HomeMy WebLinkAboutSiasconset Bluff Walk Public Access Meeting Notes - March 23, 2010_201402041425327295
TOWN AND COUNTY OF NANTUCKET ROADS AND RIGHTS OF WAY COMMITTEE
DRAFT MEETING NOTES
March 23, 2010
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Allen Reinhard called the special meeting to order at 12:15 on Tuesday,
March 23 in the Conference Room at 2 Fairgrounds Roads. In addition to Mr. Reinhard,
the following Committee members were in attendance: D. Anne Atherton, Annie
Bissinger, Sylvie O’Donnell, Lee Saperstein, John Stackpole and Harvey Young. Members
of the public included: Rob Benchley, Marianne Felch, Bob Felch and Linda Holland.
PURPOSE OF THE MEETING
The purpose of the meeting was to follow up on Chairman Reinhard’s email of March 18
[see Attachment] regarding the formation of a ROW subcommittee to deal with the issue
of public access to the Sconset Bluff Footpath. This was in response to formal action taken
by the Board of Selectmen on March 17. In the electronic communication, Mr. Reinhard
also stated that he had asked Mr. Young and Mrs. Atherton to Co Chair such a
subcommittee, the Sconset Bluff Public Access Subcommittee (SBPAS) and that they had
accepted. At this meeting, the Committee was asked to brainstorm the best possible
structure and procedures to be followed by the Subcommittee.
THE CHARGE TO THE SCONSET BLUFF PUBLIC ACCESS SUBCOMMITEE (SBPAS)
As reiterated by Chairman Reinhard, the BOS had charged the ROW:
[with] making recommendations to the Board regarding the management and
disposition of the private abutters ways identified in article 74 of the ATM warrant.
The charge includes, but is not limited to recommending:
1. Which of the ways should be established as footpaths to connect to the existing
Siasconset Bluffwalk.
2. Which ways should be eliminated.
3. Create management objectives for the footpaths including surfaces, litter control,
privacy features, restrictions against commercial activity, signs or markings, hours
of access and enforcement.
Mrs. Atherton noted that the language of the Charge to the ROW was the same that had
originally appeared in a DRAFT BOS Comment to Article 74 and that it was her
understanding that the Board had wanted to act before Town Meeting and thus had
referred the matter to the ROW, instead of waiting and forming a new committee.
DRAFT MEETING NOTES, March 23, 2010 2
BRAINSTORMING NOTES
The group brainstormed a number of issues related to the SBPAS and came to consensus
relative to the composition of the group and how it would proceed. The following rough
notes contain the salient points of the discussion:
· the relationship between the Subcommittee
and the ROW Committee
the Subcommittee will make
recommendations to the ROW Committee,
and the ROW Committee will make
recommendations to the BOS
· timeframe? it was agreed that the Subcommittee will
make its recommendations to the ROW
Committee on, or before, November 16
· best composition of the Subcommittee? 9 in total, including:
2 Co Chairs from the ROW Committee
1 representative* from the Sconset Civic Asso
1 representative** from the Sconset Trust
3 (or 4) at-large community members
1 abutter to one of the ways in question
it was also noted that having a surveyor on
the Subcommittee would be helpful
* Rob Benchley agreed to be this rep
** Bob Felch will represent the Sconset Trust
· individuals who may be helpful resources to
the Subcommittee
Amos Hostetter
Simmons (?)
Planning staff members
· procedures to be followed? **commitment to open process seeking input
from all stakeholders**
conduct an “open” inspection tour of the Bluff
Footpath for everyone interested
emphasize communications: inform abutters
of meetings and extend invitation to them to
attend
· provisions of the Open Public Meeting Law
that will govern the Subcommittee?
Chairman Reinhard will check and get back to
everyone
· areas for further exploration history of the Bluff Walk
legal issues: the path is an easement
ConCom: permitting
BOS: licenses to use Town-owned land
beyond the Footpath
DRAFT MEETING NOTES, March 23, 2010 3
· when will the Subcommittee be formed? it was agreed that the Co Chairs would
submit a slate of members to the ROW
Committee at its regularly scheduled meeting
in April; they will publicly ask for citizens
willing to serve as at-large members;
suggestion was made that Bert Ryder might
like to serve
· communications it was agreed that communications were KEY;
the Sconset Civic Association will assist with
this; everyone agreed to share what they were
hearing with the Co Chairs, so as to lessen any
misunderstandings and get accurate
information out; the Subcommittee will post
as much information as possible on a special
page on the Town’s website
· management plan for the Footpath it was noted that stakeholders (tour bus
operators, vans, etc.) will be included in these
discussions; it was also noted that residents
are especially concerned about **commercial
activity** on the path
· decision-making by the Subcommittee the Subcommittee will prepare options with
pros and cons for each to the ROW
Committee, as well as any recommendations
the expectation is that decisions will be made
by consensus, rather than formal vote
ADJOURNMENT
Ms. Atherton agreed to get NOTES of the session out to everyone as soon as possible. Ms.
Bissinger will email the research she has done to Ms. Atherton, who will distribute the
information to everyone.
Chairman Reinhard adjourned the meeting at 1:30.
Respectfully submitted,
D. Anne Atherton
Secretary
3.24.10
ATTACHMENT: Electronic Communication from Mr. Reinhard, dated March 18, 2010.
Subject: Sconset Bluff Access Committee
Date: Thursday, March 18, 2010 10:20 AM
From: Allen Reinhard <allenreinhard@yahoo.com>
To: Saperstein Lee <saperste@mst.edu>, Vorce Andrew <avorce@nantucket-ma.gov>,
Bissinger-Poor Annie <permits2@nantucket.net>, Stackpole John
<harfuel@nantucket.net>, Carlson Jeff <jcarlson@nantucket-ma.gov>, Reinhard
Allen <allenreinhard@yahoo.com>, Fronzuto Dave <dfronzuto@nantucket-ma.gov>,
Young Harvey <hsyoung@comcast.net>, "Atherton D.Anne"
<danneatherton@comcast.net>, Lowell Nat <natlowell@comcast.net>
Conversation: Sconset Bluff Access Committee
R&ROW Members,
The BOS voted last night to charge the Roads & ROW Committee with making
recommendations to the Board regarding the management and disposition of the
private abutters ways identified in article 74 of the ATM warrant. The charge
includes, but is not limited to recommending: 1. Which of the ways should be
established as footpaths to connect to the existing Siasconset Bluffwalk. 2.
Which ways should be eliminated. 3. Create management objectives for the
footpaths including surfaces, litter control, privacy features, restrictions
against commercial activity, signs or markings, hours of access and enforcement.
This is a great opportunity for our committee to help resolve, in a constructive
and positive way, longstanding issues regarding public access to the Sconset
Bluff Walk. It is important to involve the immediate abutters and the residents
of Sconset in the process. The results of the subcommittees work could apply to
public access policies across the island, including the Nantucket Greenway
Project under development. The opportunity is to raise the awareness of the
responsibilities, as well as the rights of public access.
I would like to establish the Sconset Bluff Walk Access Subcommittee as soon as
possible to establish a plan, goals, timetable and milestones in order to gain
participation this spring and summer from residents, and collect data and ideas
from summer use. I propose that D. Anne and Harvey Chair this subcommittee and
select up to five additional members representing abutters and Sconset
residents. We do not meet officially until April 20. In the meantime, I will
use email to communicate. I will call Sylvie to fill her in. Let me know your
thoughts and suggestions as to how best to proceed. Again, this is a chance to
advance public access and fulfill our mission.
Allen