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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 2 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 3 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, 4 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.