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Home My WebLink About2012-9-15Z ti n ° z �-+ C p n r T) m m ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF NONVOTING TAXPAYERS ^—' Minutes of meeting 10 A.M., SATURDAY, September 15, 2012pat :a m 4 Fairgrounds Road ^� o 1. Attending: Lou Bassano, David Brown, Steve Meader, Bill c`'a Sherman, Jay Strauss and Jim Treanor plus Lee Saperstein aril Hams Stone. 2. ACNVT Vice Chair Jim Treanor called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. The minutes of the September 1, 2012 meeting were approved subject to confirmation with a quorum present. 3. Taking up the ACNVT concem about preserving natural vegetation on a lot undergoing development, Lee spoke of Florida regulations restricting tree removal as a possible model. For the lot on the west lobe of Polpis harbor, the Nantucket Landscapers Council might be an informal conduit for offering an alternative better than clear cutting. 4. As was expressed in the ACNVT letter to the BOS, completion of the in -town bike path is still viewed as our #I priority. Lou Bassano reported his experience driving an NRTA bus on lower Orange Street, confirming the hazards for bikers. Expanding the street width there, per the current blueprint plan, would certainly improve biking safety. 5. Another stretch of road dangerous for bikers is First Way used by kids biking from Backus Lane and the schools to Hooper Farm Road. Yet another is the stretch of Prospect (NW of the existing bike path) continuing on Quaker to the Madaket Road. Identified to the west is a possible alternative link involving Mill Hill, Mt. Vernon, Saratoga Lane and Winn Street. We have been told at a prior meeting that easements for such an alternative bike path may be difficult to secure.] 6. With lower priority, Lou Bassano identified a bike path running parallel to Tom Nevers Road as needed for safety. A bike lane at the edge of the road would not remove the present dangerous condition. Concern was also expressed that bikers continue to use the Milestone Road rather the parallel bike path. Perhaps a home rule petition would provide State sanction for the BOS to restrict bikers to available paths except for Triathlons and similar in -road biking events. 7. The suggestion was made to invite NPD Chief Bill Pittman to our June 2013 meeting. 8. In answer to Lou's question, Bill Sherman said that Civic League area association presidents had not been asked to appoint area representatives to the ACNVT. 9. Turn down of Harris Stone's application for re- appointment to the ACNVT was discussed. Whether on -island voter status of any existing ACNVT members would disqualify continued membership is unclear. IO.Jay Strauss expressed his belief that the currently proposed smaller wind turbine [2012 Special Town Meeting Article 5] is not economically justified. Depreciation charges in anticipation of future maintenance costs would wipe out what otherwise might be net savings in electricity charges borne by the Town. No ACNVT position was taken, e.g., in anticipation of FinCom hearings on STM articles. I I.Responding to Lou Bassano's expression of concern about islanders on public assistance, various human services agencies were mentioned: the Emergency Food Pantry and the Town's Council for Human Services [webpage ) tit :/ /www.nantucket- ma.aov/Paaes/NanmcketMA HS /index ]. Challenges of island living including high costs may have some bearing on feelings about seasonal residents, aka nonvoting taxpayers. Bill Sherman spoke of a recent pair of I &M issues, the second with a letter to the Editor quite negative about ReMain Nantucket. Brought to mind was the tension leading to the creation of ACNVT. A question remains whether the very considerable progress made in good relations needs a further boost; if so, how? 12.Harris Stone raised the concern about Martins Lane and I DC rulings on a proposed curb cut for new offstreet parking space. Status of the controversy was unclear but mention was made of a proposed change in HDC enabling legislation [2012 STM Article 11 for HRP to seek that enabling legislation]. Again, no position was taken by ACNVT. 13.The meeting was adjourned at 11:07 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Bill Sherman, Secretary Draft minutes e- distributed and submitted to Town Clerk 9/25/12 Minutes adopted 6/29/13, hard copy submitted to Town Clerk 7/3/13