Town of Aquinnah

Selectmen’s Meeting
December 11, 2018

--MINUTES—

Meeting was called to order at 4:35 p.m.

Attending: Jim Newman, Juli Vanderhoop, Gary Haley (Chairman); Others: Wendy Swolinsky, Vern Welch, Paul Manning, Simon bollin, Jay Smalley, Noli Taylor, Bill Lake, Seth Pickering, Jeffrey Madison (Town Administrator).

Approval of Minutes
First on the agenda was a review of the minutes. Jim moved and Gary seconded a motion to approve minutes of November 7. The motion was carried with Gary and Jim voting in favor, Juli abstained as she was not in attendance at the meeting.

Minutes of November 20 were approved unanimously.

Creation of a Aquinnah Climate and Energy Committee

Bill Lake and Noli Taylor addressed the Board. Noli asked the Board to appoint a new Town committee called the Aquinnah Climate and Energy Committee. The purpose of the committee would be to encourage Town residents to use renewable energy, coordinate with Gary Robinson to create an emergency response team for Aquinnah, work with other towns on the Vineyard to share reactions to effects of climate change, explore ways in which towns can explore opportunities for carbon draw-downs. They pointed out that all towns except Edgartown have similar committees. They also requested permission to use the Town Hall on January 29 to have a dinner for Town residents to hear about the program they are developing. Julie made a motion to form the Aquinnah Climate and Energy Committee and allow for the Committee to use the Town Hall as requested on the evening of January 29, 2019. Jim seconded the motion and the motion was approved unanimously.

Greeen Communities Presentation

Seth Pickering, Southeast Regional coordinator, of Green Communities made a presentation to the Board. He outlined the requirements for a town to join the Green Communities program. Requirements: 1. Adopt as-of-right siting, in designated locations for RE/AE generation; 2. Adopt expedited application/permitting process; 3. Establish an energy use baseline with a plan to reduce baseline by 20% in 5 years; 4. Resolve to purchase only fuel efficient vehicles; and, 5. Require new residential construction and new commercial and industrial real estate construction to minimize life-cycle energy costs by adopting a Stretch Code – 780 CMR 115, Appendix AA.

He further pointed out that by joining Green Communities the Town would qualify for a “Designation Grant” of approximately $130,000.00 to fund energy efficiency initiatives, renewable energy and innovative projects. The aforementioned Climate and Energy Committee would take the lead in implementing the program.

Residential Exemption Hearing w/ Assessors

The regular meeting was temporarily interrupted to allow for Angela Cywinski, on behalf of the Board of Assessors, to meet for the annual Residential Exemption Hearing. Julie moved and Jim seconded to adopt a minimum residential factor of 1. The motion was approved unanimously.

Julie moved and Jim seconded a motion to have no residential exemption. The motion passed unanimously.

Julie moved and Jim seconded not to approve a open space exemption. The motion passed unanimously.

Ms. Cywinski informed the Board that the F.Y. 2020 tax rate will likely be $6.14/$1000 of valuation.

Request of Vern Welch for Permission for Emergency Submission to ConCom

Vernon Welch made a presentation to the Board that included submission of pictures of spiles in front of his shack on Menemsha Channel. The pictures, taken at low tide, clearly show spiles that have deteriorated to the point that unless replaced would provide a threat to public safety. Mr. Welch sought the Board’s permission to file an emergency request to the Conservation Commission (ConCom) that would allow him to replace the spiles and at the same time submit an application as required under State waterways regulations. Julie said she thought the request was timely and made a motion that the Selectmen approve Mr. Welch’s request. Jim Newman seconded the motion. In subsequent discussion Wendy Swolinsky strenuously objected to the Selectmen taking this action. Ms. Swolinsky brought up several unrelated purported violations by Mr. Welch during the tenure of his lease. Gary Haley called for a vote on the motion and the Selectmen unanimously approved the motion.

Report on Tribal Casino Meeting

Jim Newman reported that he and Atty. Rappaport had a meeting with officials from the Tribe and that they learned that the Tribe expected the Town to provide emergency public services to their proposed best casino operation. There was discussion of the lack of a current Intergovernmental Agreement between the Town and Tribe. Julie said she is “not comfortable” with what is going on with her Tribe and that she thinks the lack of communication to be “embarrassing.” The Board requested the Town Administrator to write a letter to the Tribe requesting a meeting to review their intentions as they relate to NZ online casinos a updated Intergovernmental Agreement.

Authority to Sign MCC Grant

The Board voted unanimously to authorize the Town Administrator to sign a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) that was submitted in late Summer to cover expenses related to administration of other grants. The grant amount of $5,000.00 was submitted to MCC through the efforts of Jim Pickman.

Declaration of Surplus Property
Simon Bollin requested that the Selectmen declare M-361 (a 2000 Ford F-550) surplus property as the equipment currently on the truck is being transferred to the to the new fire truck and therefore the vehicle is no longer needed. It was also pointed out that this would open one of the bays in the Fire Station for use by the Highway Department.

Julie moved and Jim seconded a motion to declare the aforementioned fire truck surplus property and authorized Chief Bollin to dispose of it. The motion passed unanimously.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:07 p.m.