HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Selectmen Minutes July 23, 2007_201402061500030466BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Minutes of the Meeting of 23 July 2007 at 9:00 AM. The meeting took place in the Conference
Room, Land Bank, 22 Broad Street, Nantucket, MA. Members of the Board present were Brian
Chadwick, Michael Kopko, Allen Reinhard, Patricia Roggeveen and Whiting Willauer. Chairman
Willauer called the meeting to order at 9:05 AM.
Citizen/Departmental Request
1. School Department: Request for Affirmation/Clarification of Vote on Support Letter for
Application to School Building Assistance Bureau (as addressed 27 June 2007). Chairman
Willauer reviewed the request. Ms. Roggeveen recused herself from participation in this matter.
Mr. Kopko moved to approve the request. Mr. Reinhard seconded. Jack McFarland, School
Facilities Manager, provided further explanation on the need for specificity of the motion, noting the
separate request for the Nantucket Elementary School statement of interest. Mr. Kopko modified
his motion with the consent of the Board to include the three separate and distinct requests,
reading the language as follows: that the Board of Selectmen for the Town of Nantucket, in
accordance with its charter, bylaws and ordinances, authorizes the Superintendent to submit to the
Massachusetts School Building Authority the Statement of Interest dated June 25, 2007 for the
Cyrus Peirce Middle School (and for the Nantucket High School) located at 10 Surfside Road,
Nantucket, MA 02554 which describes and explains the following deficiencies and the priority
category(s) for which Nantucket Public Schools may be invited to apply to the Massachusetts
School Building Authority in the future: elimination of severe overcrowding; prevention of severe
overcrowding expected to result from increased enrollments; replacement, renovation or
modernization of the heating system in a schoolhouse to increase energy conservation and
decrease energy related costs in the schoolhouse; replacement or addition to obsolete buildings in
order to provide for a full range of programs consistent with state and approved local requirements;
and further, that the Board of Selectmen for the Town of Nantucket, in accordance with its charter,
bylaws and ordinances, authorizes the Superintendent to submit to the Massachusetts School
Building Authority the Statement of Interest dated June 25, 2007 for the Nantucket Elementary
School located at 30 Surfside Road, Nantucket, MA 02554 which describes and explains the
following deficiencies and the priority category(s) for which Nantucket Public Schools may be
invited to apply to the Massachusetts School Building Authority in the future: replacement of or
renovation of a building which is structurally unsound or otherwise in a condition seriously
jeopardizing the health and safety of school children, where no alternative exists; elimination of
severe overcrowding; prevention of severe overcrowding expected to result from increased
enrollments; replacement, renovation or modernization of the heating system in a schoolhouse to
increase energy conservation and decrease energy related costs in the schoolhouse; replacement
or addition to obsolete buildings in order to provide for a full range of programs consistent with
state and approved local requirements;
and hereby further specifically acknowledges that by submitting these Statements of Interest, the
Massachusetts School Building Authority in no way guarantees the acceptance or the approval of
an application, the awarding of a grant or any other funding commitment from the Massachusetts
School Building Authority, or commits the Nantucket Public Schools to filing an application for
funding with the Massachusetts School Building Authority.
Minutes of the Meeting of July 23, 2007 at 9:00 AM
Page II
Chairman Willauer commented on class size and space utilization at the schools. Discussion
followed. On the motion, Mr. Chadwick, Mr. Kopko, Mr. Reinhard and Chairman Willauer voted in
favor. Ms. Roggeveen recused herself. So voted to authorize the Superintendent of Schools to
submit the applications as referenced.
Selectmen Goals
1. Discussion/Review of 2007-08 Goals (continued from 3 July 2007, 21 June 2007, 11 June 2007,
29 May 2007, 22 May 2007, 11 May 2007 and 8 May 2007). Chairman Willauer distributed
updated drafts of the goals spreadsheet and reviewed changes to date. He opened the discussion
for the goal “Improve Infrastructure” on a new measurement “to conduct a payoff analysis between
gravel and paved roads.” He described Department of Public Works Director Jeff Willett’s basis of
estimate for 20-year life cycle cost provided following the recent request for paving West Chester
Street. Discussion followed on taking a closer look at road surface and/or fiscal options and on
including the Planning Board, the Historic District Commission and the community on any
standards to be considered. Discussion continued on the leadership opportunity for the Board and
the need to develop policy on public road surfaces. Under the goal “improve infrastructure,” the
Board consented to add “develop a road surface policy” as an objective with the measurement
“conduct a trade-off analysis between surfacing options.” Discussion followed on assignment of
the responsibility and stakeholders input.
Discussion continued on measurements added under the objective “explore alternative energy
generation and conservation” to include “tidal generation…” and on developing an energy
conservation policy to work with the HDC’s Building with Nantucket in Mind.
2. July 26, 2007 Special Town Meeting Article 1: Real Estate Acquisition/Dreamland Theatre.
Mr. Chadwick indicated that the Board has not taken a position on Article 1. He noted Rick Ulmer’s
withdrawal as a potential purchaser of the property, the Finance Committee’s motion and the need
for a Board position in light of there being no financial information on the matter. Discussion
followed on ownership scenarios, the Town’s various existing funding responsibilities, “phased
development possibilities,” concerns about the “nebulous” nature of the potential backing and the
substantial commitment this would entail. Mr. Reinhard noted he would be unwilling to commit the
Town absent specifics regarding funding. Chairman Willauer noted that the Board has to have
some definitive information on the fiscal obligation and be able to answer to the public, adding it is
too early to make a decision. Discussion followed on taking a position on the citizen article, the
effect the article has had on Mr. Ulmer’s purchase attempt and his ability to acquire financial
commitments, and on the unsightliness of the existing “derelict building.”
Mr. Chadwick moved not to support the article as written as the project lacks a full fiscal plan or
long-term plan. Ms. Roggeveen seconded. Discussion followed on whether or not the Board
needs to take a position and on the wording of the article being “boilerplate legal language.”
Discussion continued on taking a positive approach. Mr. Kopko stated that he expects a figure of
$9 million to be presented at the Special Town Meeting as an amendment, adding that the “only
hard facts are that the Town would control the theatre if it makes the purchase.” Discussion
Minutes of the Meeting of July 23, 2007 at 9:00 AM
Page III
followed on whether or not the Town can pay for the theatre and the Town’s other priorities with
pending obligations.
Discussion continued on needing a financially viable plan for the Dreamland Theatre and whether
to continue the discussion or not to support the article. On the motion, Mr. Chadwick, Mr.
Reinhard, Ms. Roggeveen and Chairman Willauer voted in favor. Mr. Kopko voted in opposition.
So voted not to support the article.
At 10:42 AM, Chairman Willauer polled the Board and Mr. Chadwick, Mr. Kopko, Mr. Reinhard, Ms.
Roggeveen and Chairman Willauer voted unanimously to adjourn to executive session, not to
return to open session, for the purpose of discussing litigation matters.
Approved the 5th day of September 2007.