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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Selectmen Minutes February 13, 2008_201402061518087254BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes of the Meeting of 13 February 2008 at 6:00 PM. The meeting took place in the Town and County Building, 16 Broad Street, Nantucket, MA 02554. Members of the Board present were Brian Chadwick, Patricia Roggeveen, Whiting Willauer, Allen Reinhard and Michael Kopko. Chairman Willauer called the meeting to order at 6:14 PM. ANNOUNCEMENTS None. PUBLIC COMMENT Barbara Gookin, Vice Chair of the Energy Study Committee, updated the Board on the selection of preliminary sites for wind power generation which is included in a grant application to the state on tonight’s pending contract list. Approval of Minutes 16 January 2008 at 6:00 PM . Minutes were approved by unanimous consent of the meeting. Approval of Payroll Warrant for Week Ending 10 February 2008. The payroll warrant was approved by unanimous consent of the meeting. Approval of Treasury Warrant and Pending Contracts for 13 February 2008. The treasury warrant and pending contracts were approved by unanimous consent of the meeting. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT Request for Approval of Transfer of Sheriff Deeds Excise Funds for Public Safety Facility . Town Administrator C. Elizabeth Gibson informed the Board that the Sheriff has offered to transfer $4 million in deeds excise revenue to the Town to be used for construction of the proposed joint public safety facility. Some discussion followed regarding the timing; Mr. Kopko moved to accept the funding for the purpose described; seconded by Ms. Roggeveen. So voted unanimously. Review of Status of Design/Planning for Joint Public Safety Facility (JPSF) . Ms. Gibson prefaced the presentation by reviewing the work that has been done over the last several years for the JPSF. Police Chief William Pittman and Fire Chief Mark McDougall began the presentation by explaining why the Town needs the new facility. Their presentations highlighted deficiencies with the current public safety facilities. The Town’s architect for the project, Michael McKeon of Kaestle Boos Associates presented the preliminary design for the JPSF. In his presentation Mr. McKeon noted that the current construction market favors building the JPSF due to a lack of projects of its size currently under construction in the region. Mr. McKeon noted a number of projects in the area that have received a higher than average number of bids. Mr. Chadwick asked Chief Pittman if he has worked out a long-term plan to maintain a police presence downtown. Chief Pittman stated that most summer staff will continue to work out of downtown, and that he and Chief McDougall were also looking at housing an ambulance downtown. Mr. Kopko questioned the size of staff parking at the JPSF. Chief Pittman explained that the need for the parking lot was twofold: (1) it is necessary to accommodate shift change; and (2) the parking lot could be used for police and fire training exercises. Some discussion followed. Review of Status of FY 2009 General Fund Budget . Finance Director Connie Voges presented an updated overview of the fiscal year 2009 budget. Ms. Voges reviewed current revenue and spending projections and options for closing the gap between revenues and spending. Ms. Gibson provided further detail on ways to balance the budget through spending reductions and revenue increases. She suggested that the Board hold another budget workshop on Tuesday, February 19, 2008, which was agreed to by unanimous consent of the meeting. Susan Genthner, Chair of the School Committee, informed the Board that the School Committee has asked School Superintendent Robert Pellicone to look at options to reduce the school budget to prevent the need for an override. Finance Committee Chairman Rick Atherton expressed his appreciation to the School Committee and the Board of Selectmen for their efforts to balance the budget and for the tough decisions they have to make. Review of FY 2009 Sewer and Solid Waste Enterprise Fund Budgets . Finance Director Connie Voges presented the projected fiscal year 2009 budgets for the Sewer and Solid Waste Enterprise Funds. Ms. Voges first reviewed the budget for the Sewer Enterprise Fund. The Board discussed how Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) projects are funded; clarifying that enterprise funds support the general obligation debt issued for I&I work. The Board was informed that the fiscal year 2009 Sewer Enterprise Fund budget is balanced, but that fee increases will be necessary. The Board then discussed timing of capital projects, including the proposed waste water treatment facility in Madaket, and possible ways to defray the costs of capital projects. Mr. Kopko asked about the sewer connection fee. DPW Director Jeff Willett explained that the sewer connection fee increased to its current level of $2,000 in 1986 and that the fee must be tied directly to the cost of connecting a household to the sewer system. Ms. Gibson, in answering a question posed by Mr. Willauer, noted that 3 years ago the Town looked at the sewer connection fee and what other towns charge. Ms. Gibson further explained that the Sewer Act legislation currently pending in the state legislature may provide flexibility to adjust the sewer connection fee. Ms. Voges then reviewed the fiscal year 2009 budget for the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund. Recommendation Regarding Commercial Vehicles at Landfill and Citizens’ Drop-off Area . Ms. Gibson brought to the Board’s attention an issue that had been raised concerning construction and demolition (C&D) debris. The Board discussed a policy to require vehicles with commercial license plates and commercial dump stickers to weigh in before dropping off material. Mr. Chadwick moved to adopt this policy; seconded by Mr. Kopko. Mr. Willauer, Mr. Kopko, Mr. Chadwick, and Ms. Roggeveen voted in favor of the motion; Mr. Reinhard voted in opposition. So voted. SELECTMEN’S REPORTS/COMMENTS Committee Reports . Members reported on various committee assignments followed by some discussion. Road Surfacing Policy Development Status . Mr. Kopko presented a recommendation to establish a sidewalk advisory committee, which was scheduled for the Board’s March 12th agenda for action. Ms. Roggeveen presented a downtown revitalization committee proposal, which was also scheduled for the Board’s March 12th agenda for action. The meeting was adjourned at 9:18 PM. Approved the 26th day of March 2008.