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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Selectmen Minutes February 4, 2009_2014020616121280861 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes of the Meeting of 4 February 2009. 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 6:03 PM. ANNOUNCEMENTS None. PUBLIC COMMENT Richard Cooper questioned why Board of Selectmen meetings are not opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. Lenard Germinara said the Board should have better handling and oversight of Quaker Cemetery going forward. Thomas Barada asked who will be the landscaper to fix the Quaker Cemetery, and suggested that they should be sure any fill brought to the site not be contaminated with knotweed or the like. Town Manager C. Elizabeth Gibson addresses this comment. APPROVAL OF MINUTES, WARRANTS AND PENDING CONTRACTS Approval of Payroll Warrant for Week Ending 1 February 2009. The payroll warrant for the week ending 1 February 2009 was approved by the unanimous consent of the meeting. Approval of Treasury Warrant and Pending Contracts for 4 February 2009. The treasury warrant and pending contracts for 4 February 2009 were approved by the unanimous consent of the meeting. CITIZEN/DEPARTMENTAL REQUESTS Marine & Coastal Resources Department: Request for Acceptance of Gift of Boat. Mr. Chadwick moved to approve the gift of a boat from Frederick McClure for use by the Marine Department and to send a thank you letter to him; Mr. Reinhard seconded. All in favor, so voted. Request for Transfer of Common Victualer License from Tracy Root dba Cioppino’s to Michael Getter dba Dune for Premises at 20 Broad Street, Nantucket. Mr. Chadwick moved to approve the transfer; Mr. Atherton seconded. All in favor, so voted. Request for New Common Victualer License for Marco Coelho dba Lola 41 for Premises at 15 South Beach Street, Nantucket. Continued to 18 February 2009. Request for Alteration of Town Sidewalk in Front of 52-54 Main Street. Rebecca Weld, architect for Verde Nantucket Green Build and Milton Rowland and Associates, spoke in favor of the alteration and explained the reconstruction of the sidewalk. Mr. Chadwick and Mr. Reinhard spoke in favor of the request. Mr. Chadwick moved approval of the request for alteration; Mr. Atherton seconded. Thomas Barada voiced his concern for tree roots in the vicinity of the work. All in favor, so voted. 2 TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT Assessor: Presentation Regarding Tax Rate and Property Valuation Process. Town Assessor Debbie Dilworth gave a presentation about understanding property assessment and how it relates to local government finance. She discussed the assessment process, the valuation process, the tax levy and tax rates, tax bills, Proposition 2 ½, and new growth. Ms. Gibson updated the Board on the FY 2010 budget and said she is waiting on more numbers. She noted that a big issue is the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund (SWEF) deficit and noted that this is a multi-year problem. Assistant Town Manager Malachy Rice reviewed a meeting he attended recently regarding the Federal Economic Stimulus Package and informed the Board that in early January Town Administration submitted 17 projects totaling over $40 million for consideration. SELECTMEN’S REPORTS/COMMENT Action on Human Services Contract Review Committee Recommendations for FY 2010 (continued from 28 January 2009). Ms. Gibson reminded the Board that it heard a presentation last week on the Contract Review Committee’s grant recommendations and that the Board is scheduled to take action tonight. A discussion ensued among Board members about the recommendations. Karen Lindsay of the Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) informed the Board that ASAP and Nantucket Behavioral Health Services have agreed to explore a “professional affiliation” between the two organizations. Ms. Roggeveen moved to approve the grant recommendations as submitted with one change of taking the $2,500 recommended for the Community Action Committee of Cape Cod & Islands and adding that amount to the Nantucket Cottage Hospital grant recommendation; Mr. Reinhard seconded. A discussion followed concerning the proposed change. So voted, Mr. Atherton was opposed. Action on Liquor License Fees (Following Closure of Public Hearing on 21 January 2009). Ms. Gibson noted the Board has additional information in its packets regarding the breakdown of seasonal vs. annual fees, as requested at the public hearing. She noted that research on other Towns shows that the Town of Nantucket’s fees are much lower for wine and malt than other towns. Chairman Kopko reviewed the current fee structure of each category of liquor licenses, as well as the proposed fee increases. A discussion followed among Board members regarding the proposed changes, and the Chair allowed comments from the audience. Chairman Kopko noted that liquor license fees have not been increased since 2002, and said he felt in that context the increases were reasonable. Mr. Atherton pointed out that the annual license fee for Wine/Malt Package Store is more expensive than a seasonal license, which he said seems against the Board’s policy of seasonal licenses being priced at a premium above annual licenses. Chairman Kopko said he feels that seasonal All-Alcoholic Club license holders serve a more “resort-type” clientele, and as they operate as restaurants, should be charged at the rate of a seasonal All- Alcoholic Restaurant, which is proposed at $2,900. Mr. Chadwick moved to accept the Administration’s fee increase recommendations, incorporating Chairman Kopko’s suggested change to the All-Alcoholic Club license fee; Ms. Roggeveen seconded. Ms. Roggeveen then recommended changing the proposed fees for seasonal Wine/Malt Package Store to $1,000 and annual to $800. Mr. Reinhard moved to accept the recommendations with the changes suggested; Mr. Chadwick seconded. All in favor, so voted. (Fee schedule attached.) 3 Discussion of Downtown Revitalization Committee Recommendation for Request for Qualifications Procurement for Redevelopment of Wilkes Square Area (continued from 21 January 2009). Ms. Roggeveen, chair of the Downtown Revitalization Committee, reviewed the committee’s meeting schedule and the stakeholders involved, and noted that the committee developed a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) based on experience, viability, and other such qualifications. Director of Planning Andrew Vorce noted that the Nantucket Planning & Economic Development Commission is supportive of the proposal; he then summarized the RFQ. He said the goal is to have a group of urban designers send in proposals to redevelop the area known as Wilkes Square. A discussion followed among Board members regarding the language of the RFQ. Mr. Reinhard noted that the RFQ is a process, and reminded everyone that the Wilkes Square area is private property, not public, and that the Town would be voicing its opinion on how the property may be developed through this process. Chairman Kopko said that he would like to see the committee explore possible grant opportunities and not rely on public funds for the RFQ process. He also said he would like to see a working draft of the RFQ on the Town’s website to allow for public comment. Mr. Roggeveen concluded the presentation by thanking Whitey Willauer for working on the drafts of the RFQ. Discussion Regarding Implementation of Nantucket Sewer Act (continued from 28 January 2009). Chairman Kopko said that Ms. Gibson, Ms. Roggeveen, and he had discussed the possibility of establishing a work group to start the process of fleshing out the Sewer Act, what it means, and reporting back to the Board as more information comes in, such as a sewer rate study. He said tonight’s action item is to see if the Board wants to establish a work group, and what its makeup will be. After discussion among Board members, it was agreed to establish a Sewer Act Implementation Work Group, made up of two Board of Selectmen representatives and two members of the public. Ms. Gibson suggested the Board take formal action to establish the work group as it will conduct open, posted meetings. Mr. Atherton moved to establish the work group; Mr. Reinhard seconded. All in favor, so voted. The meeting was unanimously adjourned at 8:28 PM. Approved the 5th day of August, 2009.