Will $11 million senior center pass on third try? Chatham town meeting faces question
CHATHAM — A hotly contested proposal for a new Council on Aging building will be the star of the show during the special town meeting on Sept. 18.
There are just eight articles on the docket. The first four votes revolve mostly around housekeeping articles, such as paying bills with available funds. This is for bills received after the close of the fiscal year.
The town meeting will mark the third time residents consider the proposal for a new Council on Aging building. According to a report by town staff to the Select Board, the proposed two-story Center for Active Living is projected to cost $10,961,961.
What is the Council on Aging building issue about?
Voters last defeated the proposal at the town meeting in May — twice. The new building would be located at 1610 Main St. in West Chatham, a Route 28 site donated to the town by Bill Marsh. Two separate votes were held. While the proposal got a majority of support both times, it did not garner two-thirds of the vote as required and failed narrowly.
At Chatham's annual election on May 11, voters approved Question 1 — which sought a Proposition 2½ debt exclusion for the project — with 624 yes votes against 481 no votes, paving the way for the town to hold another vote at a new town meeting.
Why does the Council on Aging issue matter to voters?
Opponents say the plan is too expensive and shows little compromise and that the location is wrong. Supporters say the current Council on Aging building is inadequate, does not meet resident needs, and that costs will only increase.
If the measure is approved, at an interest rate of 5% for a 20-year term, a house valued at $1 million would see the yearly tax bill increase by $94.42 in the first year. The annual amount would shrink over time with the final increase estimated to be $49.45, according to the report by town staff.
What is a town meeting?
A town meeting is both an event and an entity, according to the Secretary of the Commonwealth's website. As an event, it is a gathering of a town’s eligible voters, and is referred to as “the town meeting.” As an entity, it is the legislative body for towns in Massachusetts, and is referred to simply as “town meeting.” Thirteen of the 15 Cape Cod towns including Chatham have “open town meetings,” meaning all voters who live in that town may vote on all matters. Falmouth has a “representative town meeting,” where all voters elect town meeting members who then vote on all town meeting matters. The town of Barnstable is governed by an elected town council rather than by a town meeting.
When and where is the Chatham town meeting?
The special town meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Sept. 18 at the Monomoy Regional Middle School at 425 Crowell Road.
Where can I find the warrant?
The warrant is mailed to all who are registered before the town meeting. It can also be found online on the town website.
Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at zrazzaq@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @zanerazz.
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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: The land is free but new $11M Chatham senior center awaits voter nod
