Feb. 22, 2010

To: The Edgartown Board of Selectmen
      The Edgartown Planning Board

Re: The Chappy Bike Path

Dear Edgartown Selectmen and Planning Board Members: 

It recently came to my attention that while the Board of Selectmen, the Planning Board, and the MVC recently denied support to the Chappy Path Committee (CPC) for several reasons, including they lacked adequate levels of support from the Community, currently the CPC and the Planning Boards and Highway Department are involved in a joint design effort and have enlisted a team of Northeastern University graduate students and their instructor to present design options for a Chappy Bike Path. 
  
Where is the appropriate due process and due diligence? Why are design options being reviewed by the Edgartown planning board and Stuart Fuller of the Highway department without any prior community discussion or Selectmen involvement? Where are the Selectmen in this? What was the Town’s assessment that informed these designs? What was Town POV regarding the environmental and geological impacts, given that this path would run through wetlands,conservation lands, and special habitats. Who checked the appropriate licensing, certifications, and relevant experience of the the mechanical and environmental engineers (or as I understand students) who are involved in this informal yet formal effort?  

As a taxpayer, isn’t it reasonable to expect that the Selectmen would be involved and first review levels of community support before any effort proceeded to design review? Also wouldn’t then a process be developed for a full and professional assessment to be performed? One that includes a full review of the appropriate licensing and experience base required by a design team? 

I am tremendously concerned that this dialogue and effort has stepped outside of an accepted community process and I would ask the Boards to answer just what process do they consider themselves following presently?

As a 10-year Chappy resident and landholder, I submit that the Edgartown Planning Board and Highway Department should not be holding public hearings on the merits of a student design team on a project such as the bike path on Chappaquiddick. 

The only step the Boards should be involved in now is answering the first valid question at this point and that is “ IS such bike path necessary or desirable to the Community?” This was done and the Board received the Community’s answer. That answer was NO. I would hope the Board will explain their actions and involvement on why they are continuing to put Town time, energy, and effort participating or sanctioning any subsequent activities.

Yours truly,

Jack McCauley