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Home My WebLink About2006-08-26 ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF NONVOTING TAXPAYERS Minutes of meeting at 9:30 A.M., SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 2006,)n the ~ -l 2 Fairgrounds Road Meeting Room. 0 ;::0 C/:) rr1 -u 1. Present: Howard Blitman, David Brown, Roger Ernst, gdb Shapffb, Bill Sherman, Jay Strauss, Terry Sutphen, plus guest speaker Wli1ley N Willauer w 2. Chair Howard Blitman called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. OJ Minutes of the 8/11/06 meeting were approved, and prior approval of 7/29/06 minutes confirmed. 3. Chair Howard Blitman introduced Whitey Willauer, Chair of the Board of Selectmen, noting that Whitey has an impressive curriculum vitae. Whitey started off noting his efforts as Chair to put the emphasis on results. To illustrate that approach, he distributed copies of his "Action Items" dated 8/26/06. [Copies are available from ACNVT's Secretary upon request.] Some 23 items are listed from affordable housing to Waste Options (operation of the dump). These are in furtherance of the goals and objectives adopted by the BOS for the current fiscal year. 4. Affordable housing is needed for town employees, perhaps sited at 2 Fairgrounds Road, and particularly for key employees. That could help reduce turnover rate. 5. The audit committee, recently renewed in the form set by the Town Charter, has done FY2003, with audit ofFY2004 underway. This reach back is ascribed to shortage of accounting staff in the Finance Department. 6. Responding to island surveys supporting auto limitations, Whitey has proposed to the BOS setting up a new traffic study committee. [Started at a subsequent BOS meeting] 7. Training of staff is proposed to strengthen Town Code enforcement. The role of the Nantucket District Court Clerk Magistrate in processing citation penalties will be looked at for speedier resolution of cases. 8. More effective management of Town committees may result from ongoing training. The new Sewer Advisory Committee was commended as an effective, non-political model with strong leadership. Speedy approval and posting of committee [including boards, commissions, and councils] minutes on the Town's web site is sought. Some don't even do minutes. 9. Town Administration departments are undergoing review in sequence. The Police Department, first off, made a model showing. Health Department review is slated for 9/27. Working relations of the BOS with the Planning Board and the Planning Commission (NP&EDC) are in focus to assure speedier and sound development of the Town's Master Plan by the Planning Board with aid from the NP&EDC. Terry Sutphen recalled that the Town's existing ComPlan provides a good foundation for a master plan. 10.Jay Strauss asserted that adoption of the Master Plan is needed to make the Zoning Code enforceable in court. Enforcement may actually be lax due to local court attitudes. Roger Ernst spoke for "unity of command," a concern of the Town Government Study Committee (TGSC). Responding to Howard Blitman' s stress on good inter-committee communications, Whitey noted the importance of BOS appointments in getting cooperation and competence with a representative mix of appointees. To achieve better coordination on major developments, Whitey cited the role of selectman Mike Kopko in following the Dreamland theater development. Whitey is concerned with Great Harbor Yacht Club issues, e.g., properly delineating the high water line below which the project must be for "water dependent" uses such as boat launch and haul facilities: public lift and south boat ramp. l1.A prospective recommendation of the TGSC is that any Town employee resign if elected to Town office, especially to the BOS. Service on the BOS has become a full-time job. If a Town employee seeks BOS appointment, such appointment should first be cleared with administrative supervisors before the employee is selected. 12.Long-term financial planning is improving with key FinCom members in the lead. With prospective heavier taxpayer burdens, Roger Ernst urged diversification of revenue sources. The observation was made that Nantucket residents draw more income from off-island work than do the many who commute from the Cape draw from on-island work. Nonetheless, the island's middle class is being squeezed. 13.The Town's decision to seek a State-sanctioned Harbor Master Plan was applauded for the discipline of the process and greater enforceability of the Plan once adopted. 14. Whitey explained the options for electing a replacement for recently resigned selectman Michael Glowacki. [The BOS has since called for a special election 11/21/06. Whoever is elected in November will be up for election again in April along with selectman Doug Bennett.] A 10/23/06 Special Town Meeting will be focused on supplemental funding for the Surfside Wastewater Treatment Facility needed due to a jump in cost of materials. 15. The question whether or not to allow commercialization of ponds affects Town ponds but likely not those of the Conservation Foundation. Pond management is under the Town's Marine and Coastal Resources Department. 16.Regarding the Town's Septic Management Plan, Terry Sutphen reported that a forum "Water Quality Matters" is being sponsored by the Nantucket Community Association. Set for 9/13/06 at 7 p.m. in the Harbor House, issues linked to inspection of harbor-area septic systems will be presented by a panel of key people including Richard Ray, Health Inspector of the Department of Public Health, David Fronzuto, Superintendent of Marine and Coastal Resources, Sarah Oktay, Managing Director, Nantucket Field Station, UMASS Boston, and Cormac Collier, Executive Director of the Nantucket Land Council. 17.Expansion of the Stop & Shop or any better proposal for the Fire Department property could enable the Town to site the fire station along with a police center at 2 Fairgrounds Road. 18.A BOS initiative with the 'Surfside Six' holds promise for early movement in the Town's One Big Beach program. Voluntary easements are sought allowing public access to the private beaches. The Town got 2003 Town Meeting authority to do eminent domain takings. 19. The Police Chief with taxi representatives is to bring the BOS a proposal to resolve whether new drivers should come from a very long wait list or simply must work under a licensed operator. 20.Renewal of the cable TV license from the Town merits a deeper look, e.g., to assure public access facilities. 21.Problems surfacing in the current Waste Options arbitration may be traced to former BOS members dealing directly without benefit of expert counsel. Gasification of waste stream fractions is under study. An 8/21 sighting at the sewer bed beach of nudes has alarmed an 8- year old, a new issue for the BOS. 22.Responding to Howard, Whitey suggested future ACNVT focus on (l) Town Code enforcement (e.g., Marine Dept. model vs. Health Dept. hurdles) - with Howard, Jay and David interested - and (2) beach access and management - with Bill, Roger and David (after mid-Sept.) interested. Comments on beach management issues ranged from loose dogs to (commercial?) massages on beaches. 23.0ur meeting was adjourned at 11 :00 a.m. after thanking Whitey Willauer and setting the date of our next meeting to be September 9, 2006, Saturday, at 9:30 a.m. in the 2 Fairgrounds Road meeting room. Selectman Brian Chadwick will be our guest speaker. Respectfully submitted, Bill Sherman