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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Selectmen Minutes October 1, 2008_201402061518146160BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes of the Meeting of 1 October 2008 at 6:00 PM. The meeting took place in the Court Room, Town and County Building, 16 Broad Street, Nantucket, MA 02554. Members of the Board present were Rick Atherton, Brian Chadwick, Michael Kopko, Allen Reinhard and Patricia Roggeveen. Chairman Kopko called the meeting to order at 6:10 PM, following a meeting of the County Commissioners. ANNOUNCEMENTS Town Manager C. Elizabeth Gibson announced that public informational meetings on the fiscal year 2010 budget will be held on Thursday, October 16, 2008 at 6:00 PM at the Nantucket High School; Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at 8:30 AM at Nantucket High School and Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 8:30 AM at Nantucket High School. Ms. Gibson announced that a Board of Health meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 6:00 PM in the Nantucket High School cafeteria to discuss tick-borne disease issues. PUBLIC COMMENT Nantucket resident Richard Cooper inquired whether the Police Department blocks in-coming calls. Police Chief Pittman responded the department does not block calls and indicated he would review the matter. Approval of Minutes of 17 September at 6:00 PM. The minutes of 17 September 2008 at 6:00 PM were approved by the unanimous consent of the meeting. Approval of Payroll Warrant for Week Ending 28 September 2008. The payroll warrant for the week ending 28 September 2008 was approved by the unanimous consent of the meeting. Approval of Treasury Warrant and Pending Contracts for 1 October 2008. The treasury warrant and pending contracts for 1 October 2008 were approved by the unanimous consent of the meeting. Our Island Home: Annual Request for Use of Gift Funds for Resident Christmas Gifts. Ms. Gibson explained there is a general gift fund account (current balance approximately $55,000) into which non-specific donations and revenue from the annual Our Island Home fair are placed and used for “resident enjoyment.” Mr. Reinhard moved to approve OIH’s request to spend $6,000 on Christmas gifts for the residents of OIH; seconded by Ms. Roggeveen. So voted unanimously. Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority: Request for Letter of Opposition Pertaining to Proposed Legislation to Add State Executive Office of Transportation Member. Chairman Kopko announced that the Steamship Authority requested this matter be withdrawn from the agenda. Town Administration: Request for Declaration of Surplus Property (Two Municipal Vehicles) Pursuant to Chapter 38 of the Code of the Town of Nantucket. Mr. Atherton moved to declare two town-owned vehicles (1991 Chevrolet S-10 pick up truck and a 1991 Ford van) as surplus property and to determine that these vehicles serve no public purpose or any other municipal use; seconded by Ms. Roggeveen. So voted unanimously. Citizen Advisory Committee for Public Safety Facility: Request for up to $40,000 in Discretionary Funds. Citizen Advisory Committee for Public Safety Facility chairman Wayne Holmes explained that, while he does not believe the committee may need $40,000, it is requesting funds to be used, at the discretion of the committee, to obtain expert information, cost evaluations, travel to view other town facilities and other items which may not now be determined. Ms. Roggeveen expressed her opposition to the request, stating that, in these difficult economic times, this is not the time to spend money on an advisory committee, and this request is not part of the charge of the committee. Mr. Holmes countered by stating that it is the committee’s belief that the Board of Selectmen wants it to “study and advise” and the project the Board wanted is “dead in the water.” Mr. Holmes concluded by expressing his opinion that, if the Board wants the committee to bring back a “credible product,” it needs financial support. Ms. Roggeveen took exception to Mr. Holmes’ statements and a lengthy discussion followed. Mr. Chadwick stated he supports the committee’s request for funding. Further discussion followed about what some Board members felt is Mr. Holmes’ intent to change the scope of the project to include and/or replace the original plan to accommodate the Police and Fire Departments with the Courts. Ms. Roggeveen stated she believes the Courthouse issue is another set of concerns but should not be “piggybacked” with the Police and Fire facility. Chairman Kopko concurred with Ms. Roggeveen’s statements stating that, while he also feels a courthouse out of town merits consideration, he is only in favor of funds being allocated to this committee for travel expenses to visit public safety facilities in other towns. With regard to the funding request, Ms. Gibson reviewed the balance remaining in the appropriation and noted the appropriation was dedicated not just for the design of the PSF but for several other items which have not yet been completed. Mr. Atherton moved to authorize up to $5,000 for the Citizen Advisory Committee for Public Safety Facility for needs such as travel, etc and if any one proposed expenditure may exceed $2,000, the committee needs to come back to the Board of Selectmen for approval; seconded by Mr. Reinhard. So voted. Ms. Roggeveen was opposed. TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT Review of Pending Home Rule Petitions for 2009 Annual Town Meeting. Ms. Gibson explained that the Board had agreed several years ago, prior to the opening of the Annual Town Meeting warrant for citizen petitions, to discuss any pending home rule petitions to determine whether or not the Board wishes to place them on the warrant for “renewal.” Ms. Gibson continued that there are no pending citizen-sponsored petitions. Ms. Gibson reviewed town-sponsored petitions still pending and some discussion followed. Mr. Atherton asked how the home rule petition process proceeds through the legislature and what happens if not passed at the close of the legislative calendar. Town Counsel DeRensis explained. Chairman Kopko noted that the warrant opens for accepting citizen articles October 9, 2008 and closes November 21, 2008. Ms. Gibson noted that Town Counsel’s office will be sponsoring a training session for writing town meeting articles on October 16, 2008 in the Town Building conference room. Ms. Gibson updated the Board with regard to the Coastal Management Plan, noting that Marine Superintendent Fronzuto has put together a staff workgroup and this workgroup will provide a report to the Board in November. Action on Decision Regarding A-1 Taxi License Transfer Request (continued from September 18, 2008). Chairman Kopko reviewed that an evidentiary hearing closed on September 18, 2008 and asked if the Board is ready to act on the matter. Mr. Atherton stated that he is unclear whether the decision should be based on the taxi regulations, amended in April 2007, or the regulations in effect at the time of the Board’s previous decision on the A-1 taxi transfer request. Mr. DeRensis clarified that the prior regulations govern this decision. Ms. Roggeveen stated she has questions about what may be “grandfathered” in the regulations and whether the Board needs to review what regulations were in effect previously. After some discussion, Mr. Atherton moved to table action on this matter until October 15, 2008 pending review of the prior regulations and a determination as to whether the prior regulations might apply to this matter; seconded by Mr. Reinhard. So voted. Mr. Chadwick was opposed stating he was ready to vote on the matter this evening. Discussion Regarding Human Services Grant Review Committee Goals for FY 2010. Human Services Coordinator MaryAnne Worth provided background information as to how the Human Services Grant Review Committee was established, noting that it was in response to concerns raised at the 1993 Annual Town Meeting when voters asked for accountability of funds being allocated to Health and Human Services and members of the Finance Committee did not have enough familiarity with the agencies requesting funding. Ms. Worth continued that the Committee reviewed and recommended funding for human service providers beginning in fiscal year 1995. Ms. Worth stated that the committee determines human services funding priorities; annually reviews all human services provider requests for Town funding, and communicates grant recommendations to the Finance Committee. Ms. Worth expressed her opinion that the Committee works well together and she does not feel the process needs to be changed. Ms. Worth was asked how the Committee determines what the most critical needs are with such limited resources and Ms. Worth responded the Committee has a very “intense” schedule with many meetings scheduled to make these determinations. Some discussion followed about the need for a policy decision to establish guidelines and Committee member Christy Kickham asked that, if the Board chooses not to appoint a selectman representative to the Committee, as has been past practice, it needs to keep the committee apprised with any recommendations. The meeting was unanimously adjourned at 7:35 PM. Approved the 15th day of October 2008.