TOWN OF PROVINCETOWN - BOARD OF SELECTMEN

REGULAR MEETING - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2007

JUDGE WELSH HEARING ROOM

Chairman Mary-Jo Avellar convened the meeting at 6:32 PM noting the following Board of Selectmen attending: Mary-Jo Avellar, Michele Couture, Austin Knight, Pam Parmakian, Lynne Davies

Other attendees: Town Manager Sharon Lynn, Asst. Town Manager David Gardner, Municipal Finance Director Alix Heilala

Recorder: Vernon G. Porter

The following are meeting minutes, in brief.

1A REAL PROPERTY VALUE

MGL C. 39§23B cl. 6

The Board took up this agenda item during their 5:30 executive session.

1B PUBLIC HEARING: TOWN HALL RENTAL USE

Chairman Avellar read the Public Hearing Notice into the record and introduced Licensing Agent Darlene Van Alstyne.

Public Comments

Lynn Mogell – 7 Center Street - Encourage the Board to maximize the use of Town Hall, and consider a sliding scale for those non-profits on low budgets, yet to also make a significant income from performers who demand high dollars (For Profit Organizations). Women’s Innkeepers stopped using Town Hall several years ago because they could not afford to pay the incredible fees of town hall.

Rick Murray – 63 Commercial Street – I spoke on this matter back in September asking you to have this Public Hearing regards to rental fees, and gave you some quotes and some numbers. “For Profit” functions – rental fees are extremely low, and I ask you to think about them.

Board of Selectmen Comments

Open discussion ensue.

Suggestion that it be a licensed venue, and that all “For Profits” be treated equally. Fees have not been raised since April 27, 1998.

Suggested that the Town Manager work with the Licensing Agent and come up with a fee structure that is reasonable. Check with some of the entertainers who use town hall. Look at this after the Budget Meetings in January. 90 days too long a waiting period to rent town hall.

1C PUBLIC HEARING: CURB CUT REQUEST – 4 to 6 HOLWAY AVENUE

No public comments and no written comments.

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote, pursuant to General Bylaw 11-6-2, to approve the request of William N. Rogers on behalf of Edward H. Foley and Sherman A. Merrill, Sr., to establish a curb cut at the property located at 4 to 6 Holway Avenue, Provincetown, MA. (Assessor’s Map 7-4, Parcels 54,55,56 & 57).

Motion by: Michele Couture Seconded by: Austin Knight Yea 5 Nay 0

1D PUBLIC HEARING: CURB CUT REQUEST – 207A BRADFORD STREET

Public Comments

Marcene Marcoux – Clarification on how it was resolved years ago.

Attorney Duane Landreth representing the applicant - Explained the past history of this location. There are no issues, and the cases have been settled and dismissed. He received a Letter of Dismissal dated November 26, 2007 from our Town Counsel Jonathan Silverstein.

Julie Schecter - Went before the Historic Commission three weeks ago, and they approve this plan unanimously.

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote, pursuant to General Bylaw 11-6-2, to approve the request of Martin Donoghue on behalf of Julie Schecter of 207A Bradford St., Provincetown, MA. (Assessor’s Map 15- 1, Parcel-27) to establish a curb cut at the property located at 207 Bradford Street. (Assessor’s Map 12-4, Parcel 60, with the condition that the Town Manager receive approval from Town Counsel.

Motion by: Michele Couture Seconded by: Pam Parmakian Yea 5 Nay 0

2. PUBLIC STATEMENTS

Rick Murray - Rental of Town Hall – Rent the space to maximize the return.

Gigi Ledkovsky – (Fine Arts Work Center). Would like the Board of Selectmen to know how much the Visitor Services Board has meant to the Fine Arts Work Center over the past several years. (See attachment #2)

Lynn Mogell – Executive Director of Women Innkeepers of Provincetown read letter into record (See attachment #1)

Don Knuuttila, Executive Director of PBG - If funds from VSB are cut we could not continue to market Provincetown as the premier Gay and Lesbian vacation destination. Regarding Town Hall Rental - urge you to increase FOR PROFIT fees dramatically.

James Mack, Chairman of the Beautification Committee – Re: Waterfront Park Project that the VSB will be talking about this evening. The Beautification Committee voted unanimously to support the Visitor Services Boards presentation this evening.

Barbara Rushmore - I came tonight to speak on behalf of the taxpayers and the town on our financial problems. I felt very very badly when the contract for the Police and the people who work in town when was turned down when it came before the voters during the special election .I think it was turned down because people thought there was more money in the budget and in the different accounts that could be used, and they wouldn’t have to go with an override. I think it would be unwise for the town to have a special election in February. My suggestion for this problem is to turn the money ($76K) earmarked for the Waterfront Park over to the General Fund.

Astrid Berg - Rental of Town Hall – urge Board of Selectmen to raise fees drastically for “For-Profit” venues. As for the Budget – Ms. Rushmore brought up some good ideas.

Stephen Melamed – 1) The VSB has been a major element to the Town and let them control the 45% that goes to them. 2) Town Hall Fees – am in favor of significantly increasing fees for “For Profit” organizations, and hope that the Board of Selectmen comes up with a viable business plan. 3) Waterfront Park - it would be delightful if people who arrive by water were greeted with a nice “Welcome to Provincetown”.

Mary-Jo Avellar left the room as her husband is an employee of the Pier Corporation.

Vaughan Cabral - Courtesy Dock – abutter at float space 2W and at Cabral Enterprises. Why wasn’t I notified of the hearing. If you build that dock, how can I turn it around? If you build the dock twice as big as it is now, it will affect a lot of things – i.e., if I want to put a bigger boat in there, I can’t. If you put 2 or 3 boats abreast you just don’t have enough room. There are a lot of considerations that need to be taken into consideration. I think the Board needs to reconsider your vote. The piles they drove in April are floating around the harbor. They can’t even pay for things they are going to do now.

Clarence Walker – 1) I just realized that the courtesy dock is going to be extended. The Board needs to give this some more thought. I will not be able to back out and turn my boat around when there are heavy winds. 2) At the last meeting it was refreshing that the Town Manager has a plan of action. Also, I question that State Grant for the hook-up of the Sewer to the Manor. What happens if we don’t get that grant? Where is the money going to come from?

Mary-Jo Avellar returned.

Marcene Marcoux - Was impressed with the Town Manager and the directions you are planning to take with the 2009 Budget. Applaud you all in the direction you are taking.

Mary-Jo Avellar left the room as her husband is an employee of the Pier Corporation

Kerry Adams – The previous speaker alluded to the Grant Proposal that you folks were in favor of the Courtesy Dock. It is surprising to hear the negativity coming now, but I would like to say that there will be a meeting here this Thursday of the Public Pier Corp at 4 PM, and I would invite anyone who has any issues with this to come please come to the meeting and let us hear them. Nobody has come to our meetings and expressed any concerns about this until now. 2) We have been assaulted quite a bit of late, and I do want to add that we’ve done quite a lot of favorable things for the town: a) the pavillion, b) restroom to the pier, c) new trap sheds, d) a sign is going up “Welcome to MacMillan Pier” and going to have it up by Spring, e) a new sign is going up on top of the Pavillion, “Welcome to Provincetown” for the boating community. So, there are a lot of pluses that are happening. 3) In regards to the rental of town hall, I am in favor some type of increase, even if it is a percentage basis fee. We also have a Community Center in Provincetown that is not be utilized as much as it could be.

Mary-Jo Avellar returned.

3. SELECTMEN STATEMENTS

Austin Knight

It came to my attention that the Manor is still at the old Library, and we should keep it in mind for rental next June 1^st.

Michele Couture

Mr..Walker – that is not a State Grant that is a Department of Agricultural Grant.

It’s time we look at our town facilities and come up with plans on how we want to see them utilized.

Rental of Town Hall – Concerning a business plan .. clearly we are mindful of working for the betterment of the town.

Discussion about the tax rate. Need to have a meeting with the Assessor – sooner rather than later.

Concerning the Grant for the Pier Corporation – I agree with Mr. Cabral there wasn’t a public hearing process. There should have been some abutters notice. That’s certainly a question I intend on asking.

Visitor Services Board – are an incredibly hard working board, they are an advisory board, and they have given us some very good advice. I think we have some difficult decisions to make, and will talk about that in the agenda item.

Pam Parmakian

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to send a letter of thanks to Jim Bakker and his Staff at the Pilgrim Monument and Pilgrim Museum for the lighting of the Monument.

Motion by: Pam Parmakian Seconded by: Michele Couture Yea 5 Nay 0

Lynne Davies

Reminder if anyone would like to join me on December 5^th to go to the Federal Reserve Board in Boston and learn what’s being done to bring Alternative Financing and Revenue to Towns in Massachusetts.

Re: Email concerning “Supplemental FY ’08 Budget – Chapter 70 Receipts” -

Mary-Jo Avellar

Went to Library on Sunday to see Karen McDonald’s film on Rose Dorothea.

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to send a letter of thanks to our Assistant Librarian Karen McDonald on her film production on the Rose Dorothea.

Motion by: Michele Couture Seconded by: Austin Knight Yea 5 Nay 0

4A APPOINTMENT – Zoning Board of Appeals

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to appoint Robert Littlefield as a Regular Member of the Zoning Board of Appeals with a term expiration date of December 31, 2008.

Motion by: Michele Couture Seconded by: Pam Parmakian Yea 5 Nay 0

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to appoint Anne Howard as a Regular Member of the Zoning Board of Appeals with a term expiration date of December 31, 2009.

Motion by: Michele Couture Seconded by: Pam Parmakian Yea 5 Nay 0

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to appoint Amy Germain as a Regular Member of the Zoning Board of Appeals with a term expiration date of December 31, 2010.

Motion by: Michele Couture Seconded by: Pam Parmakian Yea 5 Nay 0

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to appoint Keith Amato as an Alternate Member of the Zoning Board of Appeals with a term expiration date of December 31, 2010

Motion by: Michele Couture Seconded by: Pam Parmakian Yea 5 Nay 0

4B APPOINTMENT

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to appoint Liz Angelino as a Regular Member of the Licensing Board with a term expiration date of December 31, 2010.

Motion by: Michele Couture Seconded by: Pam Parmakian Yea 5 Nay 0

4C APPOINTMENT – 2007 YEAR END APPOINTMENTS

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to appoint Georgia Coxe as a Regular Member of the Art Commission with a term expiration date of December 31, 2010.

Motion by: Michele Couture Seconded by: Austin Knight Yea 5 Nay 0

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to appoint Stephen Borkowski as a Regular Member of the Art Commission with a term expiration date of December 31, 2010.

Motion by: Michele Couture Seconded by: Austin Knight Yea 5 Nay 0

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to appoint Erna Partoll as an Alternate Member of the Art Commission with a term expiration date of December 31, 2010.

Motion by: Michele Couture Seconded by: Austin Knight Yea 5 Nay 0

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to appoint Patricia Deluca as a Regular Member of the Board of Assessors with a term expiration date of December 31, 2010.

Motion by: Michele Couture Seconded by: Lynne Davies Yea 5 Nay 0

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to appoint Margaret Hamilton as a Regular Member of the Cultural Council with a term expiration date of December 31, 2010.

Motion by: Michele Couture Seconded by: Austin Knight Yea 5 Nay 0

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to appoint Frank Vasello as a Regular Member of the Cultural Council with a term expiration date of December 31, 2010.

Motion by: Michele Couture Seconded by: Austin Knight Yea 5 Nay 0

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to appoint Mary Alice Johnston as a Regular Member of the Cultural Council with a term expiration date of December 31, 2010.

Motion by: Michele Couture Seconded by: Austin Knight Yea 5 Nay 0

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to appoint Mary Ann Cabral as a Regular Member of the John A. Francis Scholarship Fund with a term expiration date of December 31, 2010.

Motion by: Michele Couture Seconded by: Austin Knight Yea 5 Nay 0

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to appoint Mary Ann Cabral as a Regular Member of the Town Scholarship Fund with a term expiration date of December 31, 2010.

Motion by: Michele Couture Seconded by: Austin Knight Yea 5 Nay 0

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to appoint Susan Cook as a Regular Member of the Recreation Commission with a term expiration date of December 31, 2010.

Motion by: Michele Couture Seconded by: Pam Parmakian Yea 5 Nay 0

MOTION: Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to appoint Cass Benson as a Regular Member of the Recreation Commission with a term expiration date of December 31, 2010.