February 19, 2010

Edgartown Board of Selectmen
Edgartown Town Hall
Main Street
Edgartown, MA 02539

Dear Selectmen:

We were surprised and dismayed to find out Thursday that the Planning Board and Highway Department had sponsored a notice to be published in the February 19th Vineyard Gazette stating that there would be a presentation on February 26th regarding the findings of Northeastern University Civil Engineering Students for a potential bike path on Chappaquiddick. In addition, we learned that the Highway Department was paying for the ad.

We are not able to attend the meeting which is very troubling because of two (among many) concerns. The first and ultimate one is that we oppose any roadside path on Chappy. Such a path is highly unpopular here for all of the reasons previously communicated to your Board members and to the Planning Board.

The two attachments are especially disturbing because they would lead anyone to believe that this project has somehow gained the support of the Selectmen, Planning Board, and the superintendant of the Highway Department, first by sponsoring the meeting and, secondly, by paying for the ad. The Chappy Path Committee is a group of private citizens who appear to have assumed the authority to move forward on a widely unpopular proposed project.

We are further disappointed that even though the Board of Selectmen and Planning Board have publically given the mixed use path proposal no support, there will now be the perception that your boards are  supporting such a proposal or an alternative.

If in fact you do not support any proposal because of previously announced reasons at public meetings, we urge you to do whatever is necessary to set the record straight.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely, 

Bob and Fran Clay
302 Chappaquiddick Rd.
Edgartown, MA 02539

cc:  Edgartown Planning Board