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BOS Minutes for March 9, 2005
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BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Minutes of the Meeting of 9 March 2005 at 7:00 PM. The meeting took place in the Court Room, Town and County
Building, Nantucket, MA 02554. Members of the Board present were Bruce Watts, Robert F. Murphy, Douglas
Bennett and Timothy Soverino. Michael Glowacki was absent. Chairman Soverino called the meeting to order at
7:05 PM, following a meeting of the County Commissioners.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Police Chief William Pittman presented a "life saving" award to Police Officer Daniel Mack for his preventive action
last November in saving the life of an individual who was suicidal. Police Chief Pittman also recognized Deputy
Chief Charles Gibson who was named by the Rotary Club as "Citizen of the Year" for providing "effective
leadership, increased morale and initiating a strong and effective drug enforcement program" while he served as
the interim Police Chief.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Nantucket resident Joanne Marcoux read a prepared statement in opposition to another February "deer hunting"
week. Ms. Marcoux requested the Board to take immediate action by notifying the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
(DFW) that the Town does not want this hunt repeated next February. Also speaking in opposition were Nantucket
residents Beverly McLaughlin and Richard Cooper. Mr. Cooper expressed his opinion that the letter sent by the
Board to DFW a week ago was not sufficient. Mr. Cooper asked for a polling of each Board member as to their
position on the February deer hunting week. Mr. Murphy moved to send another letter to DFW requesting DFW to
end the February hunt; seconded by Mr. Bennett. So voted.
Mr. Murphy presented Chairman Soverino with a petition signed by the prerequisite two hundred voters to request a
Special Town Meeting containing four articles concerning 1) wastewater improvement transfer fee; 2) funding for
the Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan; 3) second dwellings; 4) funding for the Surfside Wastewater
Treatment Facility. The Board accepted the petition and Chairman Soverino indicated that a date will be set shortly.
Nantucket resident Michael Kopko spoke about an issue concerning Registrar of Voters David Goodman, whose
request for re-appointment as Registrar at the meeting of February 23, 2005 was tabled pending investigation into
the ethical requirements of the job. Mr. Kopko noted that Mr. Goodman has been taken ill and not able to be at the
meeting tonight, but he, on behalf of Mr. Goodman, would like to clarify certain statements made by Mr. Goodman
last year about a candidate running for the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Kopko spoke about Mr. Goodman's credentials
as an election worker of 20 years and stated he feels the Board owes Mr. Goodman an apology. After some
discussion, Mr. Bennett moved to re-appoint Mr. Goodman to the Board of Registrars. The motion died for lack of a
second and Chairman Soverino announced that this matter will be scheduled as an agenda item for the meeting of
March 16, 2005.
Nantucket resident Nancy Wheatley spoke on sewer related issues.
At 7:30 PM, the Board of Selectmen meeting was recessed to continue a meeting of the County Commissioners,
which had convened at 7:00 PM. The Board of Selectmen meeting reconvened at 7:35 PM.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chairman Soverino announced the Annual Town Election will be held on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 at the Nantucket
High School from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM and that the voter registration deadline is March 12, 2005 at 8:00 PM.
Approval of Minutes of 23 February 2005 at 7:00 PM; 16 February 2005 at 7:00 PM; 5 August 2004 at 11 :00 AM.
Mr. Bennett moved approval; seconded by Mr. Watts. So voted.
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Approval of Payroll Warrants for Weeks Ending 6 March 2005; 27 February 2005. Mr. Watts moved approval;
seconded by Mr. Murphy. So voted.
Approval of Treasury Warrants and Pending Contracts for Weeks Ending 9 March 2005; 2 March 2005. Mr. Bennett
moved approval; seconded by Mr. Watts. So voted.
Town Administration: Request for Revision of Stabilization Fund Policy. Finance Director Connie Voges explained
that the Finance Committee, after reviewing the Stabilization Fund Policy, adopted by the Board of Selectmen
January 13, 2005, has some sections of the policy it would like amended before it "comes on board" with the policy.
Ms. Voges explained the proposed revisions she has made to the policy and some discussion followed. Chairman
Soverino asked Ms. Voges if she is comfortable with the revisions and Ms. Voges stated that she still believes "free
cash" should not be used for operating expenses. After some additional discussion, the Board took no action
pending further discussion between Ms. Voges and the Finance Committee about the proposed revisions.
Presentation of Sewer Funding Report; Continuation of Discussion on Sewer Connection Fee (from February 23,
2005) Town Administrator Libby Gibson introduced consultant Mark Abrahams, who is providing sewer financial
planning assistance. Mr. Abrahams gave a presentation outlining sewer financing options for the Surfside
Wastewater Treatment Facility. Mr. Abrahams apprised the Board of various "authorized" funding sources available
to repay the debt service for the SWTF upgrade, estimated at 35.5 million dollars. Mr. Abrahams noted these
sources include tax levy, user charges, connection fees, betterments, special assessments and privilege fees. Mr.
Abrahams stated that, of the $35.5 million dollar cost, $28.7 million is for the upgrade to secondary treatment and
$6.8 million is for the expansion for the identified "needs areas." Mr. Abrahams also spoke about three "non-
authorized" options: impact fees, ferry fee surcharges and airport fee surcharges, nothing that these options require
special legislation and explained in detail the definitions, applications and legality of various funding sources.
Nantucket residents Rick Atherton, Dual Macintyre, Nancy Wheatly and Charity Benz, as well as Finance Director
Connie Voges and Public Works Director Jeff Willett all asked pertinent questions and/or responded and made
clarifications to some of the statements made by Mr. Abrahams. Mr. Abrahams outlined an option for paying for the
$6.8 million expansion of the system by charging privilege fees to recover capital costs, as well as outlining two
other options to pay for the total cost of the upgrade, using a combination of user fees, special assessments and
taxes. Mr. Abrahams noted that most communities pay for sewer upgrades using a combination of "five options."
Mr. Abrahams concluded by suggesting that the Board "run the numbers" using the different options presented to
ascertain the impact. The Board thanked Mr. Abrahams for his presentation and stated they will review the
information received this evening and discuss the matter at an upcoming meeting.
Town Clerk: Request for Ratification of Final Wording of April 5, 2005 Election Board Questions.
Mr. Watts moved to ratify the ballot questions that were published in the Inquirer & Mirror two weeks ago, noting
that there were minor wording modifications made after the Board adopted the warrant on February 23, 2005
(changes made at the direction of the state Elections Division); seconded by Mr. Bennett. So voted.
Town Administrator's Report. Town Administrator Libby Gibson stated that she will be providing the Board with a
report from the 2 Fairgrounds work group at next week's meeting and noted some of the highlights of the report;
announced that the Town has received verbal word from the state that it is receiving $450,000 for repairs to the
town pier and $80,000 to be used for a harbor plan; announced that Earth Tech, sewer consultant for the Town, has
provided a report on storm water drainage and mapping evaluation and a meeting will be scheduled after the
Annual Town Meeting for Earth Tech to review the report with the Board.
Selectmen's Reports/Comments. Mr. Bennett asked Ms. Gibson about the recent Sesachacha Pond opening and
Ms. Gibson stated she will obtain a report from Marine Superintendent Dave Fronzuto. Mr. Bennett noted an
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upcoming voter registration "party" at "Kitty Murtagh's" on March 12, 2005.
At 9:35 PM, Chairman Soverino polled the Board and Mr. Watts, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Bennett and Chairman Soverino
voted unanimously to adjourn to Executive Session, not to return to Open Session, for the purpose of approving
minutes and discussing non-union contract negotiations.
Approved the 20th day of April 2005.
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