HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-7-19ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF NONVOTING TAXPAYERS
Minutes of meeting 10 A.M., SATURDAY, July 19, 2014, at
4 Fairgrounds Road
1. Attending: Lou Bassano, Howard Blitman, David Brown, Roger
Ernst, Lucas Fischer, Sue Matloff, Steve Meader, Bill Sherman,
and Jay Strauss - -- a quorum. Also present were Harris Stone,
Peter Kahn and Mrs. Bassano. (M/M Bassano left at 10:22 pm.)
Members absent: Donald Green, Tony Walsh.
2. ACNVT Chair Howard Blitman called the meeting to order at
10:00 a.m. The proposed agenda for the meeting was approved.
The minutes of the June 28, 2014 meeting were approved.
3. Howard Blitman asked for nominations of members to serve as
ACNVT officers. Lou Bassano proposed Howard Blitman as
Chair; for Vice -Chair Jay Strauss and Secretary Bill Sherman were
proposed. Hearing no further nominations, the slate was
unanimously voted.
4. Bill Sherman reported that Dr. Margot Hartmann, President of the
Cottage Hospital, asked that her invitation to speak be deferred
from 8/2 to our 8/30/14 meeting. The front -page article in the
7/17/14 I &M was cited, with the explanation that Dr. Hartmann
thought she properly should make her presentation to the BOS on
Wednesday evening July 23 first, then to the ACNVT.
5. In the discussion that followed, Lou voiced the view that an on -site
upgrade of NCH is wiser than new construction offsite, one
building at a time. Howard (with much experience in building
renovations) concurred. Roger Ernst expressed belief that siting in
the Town's Wyer's Valley would have lower traffic impact than
the present NCH site. Two adverse comments: upgrade helicopter
transports rather than NCH, and NCH seen as one step above first -
aid station.
6. Suggestion was made that, toward the end of the 8/30/14 meeting
with Dr. Hartmann, ACNVT should seek consensus on a letter to
send to the BOS with our recommendations as to NCH upgrade.
With the letter attach a summary of ACNVT member experience
with hospital upgrades elsewhere. Howard offered to determine
MGH views on NCH upgrade. He also reported the concern of the
Nantucket Land Council that a Wyer's Valley siting of NCH could
impact the aquifer below.
7. Jay Strauss recalled his experience with a Rhode Island hospital
rebuilt on -site to bring its stick -built construction into compliance
with the fire code. Sue Matloff was on the board of a Marion, CT
hospital rebuilt with a decrease in the number of beds. Anticipating
our further study of pros and cons, Howard urged that we prepare
by getting the views of our summer resident constituents.
8. Allen Reinhard will be invited to our August 2 meeting for his
thoughts on the Wyer's Valley site.
9. A reminder: ACNVT is co- sponsoring with the Nantucket
Community Association the annual Summer Forum. Attendance by
ACNVT members is urged. The 2014 Summer Forum is set for
9:30 — 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July28, in the Great Room of the
Atheneum.
10. Reverting to Sconset bluff issues, Howard through the Nantucket
Land Council has been following the SBPF efforts before the
ConCom to get approvals, twice turned down. Added to risks of
scouring beaches on either side, the proposed armoring also entails
high maintenance cost indefinitely. Others spoke of declining
Baxter Road property values apparent especially to those whose
purchases post -dated obvious bluff erosion.
11.If traffic studies are made available this summer by the Richmond
group, developers of Valero and Glowacki properties along Old
South Road, Traffic Planner Mike Burns might be asked for his
views. Otherwise, Lauren Sinatra, Director of the Town's Energy
Department, will be invited.
12. Other pending issues: relocation of the in -town tank farm
(ownership ?), future of Sherburne Commons, and reliability of
Comcast CATV.
13.The meeting was adjourned at 10:59 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Sherman, Secretary
Draft minutes e- distributed and submitted to Town Clerk 7/30/14
Minutes adopted F/ 1/14, hard copy submitted to Town Clerk 9/ x /14