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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Selectmen Minutes June 1, 2011_201402061649130260BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes of the Meeting of 1 June 2011. The meeting took place in the Public Safety Facility Community Room, 4 Fairgrounds Road, Nantucket, MA 02554. Members of the Board present were Rick Atherton, Robert DeCosta, Michael Kopko, and Whiting Willauer. Patricia Roggeveen was absent. Chairman Atherton called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. I. BOARD ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA Mr. Atherton noted that item VIII. 3. has been taken off the agenda. The Board unanimously accepted the agenda as amended. II. ANNOUNCEMENTS 1. A Special Town Election will be held on Tuesday, 14 June 2011 with polls open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM at Nantucket High School. 2. Town Manager C. Elizabeth Gibson reviewed the 2011 committee/board/commission vacancies, noting that the 2011 timeline, list of committee openings, current committee membership list, and applications are all available on the Town’s website (www.nantucket-ma.gov). III. PUBLIC COMMENT None. IV. NEW BUSINESS None. V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES, WARRANTS, PENDING CONTRACTS 1. Approval of Minutes of 23 February 2011 at 6:00 PM; 2 March 2011 at 6:00 PM; 16 March 2011 at 6:00 PM; 4 May 2011 at 6:00 PM; 11 May 2011 at 6:00 PM; 18 May 2011 at 6:00 PM. The minutes were approved by the unanimous consent of the meeting. 2. Approval of Payroll Warrant for Week Ending 29 May 2011. The payroll warrant for week ending 29 May 2011 was approved by the unanimous consent of the meeting. 3. Approval of Treasury Warrant for 1 June 2011. The treasury warrant for 1 June 2011 was approved by the unanimous consent of the meeting. 4. Approval of Pending Contracts for 1 June 2011. Ms. Gibson reviewed the various pending contracts and answered questions from the Board. Assistant Department of Public Works Director Mohamed Nabulsi and Police Chief William Pittman also answered questions from the Board on their respective pending contracts. The pending contracts for 1 June 2011 were approved by the unanimous consent of the meeting. VI. CITIZEN/DEPARTMENTAL REQUESTS 1. Nantucket Islands Land Bank: Request for Approval of Conservation Restriction to be Held by Nantucket Islands Land Bank for Portion of Land Located at 70 Miacomet Road, Nantucket. Attorney Paul Jensen, representing conservation restriction (CR) grantor Andrew Ferreira, answered questions from the Board. Mr. Kopko moved to approve the CR to be held by the Nantucket Islands Land Bank for a portion of land located at 70 Miacomet Road and to find that the CR is in the public interest; Mr. DeCosta seconded. So voted 4-0. 2. Nantucket Preservation Trust: Request for Preliminary Review of Preservation Restriction to be Held by Nantucket Preservation Trust for “Greater Light” Property Located at 8 Howard Street. Nantucket Preservation Trust executive director Michael May reviewed the “Greater Light” preservation restriction (PR), noting it is a requirement of Community Preservation Committee funding. Assessor Deborah Dilworth 1 explained that tax exemptions are not granted for PRs as there is no significant public benefit as a result; however, the Nantucket Historical Association’s “Greater Light” property is already exempt. A discussion followed on a possible conflict of interest on behalf of the CPC chair Ken Beaugrand. The Board consensus was to send the PR to Town Counsel for formal review. VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Public Hearing to Consider Applications for Harbor Plan Implementation Committee, Nantucket Affordable Housing Trust, Nantucket Historical Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Board Alternate, Roads and Right of Way Committee, Scholarship Committee, Steamship Authority Port Council, Town Government Study Committee, Tree Advisory Committee, Visitor Services and Information Advisory Committee, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate. Chairman Atherton opened the public hearing and the following individuals spoke in favor of their applications: Nantucket Historical Commission – Phil Gallagher; Roads and Right of Way Committee – Lee Saperstein, Nat Lowell, Bert Ryder, and Richard Cooper; Scholarship Committee – Erika Mooney; Steamship Authority Port Council – Nat Lowell; Visitor Services and Information Advisory Committee – Linda Williams and David Larivee; and Zoning Board of Appeals – Kerim Koseatac. Chairman Atherton closed the public hearing. VIII. TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT 1. Review of Professional Services in Connection with Development of Wastewater Action Plan. Ms. Gibson noted that she has proposed several potential wastewater action plan workshop dates to the Board, and that funding is needed for professional services in connection with development of the plan, which will be requested shortly through a Finance Committee Reserve Fund transfer. She added that she has been working with John Daniels of Woodard and Curran to develop an action plan budget and a scope of services. Mr. Kopko questioned whether the Town was “putting the cart before the horse”, noting it is not even clear whether a wastewater treatment plant is needed in Madaket. Ms. Gibson stated that the process of procuring the GSA land in Madaket upon which a wastewater treatment facility could be constructed has been ongoing for many years and that if the Town does not pursue it, the property will be sold by the government at auction. She added that the GSA land has been identified in the Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CWMP) as the only Madaket site for a wastewater treatment plant, and she recommended continue to work concurrently with the GSA as the Town moves forward on a wastewater action plan. Some discussion followed among Board members. Chairman Atherton and Mr. Willauer both stated they are in favor of continuing the work with the GSA. Ms. Gibson said the Finance Committee is meeting on 16 June 2011 and Town Administration will ask for the previously mentioned Reserve Fund transfer. 2. Review 14 June 2011 Special Town Election Tax Rate Impact. Ms. Gibson reviewed the tax rate impact for the three Special Town Election ballot questions, noting that if all three questions pass, it will mean a tax increase of approximately $237.11 for an average residential home. Some discussion followed. 3. Traffic Safety Work Group Recommendation: Silver Street Parking Lot. This matter was taken off the agenda. IX. SELECTMEN’S REPORTS/COMMENT 1. Discussion Regarding Downtown Parking Options for 2011 Summer Season. Chairman Atherton noted that downtown parking has been an ongoing discussion point and he acknowledged ReMain Nantucket for funding a recent parking study. At 7:17 PM Mr. Willauer left the meeting. He returned at 7:20 PM. Ms. Gibson explained that she had a small administrative work group, consisting of Chief Pittman, Planning Director Andrew Vorce, Transportation Planner Mike Burns, and NRTA Administrator Paula Leary, review 2 3 options presented by ReMain’s consultant Nelson-Nygaard for pilot parking programs for downtown Nantucket for 2011. Mr. Kopko said he finds it hard to understand the rationale for the opt-in paid parking proposal as he feels it won’t solve the current parking problems or create more parking. Ms. Gibson said that the intent is to gauge user reaction to in-car meters. Ms. Gibson reviewed other parking options as well, including license plate recognition units, pay-back for remote parking, and valet parking. Mr. DeCosta spoke in favor of a valet parking pilot program for the summer of 2011 and allowing a valet service to use parking lots at Jetties Beach and/or the Saltmarsh Center. Phil Gallagher suggested that the NRTA run a jitney service to downtown. Grant Sanders spoke against paid parking. Charity Benz spoke in favor of an NRTA jitney service. Chief Pittman suggested extending the hours of parking enforcement to 9:00 PM in July and August, saying he feels the inventory of evening parking is being filled by employees who work downtown. Bruce Miller said the question should not be do people want paid parking, but rather do they want their quality of life improved. Nat Lowell agreed with Mr. Miller, and thanked ReMain Nantucket for providing the parking study. He said the Town is trying to manage parking and spoke in favor of a pilot valet parking program. ReMain Nantucket executive director Melissa Philbrick stated the decision on parking is the Town’s, and that ReMain just offered some resources. She added that the proposal is to implement a parking program in 2012 “in a meaningful way” and suggested testing the technology this summer to see if it works. Chairman Atherton thanked ReMain for helping to find resources to undertake the study and said he detects little Board consensus to move forward with any trial options for this summer. Mr. DeCosta said he would like the Town to explore valet parking and to use the Jetties and/or Saltmarsh Center parking lots. Mr. Kopko concurred, and also spoke in favor of later parking enforcement hours. He also spoke in favor of license plate readers to use as enforcement for the current system. Mr. Willauer said a valet program should be put out for competitive bids, and said he likes the idea of an NRTA jitney service but that funding would have to be found for that service, and recommended that businesses contribute. He also spoke in favor of later enforcement and experimenting and testing new technology. Chairman Atherton said the Board will continue its parking discussion at other meetings, and said that for this summer it may possibly pursue a valet service for part of the season. Mr. DeCosta agreed to conduct a review of a valet pilot program. 2. Review/Adoption of Policy for Ticket Sales on Public/Town Property. Ms. Gibson explained that there has been a long standing process of allowing tables on Town sidewalks for ticket sales, and that Town Administration has now developed a written policy. Mr. DeCosta spoke in favor of the staff’s recommended language. Mr. Willauer moved to approve the policy per staff’s recommended language; Mr. Kopko seconded. So voted 4-0. 3. Committee Reports. Mr. Kopko reported on a recent Nantucket Community Television board meeting, noting that NCTV is currently negotiating renting studio space, is developing a budget, and developing a job description to hire a manager. Chairman Atherton gave an update on yesterday’s Audit Committee meeting, noting progress is being made. Mr. Willauer said he recently attended a second meeting with members of the Spanish-speaking community. Mr. DeCosta thanked the organizers and participants of the Memorial Day Parade. IX. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was unanimously adjourned at 8:36 PM. Approved the 20th day of July, 2011. BOARD OF SELECTMEN 1 JUNE 2011 – 6:00 PM PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY COMMUNITY ROOM 4 FAIRGROUNDS ROAD NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS List of documents used at the meeting: V. 1. Draft minutes of 23 February 2011 at 6:00 PM; 2 March 2011 at 6:00 PM; 16 March 2011 at 6:00 PM; 4 May 2011 at 6:00 PM; 11 May 2011 at 6:00 PM; 18 May 2011 at 6:00 PM V. 4. Pending contracts spreadsheet for 1 June 2011 VI. 1. Memo from Assessor, re: 70 Miacomet Road conservation restriction (CR); letter from Town Counsel’s office, re: 70 Miacomet Road CR; cover letter from Paul Jensen; 70 Miacomet Road CR VI. 2. Memo from Assessor, re: preservation restrictions (PR); cover letter from Nantucket Preservation Trust, re: “Greater Light” PR; “Greater Light” PR VII. 1. Committee applicant list and applications VIII. 1. Woodward and Curran Wastewater Action Plan budget; scope of work; draft project schedule VIII. 2. June 14, 2011 Special Town Election tax rate information spreadsheet VIII. 3. Memo from Traffic Safety Work Group, re: Silver Street lot IX. 1. Memo from Nelson/Nygaard, re: parking pilot options for downtown Nantucket IX. 2. Draft Policy for Ticket Sales on Public/Town Property