Tues Dec 9, Edgartown Special Town Meeting, 7PM Edgartown Elementary School Articles affecting affordable housing, additional money to complete an eminent domain land purchase, and the first step in extending the town's sewer system to Island Grove, a large subdivision. The sewer issue is article 11, a request to voters to spend $85,000 from the town's free cash account for design, permitting, and bidding of sewer work. "I'm hoping we're going to see a large turnout on the issue of engineering Island Grove," said Art Smadbeck, chairman of the board of selectmen. "It's very, very important to the town, and to Edgartown Great Pond. It is key to Edgartown Great Pond for the future." The 148-home subdivision lies within the Great Pond watershed. According to Mr. Smadbeck, residents of Island Grove have agreed to pay for half the cost of extending the sewer system. From MV Times article in the Wastewater Update below.

Mon Dec 8, Channel 13 9PM and Tues Dec 9 at 8PM. Check MVTV for other airings

On November 20, the Commission adopted revisions to the DRI Checklist, the standards and criteria that indicate which projects towns refer to the MVC for review as Developments of Regional Impact. A significant change is that properties for which a previous DRI application has been denied, or withdrawn, or for which a previous DRI approval has expired without implementation, would no longer be automatically considered a DRI for a new application on the property. Only those properties whose projects have been approved and implemented would carry the “Once a DRI always a DRI” label, requiring MVC review of any further development. (See next page for a summary of other changes.) The revised DRI Checklist will go into effect after approval by the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs. (The revised Checklist is available on the website – search for “checklist” – or from the MVC. Information: foley@mvcommission.org)

For the past couple of months, the Steering Committee has been looking at how we might outline and evaluate development and growth scenarios. It has tentatively narrowed down the options to: “No Net Growth” and “Modest Growth”, which will be compared with “Present Trends”. It has asked MVC staff to compare these options using a number of indicators such as traffic impact, wastewater treatment, habitat and open space, and food selfsufficiency.

• Meetings with Planning Boards: Representatives of the Steering Committee are holding working sessions with all Island Planning Boards to discuss the relation between the ideas emerging in the Island Plan, especially related to development & growth, and the town’s planning priorities.
• Transportation and Built Environment: Representatives of these two work groups will meet the Steering Committee in December to discuss the groups’ draft recommendations.
• Development & Growth Survey: It’s not too late to fill out the Development & Growth survey, either on-line (www.islandplan.org), or by completing a copy at your library or the MVC.

Coastal Pollutant Remediation Grants - CZM is seeking proposals for the Coastal Pollutant Remediation Grant Program (CPR). For FY09, the CPR program will provide up to $345,000 to municipalities located in the Massachusetts coastal watersheds to assess and remediate stormwater pollution from paved surfaces and to design and install boat-waste pumpout facilities. Up to $125,000 may be requested, and a 25 percent match of the total project cost is required. To view the Request for Responses (RFR), visit the Comm-PASS website and search for solicitation number "ENV 09 CZM 03." For more information, contact Jay Baker at jason.baker@state.ma.us. Applications are due by January 9, 2009, and projects must be completed by June 30, 2009.

Funding for Habitat Management on Private Lands - MassWildlife's Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) is seeking competitive grant proposals from individual landowners, land trusts, sportsmen's clubs, farmland owners, and other conservation organizations for the restoration or creation of wildlife habitat for the benefit of species-at-risk on private lands. To view the RFR, visit the Comm-PASS website and search for document number "FWELP-2009-001." Applications are due by December 19.

Job Listing: UNIX/Linux System Administrator, Job # ITME01 This full-time position reports to the Director of Information Systems and works closely with scientific staff to administer, maintain and upgrade UNIX/Linux systems and high performance computing clusters (HPCCs) applied to geo-spatial modeling, satellite image processing and database programming. The position requires ability to work in a diverse computing environment combining Linux/Solaris and Windows servers, PCs and Macs, high-density blade enclosures, and Network and Direct Attached Storage (NAS & DAS) devices.
Application Instructions: To apply, send cover letter referencing Job # ITME01, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references to jobopenings@whrc.org