HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-8-19ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF NONVOTING TAXPAYERS
Minutes of meeting 10 A.M., SATURDAY, August 19, 2017, at
4 Fairgrounds Road
1. Attending: Gary Beller, Howard Blitman, Don Green, Peter Halle
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Peter Kahn, Barbara Matteucci, Bill Sherman, Jay Strauss, and G
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Tony Walsh; and guest Public Works Director Robert E. McNeil, N
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III, also G. Philip Nowack. Members absent: Lou Bassano and Sue
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Matloff.`.
2. Our Chair Jay Strauss called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. ander
declared a quorum present. The proposed agenda was adopted and o
minutes of July 15 and 29, 2017 approved.
3. Our guest DPW Director Rob McNeil detailed his schooling and
some 10 years in public works as background to his new position in
Nantucket. Currently his particular emphasis is on capital planning
and solid waste disposal but a long list of other concerns has his
attention.
4. A consultant is studying landfill impact on nitrogen loading of
Madaket waters. The DPW website gives results of groundwater
sampling, found to meet DPW drinking water standards. A new
lined cell 3A is receiving debris that's not recyclable. Mining of old
landfill has recovered reusable sand and glass, about 70% of total.
5. Recyclables coming to the facility are moved via conveyor belt
from floor to table where sorters dispose of contaminants and the
rest bailed separately as paper (now marketable off -island),
cardboard, aluminum and tin. Recovered glass is used on island as
aggregate, etc. Compostables are run through the composter with
leaf and yard waste and solids from the WWTF to yield nutrient
rich compost. Wood chips help absorb otherwise ammonium -laden
foul air. Planning for solid waste management preferably envisions
the next 100 years.
6. Suggested to Rob was a note to summer visitors explaining the
island's recycling practices, how they may differ from the
mainland, and recommending best practices.
7. Repair was recently completed of 3 bridges: Millie's, Massasoit and
Sconset. Mosquito control is underway across the island using
larvacides, not the more toxic insecticides. (Rob is a beekeeper.)
The DPW is also in the fight against tick-borne diseases.
8. Stormwater management confronts the early island practice of tying
storm drains into the sewer system, impairing treatment of
wastewater. A video survey of pipe interiors aids in addressing the
problem.
9. Maintaining transportation infrastructure has been hampered by
inadequate equipment and storage shed to extend service life, e.g.,
for new road grader and needed new loader. Town buildings suffer
from deferred maintenance. Paved road surfaces typically have a 15
— 20 year life. Island cost for installed asphalt runs —$265/ton vs
mid -Mass. —$68/ton. Only 4 months/year are reliable for outdoor
construction. Some work is stopped in summer to avoid conflict.
Multi -use (aka bike) paths have been improved with water
fountains.
IO.Brick sidewalks in town give rise to —1 lawsuit/year with claim of
tripping. Upgrade is scheduled where needed.
11.The DPW site on Madaket Road has derelict vehicles and fenced -
off military munitions. Needs those removed and a maintenance
garage built.
12.Responding to Peter Kahn, Rob said the DPW sets up a work order
upon receiving citizen notice of a repair needed, best with photo.
Some 3200 work orders were taken up in the past year. Delays in
path construction due to Verizon poles was ascribed to coordination
problems with others having communication lines on its poles.
13.Rob was thanked and left 10:45 a.m. The Chair moved discussion
on to Town health benefits and current issues, which Don Green
has studied, benefitting from his medical knowledge. For
perspective, Don noted that across the U.S., taxpayers carry —2/3
the total health care cost: tax `expenditures' for employer health
insurance for employees, Medicare, Medicaid, VA, military and
other government employees. Some 70% of bankruptcies are
ascribed to inadequate health insurance and in 2015 up to 29,000
avoidable deaths. U.S. dependence on employer -funded health care
started in WWII with salary freeze. (At 11:08 Tony Walsh left the
meeting.)
14. Town health benefit discussion will continue at our next meeting,
noting some 12 unions with contractual health benefits represent
Town employees (total 875), the Town generally carrying 90% of
cost to provide Master Medical benefits.
15. The meeting was adjourned at 11:12 a.m., the next meeting being
set for Saturday September 2, 2017 at 10 a.m. in the PSF Training
Room, with guest Airport Manager Tom Rafter.
16.Respectfully submitted,
Bill Sherman, Secretary
Draft minutes e -distributed 8/30/17. Minutes adopted 6/23/18,
posted 6/25/18 and hard copy submitted to Town Clerk 6/25/18