Our View: A Different Endorsement

 In discussing endorsements for this year’s Chatham Select Board race, our editorial staff had an unexpectedly hard time in coming to a conclusion. With four candidates vying for two board seats on the May 15 annual election ballot, we found ourselves in conflict over who to endorse. So we’re going to try something a bit different.

 First, what sort of leadership will Chatham need looking forward to the next three years? With an uncertain economy, financial conservatism will likely be a factor, as will diligence and experience to guard our fragile coast from the ravages of climate change. From our dealings with him over the more than two decades he served as Chatham harbormaster, we know Stuart F.X. Smith has these attributes. He knows how town government works and has had conflicts with the current administration, something we see as a positive. He won’t be a yes man. 

 Jeffrey Dykens has many of the same attributes. A longtime resident, he’s been a commercial fisherman and has extensive financial acumen and experience as well as institutional knowledge, especially regarding education. His presence on the board will be important if Harwich pursues its efforts to revise the Monomoy Regional School District funding formula.

 Although we haven’t always seen eye to eye with Michael Schell — especially regarding some of the decisions made by the affordable housing trust board, which he chairs — he has brought a critical eye to many issues and has shown an openness to different perspectives and a willingness to follow the facts. 

 We laud Brian Phillips for throwing his hat into the ring. More experience would be helpful, however, and we urge him to join a town committee or so to build his resume.

 So yes, we are endorsing three candidates for two seats. We leave it up to the voters to make the final decision. Whichever way the cards fall, Chatham, in our opinion, will be well served.

 Voters will sacrifice their Saturday on May 10 to act on the 59-acticle annual town meeting warrant. It’s likely to be a marathon session. Here are our thoughts on some of the measures.

 Although we preferred a new building, renovating the existing Center for Active Living is about the best we can hope for at this point. Using free cash for the $5 million price tag is smart, since the artificial two-thirds vote threshold had stopped the previous proposals, despite the backing of a large majority of voters.

 Some lightning recommendations: Yes on the Monomoy Middle School siding replacement, sewer extension, the West Chatham Neighborhood Center, transfer station upgrade and establishing a fund to pay the taxes of low-income senior and disabled residents. No electronic speed signs (more roadway clutter) and allowing town meeting to transfer free cash to the low-income taxpayer fund. And for gosh sakes, no on banning certain aircraft from Chatham Airport.

 It’s about time to move ahead on a new facility for the fire department, so we urge a positive vote on $4.5 million in borrowing to pay for station design. We also back the other debt exclusions, all of which involve necessary municipal infrastructure projects. It’s also important to back the seasonal community designation to help with affordable and attainable housing. Finally we back funding to upgrade assessing software to pave the way for a tax exemption for year-round property owners. That decision will require additional discussion, but given rising costs for year rounders, it’s something officials should not shy away from.