HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Selectmen Minutes March 4, 2009_2014020616121851181
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Minutes of the Meeting of 4 March 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. Following the
Pledge of Allegiance, Chairman Kopko called the meeting to order at 6:08 PM.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Attorney Bill Hunter, representing the Nantucket Dreamland Foundation, reviewed the Dreamland’s
street and sidewalk closures logistics plan during renovations to take place in 2009-10. Ms.
Roggeveen recused herself during the review.
Department of Public Works Director Jeff Willett gave a weekly update on the downtown sewer
rehabilitation and storm water drainage improvement projects currently underway.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Jeanette Topham read a prepared statement regarding the Adult Community Day Care (ACDC)
program, appealing to the Board to reconsider the elimination of the ACDC program in the FY 2010
budget. She said there is a "group of interested people who are willing to explore avenues of
possible future funding as well as new space" and went on to ask the BOS to fund the program "for
another year" to allow ACDC proponents "to research other options."
APPROVAL OF MINUTES, WARRANTS AND PENDING CONTRACTS
Approval of Payroll Warrant for Week Ending 1 March 2009. The payroll warrant for the week
ending 1 March 2009 was approved by the unanimous consent of the meeting.
Approval of Treasury Warrant and Pending Contracts for 4 March 2009. The treasury warrant and
pending contracts for 4 March 2009 were approved by the unanimous consent of the meeting.
CITIZEN/DEPARTMENTAL REQUESTS
Land Bank: Request for Approval of Documents Relating to Nantucket Land Bank Bond
Refinancing. Land Bank Director Eric Savetsky explained that this is not a request for new funding
but purely refinancing existing debt at a savings of $1.4 million. Mr. Reinhard read the motion for
approval of the Nantucket Islands Land Bank 2009 Series A Refunding Bonds (attached); Mr.
Chadwick seconded. All in favor, so voted.
Town Clerk: Request for Adoption of Revised 2009 Annual Town Election Warrant due to
Technical Error. Town Manager C. Elizabeth Gibson noted a new election warrant was issued to
correct a technical error. Mr. Reinhard moved approval; Mr. Atherton seconded. All in favor, so
voted.
Application for Transfer of Common Victualler License from Global Restaurant Management, Inc.
to Lola Burger LLC d/b/a Lola Burger for Premises Located at 10A Broad Street, Nantucket. Jeff
Stetina of Vaughan, Dale, Hunter, Stetina and Beaudette was present representing Lola Burger
and spoke in favor of the application. Mr. Chadwick moved approval; Mr. Reinhard seconded. All in
favor, so voted.
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NRTA: Request for Approval of On-Street Parking Plan for Greenhound Site/Washington Street
and Candle Street. Transportation Planner Mike Burns reviewed the proposed parking plan which
includes the removal of two on-street NRTA bus parking spaces on Salem Street resulting in two
new public parking spaces; the removal of two public parking spaces on Candle and Washington
Streets to widen the curb cuts for the buses to pull in and out of the Greenhound bus site; and
opening up seven parking spaces on Washington Street to public parking from 6:00 PM to 7:00
AM. NRTA Administrator Paula Leary reviewed the 2009 bus schedules. Mr. Reinhard moved
approval of the on-street parking plan as presented; Ms. Roggeveen seconded. All in favor, so
voted.
Nantucket Homes for People/Abrem Quary Phase II (Housing Project): Review of Changes to
Local Initiative Program (LIP) Application. Cliff Schorer of Nantucket Homes for People requested
Board endorsement of the revised LIP application and preliminary site plan, and reviewed the
changes that have been made to the application since it was last reviewed by the Board on 24
September 2008. Mr. Chadwick recommended the addition of a sidewalk on Blueberry Lane and
noted that one of the road names in the development is already in use elsewhere on the Island.
The Board discussed the application and suggested some technical changes. Director of Planning
Andrew Vorce said he feels the application is eligible for the Board’s approval. Mr. Atherton moved
that the Board send a letter of support to the Department of Housing and Community Development
for the LIP application; Ms. Roggeveen seconded. All in favor, so voted.
Approval of Conservation Restriction for VFW Property Located at 22 Bunker Road. Ms. Gibson
explained that one of the conditions of securing the required permit from the Massachusetts
Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program for this project is to place a conservation
restriction on the property, which in this case would be held by the Nantucket Land Bank. Mr.
Atherton noted that the conservation restriction would not be placed on the actual land where the
VFW is being built, but on an adjacent parcel. Mr. Chadwick moved approval; Ms. Roggeveen
seconded. All in favor, so voted.
TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT
Review of Landfill Mining Proposal. Ms. Roggeveen, a member of the Board’s Waste Services
work group, introduced Waste Options Nantucket (WON) president Whitney Hall, who gave a
presentation to the Board on potential landfill cost reductions, such as restructuring the waste
services contract with the Town for construction and demolition (C&D) disposal, and resolving the
legacy costs of the landfill through an accelerated landfill mining program. Mr. Hall said there have
been landfill cost impacts, including the C&D building, the wood waste ban, and a decrease in C&D
tonnage delivered to the landfill. Mr. Hall also reviewed municipal solid waste (MSW) tonnages,
MSW tip fee revenue, C&D tonnages, the landfill mining history, and the schedule of capping and
closure of the landfill as mandated by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Mr.
Atherton noted that it will cost the Town an estimated $7.3 million to cap and close seven acres of
the landfill, that the Administrative Consent Order (ACO) issued by the DEP has been amended six
times to date, and that the landfill is supposed to be closed by June 30, 2009. He said that the DEP
indicated it would consider extending that date if the Town proceeds with an accelerated landfill
mining program. Regarding the accelerated landfill mining program, Mr. Hall said approximately
80,000-100,000 yards of material per year is expected to be mined, which in five years, would
reduce the size of the landfill to 14 acres, and that he advocates a five year mining program with an
option to mine the landfill in its entirety. He estimates that it would take 12 years to mine the entire
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landfill. A discussion followed among Board members and Mr. Hall regarding his presentation. Mr.
Hall noted that an accelerated landfill mining program will cost approximately $2 million less than
capping and closing the landfill. The Board then took questions and comments from Carl Jelleme,
Richard Cooper, Myles Reis, and Nat Lowell. Chairman Kopko thanked Mr. Hall for his
presentation and said the Board would take these issues under advisement.
SELECTMEN’S REPORTS/COMMENT
Finalization of FY 2010 Budget Recommendations. Ms. Gibson made a presentation on the FY
2010 budget and noted that the FY 2010 General Fund projected deficit is currently $4,820,000 for
the Town and school. She reviewed recommended budget reductions and recommendations for
closing the Town’s portion of the budget gap, which includes operation expense reductions;
program reductions and eliminations; savings from the hiring freeze; and alternative funding
sources. Ms. Roggeveen said she felt any reduction to personnel equals an impact to Town
services. Mr. Chadwick discussed the elimination of the Adult Community Day Care (ACDC)
program, saying he has received numerous calls and emails asking him to support the program,
and that he would support funding the program for one more year. Chairman Kopko said the ACDC
program cut is an elimination of $138,000 from the budget. He suggested that the Board consider
reducing the $500,000 allocation to the reserve fund by $138,000, to be made up by Free Cash at
a later time, to allow ACDC one more year of funding. A discussion followed among the Board
members regarding the fate of ACDC, whether or not it is considered an essential Town service,
and how it can become self-sustainable. Mr. Chadwick moved to restore funding for the ACDC
program for one year by reducing the Reserve Fund by $138,000, and to charge the Council on
Aging with the discussion on how it can assist ACDC with the transition off Town funds; Mr.
Atherton seconded. All in favor, so voted.
Review of 2009 Annual Town Meeting Citizen Sewer Warrant Article Recommendations. Chairman
Kopko said the Board has been given recommendations from a staff group comprised of the
Planning Director, the Department of Public Works Director, and the Health Director for the citizen
sewer warrant articles based on an objective criteria check list endorsed by the Board two years
ago. Chairman Kopko reviewed the warrant article recommendations. Ms. Roggeveen moved to
make comments on the articles based on staff recommendations; Mr. Reinhard seconded. All in
favor, so voted.
Review of 2009 Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article Recommendations. Ms. Gibson reviewed
outstanding motions for the 2009 Annual Town Meeting. Ms. Roggeveen expressed her reluctance
to take action on any recommendations tonight. Chairman Kopko urged the Board to review the
information presented and to commit to making recommendations at next week’s meeting.
Chairman Kopko asked the Board to consider that all submissions to be reviewed by the Board
also be submitted electronically.
Ms. Roggeveen noted that the Audit Committee met earlier today and that the town is on target
with the 2008 audit timetable.
The meeting was unanimously adjourned at 8:55 PM.
Approved the 7th day of October, 2009.