2023: LIBRARY, TOWN MEETINGS, MONOMOY WILDLIFE REFUGE PATH

 

I was in an email letter writing mood today

Town meeting first- 

Hello William Galvin,

I have been voting in Chatham since 1969 when I turned 21. First few years it was no problem going to Town Meetings. I was within walking distance and not working OR being a caregiver.

Ever since 2001 it has been impossible to attend. And I had to do absentee ballot for elections. But town meetings denied me the vote. Either abolish the town meetings or make it so we can at least vote absentee on the issues.

I have contacted the town about this and told it was the law for town meetings to be attended. I am sure that "law" was written when the population was small and people attended because there was nothing else to do.Then I emailed  Julian Cyr and never heard back. That happens a lot with elected officials sad to say. Not happy about 500 people making decisions for 5,000 people.

So I hope this will be different.

Thank you

Sincerely

Cynthia Moore

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Monomoy Wildlife Refuge-

Please fix the path that goes from the parking lot to the lookout platform. It is extremely dangerous underfoot. The worn out tarmac is tolerable but the sudden drops where  "steps " used to be is not. I had to hold onto a tree to the left going down that  path. The climb back up is crazy steep. Nothing can be done about that other than a roped railing for something to guide and steady people. Thank you.

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Library- they are in the process of removing 2 trees and I wanted photos- then this happened so.

 

ME:

There was a holiday display at the top of the steps front of the library that blocked use of the railing

Hello,

 this may be a violation of ADA rules not sure. But for anyone with only one strong arm it would be impossible to climb the steps safely. The display is in the way of the rail.

 Thank you

Sincerely

 Cynthia Moore

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AMY:

Hi Cynthia,

I actually had the same thoughts about the display.  I have moved it

out of the way of the railing.

Thanks for your thoughtful email

Amy Andreasson

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ME:

 Hi Amy,

Thank you.

 Now while I have your ear- will someone ever do anything about that heavy hard to open door in front? Many of us have to park elsewhere and walk. Then get to that door. Going around to the other side and up that hill is not an option!

 Thank you

Cynthia

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AMY:

Hi Cynthia,

That door is heavy!  It's also 125 years old so not much I think we

can do, but I will look into it.  Part of our upcoming safety and

accessibility updates to the property will include an ADA graded

walkway around the building to the side entrance.  We are working

towards making the building more accessible!

Thank you

Amy

LIBRARY ^^^^

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Wildlife center

October 19 

Cynthia,

Thank-you for bringing this to our attention.  I've reviewed the conditions of this trail and will develop a solution to reduce the steepness of the steps.

Over the past several years we have been experiencing an unprecedented rate of erosion which may ultimately claim this trail as it has so many others on the Morris Island portion of the Refuge. Any railings we install, rope or otherwise, would have to meet safety guidelines and until the erosion stops, the costs for a project like this would make it prohibitively expensive given our current resources and the chance that we would likely have to demolish it in the near future.

Rick Nye

Rick,

Thank you for the  reply.

I understand the constant erosion, and the funding problem. It actually is an unnecessary path and lookout. The causeway or dyke is sufficient though parking sucks at the dyke.

How about placing caution tape or a caution horse blocking the way. There are already plenty of signs that people ignore so a sign would be silly. Steepness is not the real problem but that plank sticking up is.

Good luck.

Cynthia

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