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Home My WebLink About2008-07-19 ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF NONVOTING TAXPAYERS Minutes of meeting 10:00 A.M., SATURDAY, July 19, 2008, in the 2 Fairgrounds Road Conference Room. o co 1. Present: Lou Bassano, David Brown, Roger Ernst, Lucas FischEir.. Bill SheJ!Tlan, Jay Strauss, and Jim Treanor together with ex officio (or honorary) member Towft Manager Libby Gibson ~ 2. With Chair Howard Blitman off island, Vice-Chair Jim Treanor cal.led the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. The minutes of the 7/12/08 meeting were approved. ~.~ 3. Needing no introduction, Libby Gibson began by speaking of the planning-goals set by the current Board of Selectmen. Included is a focus on the Town Administ~tion under her direction (see BOS 2008 Goals copied below from Town webpage http://www . nantucket-ma. gov/Pages/NantucketMA_ BOS/BOSGoals2008. pdf ) 4. Libby noted her effort to focus on key projects through to completion but the reality of urgent tasks which pop up, e.g., qualifying the Town to get "public benefit conveyance" of the FAA tower property west of the landfill. 5. For stronger Town Code enforcement, a rewrite of the present heavily-amended Zoning Code would help as would completion of the Planning Board's Master Plan - both efforts hobbled by resource limits. Taking Code violations to the local courts is also problematic and costly, and State law is not helpful. Responding to the question: wouldn't the BOS be better able to do zoning changes than Town Meeting?, that would require a change in State law. To proceed with code violation complaints, the Town may need witnesses, often finding neighbors unwilling to step forward. 6. With private roads on Nantucket predominating over public, e.g., in Tom Nevers, any move toward making more of them public faces the high cost and historic complexity of surveys, eminent domain takings, followed by an increased burden of public upkeep. The Town has a priority list of private roads which should be taken. 7. While continuing inspections of Madaket septic systems have identified a substantial percentage of failed ones, upgrading them may not fully address harbor pollution and ensure water quality. The alternative of building an area (package) wastewater treatment plant gives rise to issues of siting and funding. Strong objections have been raised that such a plant would free up development of now-unbuildable Madaket lots for about 50 - 100 new dwellings. The current deadline for these septic inspections is 12/31/09. Extending Town water to Madaket may be needed for adequate fire protection. 8. Based upon personal experience, Jay Strauss commended general aviation services at the airport. 9. To David Brown's question of impact from the change to Town Manager, rather than Administrator, Libby noted that her powers under the Town Charter were already typical of a TM position, that the BOS has since Charter adoption increasingly accorded her office with the full role envisioned in the Charter for a Town Manager, e.g., authority to appoint department heads and other Town officers. In consequence, the present BOS is more focused on setting goals and developing policy. 1 O. To a query about a separate Board of Health (now = BOS), Libby noted that the Board of Health function is currently under BOS study. Regarding direct reports of Town officers to Libby, she said she had some reporting to Assistant Town Manager Malachy Rice and some to new Human Resources Director Patricia Perris. Ms Perris (who needs a staff assistant) handles Town employee training and benefits and has reporting relations with the Human Services Director, among others. The resulting organization is more manageable. Regularly meeting with a 'cabinet' of key department heads helps with coordination and setting priorities. Coming up with State-mandated trenching regulations was cited as an outcome. 11. Libby spoke of ACNVT and NGOs as affording a great referral service for getting talented residents working with the municipality on Town issues. With ACNVT urging the Town to come up with alternative revenue sources, Libby spoke of legislation to amend current room occupancy tax law to allow (but not require) towns to include home rentals of up to 90 days. With our Town revenue in a downturn, Nantucket officials have been supportive but prospects in the current State legislature are dim. ACNVT could help assess the views of our off-island property owners. [For a 9/6/07 write-up of the issues, see http://www.mvtimes.com/news/2007 /09/06/renta'- tax_expansion .php Last fall, ACNVT members were not of one mind on this issue.] 12. Our members spoke about the fare disadvantage of off-islanders on HyLine and SSA ferries, 2008 non-use of ACNVT's voice at Annual Town Meeting, and frustration that the State open meeting law does not support our meeting off-season by conference phone or internet. 13. Lucas Fischer reported his findings about ways the island might curb excess site clearing for development. Since ConCom jurisdiction is limited to wetlands sites, a new zoning bylaw may be needed. Models have been offered by Cormac Collier, Executive Director of the Nantucket Land Council. Other resources might be the Massachusetts Municipal Association and the American Planning Association and, possibly, our Town Counselor former Tree Warden Dave Champoux.. Jay offered to check an RI resource - its EPA - relative to site work. Our MA State EPA may also offer help. 14. David reported the great progress in preparations for the Summer Town Forum [see poster distributed by 7/24 e-mail]. The Nantucket Community Association, co- sponsor with ACNVT, will bear the reasonable cost of the Great Hall location and publicity. David outlined the proposed agenda including 2-minute introductory remarks of our Chair Howard Blitman explaining the role of ACNVT and NCA President Dale Stood ley for his NGO. Buzz Goodall of NCA is the proposed moderator and timekeeper. Given that Chatham is our model with its 60-year experience offering a Summer Resident Forum, we were encouraged to contact Human Resources Director Patricia Perris who hails from Chatham. 15. The meeting was adjourned at 11:13 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Bill Sherman, Secretary Proposed agenda items to carry over to further summer 2008 ACNVT meetings: · Summer Resident Forum for August 19, 2008 - and 2009, etc.? · Code enforcement · Zoning for secondary dwellings · Zoning to curb clearing all native vegetation from a development site · Auto limitation - on the agenda of the Downtown Revitalization Committee? · Meeting with NHA and NHO representatives on island housing · Position on legislation to extend the guest house room occupancy tax to vacation home rentals - or other alternative Town revenue sources · Developing ACNVT website BOARD OF SELECTMEN 2008 GOALS I. Improve Administrative Management Objectives · Develop Board Policy Manual · Plan for Continued Employee Professional Development · Reorganize Department of Public Works · Review and Analyze Town's Planning Function Management Priorities* Employee Development - Including the evaluation and continuation of the Suffolk University Program and seeking credentialing for Town employees Develop and annotate formal procedures, processes, and policies and improve management of Town Administration's workflow Continue to analyze and identify ongoing efficiencies with municipal organizations and functions II. Improve Fiscal Management Objectives · Bring Accounting & Audits Current; Work Towards Completing Fiscal by 12/31/08 · Continue to Improve 5 year Operating Budget Forecast · Improve Fiscal 2009 Audit Management Letter 2008 Audit Policy Priority* Continue active oversight of fiscal management improvements, including the completion of outstanding audits and implementation of internal controls Management Priority* Ensure Finance Department is adequately and properly staffed; resolve outstanding audits; and improve internal controls, including training personnel, to maintain timely completion of audits in the future