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.