Chilmark takes up $6.7M budget, wind energy rules
Chilmark voters face a $6.7 million operating budget and zoning bylaw amendments intended to regulate wind turbines and noisy machinery at Monday's annual town meeting, which begins at 7:30 pm at the Chilmark Community Center.
On Wednesday, voters return to the familiar wooden hall off South Road to elect town officers. There are no contests. Polls are open from noon to 8 pm.
In a telephone conversation with The Martha's Vineyard Times, selectman J.B. Riggs Parker described the warrant as "pretty straightforward." He said cost of living increases (COLA) and the wind turbine bylaw might spur some discussion.
"Certainly the town budget," said selectman Warren Doty when asked Tuesday what might prove to be a topic of discussion. "This time of year that is what everybody is interested in."
Mr. Doty said the warrant includes a request to move forward with the design and construction of three rental units at the Middle Line Road housing project. The article calls for the town to spend $92,000 to hire a project manager, design the units and obtain construction cost estimates.
Chairman Frank Fenner said every year the selectmen work with the finance committee (FinCom) to examine the budget. "This year we took extra pains to scrutinize every department," he said, adding that the budget is down to "barebones essentials" appropriate for the times.
The $6,660,825 operating budget for the 2010 fiscal year is $20,574 less than the FY 2009 budget and $92,000 below the amount that would require a Proposition 2.5 tax override.
The budget includes pay raises for town employees based on an eight-step compensation plan. With a satisfactory job review, employees may expect an annual step pay raise of 3.4 percent. In some cases, employees who may no longer qualify for a step increase do receive increases based on length of service.
The budget also includes three percent cost of living adjustments for town employees, a subject of considerable discussion by selectmen and finance committees across Martha's Vineyard, in advance of the annual round of town meetings.
The topic provided lively debate at a joint meeting of the Chilmark selectmen and members of the FinCom on March 4, when the FinCom recommended a 3-percent COLA.
Selectmen were divided. Mr. Doty argued that the fiscal 2010 budget is less than the 2009 budget, and he supported the 3-percent increase. Chairman Frank Fenner supported a 2-percent COLA. Selectman J.B. Riggs Parker argued for no increases. He said many taxpayers had experienced a real decline in income and asked that any COLA be presented outside the budget for voters to consider separately from the budget.
At their meeting Tuesday, selectmen returned to the subject. Unable to reach agreement on a COLA figure, they decided to provide voters with two options, in the form of amendments offered on town meeting floor. These additional choices will be in addition to the 3-percent proposal in the budget presented in the town meeting warrant.
Tuesday, selectman Doty stuck at 3 percent for the COLA. Mr. Fenner stood on 2 percent. And Mr. Parker said he could not support any COLA increase this year.
Mr. Doty argued that the town has a procedure in place for the personnel board to use in establishing COLAs. "The formula indicates a 4.6-percent COLA is in order. I am comfortable with 3 percent. We are under budget. We've made cuts in police and harbormaster budgets as well as reducing hours and lower pay rates for new employees," he said.
"There is no inflation. We don't have a cost of living problem now," replied Mr. Parker, who noted that the 4.6-percent increase was based on financial conditions prior to the economic downturn last fall.
"I agree totally with Riggs that 3 percent is too much," said Mr. Fenner, who expressed concerns that deep budget cuts and use of free cash for the 2010 budget would not allow similar reductions next year. "We are just in the first year of this downturn."
The selectmen asked town accountant Tom Wilson to prepare an information sheet for voters that will show the cost to taxpayers of the three proposed COLA percentages.
Budget ups and downs
Before town meeting, selectmen and town officials called for strict fiscal discipline throughout the budget process. Even with employee raises, the cost of general government declined from $964,388 to $938,028. One savings came in legal expenses, down to $55,000 from $75,200.
The retirement of long-time police chief Tim Rich resulted in a cut in police department salaries. Cuts in other expenses reduced total public safety costs from $1,083,540 to $1,071,540.
An increase in the up-Island school district assessment, from $1,727,528 to $1,816,122, was offset by a decrease in the regional high school district assessment, from $537,268 to $490,399.
Under the heading of culture and recreation, one department that will increase is library salaries, from $160,153 to $180,755. At the same time beach salaries will drop from $233,225 to $219,770.
The cost of employee benefits, including health and retirement benefits, will increase from $717,522 to $731,571.
Chilmark taxpayers will also contribute $129,269 to fund the Martha's Vineyard Commission.
Wind shifts
The town meeting warrant includes requests for a total of $125,296 for various articles. These include $500 for an actuarial study of post-employment benefits and $75,000 to fund post-employment benefits for town employees.
Chilmark taxpayers will also be asked to help pay an increased share of the costs of operating two county departments, previously included in the Dukes County budget.
The county's draft 2010 budget calls for spending $69,542 on pest control and $90,469 on health care access. Chilmark taxpayers will be asked to contribute $8,029 to health care access and $4.691 to pest control.
In the next fiscal year, the county commissioners want to reduce the county's contribution to 40 percent of the budgets for these items and increase the towns' contributions to 60 percent of the overall costs. The eventual aim is that the towns will fully fund both programs. That money would be in addition to the county's annual assessment, $133,632 in FY 2010.
In addition to money requests, voters will also be asked to adopt a measure that would create a program to allow persons over the age of 60 to reduce their tax bill by up to $750 per year, in exchange for volunteer service. Voters will also take up two zoning bylaw amendments.
Article 22 provides that due "to the proliferation of mechanical devices associated with and accessory to dwellings, such as, but not exclusively, air conditioners/heat pumps, swimming pool heating and circulating pumps, and electric generators, noise levels as perceived by neighbors and the general public are increasing."
The article seeks to limit and abate "noise pollution" by screening or enclosing machinery "which has the potential to generate levels of sound with sufficient intensity and/or duration as to cause or contribute to a condition of noise pollution." The noise created by wind turbine rotor blades as they pass through the air would not be subject to the restrictions.
Article 22 sets new regulations for wind energy conversion systems, more commonly known as wind turbines. The purpose of the new regulations is to "provide for the development and use of wind power as an alternative energy source, while protecting reasonable private property rights, public health, safety and welfare, preserving environmental, historic and scenic resources, controlling noise levels and preventing electromagnetic interference."
The article addresses setbacks and the height, visual effect, and removal of equipment. It also creates a special permit-granting authority.
Voters may have little to talk about, or a great deal. The planning board last week voted to ask that the article be removed from consideration on town meeting floor. Some committee members think the regulations need more work.
However, planning board chairman Janet Wiedner yesterday told The Martha's Vineyard Times she thinks so much work has gone into the regulations that she would like to hear what voters think.
