HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-7-26
Advisory Committee of Non- Voting Taxpayers
Committee Meeting
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Meeting of ACNVT held in the Nantucket High School conference room at 10:00 a.m.,
Friday, July 26,2002.
Present: Roger Ernst, Ellen Roman, Bill Sherman, Terry Sutphen, Helene Weld and Richard
Wolfe. Guests: Jo Godwin, Anne Stiller and Jim Treanor
Call to order: Chairman Ernst called the meeting to order at 10:10 a.m. with a quorum
present. Without objection, the Chair declared the minutes of 7/12/02 meeting approved as
distributed.
Special Town Meeting of 7/22/02 Terry Sutphen reported on the late start for lack ofa
quorum, see I&M report in its 7/25 issue. Because debate on Article 1 for supplemental
funding of the 'Sconset wastewater treatment facility upgrade was limited to a side issue of
Cato Lane pump station, Terry elected not to speak for non-voting property owners. All
articles were voted favorably.
Planned scale of the plant upgrade and effect of capacity on further 'Sconset development
were unclear. Bill Sherman reported on an idea voiced at the Planning Commission's Growth
Management Coalition that the Town adopt a 20-year 'target' for growth and then scale
infrastructure capacities to that target. Adoption of a building cap or other direct growth
control measures is firmly opposed by the construction-trades voters.
Terry, noting harbor closures to shellfishing and high failure rate of residential septic
systems, questioned the role of neighborhood package treatment plants where sewer
extensions are not foreseen.
To address these concerns, proposal was made to invite as speakers Rick Atherton (Chair,
Capital Program Committee) re funding and Jeff Willett (Director, DPW) re wastewater
treatment impacts.
Clarity will be sought on how the Town will fund its recent extension of sewer lines into
Monomoy, e.g., from the perspective of non-resident property owners, also whether Health
Dept. inspection of residential septic systems is continuing and how effectively.
ACNVT Mission Statement Ellen Roman's 7/13 draft mission statement was distributed
for discussion. Ellen emphasized her preference that ACNVT be effective with actions and
making known to voters its views on Town issues of concern to non-resident property
owners. Motion was made, seconded and adopted to present Ellen's proposal to the Board of
Selectmen for formal adoption on behalf of ACNVT.
Bill Sherman offered assurance that any article proposed by ACNVT for a Town Meeting
could be gotten on the warrant through citizens' petition if not through the Board of
Selectmen. Note was made that ACNVT had at most a budget of $500, limiting any paid
advertising of its views. State law limits expenditures generally to a balanced presentation of
facts and issues. The Nantucket Community Association is not similarly limited.
The Chair's cover letter for the mission statement could note ACNVT efforts through Willett,
Atherton and Pagini to consider Town funding needs and possible alternatives to the real
estate tax levy. Terry spoke of tapping seasonal vacation rentals; the home rule petition for an
island 1 % sales tax was also mentioned. Ellen expressed the view that such alternatives might
appropriately have ACNVT support.
Further for inclusion in the letter to the selectmen was the idea of tapping summer residents
having professional skills needed from time-to-time by the Town, e.g., in labor relations or
other management skills per Richard Wolfe.
Visitor Concerns Jim Treanor questioned whether concerns and events of interest to
ACNVT might be communicated to island residents via Town mailings of tax bills or water
or sewer charge billings.
Those interested in joining ACNVT as a member are invited to submit an application to the
selectmen's office by August 7th.
Anne Stiller of 14 Harbor View Way invited ACNVT involvement and support in the
neighborhood opposition to Town construction ofa second boat ramp at Children's beach.
(See large ad in the 7/25/02 I&M for details.) She has approached the Brant Point
Association and may go to the Town Association and Community Association.
Jo Godwin's concern is with excessive amplified sound; her opposition is under the K.I.S.S.
program. She envisions an amendment of the Town's noise bylaw (Chapter 101) through a
2003 Annual Town Meeting article. The change would reduce the 100' criteria for
determining how far from the noise source an excess is to be determined. She regards the
bylaw as otherwise well written and effective. ACNVT member support was asked. With
further selectmen review of licenses granted to restaurant/bars, a policy of limiting amplified
sound is sought, e.g., an 8 p.m. cutoff. Terry noted that in Bath, England, tour operators even
cut off amplified sound in tour buses upon entering historic areas. Islanders are urged to call
the Police Dept. to register noise complaints and specifically to ask the dispatcher to provide
the case number given the complaint to be sure that it is docketed.
Next meeting: The next ACNVT Meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Friday, August 9th at
the Nantucket High School conference room. Members who are not able to attend, please
notify Roger Ernst.
The meeting was adjourned at 11 :42 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
William R. Sherman, Secretary