report.

The Selectmen voted to continue the contract with Leonard Jason, Jr to serve as building inspector until further notice. Vote was unanimous in favor of continuing the contract.

The Board voted to instruct the Town Administrator to gather information necessary for a Special Town Meeting.

Chief Belain reported that he was repairing the old police cruiser so that it was in condition to replace the town vehicle at the Steamship Authority parking lot in Falmouth.

Chief Bolin appointed Gordon Perry to the rank of lieutenant in the Fire Department citing his dedication to the department demonstrated by his completion of several firefighting courses on the mainland. The Selectmen congratulated Gordon on his appointment.

There was a short discussion of the Selectmen’s decision to sign Giles Welch’s application for a commercial scallop license. The Selectmen stated that there was no precedent set by their actions in Giles’ case. His situation was totally unique in that during any absence from Aquinnah he remained a voter, was born and raised in Aquinnah, is a member of the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe and any absences in living arrangements were due to treatment of a persistent medical condition.

The Board voted to meet again on January 25, 2018 at which time the Board would invite the Board of Health and Board of Assessors to join their meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:22 p.m.