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The
Martha's Vineyard Times is a weekly publication.
April 28 - May 4, 2005 Edition
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April 28, 2005 Resigning airport manager cites county meddling To the Editor: This letter was sent to chairman Jesse B. Law 3rd, chairman of the Martha’s Vineyard Airport Commission: Please accept this notice in accordance with paragraph 9 of my 2003–2006 employment agreement, that effective at the close of business on May 20, 2005, I will be resigning from my position as Airport Manager at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport. I intend to continue to serve as your Airport Manager through the close of business on May 20, 2005. During this period, I am available to you not only for my usual responsibilities as Airport Manager but also to assist in the transition work that needs to be accomplished. I began my work as Airport Manager in February 2000. Over the past 5 years, with your support and the thoroughly capable work of the entire Martha’s Vineyard Airport Staff we have built the Airport into one of the finest airports in the region. The fiscal position of the Airport is sound, our revenues continue on their upward slope, and the operational efficiency we have achieved is the envy of other airports. I have appreciated the support of this Commission and that of your predecessors during my tenure. Unfortunately, the Airport’s successes have too often been overshadowed by the difficulties between the County, the Airport Commission, and myself. I am optimistic that in the near future the Superior Court will confirm what the FAA, MAC, and Massachusetts law require: that the Airport Commission is allowed to exercise the independent authority and responsibility necessary to effectively operate and manage the Airport. It was my hope in 2000 when I joined the Airport, that the county meant what it had sworn to in 1997, that it would allow the Airport Commission the independence Massachusetts law required. The County’s decision not to abide by its commitments undermined the employment agreements which the Airport Commission and I negotiated in good faith. While the new position I have accepted presents a great opportunity for myself and my family, a large part of the decision process was influenced by this continuing situation. Even as I take advantage of this new opportunity, I will continue to prosecute my claims against the Airport Commission and County. Nothing in this letter or my resignation ought to be read as a waiver or surrender of my rights, or an ebbing of my confidence in our position. I am committed to seeing this matter through to its conclusion, even through the lengthy and expensive appeals process that the County has threatened. Unfortunately, the primary victims of this process will be the good residents of Dukes County, who will have to foot the bill, not only for the County’s substantial legal fees, but also for my own in addition to the award of damages. I am confident that the Airport Commission will continue in its commitment to the Airport, its users and to the community. We have built an excellent operation, indeed one that is a real credit to the Island. We have much to be proud of, and I am confident that Sean and the Airport staff will continue to improve the Airport and its operation with your continued support. William Weibrecht, C.M. Edgartown Edgartown ZBA decision thwarts town effort to enlarge library
To the Editor: This is a copy of a letter to the Edgartown selectmen: It is with much dismay, disbelief, and sadness to hear of the zoning board of appeal’s decision to deny a special permit to the Town – the permit needed for the expansion plans for the currently inadequate library. Not receiving this special permit essentially has killed the project. As you are well aware, the library board of trustees obtained an overwhelming vote of approval from the citizens of Edgartown at the special town meeting in August 2004, then a decisive vote at the ballot box in September 2004, and then as of two weeks ago again received an overwhelming approval of the design at town meeting. In addition, the library trustees received approval from the Edgartown planning board, a conditional approval from the historic district commission, and letters of approval by the police, fire, and highway departments. Also, not one abutter objected to the design. The library trustees, along with many hard-working volunteers, have done an outstanding job in bringing this project to the point where the town would be included in the current state grant program. The library trustees have an excellent architect who has achieved a design that meets the challenge of joining two historic buildings without compromising the historic significance of either of the two structures and provides the space requirements needed for the 21st century. After receiving a very strong mandate from the citizens of Edgartown to build this facility, how is it possible that three people on the zoning board of appeals can turn down the wishes of the public? Also, how is it possible that the chairman of the board of selectmen attending the zoning board of appeals meeting voiced a strong objection to the project? Is it possible that her objection had an influence on the three dissenting voters on the zoning board of appeals? Does Margaret Serpa’s objection represent the board of selectmen’s stand with regard to the project? If so, it is with much dismay to recognize that the leaders of our community have ignored its citizen’s wishes. What is the fallout from this disastrous ruling by the zoning board of appeals? They would include the following: Edgartown will be the only town on Martha’s Vineyard, with the exception of Aquinnah, to not have a modern library Any future expansion plan will be far more expensive to the town than the one currently proposed The library trustees will in the future find it extremely difficult to raise private money To bring the project where it is today, many people worked extremely hard on a voluntary basis. The ruling of the zoning board of appeals will influence the passion, motivation, and determination of future volunteers The library trustees are currently searching for a new library director. The ruling of the zoning board of appeals will certainly affect the search. What qualified applicant would want to consider being a director at a below-standard facility that does not meet the needs of the community and has no chance for modernization By killing this project, the zoning board of appeals has taken away the opportunity of providing additional educational needs of our children and the continuing education of our adults. Do we want them to travel to Oak Bluffs, West Tisbury, Chilmark, and/or Vineyard Haven to seek all the benefits of a modern library which we cannot provide? Not having our modern library as designed will deprive the town of a much needed meeting facility for the public. The design as put forth at the last town meeting would have been a cultural center Why are we continuing to degrade the center of Edgartown? The new library design would have become a major focal point in the town, drawing both winter and summer residents back to the center of Town. As a citizen of Edgartown, former member of the planning committee for the library expansion, and former chairman of the building committee for the library expansion, I am writing this letter knowing the diligence, the hard work, and sophisticated planning that has gone into this very important endeavor. This was a wonderful opportunity for the town. I beg the board of selectmen to see what they can do to have the zoning board of appeals decision rescinded and reversed. I have seen tremendous creativity and ideas developed by the people involved in this project. I am sure that you, the board of selectmen, can be as creative and determined to resurrect the project in time for the deadline as imposed by the state grant application. Anthony J. Bongiorno Edgartown Shame on library opponents To the Editor: Having attended, and spoken at, Wednesday’s Edgartown zoning board of appeals meeting, I feel I must make comment on a process that is very much flawed. This board has known for seven months about the proposed size of the new library addition, as well as the number of parking spaces that would be made available to the public. In those months, no one on the board questioned the director of the library or the library’s board of trustees. There didn’t seem to be a problem with the process of applying for the permit to construct an addition to the library and the Warren House. At the special town meeting held at the school in August, the community voted unanimously to follow through with the library’s plans for expansion by giving the town permission to buy the Warren House. At Edgartown’s annual town meeting last week, again the community voted twice, unanimously, to apply for the grants which would help with the funding of the new building. The historic district commission, the police department, the highway department, the fire department – all sent letters of approval for the project. After the public was permitted to speak, pro and con, the zoning board spent some time ruminating and discussing informally some of their concerns. Not one query was addressed to those who spoke in favor of the expansion; all of the queries were directed to the one naysayer whose facts were faulty. Not once was the library’s director, Ann Tyra, nor any member of the library’s board of trustees (all in attendance) asked to elucidate any of the facts. Regrettably, the three zoning board members who voted against the project simply do not consider the expansion a necessary one, nor do they take into consideration the future uses of the new building. As a matter of record, none of these three seem to be library patrons. Probably no up-to-date library cards exist in their names. Have they ever come to the library to speak to those who wanted to share the excitement and possibilities that the expansion would bring to the community? There have been many fact-sharing days when your neighbors were the spokespeople in favor of the library’s plan. Parking is definitely a non-issue. As for the size, take a look at the buildings in the library’s neighborhood. For instance, the Fligor building is a huge one, extending across South Water Street and down Kelley Street, three full stories. The houses that have been approved for construction on South Water Street are enormous, filling their lots. Frankly, if the library expansion were to have taken place, the new edifice would be the bridge addition to the present Carnegie building and the Warren House. The buildings as they stand now cannot be seen from Main Street. Walking up South Water Street, the sight of these buildings becomes apparent only after crossing Simpson’s Lane and passing the Edgartown Inn. The library and Warren House can also been seen from Daggett Street. Believe me when I say that those who voted against giving the special permit simply have no concept of how vital the library is to the downtown area, to the community of all ages, not just the children, and to the quality or life on a year-round basis. A modern, spacious library is one of the most important facets of any community’s profile. Shame on those who slammed the door in our faces. Claudia L. Rogers Edgartown Rejection of library ‘reprehensible’ To the Editor: The following letter is being sent to the Edgartown selectmen: This is about the Edgartown library expansion plan. I am appalled that the will of the voters of Edgartown, expressed at two town meetings and at the polls, has been swept aside and dumped by three out of five non-elected officials on the zoning board of appeals. Lack of parking was given as a reason, although 10 new spaces are being added and more could be designated by the town. The size was challenged, although the need has been abundantly documented and presented to voters and to various town bodies on many occasions. Maybe someone hopes to revive the discredited idea of using the old school building. Forget it. Parking is even worse. Books are heavy, the floors won’t support the weight of library stacks. The town would lose the present library building under terms of the bequest. Whether those three members of the ZBA acted in ignorance or for unstated reasons, their action is reprehensible. As your appointees, they are not accountable to the voters, as you are, they are accountable to you. Please urge them to reconsider immediately. Bruce E. Nevin Edgartown Outraged To the Editor: The three members of the Edgartown zoning board of appeals who voted against the library expansion project should be ashamed of themselves. The citizens of Edgartown voted, twice at town meeting and once at the polls, overwhelmingly in favor or the project. Many people have spent thousands of volunteer hours and donated funds in an effort to render a plan that would allow for future needs of the library while also taking into consideration the historic nature of the town. The idea that three appointed (not elected) individuals, who have no accountability to anyone, could decide with their negative votes to kill the library expansion project is, at best, shocking to me. It is not right that this could happen. These three people apparently feel that they alone know what is best for the town and that a place to park another automobile is more important than the need for our citizens to have access to the latest reading materials and learning tools and areas in which to quietly study and/or relax with a good book. I am outraged by this action. Marcia Fenn Edgartown A stunning decision To the Editor: What’s wrong with this picture? On April 12, at the annual town meeting, the voters of Edgartown gave their overwhelming approval to the design for a library expansion that would meet the needs of our town for the next 20 years. A short eight days later, the Edgartown zoning board of appeals (ZBA) ignored the will of the people and, by a 3-2 vote, effectively killed the project. In doing so, they also ignored the vote at the special town meeting last August, letters from many citizens in favor of the project and the approvals of the design which had been given by the planning board, historic district commission, police department, fire department and highway department. The vote last August was for a library equal in size to the one approved by the voters earlier this month at town meeting. The August vote paved the way for the town to acquire the adjacent property, so that the library could remain in the downtown area, which surveys had shown as being decidedly preferred by town residents. This stunning action by three unelected officials means that Edgartown’s grant application will not be considered for the state funding, which will be awarded in early July. This funding, which could have amounted to 3.5 million dollars for Edgartown, will now go to another Massachusetts town. Eight months of hard work by architects, a library consultant, library trustees, library staff and 30 volunteers produced a six-inch thick grant application package, which will now be discarded by the state evaluation committee. The costs of the effort to date have been considerable and, for the most part, were paid with privately donated funds. Unfortunately, state library grant rounds are not annual events; we can’t just “wait till next year.” The next round will probably come in four to five years, unless state budget pressures extend the timetable even further. The balance of the funding for the project, over and above the $3.5 million of state funding, was to have come from private sources, not further requests for town funding, as opponents of the project have long and erroneously claimed. Now, even if the design were changed (at additional cost to private donors) and ZBA approval was forthcoming in a few months, the absence of state funding would mean that an additional $3.5 million would have to come from private sources. Finally, as we all know too well, construction costs on the Island are continuously on the rise. The process was as stunning as the decision. The library expansion was on the ZBA’s agenda for a February meeting. Library trustees, the architect, the library director and members of the building committee attended the meeting, but were summarily dismissed without a hearing. Had the ZBA made their specific objections known back then, there might possibly have been sufficient time to address and satisfy them. If the ZBA was predisposed to deny the application in February, their delay in actually doing so until April 20, merely increased the amount of money (private money) that has now gone down the drain. ZBA discussion from the outset of the meeting focused on building size and parking spaces, even though the principal issue which had brought the project before them was that of attaching the new structure to the front section of the Captain Warren House, a pre-existing, non-conforming structure. Like so many of the properties on North Water Street, the Captain Warren House does not conform to current zoning regulations. It sits on the property line, not five feet from it, as code now requires. Not once were the trustees or director of the library questioned about the reasons for the building’s size, which is required to fulfill current and future program needs. Had the questions been asked, the answers would have highlighted a sizeable meeting room for the community; small rooms for study, tutoring, conferences, or quiet reading; a dedicated area for young adults; and separate areas for computers away from the quiet areas. Not once did the dissenters visit the site or the current library to see for themselves the many shortcomings of the current library or to see how the site footprint would appear from neighboring properties. Not once were the arguments that the library would help revitalize the Edgartown downtown area even acknowledged by the three who opposed the project. Not once did these same three appear to grasp that ten off-street parking spaces, including one handicap space, were far better than none. The board rarely asked questions of the architect, the library director or the trustees, all of who were present at the meeting on April 20. Instead, the board turned far more often to one of their alternates, who had expressed disapproval of the project at both town meetings, to answer questions about the state grant process. They gave him the last word and the information he provided was wrong. The library advocates were denied the opportunity to respond. The library trustees are indeed dismayed at this thwarting of the democratic process in our town. That three people can overrule the very clear wishes of the voters on issues beyond their purview is wrong. Beyond that, we are extremely disappointed that the functional, attractive library addition and the preservation of these two historic structures now appear beyond our reach. There’s a lot wrong with this picture. Nancy Ambrose, Acting Chairman David Blackburn Dianne Bongiorno Richard Fenn Patricia Rose Edgartown Library Trustees Monkey rewards To the Editor: While some of this article [Visiting Vet, April 14] is factual, much of it is anecdotal, and frankly untrue. According to the CDC, no pet monkey has ever given Herpes B, Ebola or rabies to anyone. Ever. I am a representative of a group (EPOU) that endorses responsible ownership of exotic pets. It should be pointed out that the great apes are nearly impossible to own as pets, and equating what a spider monkey or a capuchin can do to what a chimp can do is outrageous. While howler monkeys might not make the best pets, Capuchins are regularly used as therapy animals and companions for quadriplegics. In fact, an Arizona SWAT team is attempting to make capuchin monkeys part of their units because they are so friendly, intelligent, and easily trained. Not every monkey makes a good pet, and probably most people should not own a monkey, as they are extremely time-consuming. That said, it falls upon the breeders of such animals to ensure that their animals are going to good homes, and if the home does not work out, they should be willing to take the animal back. Good and responsible breeders do this already, and do not sell to people where these animals are illegal. Our organization is adamantly opposed to irresponsible ownership or breeding. We have more than 500 members nationwide now, all with the common goal of protecting our rights to have the pet of our choice so long as we are able to physically, financially, and psychologically able to care for such pets. Our members own everything from monkeys to llamas, from foxes to tigers, from hedgehogs to servals. While monkeys are certainly among the most challenging of pets, they can also be among the most rewarding. Gabrielle Collins Exotic Pet Owners Uniting (EPOU.org) Teach them a lesson To the Editor: This is a response to the owners’ proposal to turn an illegally constructed building into a permanent structure. They knowingly built an illegal structure. Now that they cannot keep it, they have made a proposal to turn it into a drug rehab — nothing anybody wants in their neighborhood. I find this attitude of “I’ll get my way or make your life difficult” intolerable. How dare this person try to bully the town with a proposal that if opposed looks as if the town is turning its head to the problems of society at large. If the Island needs a halfway house so badly they should still teach this bum a lesson. The town should condemn the building and take it under eminent domain and construct a halfway house that was designed for such a use. Not take an illegally constructed (garage turned into an apartment), less-than-adequate building, and force it to meet state and federal guidelines for the use proposed. The current building could not have been built with the intended population in mind. How does the Island let this group call the shots like this? These guys need to be taught a lesson, that they are not above the law, and they have to abide by the same rules as everybody else. Michael Daniels West Tisbury and NYC All is well in Nicaragua To the Editor: Here in Nicaragua winter is drawing to a close and summer rains are coming. Last night it poured so hard, it sounded like drums in a big parade. But the winter temperatures are still over 90 degrees. All is well here. The projects are thriving. We are preparing for two Unite for Sight medical teams, one to our clinic in El Salvador and one to Siuna, Nicaragua. They will be with us all of May, June, and July, bringing eye care and cataract surgery and education to thousands of patients and health care professionals. I want to say thank you so very much to our supporters on M.V., without whom this work would not be possible. With the help of a group of real estate offices and churches and other donors, we were able to build the addition to the maternity clinic to house many pregnant women. Because of the donations of our visitor Lori Perry, we are able to bring much needed food, monthly, to feed the poor women at the maternity clinic. Because of teachers Rebecca Geary of Oak Bluffs Elementary School and Vanessa Vento of West Tisbury and Edgartown Elementary Schools and the hard work of their students, we have brought hundreds of dollars of school supplies to our two schools in Siuna. This past weekend we delivered the last box of supplies to the teachers, who had tears in their eyes and big smiles on their faces. Vanessa’s classes donated a big wall map of the world, which we shipped down by boat, and for most children, this was their first look at the world as a whole and their country’s placement in it. Siuna is such a remote area that most children only dream of what is beyond the mountains that surround them. From the money donated by Rebecca’s students’ fundraisers, we bought school books, reading books, paper, pens and pencils for each of the 100 students, construction paper, paste, scissors, stapler and paper punch, etc, all items requested by the teachers. Boxes and boxes of supplies! We bought most of the supplies here in Nicaragua — much easier than importing them. I will send the newspapers photos of these events with a separate thanks, so all of you can see. The next five months will be full of medical teams, and we will be out straight, but doing good things. I love Nicaragua. It is so much easier to monitor projects living here. Every time I go by the new hospital, without water, in Siuna and see the big EU (European Union) sign, I am grateful to be a small NGO. We have accomplished more being small with hands on, than most big organizations with big grants do from afar. We still have not permitted the EU hospital to tap into our precious pure water well at our clinic, because clean water is scarce, and the hospital would suck our well dry in short time. So our casa materna continues to be the only source of pure potable water — a gift from God! We have so much more to do and hope for your continued interest and support and visits. Contact by e-mail is best way to reach us: lavertymuriel@yahoo.com Muriel Laverty and Omar Espinoza Siuna, Nicaragua Good things To the Editor: I think it’s about time tenants at Woodside let go of their negative thinking and think of the good things Carol Lashnits has done for us. I have been here going on 11 years, and Carol has helped me through bad times (very) and good times. Please give credit where it should be. Carol, Dorothy, and our new maintenance men, Bill Arsenault and Jim Dinardo, deserve a hand for a good job. Can you imagine how they must feel when asked, “When are Jay and Kevin coming back?” Is that fair? No. Carol Lashnits has put in a great many years raising money so we would have a place to live and be happy. Remember, there are two sides to every story. Keep that in mind. Get a life. Be happy with yourself. Let’s move on. Give the administration a chance. Ruth G. Letourneau Woodside Village Prisons just fill up To the Editor: I would like to thank Carolyn Kildegaard (Dukes County Community Corrections manager) for her listing the several programs currently available for inmates and would-be inmates of the county lock-up. I am certain that everyone who participates benefits from this effort. The community should be aware and grateful for it. My earlier letter took issue with the sheriff’s statement that the inmate’s escape (Sean Garvey) demonstrated the need for a new, larger (read 50 beds and $10 million) new facility on valuable land at the airport. It does not. The escape demonstrates that the rehab programs, anger management programs, stress reduction programs, substance abuse programs, and educational programs did not succeed in this case. What is therefore needed is more complete and comprehensive rehabilitation, not new bricks and mortar. Our community is willing to fund more teachers, psychologists, psychiatrists, and anger-management specialists for the current population (average 30) but believe that in a new facility the emphasis would be on high-tech doors and locks rather than the human being in each prisoner’s cell. The guards need more training and better pay, in that order. Classes can be held in former schools, churches, outside, and town buildings after hours. We should shy from building bigger and better prisons because we’ll only fill them up. Kirk Briggs Vineyard Haven Fantastic beaches To the Editor: On behalf of the Vineyard Conservation Society (VCS) I would like to convey our grateful thanks to the many individuals, youth groups, and Island businesses responsible for making the 13th Annual Earth Day Beach Clean-up such a success. Despite of a gloomy weather forecast, the dozens of volunteers who turned out on Saturday, April 23, were rewarded with sunny skies as they enthusiastically bagged, hauled and trucked away loads of debris from 17 Island beaches. A big thank you to all — the beaches look fantastic. VCS would like to extend special thanks to all who made this event a success, particularly our willing volunteer supervisors Joanie Ames, Bob Berry, Tess Bramhall, Tad Crawford, Judy Cronig, Margaret Curtin, Mait Edey, Helen Hall, Basil Jones, Rob Kendall, David Nash and Robin Bray, Elise Lebovit, Lucy and Julia Mitchell, Jack O’Callaghan, Harriet Potter, Mac Reed, Craig Saunders, Jeff Sayre, and Bob Woodruff. Many thanks also to our loyal co-sponsors: The Martha’s Vineyard Co-operative Bank, the Martha’s Vineyard Surfcasters Association, the Lagoon Pond Association and WMVY. We would also like to thank the Island departments of public works, together with several other businesses and individuals whose contributions to the beach clean-up were invaluable, including Shelly Baron, Paul Schneider, Scott Stephens, The Martha’s Vineyard Times, the Vineyard Gazette, Plum TV, Adelphia of Martha’s Vineyard and WCAI/WNAN. Penny Uhlendorf Beach Clean-up Co-ordinator/VCS Vineyard Haven |
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