HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-06-28
ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF NONVOTING TAXPAYERS
Meeting at 9:00 A.M. held Saturday, June 28, 2003,
in the High School Cafeteria.
1. Present: Howard Blitman, Trig Cooley, Roger Ernst, Bill Sherman, Jay
Strauss, Duncan Sutphen, Helene Weld, and Richard Wolfe.
2. Call to Order: The Chairman called the meeting to order at 9:06 a.m.
with a quorum present.
3. Without objection, the chair declared the minutes of the previous
meeting 9/13/02 approved as distributed.
4. After an introduction by our Chairman Roger Ernst, Finn Murphy,
Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, spoke of some principal
concerns. But first he noted the commitment of the Board - at least
a majority of it - to attend to the interests of the summer
residents, notwithstanding they are without voting rights on the
island; they carry some 79% of the residential tax levy currently.
In FY03, the Board, in keeping with its goals and objectives:
. Improved its working relations with the FinCom, got a favorable
vote on a major override for Town operating funds, moved along
the Town's legislative petition for authority to tack 1% on the
State's sales tax here, held Town departments to level funding
despite increasing population and accelerating employee health
benefit costs, currently $12,000/year per employee. Negotiations
with their union are a challenge.
. Moved ahead with broad efforts to improve water quality, notably
through the Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan nearing July
completion of Phase II by Earth Tech, flagging failed septic
systems (especially 'hot spots')and coming up with design
particulars for the new tertiary-level Surfs ide treatment plant
and ideas for solving Madaket's water quality problems. For
Madaket, a key question is how to freeze development potential
while providing public sewer and water. (Howard Blitman commended
funding from the Federal Housing Administration in the form of
below-market-rate loan, alternatively, by tax-free bond issue -
as done for the 'Sconset plant.)The Selectmen acting as the Board
of Health have set an 18 month period for homeowners to hook up
to the new Monomoy sewer line. A fine is now specified for
illegal boaters' discharges into the harbor.
. Set in motion the One Big Beach program to assure future public
access to island beaches, including steps such as appointment of
Beach Manager Amanda Bixby to assure beachfront owners that their
interests are respected. The Beach Management Department will
coordinate with Marine and Coastal Resources.
. Took steps to mitigate in-town traffic and parking problems,
e.g., set a zero-tolerance policy for parking violations to free
up spaces held daylong by Core District employees. This season 42
summer specials have respective zone responsibilities, radio-
linked to deal with ferry-arrivals traffic. Speed humps are
increasingly sought by residents plagued by high-speed traffic.
. Strengthened Town Administration management by channeling citizen
requests first made to individual selectmen along to department
heads via the Town Administrator and only with at least 3
selectmen endorsing departmental action on the request.
(Micromanagement had been an abusive practice of prior boards.)
5. Finn Murphy went on to commend ACNVT's 2002 recommendations for Town
revision of its licensing of island car rental agencies. These
recommendations have successfully been implemented. Possible ACNVT
projects for 2003 could be:
. Determining whether anticipated capital costs such as the $30+
million for Surfs ide treatment plant should be paid for from
betterments charges to users or from the general tax levy, or
some combination. Commenting on the solid-waste plant (dump)
partly funded from the tax levy, Finn noted desirability of one
selectman carrying oversight responsibility for the plant
operation, given its $2 million/year cost ($140/ton).
. ACNVT could determine whether citizen efforts to separate
recyclables are rewarded by actual recycling, or not.
. ACNVT could bring to light what has happened to the promise of
undergrounding utilities and the escrow account intended to
finance undergrounding.
. ACNVT might further develop ideas for relocation of bulk fuel
storage tanks away from the Core District, e.g., toward the
airport. (Harbor Fuel leases tanks from Winthrop. Nantucket
Electric owns two, appropriately located toward the airport where
NEC back-up turbine generators are located.)
. Or ACNVT might figure out how best to exact payments from
developers, such as impact fees, to offset the added costs with
which development burdens the Town.
Howard Blitman expressed interest in pursuing the question of impact
fees. From his recent experience heading the National Society of
Professional Engineers, he expressed confidence that such fees can
successfully be imposed if sanctioned by Massachusetts law. Efforts
of the State administration to reform the State's zoning laws hold
some promise for the island. The town of Milton has an innovative
approach and another MA town successfully charges developers
$380/hour to meet with town planners. Howard spoke of 'recreational'
fees, e.g., $1000/dwelling unit, exacted for added facilities needed
with new developments.
The Nantucket Land Council might be willing to re-visit the
relocation of fuel tanks. undergrounding of utilities might best be
taken up by the Civic League.
Interest was expressed in having an ACNVT voice in how major
infrastructure improvements are paid for. Evaluating the recycling
program held some interest, as well.
Choosing ACNVT's focus for 2003 will be on the agenda of our next
meeting - set for Friday morning, July 18th at 9 a.m. in the high
school cafeteria.
6. Concern was expressed that Town assessments are not increased
promptly following completion of improvements and issuance of a
Certificate of Occupancy. Bill Sherman undertook to ask Town
Assessor Debbie Dilworth about current practice.
7. Howard Blitman stressed the importance of careful inspection of new
construction before issuance of a C. of o. He cited an instance
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where a town was sued when damages were incurred in a substandard
building for which a C. of o. had been improvidently granted.
8. (Re)election of ACNVT officers will be on the agenda of the next
meeting. Helene Weld, responding to urgings, indicated her
willingness to serve as Chair, with Roger Ernst as Vice-Chair and
Bill Sherman as Secretary. (Nominations will, of course, be open to
all ACNVT members.)
9. After setting July 18th at 9 a.m. for the next ACNVT meeting, the
current meeting was adjourned at 10:22.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Sherman, Secretary
DATES OF INTEREST:
JULY 18
9 A.M. ACNVT MEETS AT HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA
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
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