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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTown Managers Newsletter - 2013 04 08 From the Desk of Town Manager Libby Gibson APRIL 8, 2013 VOLUME 4, NUMBER 3 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 2013 Annual Town Meeting The 2013 Annual Town Meeting (ATM) began on Tuesday, April 2 at 6:00 pm at the Mary P. Walker Auditorium at Nantucket High School. Approximate voter attendance on Night One was 379 – a comparatively low turnout. Of the 86 articles on the warrant, 25 were initially called for discussion; a few calls were later withdrawn. Article 10 (General Fund Capital Projects for Fiscal Year 2014) with slightly over $4 million of capital projects was approved with little discussion and one defeated amendment for additional funding. In my last e- newsletter I reported that the Board of Selectmen voted to seek $600,000 for the completion of design and construction plans for phase 2 of the Public Safety Facility at 4 Fairgrounds Road (addition of Fire Station), at the 2013 ATM. Since then, the Board decided not to seek funding at this year’s ATM and had the following comment to Article 10 printed in the warrant: BOARD OF SELECTMEN COMMENT: The Board of Selectmen had submitted a $600,000 request for funding from Free Cash for the preparation of construction plans for a Fire Station addition to the Public Safety Facility at 4 Fairgrounds Road for this Town Meeting. The Finance Committee voted not to support the request and it does not appear in the Motion to Article 10. The Board agrees with the Finance Committee’s action not to include it and also that it is the Board’s intent to establish a building committee to review the design plans and analyze options. An extensive zoning article regarding permitted uses (Article 30) was adopted after some debate. Notably, of the 11 zoning articles, this was the only one called for discussion. Article 47 (Bylaw: Civil Fingerprinting) was deemed by Chief Pittman as being the “most misunderstood article on the warrant” and the discussion seemed to bear that out. After several negative comments and further clarifications as to the intent of the bylaw, it was adopted by a majority voice vote. After very brief discussion, no action was taken on Article 50 (Charter Amendment regarding how the Town Meeting warrant with Finance Committee motions is provided to the public). Defeated articles included: Article 51 (citizen-sponsored home rule petition requesting an “alternate Selectman”); Article 66 (citizen-sponsored home rule petition that would make Nantucket Town employees hired after a certain date ineligible for inclusion in the Barnstable County Retirement system); Article 68 (citizen- sponsored “non-binding” article seeking Town support for the formation of a non-profit “Nantucket Life Foundation” to purchase the current funeral business, seek land from the Town to construct a funeral home and establish a crematory) was defeated. Night Two had very low attendance. I did not get an official count, but I would say less than 200 people. Article 70 (Charter Amendment to increase Town Meeting quorum requirements for appropriations) was defeated; Article 73 (Authorization for Board of Selectmen to convey Town land at 47 Boulevarde) was carried, as amended, after some amount of debate; Article 74 (Authorization to acquire land at 2 Bartlett Road) was adopted after some discussion; Article 78 (Authorization for long-term lease for property at Landfill for Cell Tower) was defeated after considerable discussion. Lastly, a new motion to Article 86 (Stabilization Fund) to appropriate $500,000 from Free Cash into the Fund failed….by 1 vote. Town Administration News and Updates Winter Storms Impact While Nantucket escaped with far less damage than many other communities from the major winter storms, they did wreak a bit of havoc with some of our infrastructure. The Easy Street bulkhead and adjacent sidewalk took a beating as did the Town Pier and floating docks. We are working to ensure that the Easy Street sidewalk is repaired before Daffodil Weekend. The DPW has a bigger job than usual for “spring cleanup” due to the storms. The Town Pier remains closed to boaters due to significant damage incurred as a result of the series of winter storms that battered the facility over the winter. At this point the floating dock is broken in nine places with eight out of ten floats broken. The electrical and water distribution systems have also been compromised on the floating docks. Toscana Corporation has been awarded a contract to do emergency repairs that should enable us to use the floating docks this summer season. Those repairs should get underway shortly. The standing pier has experienced similar damage. We lost several of the cross braces under the docks as well as over two hundred deck planks. Many more were jarred loose by the pounding waves. Many of those lost planks will need to be replaced. All the decking will need to be re-secured with appropriate screws to make the dock safe to walk on. Marine Division staff will be handling the temporary repairs to the wooden parts of the standing pier. Again, the electrical, water and pump out systems on the standing pier were also compromised as they were on the floating docks. The Town has hired an engineering firm to evaluate the entire Town Pier structure including the floating docks to determine the condition of the underlying support structure. We have seen evidence that several of the pilings may be compromised. The engineering firm will make recommendations to the Town on what needs to be done to make the pier safe and perhaps strengthen it to better withstand future storm events. We do not anticipate that report being completed before this summer. We do anticipate having the Town Pier operational for this summer season but we do not anticipate being open by the traditional date of May 1st. Our goal is to have the pier available for slip holders before the Memorial Day Weekend. Sconset Bluff, along Baxter Road was severely compromised in an area close to the public road. Town officials are working on developing alternate access proposals as at least a section of the road could become impassable in the foreseeable future. These options are scheduled to be presented to the Board on April 24th. Easy Street sidewalk – winter storm damage Town Manager Website Earlier this year, we introduced a Town Manager website on which you can find information including: Recently Asked Questions (“RAQs”), Town Government 101, Current Projects. Click here to check it out. Feedback on content is appreciated! Years of Service Acknowledgement At the end of February, I visited Our Island Home to distribute Years of Service pins to the employees who did not make it to the Selectmen’s presentation of pins in December. OIH employees receiving pins were: Keren Rowe Thomas, Jessica Mason-Wilson, Denise McCarthy Ricketts, Hopie Robinson, Lisa Toney, Henrick Wallace, Debra Bechtold, and Patricia Dargie. Jessica Mason-Wilson, Me, and Debra Bechtold Projects Downtown Sewer Rehabilitation Project (Phase II-B) This project (click here for a map of the streets that will be affected and additional information about the project) began at the end of January and has continued diligently through March and into April, although there have been a number of schedule changes due to weather conditions (no ferry service to deliver materials, snow on the ground, flooding and utility conflicts not anticipated based on record drawings and Dig-Safe markings). We have identified a major source of salt water intrusion to the collection system that will be added as a repair to this project. This area was not identified previously during infiltration /inflow studies. Construction is currently occurring on Hussey Street, Main Street, Centre Street, Quince Street, Fair Street, North Water Street, and Whaler’s Lane. Broad Street construction has been postponed until the second construction season starting in October 2013. Construction will be suspended for the Nantucket Daffodil Festival weekend April 26th to April 28th. Then construction will resume on April 29th with seasonal suspension from May 15th to October 14th. The scheduled completion date is still December 2014. Perry Butler of the DPW Sewer Crew explaining the sewer work taking place on East Chestnut Street Hummock Pond Road Bike Path Final smoothing, paving, landscaping here and there and signage will be occurring along the path during the spring. A ribbon-cutting with a special cook-out is being planned for Saturday, June 15 – stay tuned for more details about this… Millie’s and Massasoit Bridges Over the past few years, both bridges have been identified by Massachusetts Highway Department as being in need of repair. Appropriations were approved at the 2011 and 2012 annual town meetings, and the necessary work was completed in March. Teen Center Following discussions which began last spring, the School Superintendent gave a presentation on March 13. The general concept is that the Nantucket Community School offices along with the Early Childhood Center will move to the Teen Center building in phases over the next 18 months, beginning this spring. This move will free up much needed space for educational purposes at the Middle School and High School. Funding was approved at the 2013 Annual Town Meeting for renovations to the Teen Center to improve the space for these purposes, as well as space to be dedicated for teens. Development of teen involvement and programming has already begun. Announcements Suspension of Hard-to-Handle-Waste Fees at Landfill In March, the Board of Selectmen voted to suspend these fees until October 1 at which time the Board will evaluate the impact of the fee suspension and determine whether or not to eliminate the fees altogether. These are fees for items such as: furniture, mattresses, appliances, computers, TVs. We have found that such items are ending up in conservation and other areas where they absolutely should not be. The irresponsibility of people is astounding with regard to illegal dumping -- and littering for that matter. Recently, we received a detailed complaint about trash in the mid-island area. Commercial businesses in that area should take on a much more concerted effort to clean up in and around their properties on a regular basis. The Nantucket Clean Team will start up for the season later this month. We are fortunate to have a solid group of dedicated volunteers to help keep our island clean. The Clean Team can always use volunteers – check out the link. A minor example of illegal dumping found by the Nantucket Conservation Foundation on April 4, 2013 Grant Award - Airport Nantucket Memorial Airport has been chosen by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division to establish the first carbon neutral airport in the United States. The designation pairs ACK with the Mass DOT Aeronautics Division Carbon Neutral Airport Program, which is in turn supported by the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center. The resulting Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) provides technical assistance for a comprehensive energy audit, design and construction of an appropriate project, and a guarantee that energy improvements will generate cost savings sufficient to pay for the project over the term of the contract. Net carbon neutrality for ACK will be achieved through a combination of energy conservation initiatives, renewable energy generation projects, and carbon reduction measures. The proposal was submitted by a cooperative team of Airport and Town Energy Office staff, and represents an opportunity for the Island to showcase its commitment to sustainable transportation. Community News "Forgotten Patriots Who Supported the American Struggle for Independence" was this year's topic for the Daughters of the American Revolution nation- wide essay contest. Anna Leary (daughter of Nantucket Regional Transit Authority Administrator Paula Leary) was the Nantucket Elementary School 5th grade winner with her essay about Haym Solomon, a Jewish financier of the American Revolution. Her essay was also selected as the state winner. Anna was recognized at an awards luncheon in Cambridge, MA on February 18th. Congratulations, Anna! Anna Leary reading her award-winning essay at the ceremony in Cambridge Autism “Light it Up Blue” Day Tuesday, April 2nd was designated “Light it Up Blue Day” on Nantucket by the Board of Selectmen at its March 27th meeting, along with a Proclamation voted by the Board, to promote autism awareness. 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, Phil Stambaugh, a member of the Capital Program Committee agreed to be interviewed: Q: How long have you lived on Nantucket? A: Year-round eleven years. Vacationing here for 29 years before that. Q: Where are you from? A: Grew up in Olathe, Kansas, outside Kansas City. Dad was air controller at Olathe Naval Air Station, owner of our family meat market, and meat cutter at A&P. Olathe was the size of Nantucket’s year round population. Oldest of seven…5 girls and 2 boys. Q: What is your job? A: VP Regional Relationship Manager, Cape Cod Five Bank. Q: How long have you served on the Capital Program Committee? A: Three years. Q. Have you served on any other Town boards or committees besides that one? A: No. Q: What interests you about serving the Town makes you want to be involved? A: Being involved and helping out. Q: What is the most rewarding part about serving? A: Attempting to understand the interrelationships of the various town departments and their funding. Q: What is the most challenging part? A: Prioritizing, for the Finance Committee, Town department capital requests given the limited budget. Q: If you could change one thing about Town government, what would it be? A: Two things: 1. increased communications and coordination among department heads of their capital requirements, and 2. better multi-year capital expenditure planning for fixed asset maintenance and replacement. Q: What is your favorite spot on Nantucket? A: Folger’s Marsh at the Shipwreck Museum; to the North: the marsh, harbor, U Mass, Pocomo Point, and Great Point Light; to the South: the marsh and Shawkemo ridge of the middle moorlands. Beautiful light, constantly changing landscape colors, and seasonal bird wildlife. Phil Stambaugh APRIL TRIVIA QUESTION Name the first whale ship of which Absalom Boston (first African American whale ship captain) was the captain? FEBRUARY TRIVIA QUESTION What was Cliff Road called before it was called Cliff Road? Answer: North Street Correct answers submitted by: Diane O’Neil Linda Roberts Catherine Stover Barbara Gookin (almost) Jim Lentowski Ann Medina As always, ideas for future e-newsletter topics are welcome!