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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTown Managers Newsletter - 2012 09 21 From the Desk of Town Manager Libby Gibson SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 VOLUME 3, NUMBER 8 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 Town Administration News and Updates Current General Town Administration Activities Assistant Town Manager Gregg Tivnan and I attended the monthly Cape Cod Manager’s Meeting on September 13, which was held here on the island. Five of the managers made it over for the meeting. Topics of discussion included a review of summer issues, private roads, an update regarding a regional 911 consolidation on the Cape, an update about a regional e-permitting grant, in which the Town of Nantucket is one of 4 (down from an initial 5) pilot towns to get e-permitting software purchased and up and running by April of 2013. The Board and I participated in the Nantucket Community Association’s annual Summer Forum on August 7th at the Atheneum. We each provided a 5 or so minute update/review of a particular topic and then a Q&A session. We appreciate the opportunity to provide information and answer questions about Town activities. The Chair and I attended the Nantucket Civic League’s annual President’s breakfast on August 18th to provide an update about Town wastewater planning. Kara Buzanoski, DPW Director and John Daniels of Woodard & Curran, the Town’s wastewater consultant attended as well. We also met with several people from the various Madaket neighborhood associations on August 7th to discuss the same topic. At the Board’s meeting on September 12th, our wastewater consultants, along with Kara provided a comprehensive update on wastewater planning and activities, including the upcoming “Phase IIB” downtown sewer rehabilitation project which will involve replacement of sewer and water lines in various areas of the downtown. That project is expected to begin over the winter, with work to be suspended next summer, then be completed by the spring of 2014. A review of the update to the Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan was also provided. Earlier in the day on September 12th, the newly formed Sewer Planning Work Group held its first meeting. This group is expected to be instrumental in helping to develop and recommend how to finance future sewer projects. The meetings are public and posted. The contact person is Kara Buzanoski. Another work group that is about to get underway, with its first meeting on Thursday, September 27th at 10am in the Town Building Conference Room is the Our Island Home Long-term Planning Work Group. Town Administration convened a work group of town and other agencies to discuss reuse/alternatives/options for the Teen Center after learning that Nantucket Behavioral Health Services, which had been contracted to operate the facility informed us they no longer have the financial resources to continue. The Teen Center closed at the end of the 2011-12 school year. We have received a couple of inquiries from concerned citizens about the closure and while we are working actively to come up with viable options, fortunately there are numerous programs and activities for school-age youth that are offered by a variety of community groups. The Board received a Financial Management Report from the Department of Revenue in July and had some focused discussion about it at its September 12th meeting. It was suggested that Town Administration undertake a review of the recommendations contained in the report and return to the Board at a future time with suggestions as to implementation of the recommendations. The Finance Committee has also discussed the report. For the next several months, among other things, we will be focused on: the 2013 annual town meeting, the FY 2014 town budget, Board of Selectmen and Town Administration goals, continuing financial management improvements, the move of Finance offices from 16 Broad Street and 22 Federal Street to 37 Washington Street. October 22, 2012 Special Town Meeting It came to our attention this week that people might possibly be confused about the Special Town Meeting (STM) vs. a special election that the Board had been discussing over the summer, to fill the seat vacated in July by the passing of Whitey Willauer. The Board decided at its September 5th meeting not to schedule a special election, which was entirely unrelated to the Special Town Meeting. The STM is scheduled for Monday, October 22nd starting at 6:00 pm at the Mary P. Walker Auditorium at the High School. The Board adopted the warrant for the STM at its September 12th meeting. There are a number of meetings associated with the STM, including a Finance Committee public hearing on Monday, September 24th at 4:00 pm at which the FinCom will take public comment on the warrant articles. Events Members of Nantucket Fire Department along with their families participated in the 2012 Walk Now for Autism, in August, with a solid show of support for Autism Speaks. Team Extinguishers, supported with an initial donation by the Nantucket Firefighters Local 2509 with subsequent individual fundraising, raised over $4200 for this worthy cause. Team Extinguishers were represented at the Walk by over 30 members and/or their family members. In addition, the Fire Department’s ladder truck provided an inspirational venue from which an 8’ x 10’ Autism Speaks flag was flown during the event. The Nantucket firefighters and their families walked to help raise money and awareness to support the work of Autism Speaks. Working closely with the local Autism Speaks office, Nantucket firefighters have participated in specialized training that helps them respond effectively to disabled children and adults both during emergencies, and as a friendly face in the community. Along with the Nantucket County Sheriff’s Department, Massachusetts State Police and the Nantucket Police Department, the Fire Department has hosted special events for families with disabled members to visit the station, climb into the trucks, try on turnout gear and interact with firefighters and police officers. (For more information on outreach programs for cognitively impaired residents, click here.) Contributed by Elizabeth Shannon, Nantucket Fire Department. The annual Island Fair was held at Tom Nevers Field September 15 – 16. This event is put on with help from the Town for set-up and take-down but it is organized by dedicated volunteers who could really use some help going forward (hint hint). A big thank you goes to: Campbell Sutton, Jess Pykosz, Ray Owen, Patty Myers, Susan Burns, Genevieve Roudiez, Diana Graves and Jeremy Norwood. Thank you all and everyone else who helped out, especially Jimmy Manchester, for their assistance. I was lucky enough to be asked back to be a judge for the Pet and Dog Shows. My fellow judge, Ingela Carlsson and I had a fun time watching the pets and talking to their owners. The winner of the Pet Show was Phineas Byrne and his bunny “Peach”. The Dog Show winner was “Boo Radley”, owned by Reema Sherry. An interesting entry was a beautiful dog whose owner rescued him from Easter Island when she found him as a starving, tiny puppy! The Egan Maritime Festival will be taking place September 22nd from 10:00 – 4:00 pm at Children’s’ Beach. This fun event offers all sorts of maritime related activities. Projects The Hummock Pond Road Bicycle Path project is off to a great start. If you have been down Hummock Pond Road in the last two weeks you will have seen tremendous progress. We are grateful to the voters for approving the project ($3.2m) at the 2012 annual town meeting and subsequent election, as well as to an anonymous donor of $500,000 which will be used to offset the debt service of the project and was key in seeking the approval of the voters. Friends of Hummock Pond Road Bike Path, a volunteer, non-profit group was also instrumental in securing approval of the project and raising funds for it as well. By this time next year, we expect to have a fully completed, beautiful bike path which will address many safety concerns for pedestrians and bicyclists along that road. Announcements We are so pleased to extend our congratulations to Rachel (Our Island Home Administrator) and Jared (Police Sergeant) Chretien on the birth of their baby girl, Addison Lavon, on September 13th! Get to Know Your Town Volunteers This monthly feature contains questions to a member of a Town board, committee or commission about their interest in serving and some other information about them. This month, I spoke with Julia Lindner, a newly appointed member of the Finance Committee. Q: How long have you lived on Nantucket? A: My family moved from the Boston area to live on Nantucket year-round almost two years ago. Q: Where are you from? A: I’m originally from the Montreal area. Q How long have you served on the Finance Committee? A: It’s only been one week! Q. Have you served on any other Town boards or committees? A: No. Q: What interests you about serving the Town and makes you want to be involved? A: I aspire to help the Town and its citizens by applying skills acquired from past experiences. I developed financial analysis abilities working in the Investment Banking Group for the Royal Bank of Canada. I also spent a number of years working in Boston for State Street as a Currency Sales Trader for the Foreign Exchange Division. Q: What is the most rewarding part about serving? A: Meeting many interesting people that share a passion for this island and its community. Q: What is the most challenging part? A: Understanding how decisions today will affect the island down the road. Q: If you could change one thing about Town government, what would it be? A: I’d like to be able to watch public meetings from my computer to keep up with it all. Q: What is your favorite spot on Nantucket? A: I enjoy the dramatic views from the Sconset foot path (in the off season of course). SEPTEMBER TRIVIA QUESTION In what year did the Governor of Massachusetts sign a bill repealing a law which excluded automobiles from Nantucket? JULY/AUGUST TRIVIA QUESTION Why does the Town Clock ring 52 times, three times a day? Answer: Read this fascinating history of the Town Clock provided by Elizabeth Oldham contains the answer. Answers submitted by: NO ONE! As always, ideas for future e-newsletter topics are welcome!