Second chance: Chatham Center for Active Living proposal may still have life

Michael Sereda, Cape Cod Times
Updated ·3 min read

CHATHAM — Supporters of a new Center for Active Living got new hope Thursday when voters in the annual town election approved Question 1 with 624 yes votes against 481 no votes.

Responding to a letter from Town Manager Jill Goldsmith posted on the town's website, town attorney Patrick Costello said if voters approve the ballot question the town has "a reasonable time" to put the debt exclusion to build the $10.6 million center before a new town meeting. That measure would require a two-thirds majority at town meeting.

At the May 6 town meeting, voters endorsed the project twice but failed to gather the necessary two-thirds majority.

Chatham Town Meeting Chatham Town Meeting voters reject $10.6M Center for Active Living -- twice

At the Chatham town meeting on May 6, a proposal to build a new Center for Active Living gained voter support but not the required two-thirds majority. A $10.6 million debt exclusion was before the voters to build the center on donated land.
At the Chatham town meeting on May 6, a proposal to build a new Center for Active Living gained voter support but not the required two-thirds majority. A $10.6 million debt exclusion was before the voters to build the center on donated land.

The Select Board meets again May 16.

"Officially nothing has been discussed about bringing the item back to either the next Town Meeting or a Special Town Meeting. Clearly the Select Board will need to discuss “next steps," said Board Chair Cory Metters in an email to the Times..

At that meeting, Metters said, he's "planning to provide a recap of election/ ballot results ... If any of my board members wish to have a more in-depth discussion about any particular item we would schedule that soon."

Metters said he's aware that Town Clerk Julie Smith has received multiple emails about the process to call a Special Town Meeting.

Patricia Burke, chair of the Council on Aging's Board of Directors and a firm advocate for the new senior center, said in a phone interview Friday, that she was heartened by the town election vote.

As to whether advocates will make another go at it, Burke said they will take their cue from what the Select Board has to say.

The people who operate the existing Center for Active Living were crestfallen by the failure of measure at town meeting, she said.

"The Board of the Chatham Center for Active Living was disappointed by Saturday’s outcome as we believe a new site is needed to meet the needs of the Chatham Senior Community now and in the future," Burke said in an email.

In Thursday's election, incumbent Select Board member Shareen Davis was returned to office with 766 votes, fending off a write-in challenge by David Mott who gathered 136 votes, according to results posted by the town clerk's office.

Incumbent Jacqueline Mary Zibrat-Long and Elizabeth Gray ran unopposed for two three-year terms on the Monomoy Regional School Committee. Zibrat-Long received 799 votes and Gray picked up 663.

In the race for a one-year unexpired term on the Monomoy Regional School Committee, write-in candidate Joanne Scotti Finnegan is the apparent winner, bringing in 134 votes.

Chatham Center for Active Living Chatham Center for Active Living could become housing. Here's how that would happen.

Running unopposed, Bruce Beane won a five-year term on the Housing Authority with 790 votes.

Here's what happened with the remaining ballot questions.

Voters on a 785-304 vote approved Question 2 to spend $4.8 million to overhaul and redesign the municipal transfer station at 97 Sam Ryder Road.

Shareen Davis was reelected to the Chatham Select Board at the May 11 annual town election.
Shareen Davis was reelected to the Chatham Select Board at the May 11 annual town election.

On a 875-195 vote, residents approved Question 3, a Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion to spend $4.5 million to buy a second sludge processor for the wastewater treatment plant.

In Question 4, voters on a 727-330 tally approved the creation of a Charter Review Committee to examine and consider any changes to the charter, starting in the year 2030. They would assemble in years ending with zero.

A total of 1,118 of the town's 5,945 registered voters came to the polls.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Chatham senior center still has a chance after town election vote