HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Selectmen Minutes May 13, 2009_2014020616122062121
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Minutes of the Meeting of 13 May 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 6:00 PM.
Chairman Kopko stated that the Board appointment to the Ad Hoc Fiscal Committee will be added
to Selectmen’s Reports.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Town Manager C. Elizabeth Gibson reviewed the schedule of public hearing and appointment
dates for the 2009 committee/board/commission vacancies, noting the information is posted on the
Town’s website. She said the Energy Study Committee has requested the Board to allow two
additional members, and to add them with the rest of the appointments. The Board consensus was
to allow the two additional members requested.
A Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM) Contractor Certification Seminar will be held 18
June 2009 at 6:00 PM at 2 Fairgrounds Road.
Milestone Road and bike path are currently scheduled to be resurfaced in fall 2009. There may be
road-side preparation work during the summer months.
Ms. Gibson recognized Our Island Home retiring employee Lisa Haye for 25 years of service.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Kimberly Taylor of 76 Easton Street lodged a complaint with the Board regarding work being done
at Harbor House Village and subsequent flooding of her property. Ms. Gibson informed Ms. Taylor
that her written complaint has been received by Town Administration and has been forwarded to
various departments for comments.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES, WARRANTS, PENDING CONTRACTS
Approval of Payroll Warrant for Week Ending 10 May 2009.The payroll warrant for week ending 10
May 2009 was approved by the unanimous consent of the meeting.
Approval of Treasury Warrant and Pending Contracts for 13 May 2009. The treasury warrant and
pending contracts for 13 May 2009 were approved by the unanimous consent of the meeting.
CITIZEN/DEPARTMENTAL REQUESTS
Andrew Willauer: Request for Relocation of Loading Zone Located at 2 India Street. Ms. Gibson
informed the Board that Mr. Willauer’s request was reviewed by the Traffic Safety Work Group
which recommended that the Board take no action. She said the request was also heard at the
2009 Annual Town Meeting by way of a citizen warrant article. Mr. Willauer reviewed his request
with the Board and noted that over two-thirds of voters at the 2009 Annual Town Meeting voted for
the Board to review the loading zone issue. Transportation Planner Mike Burns suggested two
improvements that could be made at the current loading zone location, and reviewed possible
alternate loading zone locations. A discussion followed. Mr. Chadwick moved to change the time at
the current loading zone at 2 India Street from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM to 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM as a
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test for the summer, and to revisit the matter in the fall; Ms. Roggeveen seconded. All in favor, so
voted.
Sustainable Nantucket: Request to Secure Downtown Location for Nantucket Farmers and
Artisans Market from 27 June to 17 October, 2009 and Waiver of Transient/Temporary Business
Permit Fee. Ms. Gibson explained that the Traffic Safety Work Group reviewed the request and it
suggested Sustainable Nantucket coordinate with the Nantucket Land Bank about possibly using
Petrel Landing at the corner of Commercial Wharf and New Whale Street. She reviewed other
locations discussed by Traffic Safety, including Cambridge Street between Federal Street and
South Water Street and North Union Street between Cambridge Street and Main Street. Ms.
Roggeveen said the Dreamland Foundation would work with Sustainable Nantucket to possibly
house the Market at the Dreamland site. Discussion followed, and the Board consensus was to
continue the matter to the 20 May 2009 meeting in order for Sustainable Nantucket to explore
possible locations. Mr. Reinhard moved to waive the 2009 Transient/Temporary permit fee of $980;
Ms. Roggeveen seconded. So voted 3-2. Mr. Atherton and Mr. Chadwick were opposed.
Request for Award of Surplus Parcel in Connection with “Yard Sale” Program for Sherburne
Turnpike P-2. Ms. Gibson said the Board previously set the minimum bid for the property in
question at $350,000 and that one bid has been received in the amount of $200,000. Planning
Director Andrew Vorce said the Board could accept the bid or reject it and rebid the property. Mr.
Chadwick moved to reject the bid made for $200,000 and to either rebid the property or use for
Town purposes; Mr. Atherton seconded. Attorney Steven Cohen, representing the bidder, said his
client did not underbid and the bid offered was due to different appraisals. He said his client is
willing to pay fair market value and that the Board’s bid minimum should be reexamined. On the
motion, all in favor, so voted.
Request for Acceptance of Volunteer Professional Land Surveying Services from On-Island Land
Surveying in Connection with the Roads and Right of Way Committee’s Program to Identify Public
Ways. Mr. Reinhard, representing the Roads and Right of Way Committee, spoke in favor of the
request, stating that On-Island Land Surveying’s gift would consist of approximately four hours of
survey work, two times a month for one year to help identify public access points throughout the
Island. Mr. Chadwick moved to accept the gift of volunteer survey work for the Roads and Right of
Way Committee’s purposes, and to send a letter to thanks to On-Island Land Surveying; Mr.
Atherton seconded. All in favor, so voted.
Roads & Right of Way Committee: Request for Approval of New Right of Way Posts. Mr.
Reinhard, representing the Roads and Right of Way Committee, explained that during the past
year the committee has reviewed right of way markers throughout the Island and found many to be
in poor condition. He said the committee is seeking Board approval to replace deteriorated markers
with new granite markers to be fabricated and engraved by Neil Paterson. Mr. Reinhard said the
Historic District Commission has reviewed the markers proposed and feels they are appropriate,
and that funding has been secured for twelve new posts. Mr. Chadwick moved to approve the
posts; Ms. Roggeveen seconded. All in favor, so voted.
TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT
2008-09 Management Priorities Update. Ms. Gibson said the Board has four main goals and that
there are several management priorities under each goal, which she reviewed. She also outlined
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items which have taken up significant portions of time recently, including the sheriff takeover
legislation, the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund and solid waste issues, the FY 2010 budget and union
negotiations, the preparation of the Ad Hoc Fiscal Committee, and real estate issues such as
Sherburne Commons and the Nantucket Human Services Center, Inc. Ms. Gibson also recapped
the recent Sewer Rate Workshop.
SELECTMEN’S REPORTS/COMMENT
Discussion Regarding Nantucket Hunting Association (Continued From 15 April 2009). Chairman
Kopko reviewed the ground lease time extensions made on 10 December 2008 and 15 April 2009.
Mr. Reinhard explained that he and Mr. Chadwick have met with the Nantucket Hunting
Association (NHA) three times since December 2008, the last meeting being 11 May for the
purpose of reviewing the business plan which the NHA submitted on 6 May 2009. He said he feels
the NHA has made good progress with its business plan, and he then made comments regarding
the revised document. Mr. Chadwick noted that the Board asked the NHA to submit a revised
business plan which it has. Mr. Reinhard said he feels the business plan will guide the lease,
whether it is revised or started anew, that the Town-owned land where the shooting range is slated
to go is a significant asset valued at approximately $6 million, and that the NHA is asking to be
stewards of that land so in his view should be able to demonstrate capabilities in constructing the
site, addressing concerns that are raised, and have the financial resources necessary for the
project. The Board discussed options of exercising its right to terminate the lease, granting another
extension, or cancelling the ground lease and starting over by issuing a new Request for Proposal
for the property. The Board then allowed comments from the audience. Christopher Humphrey,
speaking on behalf of the NHA and in favor of extending the current ground lease, said he felt the
requirement of a business plan is new as it was not required of the Veterans of Foreign Wars
building project. Steven Holdgate, president of the NHA, noted he did not agree with Mr. Reinhard
that the business plan should guide the lease, and said the lease is where most issues raised will
be addressed, not the business plan. Attorneys Howard Speicher and Kevin Dale, both
representing the Trustees of the Russell’s Way/Wigwam Road Maintenance Trust, each spoke
against extending the lease, and noted their concerns over the project and the business plan.
Members of the NHA spoke in favor of the shooting range. Neighbors in the Russell’s
Way/Wigwam Road area spoke against the project and business plan. Two audience members
noted that the proposed location of the shooting range has been used for shooting for at least three
decades, they hunt in that area personally, and that the original intent of the NHA was to clean up
the site, organize a range, and make the location safe for hunting. Mr. Chadwick said the Board
had given no requirements for the business plan, other than one needed to be submitted, and that
the NHA has met the Board’s request. He suggested another 60-day extension of the lease. Mr.
Atherton said the Board needs to decide on the terms and conditions upon which it is willing to
release the property. Ms. Roggeveen said she felt the NHA had met its obligation to the Town and
that she wants to treat the issues fairly. Chairman Kopko said he supports the need for a facility at
this site, and that a reasonable proposal can be made to do that, but doesn’t feel the Board has
enough information yet. He said it is the NHA’s responsibility to show it will be a viable steward of
the property, noting the mitigation requirement is still unknown, and the best way to go forward
would be to start with a clean slate by issuing a new Request for Proposal with specific
requirements. Ms. Roggeveen noted that the Board has set the bar higher for the NHA than any
other group, that the NHA has met the minimum threshold set by the Board, and that she feels the
Board should stay with the current Request for Proposal. Mr. Atherton moved to extend the lease
for 60 days, that in that time the Board will deliberate appropriate conditions to put on the lease,
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and that the burden is on the Board and there are no expectations for the NHA; Mr. Chadwick
seconded. A discussion among Board members followed the motion. Chairman Kopko scheduled
the Board to develop and vote on terms of the lease for Wednesday, 3 June 2009 at 6:00 PM.
Chairman Kopko said there is a motion on the table to extend the lease for 60 days. So voted 4-0.
Mr. Reinhard abstained from the vote.
Discussion Regarding Public-Education-Government (PEG) Channel Initiation Options. Continued
to 27 May 2009 at 6:00 PM.
Committee Reports.
Streets and Sidewalks Committee: Report Concerning Streets Impacted by Sewer Improvements
Project. Mr. Atherton, representing the Streets and Sidewalks Committee, reviewed a summary of
streets impacted by the downtown sewer improvement project and comments the committee made
on each. He said the committee voted to recommend the same resurfacing as exists today for all
streets except North Water Street and Quince Street and that it is looking for input from the Board
on the resurfacing of these two streets. Mr. Reinhard moved to approve the recommendations as
presented; Mr. Chadwick seconded. All in favor, so voted.
Downtown Revitalization Committee: Request to Schedule Award of Request for Proposals in
Connection with Wilkes Square. Ms. Roggeveen, representing the Downtown Revitalization
Committee, said 15 Request for Proposals have been received and that a sub-group consisting of
Mr. Chadwick, Ms. Roggeveen, Mr. Vorce, Whitey Willauer, and Town Project Manager Diane
O’Neil reviewed the RFQ’s and made recommendations for the final four. She recommended that
the sub-group continue and return to the Board with a final candidate, and that public interviews
have been scheduled for the final four candidates for 28 May 2009 and she would like to see the
contract awarded at the 3 June 2009 Board meeting. After a brief discussion, Mr. Atherton moved
to continue the work of the sub-group as recommended; Mr. Chadwick seconded. All in favor, so
voted.
Ad Hoc Fiscal Committee
Mr. Atherton volunteered to be the Board representative to the Ad Hoc Fiscal Committee. The
Board voted by acclimation to appoint Mr. Atherton as its representative.
The meeting was unanimously adjourned at 9:58 PM.
Approved the 2nd day of December, 2009.