HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-07-18
ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF NONVOTING TAXPAYERS
Meeting at 9:00 A.M. held Friday, July 18, 2003, in
the High School Cafeteria.
1. Present: David Brown, Roger Ernst, Ellen Roman, Bill Sherman, Jay
Strauss, Duncan Sutphen, and Helene Weld.
2. Call to Order: The Chairman called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m.
with a quorum present.
3. Without objection, the chair declared the minutes of the previous
meeting 6/28/03 approved as distributed.
4. Our Chairman Roger Ernst introduced new member David Brown and
David, in turn, spoke of his life before Nantucket, including links
with the Newspaper Association of America (includes Ottoway/I&M) and
his continuing consulting work. He mentioned current links with the
editor of the Nantucket Independent.
5. After nomination of the following slate, motion was made, seconded
and duly passed affirming the election of officers for FY04, namely:
Chair Roger Ernst
Vice Chair Terry Sutphen
Secretary Bill Sherman
Hope was expressed that a woman committee member might take the
leadership in FY05.
6. Adopting the categories proposed by Finn Murphy, Chairman of the
Board of Selectmen, at our previous meeting, appointments were made
to head the respective efforts:
. Howard Blitman, Chair of the subcommittee to develop ACNVT
recommendations for how to raise funds needed to cover the
prospective capital costs for Town infrastructure, e.g.,
impact fees, betterments, and/or tax levy.
. Jim Treanor, Chair of the subcommittee to develop ACNVT
recommendations on undergrounding of utility wires.
. Terry Sutphen, Chair of subcommittee to check on delay of
state approval for wider use of Town compost. Terry will also
contact and report on the proposals of the Nantucket Beach
Foundation while seeking also the views of the ConCom.
Bill Sherman reported results of his informal inquiry about whether
recyclables were truly recycled after separation, answering that -
yes - whether they reach the Waste Options facility in unsorted bags
picked up by trash collectors or by citizens putting metal, glass,
plastic and paper items in respective stations at the dump. Jay
noted that the final step in recycling depends upon the market for
what is collected.
Fresh ideas for relocation of bulk fuel storage tanks away from the
Core District, e.g., toward the airport, might best come from the
Nantucket Land Council.
7. Terry Sutphen reported on the NSDC presentation through Alan
AtKisson of results from its 'indicators' project for Nantucket. A
written summary is available.
8. Ellen Roman expressed the view that appropriate issues for ACNVT
include taxes, traffic, quality of life, and the like. Roger asked
that members consider what our further focus should be, additional
to those of Paragraph 6 above.
9. Regarding taxes Terry expressed his belief that, for many summer
residents, island taxes were low; the focus of ACNVT should not
revert to the year-round residential RE tax exemption. Continued
gain in property values would be far more significant.
10. Jay Strauss expressed a preference that Town fees be earmarked for
specific programs, not the general fund. Ellen Roman thought user
fees warranted further study. She questioned what revenue the Town
derived from the Stop & Shop.
11. Roger Ernst and Helene Weld questioned the impact on one's tax bill
when neighboring properties are gentrified with attendant sharp
increases in assessed values. Should ACNVT favor user fees when
summer residents carry some 79% of the residential tax levy? Should
the MA legislature's proposed head tax on day trippers be favored?
12. Ellen Roman thought of interest to ACNVT would be an update on
litigation by non-residents in other states seeking a voting right.
13. Bill Sherman expressed interest in determining the balance between
revenues flowing from Nantucket to the state government and,
conversely, flowing from the state to Nantucket. Interest remains in
deriving revenue for the Town from island seasonal vacation rentals.
14. Roger expressed interest in determining the extent to which mandates
of state law resulted in Town government inefficiencies. Perhaps a
consulting firm expert in municipal government would be worth
engaging to expose inefficiencies or to affirm the soundness of
current Town administration, perhaps to recommend some level of
privatization.
15. Reflecting on the foregoing, Terry proposed that each ACNVT member
share with the others by email what his or her island quality-of-
life issues of most personal concern might be. The email is to be
just one page and might include thoughts on how to get sufficient
funding to sustain our quality of life. Concurring, those present
asked that discussion of the results be an agenda item for the next
meeting. [See also Terry's email of 7/25/03 proposing a six-step
procedure.]
16. Ellen and Roger suggested that a distillation of ACNVT/summer
resident interests and concerns be written up for the selectmen and
perhaps the I&M and NI. The perception is that few on island know of
the ACNVT or have an overview of summer resident concerns.
17. Among such concerns, Terry spoke of sustainability of quality of
life, Roger of limits on growth, Jay on who pays for growth impacts,
David Brown on the workings of Prop 2-1/2.
18. Terry received an o.k. to alert ACNVT members to the upcoming 20/20
Vision forum sponsored by the Nantucket Community Association, with
the five selectmen and Town Administrator Libby Gibson as panelists
discussing the challenges of growth. To be held at the Madaket Room
of the Harbor House, the forum is set for 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, August
5th.
19. After scheduling ACNVT meetings for August 1, 15, and 29 18th at 9
a.m. (in the High School conference room), the current meeting was
adjourned at 10:25.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Sherman, Secretary
DATES OF INTEREST:
AUGUST 1 9 A. M. ACNVT MEETS AT HIGH SCHOOL CONFERENCE
ROOM
AUGUST 5 7:30 P.M. AT THE HARBOR HOUSE COMMUNITY
ASSOCIATION VISION 20/20 SUMMER FORUM WITH SELECTMEN
AUGUST 11 4 P.M. AT 'SCONSET CASINO CIVIC LEAGUE
CENTENNIAL PROGRAM
AUGUST 15 9 A.M. ACNVT MEETS AT HIGH SCHOOL CONFERENCE
ROOM
AUGUST 29 9 A. M. ACNVT MEETS AT HIGH SCHOOL CONFERENCE
ROOM
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