HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-8-21Town and County of Nantucket
ROADS AND RIGHT OF WAY COMMITTEE 20119 ;`. 2 i ? 2: 1
Meeting of 16 July 2019
Conference Room of 2 Fairgrounds Road
FINAL AND APPROVED MINUTES
1. Call to Order, Approval of the Agenda, Approval of Minutes, and Public Comments.
A. Chair Allen Reinhard called the meeting to order at 4:01 pm. In attendance were Rick
Atherton, Nelson (Snookie) Eldridge, Leslie Forbes, Ed Gillum (4:05 pm), Nat Lowell, Allen
Reinhard, Bert Ryder (4:25 pm), and Lee Saperstein; there was a quorum at all times.
Absent: Bill Grieder
Guest: Colleen Whelden
B. Approval of the Agenda. The agenda was approved unanimously.
C. Minutes. Approval of the minutes from June 18, 2019, was moved by Nat Lowell and
seconded by Snookie Eldridge. Rick Atherton asked about Nat Lowell's comment in the section
on "Other Business and Member Comments" about taking a segment of the private portion of
Washington Avenue. In the future, if there is an interest in taking the private portion of
Washington Avenue, which lies between `H' and `1' Streets, it was suggested his suggestion
could become an agenda item. That clarification did not lead to any changes in the minutes and
approval was unanimous.
D. Public Comments. Colleen Whelden spoke about comments made by Ken Beaugrand in his
e-mail and asked if our recommendation with respect to taking Baltimore Street was reported
correctly. Allen Reinhard responded that the committee had studied the issue over several
meetings and concluded not to recommend a taking of any portion of Baltimore Street. We did
offer suggestions to the Whelden family and their neighbors about ways to gain improvements to
Washington Avenue and are pleased to know that they did follow up with Town officials. She
finished her comments by expressing frustration with getting information about road ownership
and maintenance.
Rick Atherton asked that Ken Beaugrand's e-mail be attached to these minutes. [Action:
Attached.]
2. Committee Officers for FY 20 and Goals for Coming Year.
Officers:
Nat Lowell moved and Snookie Eldridge seconded re -nomination of the existing officers. Bert
Ryder also seconded. The motion was approved unanimously and the officers for 2019-2020
will be Allen Reinhard, Chair, Leslie Forbes, Vice -Chair, and Lee Saperstein. Secretary.
Goals:
Allen Reinhard asked that we consider high-priority goals for the coming year; a list of potential
goals is at the bottom of the agenda page (reproduced at the end of these minutes).
• For himself, he wants to see the outstanding public way monuments installed.
• Lee Saperstein and Bert Ryder asked that the railroad trails be given a high priority.
Allen Reinhard said that he has been talking to the Nantucket Conservation Foundation
about the historic railroad trails on their land.
• Nat Lowell said that we should not drop our interest in sidewalk maintenance and repair;
we should be involved in a continuing surveillance of sidewalk improvements.
• Leslie Forbes and Lee Saperstein added that we should continue to ask the Select Board
to petition for Island responsibility for Chapter 91 licenses.
Allen Reinhard then suggested that we consider new goals to add to our list. Nat Lowell said
that there are drainage issues on Cliff Road from Highland Avenue to Sherburne Turnpike that
we should monitor. In addition to drainage, we have the continuing issue of pedestrian access
along that stretch of Cliff Road, which is hindered by the lack of a sidewalk and vegetation
encroachments into the right of way. Ed Gillum added that a nearby section defined by Delaney
Road, Derrymore Road, North Liberty Street and Cliff road, which is seeing a lot of development
activity, has similar problems of drainage and encroachments. The latter comes from extensive
use of landscape rocks placed in the road layout. These create safety issues for drivers and
pedestrians. Allen Reinhard said that, in general, these rocks suggest that we should continue to
follow-up on our encroachment policy. Perhaps, we could write an one-page description of the
encroachment policy that DPW could put on its web site or distribute on paper.
Leslie Forbes offered a separate goal. She asked that the Committee do a comprehensive review
of the ownership of the alphabet streets in Madaket. Such a listing would be of benefit to
abutting owners. This led to a broader concern, namely, a comprehensive update to the lists and
maps of ownership of all streets on Nantucket. Lee Saperstein suggested that we ask one town
official to join us to discuss the best way forward and Leslie Forbes said that this person should
be from the Planning Department.
3. Sidewalk Improvements Update.
Allen Reinhard reminded committee members that he was to meet with the chairs of related
committees to discuss our concern for delays in sidewalk maintenance. He has met with Select
Board Member, Jason Bridges, Transportation Planner, Mike Burns, Alison Forsgren of the
Council on Aging, and Laura Stewart from the Salt Marsh Center. All agreed that we should
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work together but not in the middle of summer. He will continue to reach out to the other
committees.
Bert Ryder asked if we have any news of plans for the installation of sidewalks along the three
major streets that do not have any pedestrian walkways: Cliff Road, Pleasant Street, and
Prospect Street. He also wondered if any committee or Town official was monitoring the state of
compliance to traffic rules among bicycle riders. There was a general question about the
information given by bicycle rental companies to their customers on safety. Leslie Forbes asked
if there was a bicycle rental company association to whom we could turn. Nat Lowell suggested
that we have an agenda item on bicycle safety.
4. Stone Alley: to Take or Leave Private, Implications.
Allen Reinhard introduced the topic of a taking of Stone Alley and Nat Lowell said that he had
spoken with Andrew Vorce, Director of Planning who indicated support for the action. Ed
Gillum showed deeded plans for properties that abut the alley, some of which are very clear that
they abut the alley whereas others were less clear. Lee Saperstein supported him and said that he
had located the deeds for the two properties that surround Stone Alley on Union Street and they
seemed to indicate that the Alley was not part of either property. He suggested that we inform
the Director of the Department of Culture and Tourism, Janet Schulte, about our interest in
taking the Alley because it is a significant part of our Cultural District. Nat Lowell said that we
should get Andrew Vorce involved. Lee Saperstein said that eventually we should add Stone
Alley to the Takings list but that we should lay the groundwork first. Nat Lowell moved that the
committee authorizes the chair to move this taking forward; Snookie Eldridge seconded and all
were in favor. [Action: Allen Reinhard to invite Andrew Vorce to a meeting and include the
taking of Stone Alley on the agenda for that meeting. With Andrew Vorce present, the
Committee could also consider the needed update to the road ownership list.]
5. Historic Coloured Cemetery Access.
Allen Reinhard reported that we continue to await final clearance of the demolition debris from
the old hospital before landscaping occurs. He will continue to monitor progress. A significant
burial will take place at the Historic Coloured Cemetery later this month in a family plot.
6. Old, New or Other Business: Member Comments.
None.
7. Adjourn,
The meeting was adjourned at 5:20 pm by acclamation. The next meeting will be at 4:00 p.m.,
Tuesday, August 20, 2019 in t e conference om of 2 Fairgrounds Road.
Lee W. Saperstein, Secretary L- 2V- Date Z ZO � �
Roads and Right of Way Outstanding Projects List:
Public Way Monument Project: (Lee & Allen & Snookie)
• Install remaining monuments at Sconset Footpath, Hulbert Ave.
• Update file of existing monuments
• Move monuments at Westchester St. Ext. & Crooked Lane
Sidewalk Projects: (Allen)
• Prospect St. (bike path to Upper Vestal St.) and on to Madaket bike path
• Cliff Rd. Coffin Park to bike path at Sherburne Tpk.
• Pleasant St. Gardner Perry Lane to Williams St.
• Follow implementation of downtown sidewalk improvements
Bike/Pedestrian connection from Surfside to Hummock Pond to Madaket paths
Harbor Walk Project: (Rick)
• Identify route and identify sections needing constructed walkway
• Concept drawings of construction required
• List permits and approvals needed and process to obtain
• Funding
Chapter 91 Monitor Project: (Leslie & Lee)
• Define goals for project
• Make local license information available on line
• Chapter 91 licenses along route for the Harbor Walk
• Locate other locations on Nantucket and Madaket Harbors requiring licenses
Nantucket Greenway and Trail System Project: (Allen, Lee, Bert)
• Nantucket Central Rail Road trail
• Map existing island trail and footpath systems and identify missing links
• How should maps and information be shared?
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Beaugrand, Ken, draft memorandum sent to Libby Gibson, Erika Mooney, Gregg Tivnan, Mike
Burns, Allen Reinhard, Robert McNeil, Patricia Stolte, Andrew Vorce, Lee Saperstein, Colleen
Whelden, William Pittman, Steve Murphy, and Paula Leary
Memo re Baltimore Street / Washington Ave
I have reviewed the recommendations of the various committees and spoken to Mike Burns,
Chair of the Traffic Safety Committee, Allen Reinhard, Chair of the Roads and Right of Way
Committee and Rob Mc Neil for the DPW. And the consensus as of now is as follows:
(1) There should NOT be a taking of Baltimore Street between Madaket Road and
Washington Avenue,
(2) The encroachments on Washington Avenue should be identified and then removed
by the abutters and if not then by the Town, and
(3) A plan for parking on Washington Avenue should be established.
Next steps:
(1) As agreed to at the June 20 meeting of the Traffic Safety committee, Rob McNeil has
organized a survey of Washington Avenue from F Street to Madaket Road to
determine property lines and where encroachments exist.
(2) Roads and Right of Way committee has determined that as Baltimore Street is a
private way, and there is no public need that there should not be a taking of that
way. They will investigate whether there is clear access to the harbor at the end of
Baltimore Street for boat launching.
(3) Traffic Safety will provide to the Select Board a recommendation for parking
restrictions and where parking is to be permitted after the survey as to
encroachments is completed.
(4) NRTA will be included in discussions as to the parking rules as those might affect
their bus route.
(5) Target date for update is after the August Traffic Safety meeting.
Ken Beaugrand, Real Estate Specialist
July 12, 2019