Chilmark select board candidates Jeffrey Maida and William Meegan weighed on the community center's tennis program, housing and other issues at a candidates forum.
Chilmark voters got a chance to hear from candidates for select board at a forum hosted by the Island’s League of Women Voters Thursday.
The event, hosted at the community center and moderated by Deborah Medders, kicked off with candidate statements from Jeffrey Maida and William Meegan, both of whom are running for the select board seat now occupied by Bill Rossi.
Mr. Maida, former manager of the Net Result fish market and member of the harbor advisory committee, emphasized his Menemsha roots and dedication to the community.
“When elected, I will continue in honoring the foundation that has successfully made our town what it is today,” said Mr. Maida, who was born and raised in Chilmark. “I feel it is important to know what other people involved in town politics are thinking and what concerns they may have. I will always be accessible and willing to listen to your comments and concerns.”
Mr. Meegan, a retired builder and former member of the planning board, highlighted his municipal experience and commitment to transparency in his approach.
“I hold myself to a high level of accountability and love working with others in a spirit of cooperation and light heartedness,” he said. “My agenda is a desire for my family and all of you to be able to afford to continue to live here.”
Both candidates were given a chance to respond to questions from the audience. A controversy over how Chilmark manages the town tennis courts, and a warrant article establishing an independent tennis committee, was the subject of much discussion.
Mr. Maida called for more cooperation.
“It’s very unfortunate that the two groups are unable to work this out amongst themselves. And I still believe they could,” he said, of the conflict between the Chilmark Town Affairs Council and the Friends and Associates of Chilmark Tennis organizations.
“The current bylaws and fees proposed on the town warrant, I don’t think to me that it is 100 per cent in the best interest for the town. I think there needs to be some work done on it,” he said.
Mr. Meegan said he felt the issue largely centered on “human nature,” and should be resolved in the community.
“We have to get the egos out of the way, let’s roll up our sleeves and sit down and do the work” he said. “This is what’s at stake: the harmony of this summer community and the winter community.”
The forum also focused on affordability and engaging younger residents in town politics, along with a host of other issues. Mr. Maida pointed to ongoing infrastructure and traffic issues in Menemsha as being among his top priorities, while Mr. Meegan pointed to excessive town traffic as a major concern. Voters Thursday also heard from Jane Kaplan and Caitlin Kane, two candidates running for a seat on the library’s board of trustees.
Ms. Kaplan, a retired lawyer and the incumbent, has served as a trustee for 11 years, and said her institutional experience would be valuable as the library begins planning for future capital expenses.
“I’m interested in helping to preserve the Chilmark public library’s vital role in our community as a crucial aid to lifelong learning, a means of introducing our children to the joys of literature, research and intellectual discovery, and as a source of enrichment for all ages,” she said.
Ms. Kane, meanwhile, is challenging Ms. Kaplan to make the library more welcoming to schoolchildren and parents.
“[Children’s] presence isn’t always encouraged, and I’m not the only person who feels that way,” she said. “I want to be a voice for students and families at the school.”
Ms. Medders also read statements submitted by unchallenged candidates who did not attend the forum that evening, including Richard Osnoss for planning board and Jan Buhrman for board of health.
The Chilmark town election will take place Wednesday, April 24, at the Chilmark Community Center, with polls open from noon to 8 p.m.
Comments
I like both these men.
Tom Engley West TisburyI like both these men. Jeffery Maida is my choice.
Ditto Tom, Go Jeffery !
Homegrown ChilmarkDitto Tom, Go Jeffery !
Having read “Chilmark
Steve Lewis ChilmarkHaving read “Chilmark Candidates Make their Case” summarizing the meeting hosted by the League of Women Voters earlier this week, I’d like to offer some clarification on the Town Tennis Committee proposal that was raised at the meeting and is scheduled to be voted on at the Chilmark town meeting on April 23rd, in the hope it will encourage both candidates to gather further information about this issue before coming to any final conclusions about how to remedy it.
Mr. Maida is quoted as saying, regarding the warrant article establishing an independent tennis committee, “The current bylaws and fees proposed on the town warrant, I don’t think to me that it is 100 per cent in the best interest for the town. I think there needs to be some work done on it.” I’m concerned that those reading this may be misinformed. As one of the authors of the Town Tennis Committee financial plan that was submitted at the request of the Select Board, I can state that the proposed tennis committee would impose no fees or other charges on the town, and nor would it impact taxpayers. On the contrary, it would generate an annual surplus of $20,000-$40,000 that would be available, at the Town’s discretion, to be used for long-overdue capital improvements to the tennis facilities or for other community goals, such as enlarging youth tennis participation (for anyone interested in the details, the full plan is attached to the agenda for last Tuesday’s select board meeting available on the town website).
Mr Meegan blames “human nature” for the controversy over how to manage the town’s tennis courts, saying “We have to get the egos out of the way, let’s roll up our sleeves and sit down and do the work. This is what’s at stake: the harmony of this summer community and the winter community.” While that’s a laudable goal, blaming this on human nature obscures the underlying problem that has given rise to this state of affairs, namely that the executive leadership of the Chilmark Town Affairs Council (CTAC) has created a self-perpetuating group that has lost the support of its own board (at least 10 members of which have resigned over the last year and a half, many saying they did so because they felt marginalized and bullied) and, most importantly, of the significant year-round tennis community in Chilmark. The more than one hundred and thirty signatories of the citizen’s petition that put this warrant on the town meeting agenda, including virtually every single individual or family that regularly participates in Chilmark Community Tennis, are evidence of this. It is precisely because human nature is fallible, that it needs rules that guarantee its accountability. This is, in fact, one of the main goals that supporters of the Town Tennis Committee proposal are seeking to achieve.
Wishing both candidates success!
Steve Lewis
Chilmark
My children and I love the
Chilmark Parent Up IslandMy children and I love the Chilmark Library! We’re there every week, usually multiple times. We do yoga, take art classes, grab snacks after school and hang out with the dozen other family in the children’s room. So lively. So much fun. I’ve never seen Ms. Kane there - maybe try it before you knock it?
While both candidates exhibit
Community Member ChilmarkWhile both candidates exhibit a strong interest in Chilmark's well-being, it's essential to shift our focus towards the broader community and recognize the mutual benefits that Chilmark and all of Martha's Vineyard derive from a cohesive summer and winter community. While Menemsha's significance is acknowledged, it shouldn't overshadow the larger issues at hand. Mr. Meegan's emphasis on housing affordability, backed by his experience on the Peaked Hill Planning Committee, his background as a builder and planning board member, and his collaborative approach, demonstrates his capacity to find pragmatic solutions. His priority lies in addressing community issues rather than solely focusing on financial aspects or superficial understanding. Therefore, Mr. Meegan earns my vote.
Not sure what library Caitlin
Doug AquinnahNot sure what library Caitlin is talking about... the Chilmark Library has regular art programming from the talented local Jen Burkin, and weekly yoga classes with local fave Yogi Jay. There are story times twice every week, with new youth services librarian Drew Dubno (who also plays guitar and has an excellent selection of Grimm's toys for kids to play with). There are also weekly after-school activities instructed by excellent teachers from the Chilmark School including Georgia Halliday (Brazil: Cultures Class). We love the Chilmark Library and all that it offers, especially for young children and their families.
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