<p>A painstaking hand recount supervised by the Edgartown town clerk Monday found the vote for a new Katama Airfield hangar was a tie.
A painstaking hand recount Monday found the vote for a new Katama Airfield hangar was a tie.
Constable Scott Ellis, town clerk Wanda Williams, assessor Jo-Ann Resendes await results from accountant Kimberly Kane.
Constable Scott Ellis, town clerk Wanda Williams, assessor Jo-Ann Resendes await results from accountant Kimberly Kane.
The final result was 468 to 468 on a Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion question for the $1.2 million plan to rebuild the old airplane hangar at the town-owned airfield.
The hangar project was easily approved on the town meeting floor on April 10, but failed by three votes in the ballot box two days later.
The Monday recount found one yes vote that had been incorrectly counted as a blank, and another yes vote that had been incorrectly counted as a no. A tie vote still means the question fails.
The recount was requested by members of the airport commission and supporters of the project.
The count was held in the Edgartown town hall Monday morning under the supervision of town clerk Wanda Williams.
Election workers are sworn in.
Election workers are sworn in.
Constable Scott Ellis, his son Tom Ellis, and assistant town clerk Karen Medeiros sorted stacks of ballots into piles of 50 and passed them off to longtime poll workers Jean Andrews, Cindy Bonnell, Ann Tyra and Christine White.
Town accountant Kimberly Kane tallied the count sheets and assessor Jo-Ann Resendes stacked the finished ballots.
Edward W. Vincent Jr. and Father Michael Nagle, both members of the airfield commission, sat and watched events unfold.
The large black ballot box was wheeled into the room and sat off to the side as the checkers tallied ballots, humans replacing machine for the day. Mrs. Williams demonstrated how ballots with write-in votes end up in a separate compartment. Ballots that have too many votes for a position are rejected and the voter has to complete a new ballot.
The red white and blue voting booth curtains were stored away. Instead of his uniform Constable Ellis wore work clothes and knee pads, which he joked were good for tackling voters who ran away before their ballots could be checked.
“Wanda, does the machine have a name?” Mr. Ellis asked.
No machine today, recount goes old school.
No machine today, recount goes old school.
“Sweetheart,” the town clerk deadpanned.
But soon the room quieted down as the four counters, split into pairs, called out results from ballots. Yes, no and blank ballots were tabulated in red pencil on accounting sheets. Ballots were counted and recounted, and shuffled back into stacks.
About 30 minutes in, Ms. White found a ballot where the voter filled in an oval over the word yes instead of the appropriate spot. Ms. Williams was called over. That counts, she said. The ballot machine would have counted it as a blank. That meant one more yes vote.
The counters checked and rechecked their counts. The last packet of ballots was counted and turned over after about 50 minutes. All eyes turned to Ms. Kane, who tallied the numbers with an adding machine.
“Now the drumroll,” Mrs. Tyra said.
“It’s a tie,” Ms. Kane said. In addition to the yes filled incorrectly, one vote was incorrectly recorded as no.
“Well, at least it improved our position slightly,” Mr. Vincent said. “Thank you, everyone.”
“It shows how important your vote is,” Mrs. Tyra said.
Comments
Not really a tie. It either
WashAbhorred EdgartownNot really a tie. It either passed or failed. It failed and the taxpayers of Edgartown are not going to be spending over a million dollars on something 99% will never use. This seems like the perfect project for Private fundraising group however with the town cooperating and allowing those that want to do the project the opportunity to do so on the airfield's land.
So much for the machine
Ken Edg.So much for the machine accuracy. All close votes will have to be recounted by hand from now on.
I have lived here a very long
MACK M. KatamaI have lived here a very long time and to see the opposition against the preservation of the hanger is outrageous. Edgartown you are dancing on thin ice. This is your legacy.
We found money for all the
Joy EdgartownWe found money for all the brickwork in Edgartown, we purchased that silly yellow house and now we are struggling to find the means to protect this this piece of history. We are insulting the family and their legacy. Sharpen your pencils Edgartown and do the right thing!
I think we need to all get a
South Water Street Resident NYC and EdgartownI think we need to all get a reality check. That property was donated to the Town and it is our responsibility to maintain that property or else . The consequences of your actions here will be catastrophic. Just fix the building and be grateful it’s in your backyard for everyone to enjoy. What was the price tag on that old yellow house you all couldn’t wait to sign that check ...
They want to rebuild it...not
WashAbhorred EdgartownThey want to rebuild it...not maintain it. I don't think everyone wanted to buy the Yellow House either. As for everyone enjoying it...how so? It's not like the hangar is open to the public. In my memory there was one public event there. A fundraiser for a school where kids could come see the planes. Even then they weren't allowed in or near the hangar. What do you think the catastrophic consequences of not building a new hangar will be?
I agree with WashAbhorred,
Jim Kelly Denver, COI agree with WashAbhorred, find a way to go private, save some money - public bid?, get a better product in the end, simplify-Edg?
To Jim,
Mack M. EdgartownTo Jim,
Save money? Edgartown spends money like drunken sailors on completely frivolous items and we all know what they are. Just walk around Edgartown and you’ll feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz - I paid for those bricks and will gladly pay for the historic building. Perhaps you should visit Oak Bluffs and see what went wrong there ot take a stroll around Vineyard Haven and see the mess that’s down there. No thank you sir, I will support this and I know that Edgartown will sharpen their pencils and put this one in the winners box!
I agree. We need to protect
John W. West TisburyI agree. We need to protect what makes this part of the world special and it’s a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things.
Mack M. I'm sure the town and
Jim k Denver COMack M. I'm sure the town and/or the airport commissioners will absolutely sharpen there pencils. They are pretty crafty people and they will find a way to fund this much over due and needed project once and for all "public or private", on the ballot or off the ballot. I'm all for it, all in, always have been since day one.The town needs this,the island needs this,and most of all the aviation community especially needs this. Whether it be island aircraft or visiting aircraft using the facility, this hangar is needed. It's an airfield and will remain a beautiful airfield long after you or I will be around. Drunken sailors? Not sure about you? But,I'm extremely proud of Edg - "Your Oz".it's a pretty well run and oiled machine. BTW,once a native townie, always a townie and extremely proud to say that.
I think the town has all
Bob EdgartownI think the town has all ready put in enough money to make this hanger happen. Someone please remind everyone how much this has cost the town already. Many years of legal bills, town employees hours and most of all the conservation restriction put on how 21 acres of land that could of been used for low income housing which is a greater need than this hanger. How much is 21 acres of land worth in Edgartown? Over $10 million at least which is a huge price the town paid. The town paved the way for this to happen now it is time for the pilots to contribute. The rents being charged are below market for the restaurant and the airplanes let them finish this off.
You're way off on your math
deshandra brown EdgYou're way off on your math and stop posting fake nonsense and lies. The price was around 1 million which was a bargain. If the Gentles chose to develop the property to its maximum potential, there would be hundreds of houses there. Fortunately they were generous to the town and Nature conservancy because they cared about conservation. Before you spew your nonsense, you should read the dead. The Gentles, in consideration for selling well below market price, required the airport to remain 'in its present state and continue as an airfield'. No solar arrays, no affordable housing, and....no cell towers. One step towards anything other than 'present state', the airfield acreage will return to the heirs of the Gentles, and I can assure you, there will be lots of nice luxury homes built there. Which is their right to do.
It is you that needs to
Bob EdgartownIt is you that needs to understand what happened here. Go and read the records. In order to expand the airport hangar the town of Edgartown had to donate 21 acres of land off of Pennywise path as conservation land. Land we can now not use for affordable housing or any other municipal project. And $10 million is the low number for 21 acres of Edgartown land. Shame on you for not understanding what is really happening here. Look it up!
Maintain, as is, not build a
robert KatamaMaintain, as is, not build a New and bigger One.
You're way off base as usual
deshandra brown EdgYou're way off base as usual with the $10m valuation for 21 acres on PW Path. And in that neighborhood with the zoning and watershed restriction on bedrooms on that dirt road, its worth a fraction of your price that you quote in order to inflame the readers. Its quite obvious you never read the deed to the airport. It protects the natural beauty from those with ideas such as yours. It can never be developed. If the town tries, the property reverts back to the Gentles. Thankfully they were forward thinking to protect it. If you're so concerned about affordable housing, how about a trailer park (manufactured homes) jammed on small lots on Chappaquiddick.
Again you miss the point and
Bob EdgartownAgain you miss the point and do not understand the process here. Nothing happens to this land if the hanger is rebuilt or not. Nothing changes if this is paid for by the town or by the users. Time for the users to pay their share the town has already bent over backwards to make this happen. We can disagree on the value of 21 acres of Edgartown land with the bottom line being it cost the town huge sums of money to add a few square feet to the hanger.
How many planes is the hangar
Christine Powers WalthamHow many planes is the hangar capable of housing? Pilots who wish to use it should pay for its reconstruction and not burden the taxpayers, most of whom do not own aircraft.
Let us not forget the Land
robert KatamaLet us not forget the Land that was taken, 60 plus acres to protect the butterflies. No helicopters were to ever land, but that's overlooked. The Town should not be trying to increase the use of the Airport, it goes against the purpose of the deal, or at least that was the excuse I was given when my land was taken away by the use of eminent domain! Leave it the way it is, or sell me back my land!
I am the owner of a rather
Eric Hazen BostonI am the owner of a rather old single-engine aircraft, worth less than most of the Range Rovers I see crowding the streets on MV. I enjoy dropping in at Katama and eating in the local restaurants and sometimes shopping. I appreciate the beauty of the area and especially the airfield and it’s history.
If the field and hangar are not maintained it would be a great loss to MV and the area.
This little gem of an airport
Jeff Tano NjThis little gem of an airport is famous in the aviation community and well loved. Improvements here bring grassroots aviation folks in and improve tourism. Saying that locals won’t benefit is extremely short sighted. Having positive things like these little airports is an amazing benefit to the community. Every kid looking over the fence who catches the bug and becomes an airline pilot or mechanic or military pilot will thank you.
After WWII my Uncle flew his
Rich Edgartown / TexasAfter WWII my Uncle flew his solo at Katama later on he flew to Long Island and took me on my first airplane ride. As little boy ( my family being from the island) My two favorite places on summer visits were Katama Airfield and the flying horses. What a GREAT PLACE to inspire a young boy, I went on to fly in the MARINE CORP with a year in Vietnam and after two days after release on to American Airlines for 34 years, NEVER WOULD HAVE HAPPEN WITHOUT THE SEED PLANTED BY KATAMA AIRFIELD AND MY UNCLE! I visit twice every year and often wonder how many other young Men & Girls have been inspired by this great place? I do think that there could be a private plus public solution. The folks that visit Katama Airfield are not all pilots, it is history that should be preserved. We do not need a field full of rubber stamp homes. I do think that we could all help. Maybe buy a brick drive?
I love this airport and fly
Adam Raines Ridgewood, NJI love this airport and fly in once a summer to spend time and money on your island. Thank you for keeping the field alive and the history remaining. Its the most unique field in the US. I know of no other place you can land, pull up to the sand, shut down, and spend a day on a pristine beach. Its a step back in time to a simpler time. As for the hanger, I understand the hesitation but its an extension of the airfield itself. It's part of any restoration. Its not about functionality, but about restoring something to its original design. This is not an airport. Its a living and breathing museum. Good luck in the decisions and thank you for keeping it around!
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