SAVING CHAPPY ROADS Committee
NOTES FROM SELECTMANS’ MEETING
Monday, August 03, 2009, 4 PM, Edgartown Town Hall

N.B. These are not official minutes of the meeting. Those will be posted on the Selectman’s website at a later date.
Present: Selectpersons Michael Donaroma, Margaret Serpa,  Arthur Smadbeck and Town Administrator Pamela Dolby. The proceedings were video-taped by the Town.
The audience included spokespersons and supporters of both proponents and opponents of the bike path. There were about 35-40 persons in the audience, most of whom were interested in the bike path issue.
Selectman Chair, Mike Donaroma, recognized that both groups had requested time on the agenda today and Dick Knight  presented a proposal from the proponents (attached). The proposal requested the formation of an ad hoc committee to develop a specific plan for a Chappy path, for members to be only 4 Chappy proponents in addition to members from  FinCom, Community Preservation and the Highway department. This group was to prepare a proposal for the warrant of Town Meeting in the spring of 2010.
Geoff Kontje spoke for the opponents of the path. He presented the Selectmen with a list of over 200 opponents of the path and a copy of the Neighborhood Letter sent to all Chappy residents last week. He outlined the negative aspects of the proposed path: lack of support of Chappy residents, increased biking danger, degradation of the landscape, poor aesthetics, financial burden, lack of consideration of other alternatives to address perceived needs.
Other speakers opposing the path mentioned:
The moderated public informational meeting of Tues August 11, 7-8:30 pm at the CCC, initiated by the opponents who have extended an invitation to participate to the proponents (some of whom indicated they would attend).
The excellent bike safety record on Chappy (only 8 reported bike accidents in 10 years and none involving automobiles).
Alternative responses to summer safety issues (a management plan for the Point traffic congestion, town owned small lots used for youth recreation areas to play, learn and ride bikes, use of the Chappy trail system for biking exercise, improved education and signage for bikers as to the ‘Rules of the Road, police officer to enforce the 25 mph speed limit). 
Need for improving the condition of the current roadway so bikes and walkers can safely use the road.
A personal example of the danger of walkers sharing a mixed use path with bikers. (A proponent then stated that “this path would be big and wide so that would not be an issue here.”)
Numerous studies showing that bike paths were more dangerous for bikers due to the increased number of curb cuts across the path and the preference of experienced bikers not to utilize a mixed use bike path.
Speakers in favor of a new path mentioned:
Repeated their preference for a one-sided town committee to design specific plans for a path now.
The history of their two public presentations (June and July 2009) on Chappy showed great public support for the project.
The ‘big’ size of the path would eliminate any safety issue of mixed use (2 way bike traffic, walkers, runners, strollers).
Arthur Smadbeck, Selectman, questioned the utility of a committee formed only of proponents (one side only) and suggested a joint conversation of both sides before bringing any warrant article to Town Meeting floor.  All selectmen acknowledged the strong emotions of both sides of the issue. They stated the ‘ultimate goal was the safety of all bikers on Chappy.” They clearly wanted the two sides to try to work together before bringing matters to Town Meeting.  It was acknowledged that it is the Town Meeting, the voters of Edgartown (which includes Chappy) that will decide the bike path issue. They did not vote on the request for the Ad Hoc Committee of Proponents. They wished to study the materials distributed to them and consider the matter further at their August meeting.
Pam Dolby, Town Administrator, put the bike path on the agenda for the August 17 Selectman’s Meeting.
The bike path discussion was concluded about 5 pm.