HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Selectmen Minutes February 23, 2010_2014020616201903051
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Minutes of the Meeting of February 23, 2010 at 4:00 PM. The meeting took place in the rear
Conference Room, 2 Fairgrounds Road, Nantucket, MA 02554. Members of the Board present
were Rick Atherton and Michael Kopko. Patricia Roggeveen joined the meeting at 4:35 PM and
Chairman Kopko called the meeting to order.
PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING REGARDING TOWN HUMAN SERVICES
Chairman Kopko reviewed the Board’s position. Town Manager C. Elizabeth Gibson reviewed the
Administration’s position, explaining that there is a need to look at efficiencies, cost savings, and
ways of operating certain aspects of Town government differently in light of economic conditions.
Ms. Roggeveen said there is an overall a need to look at how the Town provides services: are the
services being provided in the best possible way; how can things be done better? She added that
she feels it is productive to look at possible changes and that it is time for a review of human
services to be done by the Town. Mr. Atherton spoke in favor of certain other steps being in place
in advance, such as a human services collaborative being more established and the Human
Services Collaborative Study Work Group recommendations being finalized and presented to the
Board. Chairman Kopko opened the meeting for comment. Town Clerk Catherine Stover
suggested that grants be obtained to fund the Human Services Department. Ms. Roggeveen said
the collaborative would help with grant funding and/or writing which can be more effective than the
current setup. Mary Wawro said she felt there is confusion about the proposed collaborative and
that there hasn't been clarity with its role in what the Town is trying to do. Ms. Wawro reviewed
several questions and comments for the Board. Ms. Wawro said she thinks the entire issue should
have been and should be addressed incrementally and that it is very unclear about what the
Human Services Collaborative Work Group was charged to do and what it has done. Chairman
Kopko noted a preliminary report from the work group is expected at the Board's March 17, 2010
meeting. Some discussion followed. Ms. Roggeveen said the Board will address accountability
concerns, noting it is important to the Board as well. Other members of the public, including
Vanessa Phillips, Louise Benoit, and Janice Careiro spoke about retaining the Town’s Human
Services Department. Chairman Kopko said the Town is going to be looking at reorganizing
aspects of Town government over the next few years, noting jobs could be lost, changed, or
added. He said this situation is likely to be the beginning of it. Ms. Roggeveen said this is not about
individuals and that the Human Services Coordinator Maryanne Worth deserves thanks for her
work. More discussion followed about the collaborative as well as the coordinator position,
specifically what it does, how the person will be engaged, and how much it will pay.
The meeting was unanimously adjourned at 6:45 PM.
Approved the 14th day of April, 2010.