HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-09-10
ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF NONVOTING TAXPAYERS
Minutes of meeting at 10 A.M., Friday, SEPTEMBER 10,2004, in the
High School Conference Room.
1. Present: Bill Sherman, Duncan (Terry) Sutphen, Jim Treanor, Joan
Wofford, prospective member Bob Shapiro, and guest Nantucket's
SSA representative H .Flint Ranney.
2. Chairman Roger Ernst called the meeting to order at 10:13 a.m.,
noting absence of a quorum. The minutes of the 8/20/04 meeting were
tentatively approved subject to ratification at a future meeting.
3. Bob Shapiro was welcomed, given a Town application form for .
ACNVT membership, and noted his serving as ophthalmologist ~ the
Hospital and with the Civic League's Pocomo Associat~on. The ~
unfavorable experience he reported at the 2004 Annual Town M~ting
as a nonvoting seasonal resident led to the suggestion of a letter ~om
ACNVT Chair Roger Ernst to Town Moderator Sarah Alger callffig
for better Town Meeting treatment of nonvoters. --"
4. After a welcome voiced by Roger and Roger's quick review of 0\
ACNVT's role, Flint Ranney offered his understandings of possible
favorable changes coming for the SSA. He ascribed the good
prospects for the Nantucket ferry service to the willingness of interim
SSA General Manager Wayne Lamson to use his strong background
with the ferry to deal with its current issues. Since taking the job
recently, he has been to Nantucket more often than his predecessor.
Likely he had not sought the General Manager position previously for
family reasons - no longer a factor. Yet he is willing to return to his
role as SSA Treasurer if the SSA Board selects another GM. (Flint is
part of the GM search effort.)
. Answering a question of how the SSA might discourage inordinately
large vehicles, Flint noted that the SSA basically sold vehicle
transport dependent on square feet of deck space. Any differential for
charging more for larger vehicles has to be simple to avoid delayed
loadings. Charging more for vehicles (SUVs, trucks, etc.) over 20'
could work.
. Current policy allowing 36-hour cancellation of truck reservations and
penalty provisions are under review to gain better car reservation
opportunities.
. Upgrade of the SSA website is underway both to facilitate on-line
reservation changes and to post latest information. SSA phone line
waiting time on 'hold' has been cut by Lamson's overlapping two
work shifts for greater staffing at peak hours.
. To minimize SSA schedule uncertainties, setting the full-year
schedule in advance, starting in 2005, is planned.
. Flint seemed responsive to treating all Nantucket property owners-
seasonal and year-round - equally in its excursion fare policy.
. Flint has participated with the group that worked with Grace
Grossman on pros and cons of splitting off the Nantucket - Hyannis
operations of the SSA. That group, having spent some 2/3ds of the
funds available on bond reissue and other hurdles, may put the effort
on hold, given the more favorable prospects for good ferry service. No
insurmountable hurdle has been found, but 100% support from
Hyannis, matching the unanimous support voiced on Nantucket,
would be needed politically to effect a split. The group meets again
shortly.
. The Federal funding that aided purchase of the Flying Cloud is no
longer on tap.
. Large high-speed ferries recently put into use elsewhere are too pricey
for the SSA's Nantucket market. Much of their speed advantage is lost
here due to the relatively greater run time at slower harbor speeds at
either end.
. Getting the SSA staff to exhibit a culture of hospitality, like the
HyLine's, is sought. A letter from ACNVT encouraging that change
might be addressed to SSA Board Chairman Robert O'Brien in
Hyannis.
. The SSA operates with 8 unions, some without contract the past 2
years, the others with different dates of contract expiration. ACNVT
members expressed concern that apparent excess SSA staffing was
costly. By contrast, the HyLine meets Coast Guard standards without
excess.
. Assignment of captains to different vessels and runs is based upon
their seniority ranking and stated preferences. If each vessel were
fully staffed with personnel that had a commitment to that vessel's
runs, a stronger esprit might result in better maintenance, attitude, and
serVIce.
. Passenger traffic on conventional ferries has been declining but rising
on the fast ferry. The SSA fast ferry loses revenue to the HyLine but
both help relieve the numbers of people otherwise coming to the
island by commuter flights. SSA per-passenger profitability on its fast
ferry is markedly higher than on conventional ferries.
. To attract more passengers to the Eagle, some thought has been given
to a adding a dining/bar area offering high-quality service.
. Recent year-to-year decline in car transport was attributed by
members to cars left on-island by seasonal residents - or in Hyannis
by islanders for mainland use. Flint noted that some who rented in
past years are now home owners. Seasonal rentals are down.
. Concern was expressed that Barnstable/Hyannis' expectations of less
Nantucket truck traffic could not realistically be met and might be
misplaced. Transport of trucks (vehicles over 20' long) is up about 2-
3% over the base year 1997 of the Hyannis - Nantucket agreement.
That agreement calls for SSA designation of a mainland port other
than Hyannis - which could be New Bedford, but transporting freight
from New Bedford to Nantucket is not an economic answer for
Hyannis' concerns, as can be shown.
. To transport Nantucket trucks with less impact on Hyannis harbor,
consideration is being given to enlarging existing SSA freight boats,
e.g., by widening for another lane on the deck. Fewer freight boat runs
would be needed. Current level of transport is about 30 trucks/day in
winter, 80 - 85/day in summer. A hope is to sharply reduce the
number of trucks on conventional ferries.
. Barges are useful for bulk loads but cause damage to Steamboat wharf
in adverse weather. An alternative to bulk load transfers at the wharf
would be welcome.
. To provide a needed increase in working area on Steamboat wharf, the
site of the Skipper restaurant might be utilized, subject to regulatory
approval.
5. Terry Sutphen, representing the Nantucket Community Association in
the Community Coalition, and Bill Sherman for ACNVT reported on
Coalition initiatives.
. The Civic League's Board meeting on 9/13/04 will be focused on
costs of the Surfside sewer plant upgrade and their allocation
between taxpayers, users, and new hook-up charges. The
Nantucket Community Association plans an ad campaign.
· The Town Administrator's letter of 8/20/04 [sent to ACNVT via
the Coalition] is a first response to Coalition concern that the town
implement the recommendations made by the Septic System
Regulatory Workgroup to the BOS. Terry understands that about
45% of homeowners asked to have their septic systems inspected
have actually done that. Current calls for inspection are focused on
the Nantucket Harbor Watershed Area. All island septic systems
are inspected when property changes hands, an island first in MA.
Terry has been pressing to have older, likely failed systems given
inspection priority to get more timely impact from needed
upgrading.
. Terry called attention to the reversal of the NP&EDC [with new
membership since the April elections] from support to non-support
of an already funded Horseley & Whitten study of zoning impacts,
cost impacts, affordable housing considerations, and funding
alternatives of the Surfside plant upgrade.
6. Roger has proposed that Terry Sutphen be nominated to represent
nonresident property owners at the 10/19/04 Special Town Meeting.
Jim Treanor will not be available. Action on this will be taken at the
next ACNVT meeting.
7. The next ACNVT meeting is set for Saturday, September 25,2004, at
10 a.m. in the High School conference room. [Shifted from Friday,
9/24, to assure a quorum.]
8. Roger Ernst adjourned the meeting at 11 :46 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Sherman