HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-6-23C'1AV N C,LER.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF NONVOTING TAXPAYERS
Minutes of meeting 10 A.M., SATURDAY, June 23, 2018911f, AUG' 21 AM 9: 20
4 Fairgrounds Road
1. Attending: Lou Bassano (until 10:47 a.m.), Gary Beller, Howard
Blitman, Don Green, Peter Halle, Peter Kahn, Sue Matloff, and Bill
Sherman; and guest Town Manager Libby Gibson, also Philip
Nowack and Harvey Matloff. Members absent: Jay Strauss and
Tony Walsh.
2. Absent our Chair Jay Strauss, Vice-Chair Don Green called the
meeting to order at 10:02 a.m. and declared a quorum present. The
proposed agenda was adopted and minutes of August 19 and
September 2, 2017 were approved.
3. Our guest Town Manager Libby Gibson spoke first of the 2018
Annual Town Meeting outcome including approval of the Town
FY2019 budget, funding of the six enterprise accounts, 2% tax on
marijuana sales (1/2 to fund drug rehab), name change of BoS to
Select Board, and funding OSR traffic mitigation, voted down in
election that followed.
4. The Select Board has called a Special Town Meeting 10/10/18 to
take up bylaws re marijuana sale needed as follow-up to state
action. Voters will be asked again to support funding traffic
mitigation projects including along Old South Road. Citizen articles
will be received in the coming week.
5. Howard Blitman questioned whether major improvement was
envisioned at the solid waste facility (dump). Libby said that DPW
Director Rob McNeil has had conversations with Waste Options ,
under contract with the Town until 2025. Only early upgrade
planned is a safer entry, responsive to increasing traffic. Per
Howard, the (NLC) Nantucket Land Council's Cormack Collier is
involved in the larger questions. Lou Bassano commended co-
generation of electricity with newer technology as in NJ. Libby
noted MA has very strict environmental constraints.
6. Current sewering project, protective of Nantucket harbor, includes
Monomoy, Shimmo and other areas including some of Polpis Road
and Meadowview and a northerly portion of Somerset. The Surfside
Waste Water Treatment Facility is undergoing an upgrade and
mapping Sconset sewer lines is underway.
7. Sustainability of shorelines through coastal management is the
focus of a 7/18 forum at 1 p.m. in the PSF.
8. The Select Board's Strategic Plan is near completion with goals set
for island housing, environmental measures, and other.
9. Town actions to sustain water quality include further management
of fertilizer application and of storm water. A harbor forum is
planned.
10. The Board of Health is coming with further regulation of wells and
septic, supported by the Nantucket Land Council.
1 l.The Nantucket Civic League is near ready with recommendations
on in -town parking and related efforts to accommodate people
wanting to be in town.
12.Per Libby, the Milk Street bike path is almost done, the First Way
path is done. A top coat for the Boulevarde is planned along with
repaving the Lovers Lane, Okorwaw, Monohansett route to the
airport. Rob McNeil has gotten sidewalks from the HyLine terminal
upgraded.
13.Affordable housing at 6 Fairgrounds is held up by neighbors'
litigation. The Select Board has the Surfside Crossing 40B on South
Shore Road on its agenda, responding to high levels of concern.
14. The Town has a consultant looking at Town staffing. The Town's
CATV contract with Comcast is up for renegotiation. Move of the
tank farm to the airport site is expected about year-end 2019. Aided
by a consultant, the Town represented by Libby and two
Selectpersons is considering plans of the three owners of Harbor
Place (aka Wilkes Square), with a particular focus on a possible
intermodal transportation facility. Howard expressed concern about
on-site pollution there. A study is underway of possible
replacement of Our Island Home by a new structure on the same
site. (OIH now has a new administrator.) And, responding to
Richmond properties, the Town is considering taking interior streets
off Old South Road, then conditioning reversion of ownership on
public benefits.
15.A real estate specialist is sought for the Town to handle its many
complex real estate holdings, leases and licenses.
16.To meet unfunded state Open Meeting Law mandates, a records
access officer is needed to assure Town compliance with the OML,
FOI requests and the like.
17.Town Public Outreach is now staffed. Efforts include Town website
with early overhaul, regular broadcast of Saturday morning Town
official interviews, Libby's monthly Town Manager News, and
Twitter (but not yet Facebook) presence.
18.Responding to National Grid's proposed L 1 and L8 upgrade of its
electric service from its in -town substation out the Polpis Road, the
Town seeks coordination of very extensive roadway openings to
assure that Town utilities are accessed and upgraded at the same
time; otherwise, a major mess is foreseen. Unmapped utility lines
are often found with road openings.
19. In Q&A mode, Lou asked that the DPW provide better street
signage. Reporting deficiencies is encouraged.
20. Answering Peter Halle's question about airport plans to better
accommodate passengers, Libby understood that a summer season
canopied area off the terminal is the response. And ask Manager
Tom Rafter.
21.Peter Kahn's question about roundabout versus rotaries is best
answered by Transportation Planner Mike Burns. Roundabouts are
favored for correcting failed island intersections, e.g., safer than 4 -
way stops, e.g., in that pedestrians crossing each separated lane
need look only one way for oncoming traffic. Pedestrian and bike
crossings can also be at a distance from a roundabout. Sue Matloff
spoke of concern that failed intersections risked blockage of
emergency vehicles.
22.Answering Bill Sherman's question about state legislation
responding to Airbnb and like influx of short-term rentals, Libby
understood that bills had been taken up in both houses, e.g., to
allow municipalities to tax such rentals.
23.Discussion followed Gary Beller's concern about non -
representation of seasonal residents at Town Meetings. ACNVT's
appointment of a spokesperson is best but letters and emails sent
off-season from individual ACNVT members to the Select Board
and FinCom are also encouraged. ACNVT Secretary can post
members on issues, where to find meeting warrants, etc. prior to a
Town Meeting. Howard expressed conviction that Selectpersons
and FinCom are seriously interested in summer resident (NVT)
views.
24.In hope of having a quorum at each ACNVT meeting (unlike 2017),
motion was made, seconded and duly passed to request that the
Select Board place an article in the warrant to set ACNVT's
meeting quorum at a majority of the members then serving. (If less
than 15 are serving, the quorum could be less than 8.)
25.Gary asked if the Town planned an alternative for valet parking
after the National Grid site is unavailable in 2019. No comparable
area is seen though thought is given Jetties beach.
26.Answering Peter Kahn's question about the sewer breach
downstream of the Sea Street station, Libby said it's fully repaired.
No comparable ready answer could be voiced concerning Town
retention of police officers.
27.Philip Novak urged state revision of 40B so island employee
housing counted as affordable housing. Libby noted that many MA
municipalities sought 40B changes; Nantucket would unlikely get
favorable General Court consideration of another home rule petition
though island representatives have been remarkably effective, e.g.,
with the HRP to authorize a V2% fee to fund affordable housing.
28.As requested, the ACNVT Secretary will distribute the current
member list, with corrections noted at the meeting.
29.The meeting was adjourned at 11:22 a.m., the next meeting being
set for Saturday July 14, 2018 at 10 a.m. in the PSF Training Room,
with guest invitation left to the Secretary.
30.Respectfully submitted,
Bill Sherman, Secretary
Draft minutes e -distributed 6/24/18. Minutes adopted 8/18/18,
posted 8/27/18 and hard copy submitted to Town Clerk 8/27/18