After shaving down its annual town meeting warrant and budget in 2020, Edgartown selectmen approved much heftier versions of both for 2021, including an article to fund a long-awaited restoration to Memorial Wharf.
After shaving down its annual town meeting warrant and budget in 2020, Edgartown selectmen approved much bulkier versions of both for 2021, including an article to fund a nearly $3 million capital project to renovate and raise Memorial Wharf.
The annual town meeting is scheduled to take place on the lawn at the Edgartown School on May 22. The annual town election is scheduled for May 25.
Edgartown selectmen approved the town’s 81-article combined annual and special town meeting warrants at their meeting Monday. The proposed town operating budget is now approximately $40 million, town administrator James Hagerty said at the meeting — up about 3.8 per cent from the slimmed-down budget approved in 2020.
Numerous warrant articles had also been on hold since the pandemic forced the town to pare down its meeting last year, including a new master plan, capital improvements to South Beach and zoning changes that will allow for a nursing facility in the town and enforcement of the Cape Pogue DCPC.
Topping the warrant this year is a $2.85 million request to fund the large Memorial Wharf restoration project through free cash and a bond. The article will require a two-thirds vote at town meeting and majority approval at the ballot box as a proposition two-and-a-half override.
The town has already received a $1 million state grant from the Seaport Economic Council, making the cost of the project close to $4 million. Mr. Hagerty said at the meeting Monday that the grant money could go to waste if the article is not approved.
“We...don’t want to leave a million dollars on the table, because we have a certain amount of time we have to spend that,” Mr. Hagerty said.
The warrant includes an article that would change the name of the town’s board of selectmen to the select board of the town of Edgartown. Other towns across the Island have already made the change, including Tisbury.
A separate article on the warrant requests voters to approve $100,000 for the town to begin developing a master plan. Mr. Hagerty said that the town’s most recent master plan came in the early nineties.
“That was going to be on the warrant last year, and got cut,” Mr. Hagerty said.
The warrant also includes an article and ballot question that would change the position of tax collector from elected to appointed. Mr. Hagerty said that the request came from the current tax collector, Melissa Kuehne, and follows best practice throughout the state.
Other articles involve the controversial VTA charging station at Church Street, stretch codes that would position the town to receive state Green Community funding, and zoning changes to allow an assisted living facility in the town.
Martha’s Vineyard Hospital signed a purchase and sale agreement more than a year ago to buy a parcel of land off the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road for a new, Windermere nursing facility, but there have been few developments on the project since the agreement was signed.
The warrant was approved unanimously.
“It’s now all up to the voters,” selectman Michael Donaroma said.
A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the increase in the FY 2022 operating budget. The article has been corrected.
Comments
Just to elaborate on the
Alan Strahler EdgartownJust to elaborate on the Stretch Code, it is an update to the energy section of the town building code that requires slightly better energy efficiency in all-new houses. It is a requirement for Edgartown to become a Green Community -- a state program that will provide an initial grant of about $130,000 to the town for upgrading energy savings by replacing old and inefficient equipment. The extra cost in a new home is typically paid off within a few years by energy savings, which continue for the rest of the life of the building. It was placed on the annual town warrant by the Energy Committee, which I chair.
Hi Alan,
Brett NYHi Alan,
I am a Physician and I come from a family of 3 generations of remodelers and home builders. My Dad always told me the worst thing is to have a house “to tight”... It’s unhealthy for you and the house...
I feel the new guidelines in the stretch code are causing many health problems. Glues, adhesives and so many materials omit gasses that we inhale...
Something to think about..
Everybody wants to live in controlled environments.... Winter I tell my kids put on a sweater... Summer I tell them open the window....
Just my two cents...
Brett -- In prior decades,
Alan Strahler EdgartownBrett -- In prior decades, rising energy costs led to making homes more energy efficient by reducing air leaks, as leaks can account for as much as one-third to one-half of space conditioning costs. This reduced ventilation led to issues of moisture accumulation, high indoor pollutant levels, health risks, etc. So your concern that a house can be “too tight” is certainly valid. However, the solution is not to build leaky homes, but to introduce controlled ventilation. Building codes now in effect in Massachusetts require both tight homes and mechanical ventilation that draws fresh air through the home in a planned and controlled way. The ventilation standards in effect assure good circulation to reduce health risks, moisture problems, and indoor pollutants throughout all the areas of the home. These standards are not Stretch Code standards – they are basic standards that are required for all new home construction. They make new homes energy-efficient, healthy, and safe. That said, there is still nothing to keep you from throwing open the windows on a gorgeous summer morning and enjoying our island’s fresh ocean air! -- Alan
What's $40M we will spend
Bob EdgartownWhat's $40M we will spend that in a few hours. Where are the selectman working on controlling the speeding in town instead of worrying about what they are called. Another rubber stamp by this group that is doing nothing to control the expenses of the town. Where is the leadership to end some of the pet projects all the departments want? Time to talk about the pension and health packages the town offers which is a huge part of the budget and only getting higher. We need forward thinking.
Bob “Murphy”
Local EdgartownBob “Murphy”
Instead of incessantly complaining about local governments across multiple forums .. get off the anonymous keyboard, and run for office.... remember, “It’s now all up to the voters.”
I'm actually quite pleased
Emerson, JD EdgartownI'm actually quite pleased with the forward thinking and leadership of our town. Kudos to addressing current and future needs.
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