Too long taxpayers have not spoken out. Now, in this time of financial stress, we are starting to speak. But, so far, we are not being listened to.

With less than two months to the critical Annual Town Meeting on May 11th and, in some respects, the even more critical Town Election on May 14th, it’s time for us to prepare to stand up for our interests, the interests of the taxpayers, the people who pay the bills.

We already have hundreds who are rallying to the defense of the taxpayers. It should not be automatic that our property taxes go up every year. It should not be thought that, despite desperate financial times, taxpayers should pay more for town business as usual. Expensive new projects that can wait or that should be reconfigured to be better values for the taxpayer should not go forward now.

Three important meetings are coming up in the next few days. Those who can are urged to attend to make their voices be heard.

1. The first important meeting is tonight (Thursday) at 7, at Town Hall. It will be carried on Channel 18, but it will be more beneficial if you show up to support the hard decisions that need to be made. The Finance Committee has an enormously difficult job to do. The members have just officially been handed the $32,356,835 operating budget by the Selectmen, who basically accepted the Town Manager’s budget without making any ‘real’ reductions in the spending he proposed. Committee members are hard-working and dedicated, led by long-time Chatham resident Colie Yeaw, who understands the concerns of the taxpayers. Mr. Yeaw has prepared a detailed agenda (at the end of this entry) explaining what they will tackle tonight. It will be a great learning experience for those who can attend or watch on Channel 18 (or later on the Town’s website as an on-demand video). You may also have an opportunity to express your views.

2. Monday, March 16th at 4, at Town Hall and on Channel 18, the Selectmen will hear Town Manager Hinchey argue why he must suddenly rush forward with a spending proposal at the May 11th town meeting for the hugely expensive Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan before taxpayers have had a proper opportunity to learn what the costs will be for them. Before the Selectmen’s meeting on Tuesday, March 3rd, when the Town Manager showed a couple of graphs to illustrate an idea, no financial information of any sort had been published – and those graphs were not a basis for informed decision-making.

Since Mr. Hinchey has already indicated he plans to schedule a meeting in January 2010 for a major bonding authorization ($39.5 million), Chatham Concerned Taxpayers’ position is that no action regarding spending authorization should be taken before January. In the interim, and as soon as possible, the Town Manager and other officials should issue full information about the project covering at least these subjects: Why this proposal is the right one for Chatham, why it is being put forward for implementation in the midst of the worst recession in decades, what the proposed construction timetable will be, when money will be spent, when bonding will be done and its costs and what the annual impacts on property taxpayers will be. Opportunities to debate these and related matters should be provided over the next several months throughout the town. The 2007 estimated cost of $270 million (which estimate should be updated) dwarfs anything the town has ever done.

Everyone supports protecting the precious Chatham environment and everyone should want Chatham not to be changed because a full-fledged, large capacity wastewater disposal system is to be built. There is a place on Cape Cod for the condo towns, but Chatham must remain Chatham.

3. Tuesday, March 17th at 4, the Selectmen will hear from the sponsors of the petition for an Article in the Warrant for the May 11th Annual Town Meeting for a moratorium on the PD/Annex project. These are not the times for this $20 million project.

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Chatham Finance Committee
Meeting Agenda

Date: Thursday, March 12, 2009
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Selectmen’s Meeting Room, Town Hall

1. Call to Order

2. Approve Minutes of 3/5 meeting

3. Review of the FY 10 Chatham Anglers’ Request

4. Vote on Article 6 – Operating Budget
a. Use of Free Cash
b. Use of Debt Drop Off
c. Use of Stabilization Fund
d. Use of Overlay Surplus Funds
e. Use of Excess Levy Capacity – not used
f. Use of Reserve Fund
g. Use of Encumbered Funds

5. Vote on Article 7 – Water Dep’t. Operating Budget
6. Vote on Article 8 – COLA
7. Vote on Article 9 – Transfer from Stabilization Fund for
a. Public Safety Overtime
b. Library
c. School Circuit Breaker
8. Vote on Article 11 – 5 Year Capital Plan
9. Vote on Article 12 - Transfer from Stabilization Fund for Trailers
10. Vote on Article 13 – Water Dep’t. Capital Plan
11. Vote on Article 14 – Waste Water Bond
12. Vote on Article 17 – MCI Lease
13. Vote on Article 19 – Public Ceremonies Committee composition
14. Vote on Article 21 – Kendrick Village Easement
15. Discussion of Finance Committee Warrant Report