HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-6-29ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF NONVOTING TAXPAYERS
Minutes of meeting 10 A.M., SATURDAY, June 29,%.413 j P ' 2:44
4 Fairgrounds Road
1. Attending: Kathy Baird, Gary Beller, Howard Blitman, Bill
Gardner, Don Green, and Bill Sherman; guest speaker Town
Manager Libby Gibson. Also present: Mary Russell and Bob
Middleton. Members absent: Lou Bassano, Peter Halle, Peter Kahn,
Sue Matloff and Jay Strauss.
2. ACNVT Chair Don Green called the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m.
and declared a quorum present. The agenda of the meeting was
approved and proposed minutes of September 1, 2018 adopted. Our
guest was welcomed.
3. Libby Gibson started by speaking of the Harbor Place project,
saying that participants are currently in a waiting mode. One key
element is the intermodal transportation building (multistory
parking garage). A cost projection of $15 — 20 million has raised
questions about sufficiency of projected revenue. Howard Blitman,
based on his experience in that type of construction, urged adding
30% in reckoning cost. Gary Beller recalled the high level of
success achieved with a similar structure built for the New York
Botanical Gardens. Its ground level offers vehicle rentals and other
uses. An intermodal structure in Harbor Square could offer off-
season vehicle storage to gain revenue from space rentals.
According to a Town consultant's study, cost of infrastructure for
Harbor Square is projected to reach $10- - 20 million.
4. Libby spoke next of the Select Board move to update the Town's
2009 Master Plan this year. With the Town Manager and a
facilitator, the Select Board sought more clarity on the island's
future, e.g., quality of life issues, concluding with a shared sense
that traffic lights aren't wanted, plenty of open land is wanted as is
demand -management paid parking in town (like the airport's), valet
parking (assuming space for valet -parked cars can be found at the
Town parking lot and jetties areas), and paid parking for
commercial vehicles overnight in 2 Fairgrounds lot. The Town
parking lot off Washington Street will be reconfigured, the
Harbormaster's building replaced with first floor designed to be
flood tolerant.
5. The Town is reaching `safe harbor' status with increasing supply of
affordable housing, awaiting State concurrence. In safe harbor, the
Town can properly oppose 40B projects that upend reasonable
zoning. A new program will offer affordable rentals by lottery,
similar to Provincetown's. The Town is still pressing for enactment
of the Housing Bank legislation [H. 3637 to add a V2% fee atop the
Land Bank fee] to fund further affordable housing on island.
6. Following late 2018 enactment of state legislation extending the
Room Occupancy Tax (ROT) to seasonal vacation home rentals,
the Town anticipates revenue from rentals beginning July I' but not
likely to be received from the Mass. Department of Revenue until
FY2022. The state is expected to check for any evasions of the
ROT, and the island's NAREB has undertaken compliance efforts
for rentals listed with its member real estate agents.
7. Under consideration is whether the Town should adopt a bylaw to
authorize licensing of its seasonal vacation home rentals and
inspection to assure code compliance. Don Green spoke favorably.
Gary Beller has a seasonal vacation rental house, Kathy Baird
likewise, expressing concern about such inspections.
8. The Town might exercise a local Cape and Islands option to impose
an additional R.E. tax (up to 3%) for funding wastewater treatment
upgrades. To benefit, the Town would need a "301 Plan" (in
addition to present Wastewater Management Plan) to qualify.
Uncertain is whether benefits received by the Town would exceed
added tax from island real estate levy (about $2 million/year) since
benefits are allocated, shared with towns on the Cape.
9. Libby suggested that ACNVT might ask an island NGO (but not a
Town employee) to propose a summer resident to speak at Town
Meetings, whenever an ACNVT member is not up for that. As
Kathy suggested, Bill Sherman will ask the Civic League to
consider that role.
10. The Town plans to introduce electronic voting at Town Meetings
for speedier, more accurate and private vote counting. Benefits over
hand vote counting are set against anticipated cost of —$30 — 35,000
per meeting. Gary expressed concern about the `tyranny' of a
minority of registered voters, e.g., shifting sewering waiver
authority from the Select Board.to Town Meeting. Bill suggested
that such a concern could be taken up with John Bescher, Chair of
the Town Government Study Committee, at our next meeting.
1 l.Responding to Gary's concern about failure of the Town to move
ahead with Old South Road improvements, e.g., roundabouts, Libby
noted that the voters had defeated funding in the override ballot
following a favorable vote at Town Meeting. Libby explained that
the Town had done more than usual outreach to voters on the
infrastructure issues.
12.If an ACNVT member wants the Town to take, pave and maintain a
private road, Libby recommends contacting the Roads and Right -
of -Way Committee. She noted that off-season weather and high
demand had limited the paving that Victor, the island's contractor,
could complete.
13.In a continuing succession of Town department reviews, a
comprehensive study of the Health Department is underway. All
aspects of island housing are under review. Ideas for the Town
Manager Newsletter are welcomed.
14.A summit on solid waste management is planned for September 8.
ACNVT is encouraged to give attention to the new protocols for
solid waste and recyclables, implemented to assure proper
functioning of the composter and mindful of the limited market for
recyclables and island ban on various plastics.
15.To improve Town Meeting deliberations, Libby plans to join with
Town Counsel in aid of citizens who propose warrant articles.
Example: had a proposal impacting all bike path signage been clear
before Town Meeting, a more useful outcome was possible. Don
urged a civics course in Nantucket schools to foster their awareness
as future voters of what is expected of them in Town Meeting and
otherwise dealing with island issues. Kathy thought school interest
groups could be helpful. Howard noted the role of the Nantucket
Land Council in building their environmental awareness.
16.The Town now proposes re -purposing the old fire station initially
for Town offices. Public input is sought for the long term. Concern
was expressed about capital outlays coming: for Our Island Home,
Senior Center, infrastructure upgrades.
17.The Town is supportive of the proposed offshore wind farm some
15 miles south of Madaket and MV but hopes for some mitigation
benefit, given our island's historic status.
18. Hiring an Assistant Town Manager to help with administration is
planned. Among many projects underway is a comprehensive look
at coastal resiliency, what the Town can best do in anticipation of
rising ocean water levels.
19.Libby asked what we thought were a main concern of seasonal
residents. Consensus was traffic congestion. Gary added better
voter education.
20.Our next meeting July 13 will include election of officers [also
speaker John Brescher, Chair of the Nantucket Town Government
Study Committee]. An invitation was proposed for new Select
Board member Kristie Ferrantella [VP of Nantucket Island
Chamber of Commerce] to join us at a future meeting. Howard
suggested NLC Executive Director Emily Molden as another future
speaker.
21.The meeting was adjourned at 11:38 a.m. with an expression of
thanks to Town Manager Libby Gibson.
22.Respectfully submitted,
Bill Sherman, Secretary
Draft minutes e -distributed 7/7/19. Minutes adopted 7/27/19,
posted 7/31/19 and hard copy submitted to Town Clerk 7/31/19