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Selectmen’s Meeting
May 14, 2018
Attending: Jim Newman, Gary Haley, Juli Vanderhoop, Matt D’Andrea (School Superintendent), Richard Smith (Asst. Superintendent), Emily Day (Town Accountant), Jay Smalley (Highway Superintendent), Frankie Perez, Jacob Vanderhoop, Sarah Saltonstall, Simon Bollin (Fire Chief), Randhi Belain (Police Chief) and Jeffrey Madison (Town Administrator).
Jim Newman called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. He immediately moved to nominate Gary Haley as chairman. Juli seconded the motion. Without further comment the motion was passed unanimously and Gary took over chairing the meeting.
Superintendent D’Andrea addressed the meeting. He apologized for his internal office error that resulted in his office not sending a request for articles for consideration at the May 8 annual town meeting. He indicated that there were two projects that required immediate funding to allow for work to be completed during this summer season at the Chilmark and West Tisbury Schools. The first request is for $33,613.13 to fix the heating system at the Chilmark School. The second was for $1,430.05 for a repair to the fire alarm system at the West Tisbury School.
Jeffrey explained that he had worked with Emily and Ron Rappaport to find a solution. The only solution is a special town meeting with necessary funds to be transferred from the Town Building and Grounds Stabilization Fund to the General Stabilization Fund then funds transferred from the General Stabilization Fund to meet the necessary costs. This would not have any effect on the tax levy.
The Selectmen agreed to the suggested approach to funding and agreed to call a special town meeting on June 5, 2018. Gary read the warrant that had been previously prepared by the Town Administrator and submitted and approved by Town Counsel. They signed a warrant calling for a meeting on that day.
Next there was a discussion of a letter received from Vineyard Propane offering a fixed cost of propane fuel. The Selectmen found the letter confusing and asked that the town administrator get a clarification of the cost.
The Selectmen reviewed the letter from the engineer for Brian Vanderhoop relating to his request for permission for his dock in Menemsha Harbor. No action taken.
The Selectmen were presented a letter, prepared by the Town Administrator, to the County Commissioners requesting that all future requests for funding be mailed to the Town Administrator, the Town Treasurer and Town Accountant. The letter was read to the Board and Jim moved, Juli seconded and the Board voted unanimously to send it.
The Board accepted a letter from Jim Glavin, Chairman of the Board of Health, wherein he gave notice that the Board had voted to retain Phoenix Becker as their assistant.
Carolyn Feltz asked the Board if she could give permission on behalf the town to the Vercruysse family to spray at the Vanderhoop Homestead for ticks using a natural spray by a company called O Deer in advance of their wedding on Memorial Day weekend. The Board told her that spraying would be fine.
Jim inquired about the improvements being made to the basketball court. Jay informed him that materials are in transit.
Juli brought up the Park & Rec appointments. It was agreed that Juli would get letters from interested parties and present them to the next meeting.
The Town Administrator announced the award of a grant totaling $71,000.00 from Massachusetts Cultural Council for improvements to the Vanderhoop Homestead.
Jim announced that he is meeting with the Green Communities folks.
The meeting was adjourned by acclamation at 6:10 p.m.
