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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Selectmen Minutes September 5, 2007_201402061500069841BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes of the Meeting of 5 September 2007 at 6:00 PM. The meeting took place in the Court Room, Town and County Building, Nantucket, MA 02554. 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 6:00 PM. Announcements There were no announcements. Public Comment John McLaughlin noted this is the fourth year in a row he has observed very little brush cutting by the DPW on the sides of the roads. Mr. McLaughlin also stated his opinion that members of the Board of Selectmen should not be appointed to any Town committee as this person would have dual votes, and he believes that is wrong. Larry Flannery of 16 Columbus Avenue in Madaket spoke on his concerns regarding fire protection on the west end of the Island. Chairman Willauer noted the Board would take the issue under advisement. APPROVAL OF MINUTES, WARRANTS AND PENDING CONTRACTS Approval of Minutes of 1 August 2007/6:00 PM; 8 August 2007/6:00 PM; 26 July 2007/6:45 PM; 25 July 2007/6:00 PM; 23 July 2007/9:00 AM; 18 July 2007/6:00 PM; 16 July 2007/10:00 AM; 11 July 2007/6:00 PM; 9 July 2007/9:00 AM. The Board approved the minutes by unanimous consent. Approval of Partial Release of Executive Session Minutes of 1 August 2001 and 15 August 2001. The Board approved the minutes by unanimous consent. Approval of Payroll Warrants for Weeks Ending 2 September 2007 and 26 August 2007. The Board approved the payroll warrants by unanimous consent. Approval of Treasury Warrant and Pending Contracts for Weeks Ending 29 August 2007 and 5 September 2007. The Board approved the treasury warrant and pending contracts by unanimous consent. CITIZEN/DEPARTMENTAL REQUESTS Legislative Updates on Pending Legislation for Town of Nantucket. Tim Madden, Legislative Liaison for the Town of Nantucket gave a detailed review of the pending bills before the legislature. Chairman Willauer noted it would be helpful to have a short synopsis of each bill. After some discussion the Board generally agreed to resubmit all of the pending bills to the 2008 Annual Town Meeting if not approved by the end of the current legislative session on December 31, 2007. Committee Appointments: Capital Program Committee; Cemetery Commission Work Group; Commission on Disability; Park & Recreation Commission. Chairman Willauer noted as there were no applicants for the Capital Program Committee, the Town will re-advertise this opening. Minutes of the Meeting of 5 September 2007 – 6:00 PM Page II. Chairman Willauer stated James McIntosh is the only applicant for the Cemetery Commission Workgroup. Mr. Kopko moved to appoint Mr. McIntosh, Mr. Chadwick seconded, so voted unanimously. Chairman Willauer stated Philip Gallagher is the only applicant for the Commission on Disability. Mr. Kopko moved to appoint Mr. Gallagher, Mr. Chadwick seconded, so voted unanimously. Chairman Willauer stated Bobby Frick and Michael Kopko applied for one seat on the Park & Recreation Commission. Mr. Chadwick spoke in opposition to Mr. Kopko serving on the Commission while being a selectman. He stated he does not think the Board should get in the habit of appointing themselves to committees. Chairman Willauer questioned if there were other cases in which a board member was appointed to either a committee or commission. Mr. Reinhard noted he currently is the chair of the Right of Way Committee and was also the Chair of the Town Government Study Committee therefore he does not see a conflict especially for the Park & Recreation Commission. Ms Roggeveen stated she agrees with Mr. Chadwick. Mr. Kopko noted he is a citizen of Nantucket, he finds the Park & Recreation Commission very interesting and serving on the Commission would be very important to him. Mr. Reinhard moved to appoint Mr. Kopko to the Park & Recreation Commission, Chairman Willauer seconded. Ms. Roggeveen abstained. Mr. Kopko, Chairman Willauer and Mr. Reinhard voted in favor, Mr. Chadwick was opposed, so voted. Request for Approval of Preservation Restriction/Sconset Union Chapel. Ms. Gibson noted the proposed Preservation Restriction for Sconset Union Chapel has been reviewed by Town Counsel and the Board should determine if it is in the public’s best interest. Jeff Lockhart, Chairman of the Sconset Union Chapel Preservation Committee read a statement in favor of the restriction. Robert Felch, a Sconset resident, gave some history of the Union Chapel and spoke in favor of the restriction. Mr. Chadwick moved to find the preservation restriction is in the Town’s best interest and to approve the Preservation Restriction for the Sconset Union Chapel, Mr. Kopko seconded so voted unanimously. Citizen Request for Waiver of Sewer Connection Permit Fee. David Ryan the applicant of the request for the waiver spoke in favor. Some discussions occurred regarding prior waiver requests. Mr. Chadwick moved to deny the request, Ms. Roggeveen seconded, so voted unanimously. DPW: Request for Annual Approval of Chapter 90 Road Projects (tabled from August 22, 2007). DPW Director Jeff Willett reviewed an updated list of roads and estimated costs. He explained all requests are submitted to the State and that the state needs a reasonable estimate of costs based on a formula set forth by Mass Highway for each community. Chairman Willauer asked if all of the allotted dollars are not used within a given year can they be carried forward. Mr. Willett explained that both funding and projects may be carried forward from year to year. Chairman Willauer asked what the price difference is between paving and cobbling a road. Mr. Willett said that paving in place is approximately $187 per ton and cobble in place is approximately $200 per square yard. Chairman Willauer stated the initial cost may be more, but the life cycle costs may be lower. Mr. Willett noted he is not against cobble streets, that he has been very interested in them from a Minutes of the Meeting of 5 September 2007 – 6:00 PM Page III. historical perspective but the small project on Lower Main Street last year was extremely costly. Mr. Reinhard moved to approve the proposed Chapter 90 road projects, Ms. Roggeveen seconded. Mr. Kopko suggested the Board take a hard look this year at life cycle costs and questioned if the Board did not approve the requests tonight would it jeopardize the projects. Mr. Willett noted no, except for the DPW schedule of work and if the Board chooses to approve the requests at a later date the work it could be rescheduled to the spring of next year. Mr. Willett also noted that if the Board approves the paving of the roads, paving can be changed to cobbling any time with a change order, but that would necessitate a reprioritization of projects due to the cost. Ms. Roggeveen noted she didn’t see any harm in sending this request forward. Mr. Chadwick moved the question. Mr. Kopko asked Mr. Chadwick to withdraw his motion to move the question. Mr. Chadwick refused stating the motion was made to move the question. Mr. Chadwick and Ms. Roggeveen voted in favor of the approval, Mr. Reinhard, Mr. Kopko and Chairman Willauer were opposed, so voted not to move the question. Mr. Kopko stated the requests in front of the Board have names of streets for consideration of paving, that this is an important issue in the Board’s goals to set policy. Ms. Roggeveen stated the standard to the goals and objectives is communication as to which roads are being paved is important. Mr. Willett stated that although policy issues and discussions are critical this is micromanaging because these requests are simply maintenance issues for repairing streets that need repair and have all be previously identified and approved by the Board of Selectmen. Chairman Willauer noted a motion has been made and seconded to approve the Chapter 90 road request package, so voted unanimously. DPW: Request for Approval to Pave Portion of First Way (Between Teen Center and Surfside Road). Mr. Willett spoke in favor of paving a small section of First Way by the Teen Center and abutting Surfside Road. Mr. Kopko agreed stating he thought the entire road should be paved. Mr. Willett noted that although paving the entire road would cut down on maintenance issues with the road, some of the residents would be in opposition. Ms. Roggeveen noted a lot of children pass through the area and if paved would create more of a cut through for traffic. Ms. Gibson noted Mike Burns, Transportation Planner included this area in an upcoming traffic study and the traffic safety work group will have a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen in the fall. Rachael Dowling spoke in opposition to paving. Police Chief Bill Pittman stated First Way has been an issue for several reasons including the School proximity, pedestrian traffic day and night and the fact that it has a lot of traffic for a dirt road. If it were to be paved the Town would need more lighting, possibly a sidewalk and recurbing. Mr. Reinhard moved to approve the request, Mr. Kopko seconded, so voted unanimously. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT Request for Approval and Execution of Purchase and Sale Agreement for 10-12 Washington Street. Ms. Gibson explained that this request for approval is part of the process following approval at the July 26, 2007 Special Town Meeting for the purchase of the property, which is contingent upon approval of a debt exclusion override at a special election on September 18, 2007. Mr. Reinhard move to approve, Mr. Chadwick seconded. Rachael Dowling of 99 Surfside Road spoke in opposition to the purchase, stating the Board should proceed with caution and requested the Board have a formal appraisal done. Ms. Dowling noted concerns she has about the site. Mr. Kopko spoke in opposition and stated he does not support the Town’s purchase of the property Minutes of the Meeting of 5 September 2007 – 6:00 PM Page IV. and he is not convinced the Town isn’t paying too much for the property. Mr. Chadwick disagreed regarding the cost as it relates to the Town’s assessment of the property. Mr. Kopko noted a need for due diligence and to have a professional appraisal done. Jason Graziadei of the Inquirer and Mirror asked if the vote fails at ballot and the Land Bank transfers the $2.5M to the Town, has the Town done any research on what it will do with the money. Ms. Gibson stated it would be considered free cash and would need to be appropriated at a Town Meeting. Nancy Wheatly noted that although she supported the purchase of the property, she would like to see caution taken. Mr. Reinhard stated real estate opportunities such as this do not come up often and spending $3.5M for two lots in Town that could be subdivided into three lots for future use is a good thing for the Town. Mr. Reinhard moved to approve, Ms Roggeveen seconded, Mr. Reinhard, Ms. Roggeveen, Mr. Chadwick and Chairman Willauer voted to approve, Mr. Kopko was opposed, so voted. SELECTMEN’S REPORT/COMMENT Discussion Regarding 2007-08 Board of Selectmen Goal #3 “Improve Infrastructure”, Objective B “Develop Road Surfacing Policy”. Mr. Kopko suggested scheduling a workshop with the DPW Director, the Planning Board and the Transportation Planner to discuss. Ms. Roggeveen noted the HDC should be included. Mr. Kopko asked Ms. Gibson to schedule the meeting. Mr. Reinhard noted the Town is on the verge of focusing on road services, is looking forward to the process and will be looking to the community for suggestions. The meeting adjourned at 8:39 PM. Approved the 10th day of October 2007.