SUMMER RESIDENTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Minutes of Meeting of June 25, 2010
Present: Bob Champlin, Don Edge, Jill MacDonald, Hugh Moulton, Phil
Richardson and Peter Tarrant.
Guest Speaker: Bill Hinchey, Town Manager
Chairman Jill MacDonald called the meeting to order at 9:00 am.
The chairman introduced Michael Waters of Scotch Plains, New Jersey, who has made application to join the Committee.
1. Don Edge spoke briefly to the Committee cataloguing the Committee’s accomplishments during the years he had served on the Committee and thanked the Committee members for their interest and support, particularly during his Chairmanship. He received a deserved round of applause. Don has tendered his resignation from the Committee.
2. In his remarks, our guest speaker, Bill Hinchey, reported that the Town had been able to pass a budget without an override for FY2011 and that Chatham continues to have the lowest tax rate on the Cape and a superior bond rating from Standard and Poors. He acknowledged that producing a budget with an override for FY2012 would be a challenge. Over the past several years, staff has been reduced by 10 percent and there is less opportunity for staff reductions to meet likely increases in other areas of expense. Work on the two major capital projects, Wastewater and new Police Station and Administrative Office Building is proceeding very well. The last project in the Long Range Capital Plan, the new fire station, is now in the planning stage. Following his opening remarks, the Committee had a
lively exchange with the Town Manager. The Committee was grateful for his willingness to come in to speak with us while on vacation.
3. The Minutes of the prior meeting were approved.
4. Treasurer Bob Champlin reported that the Committee’s fund balance is $827.53. That amount will go back to the Town’s general fund since we start our new fiscal year on July 1, 2010.
5. The Chairman reported that we had not been able to secure an antique car for the fourth of July Parade. The sense of the Committee was that we would try again next year and not participate in this year’s Parade.
6. Summer Town Meeting. Ads will run in the Chronicle each of the five Thursdays in July. The Chairman will seek consent from the Board of Selectmen to place our five new signs, advertising the Summer Town Meeting, at the triangle on the Main Street Rotary, the Community Center (2), North Chatham Post Office and Visitors’ Center at Routes 28/137. The Committee decided that the speakers at this year’s meeting would include Bill Hinchey (State of the Town), Ted Keon (Breach and Coastal Issues) and Hugh Moulton (Chatham Report Card). Brief updates on Wastewater, the West Chatham Business Corridor, etc. will be given by Committee members.
7. List Serve. David Leary, a summer resident, had emailed the Committee volunteering to develop a list serve for summer residents. After discussion, the Committee decided that it would not sponsor a list serve for the Summer Residents. The Chairman will invite Mr. Leary to attend the Summer Town Meeting and provide him with a space at one of the tables outside of the Meeting Room to sign up interested residents, if he still wanted to go forward.
8. There was a general discussion on possible issues for the Committee to undertake this year. Consensus was that we should focus on the challenges of maintaining town services without a budget override.
9. The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 am.
Respectfully submitted,
Jill MacDonald, Acting Secretary
| 
