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Home My WebLink About2019-6-29ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF NONVOTING TAXPAYERS Minutes of meeting 10 A.M., SATURDAY, June 29,%.413 j P ' 2:44 4 Fairgrounds Road 1. Attending: Kathy Baird, Gary Beller, Howard Blitman, Bill Gardner, Don Green, and Bill Sherman; guest speaker Town Manager Libby Gibson. Also present: Mary Russell and Bob Middleton. Members absent: Lou Bassano, Peter Halle, Peter Kahn, Sue Matloff and Jay Strauss. 2. ACNVT Chair Don Green called the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m. and declared a quorum present. The agenda of the meeting was approved and proposed minutes of September 1, 2018 adopted. Our guest was welcomed. 3. Libby Gibson started by speaking of the Harbor Place project, saying that participants are currently in a waiting mode. One key element is the intermodal transportation building (multistory parking garage). A cost projection of $15 — 20 million has raised questions about sufficiency of projected revenue. Howard Blitman, based on his experience in that type of construction, urged adding 30% in reckoning cost. Gary Beller recalled the high level of success achieved with a similar structure built for the New York Botanical Gardens. Its ground level offers vehicle rentals and other uses. An intermodal structure in Harbor Square could offer off- season vehicle storage to gain revenue from space rentals. According to a Town consultant's study, cost of infrastructure for Harbor Square is projected to reach $10- - 20 million. 4. Libby spoke next of the Select Board move to update the Town's 2009 Master Plan this year. With the Town Manager and a facilitator, the Select Board sought more clarity on the island's future, e.g., quality of life issues, concluding with a shared sense that traffic lights aren't wanted, plenty of open land is wanted as is demand -management paid parking in town (like the airport's), valet parking (assuming space for valet -parked cars can be found at the Town parking lot and jetties areas), and paid parking for commercial vehicles overnight in 2 Fairgrounds lot. The Town parking lot off Washington Street will be reconfigured, the Harbormaster's building replaced with first floor designed to be flood tolerant. 5. The Town is reaching `safe harbor' status with increasing supply of affordable housing, awaiting State concurrence. In safe harbor, the Town can properly oppose 40B projects that upend reasonable zoning. A new program will offer affordable rentals by lottery, similar to Provincetown's. The Town is still pressing for enactment of the Housing Bank legislation [H. 3637 to add a V2% fee atop the Land Bank fee] to fund further affordable housing on island. 6. Following late 2018 enactment of state legislation extending the Room Occupancy Tax (ROT) to seasonal vacation home rentals, the Town anticipates revenue from rentals beginning July I' but not likely to be received from the Mass. Department of Revenue until FY2022. The state is expected to check for any evasions of the ROT, and the island's NAREB has undertaken compliance efforts for rentals listed with its member real estate agents. 7. Under consideration is whether the Town should adopt a bylaw to authorize licensing of its seasonal vacation home rentals and inspection to assure code compliance. Don Green spoke favorably. Gary Beller has a seasonal vacation rental house, Kathy Baird likewise, expressing concern about such inspections. 8. The Town might exercise a local Cape and Islands option to impose an additional R.E. tax (up to 3%) for funding wastewater treatment upgrades. To benefit, the Town would need a "301 Plan" (in addition to present Wastewater Management Plan) to qualify. Uncertain is whether benefits received by the Town would exceed added tax from island real estate levy (about $2 million/year) since benefits are allocated, shared with towns on the Cape. 9. Libby suggested that ACNVT might ask an island NGO (but not a Town employee) to propose a summer resident to speak at Town Meetings, whenever an ACNVT member is not up for that. As Kathy suggested, Bill Sherman will ask the Civic League to consider that role. 10. The Town plans to introduce electronic voting at Town Meetings for speedier, more accurate and private vote counting. Benefits over hand vote counting are set against anticipated cost of —$30 — 35,000 per meeting. Gary expressed concern about the `tyranny' of a minority of registered voters, e.g., shifting sewering waiver authority from the Select Board.to Town Meeting. Bill suggested that such a concern could be taken up with John Bescher, Chair of the Town Government Study Committee, at our next meeting. 1 l.Responding to Gary's concern about failure of the Town to move ahead with Old South Road improvements, e.g., roundabouts, Libby noted that the voters had defeated funding in the override ballot following a favorable vote at Town Meeting. Libby explained that the Town had done more than usual outreach to voters on the infrastructure issues. 12.If an ACNVT member wants the Town to take, pave and maintain a private road, Libby recommends contacting the Roads and Right - of -Way Committee. She noted that off-season weather and high demand had limited the paving that Victor, the island's contractor, could complete. 13.In a continuing succession of Town department reviews, a comprehensive study of the Health Department is underway. All aspects of island housing are under review. Ideas for the Town Manager Newsletter are welcomed. 14.A summit on solid waste management is planned for September 8. ACNVT is encouraged to give attention to the new protocols for solid waste and recyclables, implemented to assure proper functioning of the composter and mindful of the limited market for recyclables and island ban on various plastics. 15.To improve Town Meeting deliberations, Libby plans to join with Town Counsel in aid of citizens who propose warrant articles. Example: had a proposal impacting all bike path signage been clear before Town Meeting, a more useful outcome was possible. Don urged a civics course in Nantucket schools to foster their awareness as future voters of what is expected of them in Town Meeting and otherwise dealing with island issues. Kathy thought school interest groups could be helpful. Howard noted the role of the Nantucket Land Council in building their environmental awareness. 16.The Town now proposes re -purposing the old fire station initially for Town offices. Public input is sought for the long term. Concern was expressed about capital outlays coming: for Our Island Home, Senior Center, infrastructure upgrades. 17.The Town is supportive of the proposed offshore wind farm some 15 miles south of Madaket and MV but hopes for some mitigation benefit, given our island's historic status. 18. Hiring an Assistant Town Manager to help with administration is planned. Among many projects underway is a comprehensive look at coastal resiliency, what the Town can best do in anticipation of rising ocean water levels. 19.Libby asked what we thought were a main concern of seasonal residents. Consensus was traffic congestion. Gary added better voter education. 20.Our next meeting July 13 will include election of officers [also speaker John Brescher, Chair of the Nantucket Town Government Study Committee]. An invitation was proposed for new Select Board member Kristie Ferrantella [VP of Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce] to join us at a future meeting. Howard suggested NLC Executive Director Emily Molden as another future speaker. 21.The meeting was adjourned at 11:38 a.m. with an expression of thanks to Town Manager Libby Gibson. 22.Respectfully submitted, Bill Sherman, Secretary Draft minutes e -distributed 7/7/19. Minutes adopted 7/27/19, posted 7/31/19 and hard copy submitted to Town Clerk 7/31/19