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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJuly and August 2013 Newseltter From the Desk of Town Manager Libby Gibson July and August, 2013 Volume 4, Number 6 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 At the July 24, 2013 Board of Selectmen’s meeting, I provided the Board with an overview of current and recent Town Administration activities. The overview was not meant to be all-inclusive, just highlights. It included the following: discussions with Finance Committee about Fiscal Year 2015 budget forms/format/information; long-term capital plan/financing development and work with Capital Program Committee; finalization of goals discussed by Board of Selectmen as discussed at July 17, 2013 workshop meeting, for August 7 Selectmen’s meeting; Town Engineer position being advertised, as part of DPW reorganization; additional position descriptions developed as part of the reorg being finalized (Facilities Manager and Facilities Maintenance Foreman); collective bargaining strategies for upcoming contracts being developed; customer service principles roll-out being developed with internal employee group. The Capital Program Committee has been meeting with the various Town departments to start discussing short, medium and long-term capital projects. The Airport provided a very detailed and impressive presentation at a recent Committee meeting. Airport presentation to Capital Program Committee I met with the Advisory Committee of Non-voting Taxpayers (ACNVT) on Saturday, August 11. They are a good and dedicated group of volunteers who are willing to provide their ideas and suggestions toward improving Town government. I gave them a similar Town Administration activity report to what I had given the Board on July 24th and we discussed a variety of miscellaneous issues. The Board and I attended the Nantucket Community Association annual summer forum (co-sponsored by the ACNTV) on Monday, July 29th at the Atheneum. The turnout was widely considered to be the best in many years, if not ever. Each Board member covered a particular topic and I (again) gave an update on Town Administration activities. There was a lively Question and Answer session following our topics. We always enjoy and appreciate hearing from constituents and confirming and learning what the concerns are. Items raised included: overnight parking, taxi meters, the Town’s senior work-off program, the Sconset Beach Preservation Fund proposed erosion control project along the bluff next to Baxter Road, ticks, and bike safety. Secretary of Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (Commonwealth of Massachusetts) Visit The Maria Mitchell Association through its Director of Development (and former Selectman) Patty Roggeveen, arranged for a visit by Secretary Rick Sullivan and some of his staff, including Undersecretary Barbara Kates-Garnick (a seasonal resident of Nantucket), on Friday, August 9. The group toured the island and several Town officials (including myself, Selectmen Rick Atherton and Matt Fee, Nantucket’s State Representative Timothy Madden, Town Energy Coordinator Lauren Sinatra, School Superintendent Mike Cozort, Airport officials) and several members of the former Energy Study Committee among others were invited to participate in a morning discussion about a variety of topics, which included: new solid waste disposal technology possibilities, tight tanks, landfall for off-shore wind facilities, electric vehicles and charging stations, energy conservation innovations and possibilities. It was a productive and interesting meeting, with several issues pertinent to the Town. Secretary Rick Sullivan, Patty Roggeveen, and Libby Gibson Street Lights We have received numerous concerns this summer regarding street lights which do not function. Several years ago, the street lights (decorative only, mostly found downtown) were transferred from National Grid ownership to the ownership of the Town due to a change in street light billing protocol. The Town now maintains the light fixtures themselves and National Grid handles issues with the electrical connection. Please note: some of these decorative street lights are NOT owned by the Town, having been purchased and installed by private parties. If there is an issue with a street light, please contact the DPW at dholdgate@nantucket-ma.gov. The more urban type of street light (generally found outside of the downtown) remain maintained by National Grid. Events The annual Town Fourth of July events were coordinated this year by Visitor Services Director Kate Hamilton and her staff. They were assisted by a number of volunteers and they developed a very informative program of activities which was available on-line, at the Visitor Services office and also distributed by volunteers on the Fourth. The events provided a lot of fun for a lot of people on July fourth. Some photos of the events are attached. Although due to Nantucket’s characteristic thick fog the fireworks were postponed until the fifth, they were fabulous. Click here for a list of the winners of the many contests that were held. Over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, several individuals sponsored by Holidays for Heroes, an organization dedicated to honor our nation’s soldiers, visited the island. Local resident Eric Goddard, one of the organizers, provided this summary of the Holidays for Heroes mission: “Thousands of men and women have given their all in defense of the liberties America holds so dear. It is our mission and responsibility to honor their sacrifice and to reciprocate their commitment to our country in deed, and to participate in a fellowship with our soldiers that proclaims we are proudly American”. I was lucky enough to meet one of the individuals, Army Specialist Jeff Lynch, along with his wife Christy and their sweet little daughter CateLyn after work one day. According to Eric: “the Lynch family enjoyed an adventure-filled week on Nantucket. Jeff and Christy never had the opportunity to have a traditional wedding due to injuries Jeff sustained in Iraq. Thanks to the Nantucket community we were able to give Jeff and Christy this special day. Jeff didn’t know about the surprise renewal vows until Christy arrived at Brant Point in her wedding dress with CateLyn and the Rev. Dr. Gene McDowell came around the dune. The US Coast Guard gave them a quick lift from Brant Point to Straight Wharf where a car was waiting to take them to a romantic dinner at The Galley. It is a day they will never forget and Holidays for Heroes couldn’t have been more happy for this amazing couple!” Numerous local businesses and islanders donated goods and services to the Heroes during their visit to make their time here as memorable as possible. Thank you to all who donated and supported the visit! Jeff and Christy Lynch getting a lift from the US Coast Guard Projects Phase II-B Downtown Sewer Rehabilitation Project This project is a continuation of Phase I-B which replaced sewer and water lines in a number of other areas of the downtown several years ago. Phase II-B was originally bid in 2008, bids came in above the appropriation, economic conditions were in a down turn and the project was put off. In 2012, voters at the annual town meeting approved an increase in the appropriation and bids came in well within the available funding. The first phase of the II-B project began in the winter of 2012- 13. A preliminary schedule for the continuation of the project was reviewed with the Board at the August 7th meeting. The project is intended to begin in late September and be completed in the fall of 2014. Meetings will be scheduled shortly with affected property owners and businesses. Wastewater Action Plan The Board was provided with an update of the WAP at its August 7th meeting. The Plan and all of its associated components are significant and comprehensive. Nantucket, because of its “stand alone” situation, must be especially vigilant in protecting its harbors, estuaries and ground water quality. A number of actions are being examined to improve water quality at little cost to the taxpayer. There are, however, costly wastewater infrastructure projects on the not-too-distant horizon. The Board appointed Sewer Planning Work Group will be examining various funding possibilities as it proceeds with its work. Of Interest Recently, I was asked “is there a law that fire hydrants need to be yellow?” Not knowing the answer, I asked Bob Gardner, Manager of Wannacomet Water. Bob reports that: Fire hydrant color determination rests solely with Water Commissions. So here is the hydrant scoop. Fire hydrant color is very subjective. There are national standards for color that if adopted are based on the available flow at the hydrant. This is important in large communities or those that have multiple pressure zones. We are neither large nor have multiple pressure zones. Wannacomet was yellow with silver tops until 1996 when we went to all yellow as the silver paint would not just hold up. As an aside Sconset is red and white [editorial note: that’s because Sconset likes to be “different” – no offense Sconset!]. On the Cape there are some very nice powder blue hydrants and San Francisco has some very nice solid bronze hydrants. Nationally, red, yellow and lime green are the most popular colors because they stand out and the last thing the firemen want to be doing is hunting for a hydrant. When Disney World was under construction, the original design called for the fire hydrants to be custom made to look like Disney characters: to get water you would unscrew Goofy’s nose, but the insurance companies wouldn’t provide fire insurance unless the hydrants actually looked like hydrants (and not Disney characters). So after all of this rambling the bottom line is that the hydrants that are owned and maintained by Wannacomet are yellow which makes them stand out as they should. The hydrants have an extra thick epoxy coating that seems to stand up to our environment better than standard hydrant paint and that comes at no extra cost in red, white, or yellow. We are currently preparing a bid to have some of the older hydrants replaced and all of the others modernized and recoated with a yellow epoxy coating. Hope this was helpful. Yes, Bob! Very helpful and fascinating too! Recognitions In September, Diane O’Neil who has been our Project Manager/Chief Procurement Officer for the last eight years or so, will leave us (sort of) to become the Facilities Manager for the Nantucket Public Schools. Diane will continue to help us out on a limited basis until we have filled her position, which is currently being advertised. We will miss her cheerful and helpful manner around the Town Building but are relieved that she will remain within the Town “family”. Thank you for your service Diane! Diane O’Neil Board of Selectmen Activities At its meeting on August 7th, the Board adopted its goals for 2013-14, following a workshop meeting about goals on July 17th. Town Administration will provide regular updates to the Board on the status of implementation throughout the year. At the August 7th Selectmen’s meeting, I informed the Board of the need for a Special Town Meeting (STM) this fall to address budgetary issues for three Enterprise Funds: Our Island Home, Wannacomet Water and Sconset Water. The issues relate to revenue projections for Fiscal Year 2014 falling short of what was actually received in Fiscal Year 2013. There are already proposed solutions to address the shortfalls, but they require a vote of town meeting. The Board will be reviewing a draft timeline and scheduling the STM at its August 21st meeting. With regard to the likely submittal of citizen warrant articles, a Guide to Preparing a Citizen Warrant Article was endorsed by the Board and the Finance Committee last fall. We encourage anyone interested in submitting a citizen article to consult the Guide. Citizen articles for special town meetings require the signatures of one hundred registered voters. The Town Clerk has also prepared an “advice” document for potential citizen petitioners. Get to Know Your Town Volunteers This monthly feature highlights a member of a Town board, committee or commission, their interest in serving and some other information about them. This month, I interviewed Neil Paterson, an elected member of the Nantucket Islands Land Bank Commission. He is thrifty with his words, as you’ll see but is very dedicated to Nantucket. Q: How long have you lived on Nantucket? A: 35 years. Q: Where are you from? A: Scotland. Q: What is your job? A: Landscaper/Stone work. Q How long have you served on the Land Bank? A: First term; also volunteer firefighter for last 11 years. Q. Have you served on any other Town boards or committees? A: Advisory Committee for a Public Safety Facility; Capital Program Committee; Long-term Space Needs Work Group; newly-formed Transaction Review Work Group [group established per a Town Meeting vote to review the disposition of the property on which the Fire Station is currently located]. Q: What interests you about serving the Town makes you want to be involved? A: Giving back to a community that has been so good to me. Q: What is the most rewarding part about serving? A: Positive changes. Q: What is the most challenging part? A: Forging a consensus. Q: If you could change one thing about Town government, what would it be? A: Addressing unfunded pension and medical liabilities. Q: What is your favorite spot on Nantucket? A: Windswept Cranberry Bog. Neil Paterson JULY/AUGUST TRIVIA QUESTION In what year was the Civil War Monument erected? JUNE TRIVIA QUESTION In what year did the LORAN station in Sconset start transmitting navigation signals? Answer: July 1, 1943 (this answer was provided by Dave Fronzuto who was the Loran Station Commanding Officer from 1984-1986). CORRECT answers: -- Jim Lentowski provided this interesting history (although his date differs from the date Dave Fronzuto gave me for this Question…): LORAN A was placed into service in December 1943. The installation on Nantucket was the first. In time, it grew into a worldwide air/sea navigation system. My wife Jill’s dad, John K. Phelan, was a physicist in MIT’s Radiation Laboratory (aka the “RAD LABS”) who, the early 40’s, played a role in the LORAN system’s development. As a young man, John spent a number of years on the island and later as a seasonal resident staying in the family’s mid-Pleasant Street house (the “American Gothic” farmhouse beyond Five Corners next to the ivy lot). The Pleasant Street house is still in the Phelan family – now owned by Jill’s cousin, Joe Phelan. -- Catherine Stover – also said December 1943 -- Linda Roberts – also said December 1943 -- Dave’s comeback was this: THE COAST GUARD AT WAR: IV LORAN VOLUME I SECTION III CHAPTER 4 As was the case in SECTION II for the completeness for this record it is necessary to "backflash" in time and space in order to cover events occurring elsewhere during the time of the construction of the first Alaskan units. In the Atlantic chain the construction of the unit at Siasconset, Nantucket, Mass., which was to replace Montauk, proceeded swiftly. By early June 1943 this station was completely built and equipped and went on the air testing between the 9th and 17th. It officially replaced the Montauk station on 1 July 1943 and was given the code name of Sugar. Because the new station Sugar was located so near the monitor station at Sankaty Head, also on Nantucket, it was necessary to relocate the monitor at the Coast Guard Lifeboat station in Chatham, Mass. 1 July when Sugar went officially on the air the monitor was temporarily set up at Chatham and provisions made for permanent buildings to be erected. A point of historical interest regarding this station is that it became in 1944 the first Loran unit to be operated by SPARS, with Ensign Vera Hammerschlag, USCGR(W) as C.O. As always, ideas for future e-newsletter topics are welcome!