HomeMy WebLinkAboutTown Managers Newsletter - 2012 02 08
From the Desk of Town
Manager Libby Gibson
FEBRUARY 8, 2012 VOLUME 3, NUMBER 2
Town of Nantucket
16 Broad St.
Nantucket, MA 02554
P: (508) 228-7255
F: (508) 228-7272
Contact Us!
Town of Nantucket Website
Newsletter Archives
Subscribe to the Newsletter
Please note:
-- Town offices will be closed on Monday,
February 20, 2012 in observance of
President’s Day
-- The Human Services office has moved
from 2 Bathing Beach Road to the Saltmarsh
Senior Center
Town Administration News and Updates
Fiscal Year 2013 General Fund Budget
Town Administration presented the proposed FY 2013 budget
recommendations to the Finance Committee on January 23rd. The Committee
has had numerous meetings with departments about the budget and will
continue to formulate its budget and other recommendations for Town
Meeting throughout February and into early March.
Sewer Rates
Following a public hearing on January 18th, the Board approved sewer rate
increases. The average annual bill is expected to increase 20-25%. The new
rates will be effective May 1, 2012. For at least the past two years, the
prospect of sewer rate increases has been discussed by the Board during the
development of the annual sewer enterprise fund budget. The FY 2013 sewer
budget requires a rate increase without any new projects. Rate increases
have been mitigated by the use of sewer retained earnings (fund balance) for
several years but that is not sustainable, especially with new projects coming
up that need to be started, including a downtown sewer rehabilitation project
known as “Phase IIB”; and, an update to the Comprehensive Wastewater
Management Plan.
2012 Annual Town Meeting
The 2012 annual town meeting is scheduled to start Saturday, March 31,
2012. The Board adopted the warrant on January 18th, with three ballot
questions for the April 10, 2012 annual town election. The Finance Committee
has begun reviewing warrant articles and will continue to meet throughout
February and into early March to finalize its motions to the articles. The three
ballot questions are debt exclusion overrides: 1) funding for the renovation
of 20 South Water Street (old police station); 2) funding for the completion of
a bicycle path along Hummock Pond Road; and 3) funding for a wind turbine
at the Madaket landfill. These questions are preceded by Articles 11, 12 and
13 respectively, on the Town Meeting Warrant. The articles will be
accompanied by motions from the Finance Committee which will include the
amounts of the appropriations being sought. The 20 South Water Street
renovation is expected to cost between $6,700,000 – 7,000,000 and would
add approximately $54 per year for the 20-year life of the debt to the tax bill
of an average residential property assessed at $1,500,000. The Hummock
Pond Road bicycle path project is expected to cost approximately $3,200,000
and would cost the same average residential property about $30 per year for
the 15-year life of the debt. While not factored in to these numbers at this
time, the project cost is expected to be offset by private donations of at least
$500,000. The wind turbine is expected to cost $3,500,000 and would cost
that same average property $27 per year for the 20-year life of the debt. The
turbine is expected to generate enough power to pay for itself over a period
of time. The Energy Study Committee has developed a report on this;
however, it is continuing to undergo review as to the assumptions and
numbers.
Community Service Visit
On Monday, January 30th, I was visited by a group of Boy Scouts, Cub
Scouts and one Brownie who were working toward their community/public
service badge. They received a tour of the first floor offices in the Town
Building and then were lucky enough to meet with the Judge in the Court
Room on the second floor.
Quahog Day
Six more weeks of winter, indicated Quentin the Quahog with a significant
squirt to the left on February 2nd at the annual Quahog Day event at the
Marine Department. However, he also predicted the Patriots would win the
Super Bowl. So.
Photo courtesy of Nicole Harnishfeger
Massachusetts Municipal Association Annual Conference
Assistant Town Manager Gregg Tivnan and I attended the above on January
20-21 in Boston. It is always beneficial to touch base with one’s peers in
municipal government. Among other events, we attended a health insurance
reform act workshop, a social media workshop, a talk by State Police Colonel
Marian McGovern and met with several of our colleagues about a variety of
issues.
Procurement Workshop
Thanks to Diane O’Neil, Chief Procurement Officer, we were able to benefit
from an all-day workshop on January 26th with representatives from the
Inspector General’s office and Attorney General’s office, who explained and
reviewed the various Massachusetts procurement laws under their
jurisdictions. Over 50 town staff and officials attended.
Town Project Update
A long-awaited project along Nobadeer Farm Road which combines drainage
improvements with a multi-use path has begun. The Town’s contractor for
design of the project is local survey and engineering company Blackwell &
Associates.
Board of Selectmen
Wastewater Action Plan Update
At its meeting on February 8th, the Board will review a report from the
state’s contractor for the Massachusetts Estuaries Project of modeling done in
Nantucket Harbor as to the effect that sewering areas of Monomoy and
Shimmo and raising the Jetties could be expected to have on the nutrient
load (Total Maximum Daily Load “TMDL”) in the Harbor. The Board also has a
joint meeting with the Board of Health on February 9th as to the possibility of
an administrative consent order for property owners with certain types of
septic system issues, in connection with future sewer projects. Lastly, we are
seeking funding at the 2012 annual town meeting to update the
Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan.
FEBRUARY TRIVIA QUESTION
Where is Rhoda Weinman’s dog, Frazier, going to be next week?
ANSWER TO JANUARY TRIVIA QUESTION
What kind of oil's viscosity remains constant at any temperature, and has
been used in space programs for that reason?
Answer: sperm whale oil
Answers submitted by:
Jim Lentowski
Catherine Stover
H. Flint Ranney
Erika Mooney
As always, ideas for future e-newsletter topics are welcome!