Chilmark Tackles Heated Pool, Payroll Debates

Chilmark voters made quick work of the annual town meeting warrant Monday night, approving a $7 million budget, changes to a personnel bylaw and swimming pool rules and a slew of spending articles.

Voters largely followed the recommendations of the finance advisory committee on spending issues, electing to purchase a new tanker truck for the fire department and a new Ford Expedition for the police department. They also approved a call to transfer $10,000 in available funds to install metal stairs at Squibnocket Beach and to appropriate $20,000 in Community Preservation funds for the Chilmark Housing Year-Round Rental Conversion Program. One hundred and seven voters attended the meeting, a number of whom trickled out throughout the evening.

Selectman Frank Fenner requested that voters hold off appropriating $150,000 of Community Preservation funds to partially fund the renovation of the historic Tea Lane farmhouse. Fenner said the town would review the plans for the project, which are not yet complete, and send it back to voters at a future date. The article was indefinitely postponed.

Just 45 minutes into the meeting, voters had approved or postponed all but two articles with little discussion.

Then the topic turned to swimming pools and a human resource bylaw.

Voters were asked to approve a zoning bylaw amendment that would impose a variety of restrictions on how and where a swimming pool or tennis court could be built. Participants debated at length whether pool owners should be required to install standpipes for fire protection. Sculptor Jay Lagemann proposed an amendment to strike the requirement from the warrant, which was ultimately defeated. Voters adopted the article as stated 40 to 4.

The bylaw now requires homeowners who wish to install pools and tennis courts to obtain special permits from the zoning board of appeals. Homeowners will not be able to apply for such permits until they have lived at the property for two years. Pools and tennis courts are also required to be obstructed from public view, and within sight of the primary residence. There was no debate over a requirement that homeowners use solar or alternative energy to heat pools.

The last article of the evening concerned a personnel bylaw, six years in the making, that outlines employee classifications, compensation plans and hiring practices.  

“This is a vast improvement for all of our employees and I hope you support it,” said Fenner. The article prompted much debate, but ultimately passed unanimously.

Judy Jardin, an often vocal critic in town politics, raised repeated objections during the course of discussion that the warrant did not include opportunities to vote on cost of living and pay grade increases.

“For some reason, it’s not coming to us and it used to,” said Jardin. Unless you attend every personnel board and selectmen’s meeting, she said, it would be nearly impossible to keep track of such changes. “You really have to work at getting the information.”

Executive Secretary Timothy Carroll said that the bylaw currently in place does not require such changes to be brought before the town meeting.

Chilmark employees will receive a 2.6 percent cost of living increase this year, in addition to any scheduled step increases. The cost of living increase is higher than any other town on the Island. Town employees did not receive a cost of living increase in 2010.

Voters will return to the Chilmark Community Center Wednesday from noon to 8 p.m. for town elections. There are no contested races.