HomeMy WebLinkAbout1941-05-05 ~. SPECIAL TOWN mETING
COMN0}a~EALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS~;'
,~ ...' ~ i~ - ~ Na ucket, ss.
T° either Of'the Constables~of the~T0~n of Nantucket,~
' In ithe hame'of the Connnonwe<h;of Massachusetts, you
are directed to notify the-inhabitants'of the'TOwn of Nantucket
qualified to vote in Town Affairs, to meet at Dreamland Theatre
in said Nantucket on MONDAY, the FIFTH day.of NAY, 194~, at
8:00 o'clock in the eventng,;then and there to act on the
following articles: ' ~'. ' '
~, '~,1.' To'see if the'town will raise and appropriate the
sumof Seven Thousand Six Hundred Dollars~($V,600.00) for
the purchase of the so-called Nobadeer Airport. ].'
2. To se& if the Town Will raise and appr0~riate a
sufficient sum to purchase outlying lands around the so-
called Nobadeer Airport, in order to comply with airport
regulations and WPA requirements.
$. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the
seieCt~nen to lease the so-called Nobadeer Airport.,
-" 4. TO see~if'the Town will vote to raise ~nd appro-
priate' the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($800.00) for tuition
at State Vocational Schools as required by State Law.'
'5. , To see .if the Town will vote to ,raise and appro-
priate-the sum of Six Thousand Dollars ($8000.00) to be
used in conjunction with Chapter 90 or any other state funds
that may be available~ -~ ~ : .... '-.
And to act on and trans~ct~ all' business that may
arise in relation to the foregoing articles. ~'
And you a re directed to serve t~is~rra~t by' posting
a copy of the same at the corner of Nain and Federal s~reets,
in the Post Office at Siasconset, and by publishing the same
in The Inquirer and Nirror, at least seven days before the
date of said meeting.~ ~ ......
Hereof fail not, and make due return of the warrant,
with your doings thereon, to the Town.Clerk,' at the time and
place of meeting, as aforesaid.
Given under our hands this l~th day of April, in the
year one thousand nine hundred and forty-one.
Irving A. Soverino
" Henry B: Coleman
Herbert P. Smith
John L. Hardy
'~ Walter D. Glidden
Selectmen of Nantucket.
Nantucket, ss. -May 2, 1941.
Pursuant to the foregoing warrant, I have notified the
inhabitants of the Town of Nantucket qualified to ,vote in
Town Affairs, to meet at the time and place and for,the pur-
poses within mentioned, by posting and publishing the same
as herein directed seven days before the date of said meeting.
Attest:
Lawrence F. Nooney
Constable of Nantucket.
At test:~~~~~~.' ~
.............. '* O~i ICl th Town Of Nantucket met in
Legioh Hall April~2~,'.1941, held hearings on the articles for
the special Town Neet~ng, and submit the following recommenda-'
1.---To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of
Seven ,Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($7,600.00) for the pur-
chase'bf the so-called Nobadeer Airport.
We recommend the sum of Seven ~;Usand' Six Hundred
Dollars ($7,600.00) be raised and appropriated for, the pur-
chase of the so-called Nobadeer Airport,.together with build-
~.---To see if the Town will raise and approDriate, a suffic'ie~t
sum to purchase outlying lands around the so-called Nobadeer
Airport, in order to comply with airport regulations and WPA
requirements.
We recommend the transfer of Three Thousand Seven
Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($3~50.00) fro~ surplus revenue for
the purchase of outlying lands around the so-called NobadeSr
Airport, in order to comply with airport regulations and WPA
requirements.
We further recommend that the Selectmen be instructed and
authorized to acquire'by eminent domain a parcel of land
situated south of the Nobadeer Airport so-called, lying be-
tween the south boundary of said ~irport and Weeweeder Avenue.
We further recommend that the Selectmen be authorized
to deed and convey,to Everett U. Crosby~ in accordance with
his offer, the lot owned by the Town~of Nantucket and contain-
ing about eight acres adjacent to the westerly end of Lot B,
and,the Selectmen be authorized to deed and convey to
Catherine N. Radcliffe, Trustee, in accordance with her offer,
the narrow lot of land shown in Lot D I in plan 14~62 B, being
~.---To see if the Town will vote to authorize,the Selectmen'
to lease the so-called Nobadeer Airport...- ~·.
,~ ~ .... ,We-reco~z. aend,that the Selectmen be Authorized to lease
Nobadeer Airport so-called. ~,
4.---To. see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the
sum of Five Hundred. Dollars ($500.00) for tuition at State
Vocational Schools as,required by,State Law.
-¢ We re'commend that the sum of Five Hundred ~ollars (~500.00)
be rais~ ~nd appropriated as required by law.'" .,~,
5.---To see if the Town will vote bo raise and appropriate the
sum of Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) ~o be used in conjunc-
tion with Chapter 90 or any other state funds that may be
We do not recommend this article.
Allen Backus George W. Jones
~atthew Jaeckle -,~ -~ Earl S.,Ray, Chairman,Sec
Harry~Gordon ,, '-~ William Waine
Eenneth Coffin , Leroy H. True
Ernest S. NacLaughlin
222*
May 6, 1941,
[ hereb~ cer2if~ 2ha2 n Special Town ~e.e.t[ng
moneys were appropriated:
Article 2. ~3750. to be transferred from surplus';;
revenue
Charles Clark Coffin
REPORT OF SPECIAL TOWN MEETING ~:::"t,' ,'.,
: ' Moderato'r : Town Clerk will ,read the Report ~of the ~:.,
Town 'Clerk'- Clark Coffin - Reads Warrant.',,
.,:-,*. Moderator '- Are there any reports of any Committees-,"'
~,~:* Earl Ray - I herewith present the report and red~mmenda-
tions of the Finance Con~aittee for ,this Special Tow~ Meeting.
'-' ' Town Clerk: . Reads Report of Finance Committee.'T', ......
Mo~erator;,-Articles I and ~:are relating to.the pur-'
chase of land, The General ~ws provides that a two t~irds vote
is required by law,-"Z suggest t~at when the time comes ~e
take a ~ote'on A~ticles 1' and ~ and stand when yo~ are voting~
so there can be no oo~fus~on when cou~ting,
Parker Gray - I make a motion that Article l'be'ind4fi-
nitely postponed.
Seconded -
: :,,t Zrving Soverino - Z woul~ like to state to ,the ,voters
of Nantucketlthat the Selectmen and Finance Committee have
given this matter great-thought. :' ..c:'
O. V. Hull - I rise to point of order. Article is.
not debatable.
Moderator - Article is debatable but not amendable.
I. Soverino - In regard to the purchase of Nobadeer
Airport, we feel it is a sound proposition and hope the
Assembly feels the same.
Donald ~ifford - Mr. Moderator:- I would like at this
time to read a statement, which as the President of the
Chamber of Commerce, I have been authorized to present to the
Town Meeting.
,, ¥I
CAfter ~considerabie~discU~si0n~:'investigati0n~a~d
explorat'ion of~all~available'facts~pertaining to;the airport~,'
situation,~The Chamber of Commerce~endorses the~recommendations
of the Finance Committee on Article'(l) (l'& 2) for the follow-
ing reasons:- The Chamber supports the recommendations of the~
Finance Committee on'Article l; First because'it feels that~it
supplies a landing field which can be used immediately without
further expense, Second because this land has a Land Court
title. Third, because it is so located that it can be devel-
oped to meet the specifications~of the~W. P. A;~;and War Depart-
ment regulations. And finally, because it feels that the
assets contained in and~on this field could not be duplicated
elsewhere~on the Island for the amount~asked'for in Article 1.~
~'~ A~' Cartwright - I do not'~think this is the'~right )
time~to~'buy any-airport field. I want to ask.one question.~
Hagner Estate petitioned~Probate Court,to give them the right
to sell land. I wonder how we can buy it if they ha~e not the
right to sell it. ~ '~' ~
~ ~ I.' Soverino~'- Mr. Russell, ~epresenting the estate
is present. I ask the floor for Mr. Russell. ~w.
Moderator -'Asks" the Assembly~ if they will allow Mr.
Russell the floor.
Vote - Aye/
Mr. Russell ~ 0nly reason Hagner Estate filed peti-
tion, if Town voted to buy land considerable time would be
saved.
A. Cartwright - I think you had better wait until
Probate Court gives permission to b~uy it.~
R. Glidden- Isn't it in accordance with Probate ~
Court pr, ocedure they ha~e to have some approval of a bonafide
buyer? ~. , ~,~ / ~ ~ ~. '~ -. ~c .... ~,.'
Moderator - That is correct.
R. Glidden - How can Probate Court grant license if
they have ~o agreement with any bonafide'buyer?' ~ "
P. W. Gray - It was stated at Annual Town ~eeting
that the.~o-called Nobadee~ Airport was'of,sufficient size, that
the town did not need any more land. ~They reJected~offer of
Mayflower Airport to accept land for .~l.00. Now we are getting
into this land of Nobadeer Airport and they say'there isn't
enough. They must have land from Radcliffe, A. G. Brock Estate
and Mr. !Crosby, then you want to take by eminent domain 143 acre
from owners unknown, a total of 61V acres,.when youi said Nobadee~
Airport was' of sufficient size at .the Annual Town Meeting, You
only need~ 60 more acres~to Nobadeer Airport to make it the right
size; ~You do not need any more. I do not know why they are
taking this:land, the town had enough land as it is. They can
buy 60 acres. I' am speaking as 'an individual and as.a tax
payer. '~Nantucket does,'~I agree with~the Selectmen and everyone
else, need an Airport, but not at this .price. Calls for two
runways, six months from n.ow they will holler for an east and
west runway~, and they will'need some more money.' 'If the town
wants to take $14 acres by eminent domain, we looked it over
and it is sufficient for an airport. If you go ahead' and take
this land. I think I am just as familiar with all the flying
conditions as anyone who comes here. ~'~en I'mm telling you
something about an airport,"I am trying to straighten you out
on the airport, situation. If you take the land~ south' of. the
Nobadeer Airport, most of the time.' it will be worthless and ~
most of the time it is closed in with fog, and I know. ~'
~:~:~-':Isaac Hills - I am very much~surprised to see such a
difference in information between Mr. Gray and the War Depart-
ment. Mr. Gray went to Washington and talked with the ~. P. A.
and the ~. P.~A. is all in National Defense. They told us they
needed 3500 feet for runways. Mr. Gray says we need Northeast
and Southeast runways our prevailing wind. The War Department
told us we need 5000 feet. For a Southwest runway there is only
224'
One flying field available~, in- Nantucket,-? the i, field- is
ready, ~ the Selectmen~ and Finance. Committee have,been ~ th~0ugh
the titles, it has been put'inPthe paper. ~-~.~We :buy.~the. land,
the Government builds 'the field.' 14 ~e Govermnent has ;:~2"
$75,000, we.~are cooperating in National Defense.. I~do not:,
think,we should carry on little picayune ~battles. .::~ ,~.:
· ;~ ~0. V. Hull - Is this Artiel$ debatable?.~ .~:~-~
,~: .: ,~: ,:~Moderat~r~ yes, it:~is. ~. , ~ ~ ~.~ /~.-- ~
:~.~,. ~0. V.~ Hull -~'I think ~omething should be~done
wSth~the motion. .Alt0~ether,it seems bo me,that the~Town
Nantucket is ~oing into the real estate buisness. A~y town
doinE real~esbate business is~.forbidden bo ~uy,-sell or
transfer property. ~at act,is from the'legislature. 'I. say~
these articles are wrong, and nob legal.
M0derato~ - A~e you ready for Mr. Gr~s motion?
snow.
I. Soverino - Would like the floor for Mr. Crocker
~ . ;~ Moderator - Asks vote of Assembly.
Vote - Aye.
Crocker Snow - Ladies and Gentlemen:-I have heard
'some qUestion raised about the authority or,Nantucket to buy
this airport. Chapter 40 and Chapter 90 give,the Town the ~.~
authority to raise and appropriate money to buy and airpo.rt;~ .
and maintain it.
0. V.~ H~ll ~Ta~e the Nantu'~ket '~
~ Bathing Beach, ~they
~had to go before Legislature. Town taking any land for any
purpose must do it through the Legislature:~b ~/.f. ~ ~.
Moderator Motion is that A~ticle 1 be indefinitely
postponed.
Vote - No - Mr. 's ~0tiS~ is lost.
Moderator"- Article 1 is.still~'befor~ th~ Assembly.
for discussion.
Mr. S'oV i o
I the' Fi~ce~ Co~itt~e ~ s ~ L~ ;~
Repo~t~b~ received and articles adopted. ~ . ~ ~
~- ~ P. Gray - In'reading over Articles~l~2, 3, an~ 4 ~.
it looks like a cut and dried'purchase. I see'we~are~buying (~
tonight we are not leasing Evidently Article 3 means the
SeSectmen will.buy the Airport. ~ I would like to see how much
money is available for this airport. We h~pe to get $V5,0~0 ~
or~$100,O00.~ Nantucket's ~share was to be.12 or ~1~. ~
that is the case~Nantucket has not appropriated enough money~~
this year. ~ No~ one knows what this ariport~is going ~to cost
the town, i would like to know it ~ - '~ ~'
....D. Gilford ~r. Gray was at t'h~'~Finan0~ Oor~itt~e'a
meeting two w~Gka ago. H~ was tola that th~_money would bG
sufficient. , - , ', - -,-. - ,- ,:, , ~ -
-' : p..G~y] Mr'. Luchinie thought it would be ~no~k~; ..
He did d&finite~y~ say that Nantucket's' share would be beu~ ~ ~-
tween 12 and 15~. ~e cost~of the project may be-different.
I still have~not found out how much it is going to cost the
town. ~ '~ ,
, .Moderato~ - We can dispense with applaUse after
~he sp~ec~s. , ._.,
~Ii~Soverin° - Sorry~you do not~appreciate~the cheers.
We iike'~them." We have :fortunately, Nr.: Ingalls of~,the Federal'.
Aeronautic Commission. I would like to have him called upon.
.I~Ioderator - ~Puts~ it to vote~ of Assembly.
~-'~ Mr. Ingalls - I do~not know whether or not'I can
answer Mr. Gray's question as to what it will cost the town,
but I do know that the airport projects~a.town is not forced
to put.in'any more than it can. If the town has $10,000 to
put in, if their share is~10%, if~the~Project as originally
drawn up looks like $150,000, the town would not have enough.?,
You do not have to go ahead and spend $125,000 for the full
project. It can be drawn up for a smaller amount if~the town
cannot afford their l0 or 18~ of the total cost. I am here
tonight to see the results of this~meeting, as I am interested
in seeing an airport developed in Nantucket. I believe
Nantucket needs one and I do not'think'the Federal Government
will let the town down, not with'the War Situation as it is
today.
George Jones - I would like to offer an amendment.
Should there be any back taxes due on this property at time
of purchase by town, said amount will be deducted from pur-
chase price. , ·
~.~ R. G~i~den~- HOW did the Finance Committee~arrtve at
the price of $V600 for this~airport?
G. Jones - Price'set by Hagner Estate.
R. Glidden - Do Shey always pay the-price asked?
This is about the third time .this airport has been before the
Town ~eeting. The first one Mr. Hagner came~before the Town
and tried to sell it to the town. In 1941 somebody came to
Nantucket and introduced the sale of the so-called airport and
the first place they landed was at Congdon & Coleman's office.
Then they solicited the Secretary of the Board~of Selectmen,
who is a member of Congdon & Coleman's. There is the picture.
Mr. Russell has not been deluged with customers. '~The~only
live prospect he has is the Town of Nantucket. We are all
-tired of these milking machine tactics in Nantucket.
0. V. Hull - State 'has something to do with bur
appropriations..Mr. Wardell has not been told about these
appropriations. The law says no appropriation can be made
after the tax rate has been set. Has Nr. Wardell been notified
I. Soverino - It is true that the State Director of
Accounts passes his approval. Recommendations of Finance
Committee calls for a transfer.
0. V. Hull - It is all right to transfer. ~ When we
appropriated that reserve fund it was to remain intact in case
of a tornado or some calamit~ that should befall Nantucket,
I do not think this is a calamity.
G. Jones - I think Nr.~Hull is under a delusion.~
Fund comes from surplus revenues.
0. V. Hull - Surplus revenue comes from tax rate.
G. Jones - It is amount that is laid aside for taxes
that have not been paid for last year. SZ~,000 in account and
uncollected taxes of $~,000. Reserve is greater than ~,000.
R. Glidden - Has an amendment - I make motion that
we offer $8,000 for'it and that option will hold ~0 days.
Seconded -
P. Gray - How did the Finance Committee arrive at
the price of the land unknown. The balance of $1920.
G. Jones - ~e sum as recommended by Committee for th~
acquiring of all land is $~0.
for owners unknown~:~How.m~ch of.~lt'is'the cost~ for:this~.c,, o.
land in eminent doma n? :,-, )".'-~ .?~,~ _,,.,.': ~, ~ , ~'~,f~:, ,~, .. ....... .~.:~
~oderator -~Vote on NrJ GllddeA's ~en~ent.
Vote - Aye 99 - No majority, not,ca~ried~
, ' ~ Noderator · ~ ' Vote · on amendment of,' George Jones.
· .~' Vote~- Unanimo6s. 0~,:,L"~ ......
Co~n~t~.eeI._ _ Sovertno - Nakes motlon that report'of Ftnance
Seconded - :~: ,: : ,.,-
Co~ittee's R~port be acce'~ted.
Seconded -
Ay
I. Soverlno - W6uld 11ke to make a resolution.
That the, Selectmen be authorized to make any agreements
that Alght~become ,necessary between the Federal Govsr~ent
and the T6wn in regard to this work.
Seconded' ~
Vote ' Aye :' '::, - .: 0,, '" ,-. ~;,,' ' ' ', ~
I. Soverino - 1,'Iakes motion to adjourn meeting.
~eeting adjourned at 9 P. ~A.'
ttest. , ......... ~