HomeMy WebLinkAboutTown Managers Newsletter - 2013 05 07
From the Desk of Town
Manager Libby Gibson
MAY 7, 2013 VOLUME 4, NUMBER 4
Town of Nantucket
16 Broad St.
Nantucket, MA 02554
P: (508) 228-7255
F: (508) 228-7272
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2013 Annual Town Election
Two new members to the Board of Selectmen were elected at the April 9,
2013 annual town election: Tobias Glidden and Matt Fee. The Board thanked
Patty Roggeveen for her two terms of service at its meeting on April 10th.
Town Administration News and Updates
2012 Water Quality Monitoring Report
An informational session was held on April 30, 2013 to summarize and
present the results of the 2012 Town-wide water quality monitoring and
assessment of Nantucket’s estuaries and salt ponds. This is the program used
to determine the ecological health of our estuaries and salt ponds, provides
the foundation for proper nutrient and resource management, and also
provides a means for compliance with the Massachusetts Department of
Environmental Protection (MassDEP) - issued Total Maximum Daily Loads
(TMDLs). A TMDL is a regulatory term defined in the United States Clean
Water Act describing a value of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a
body of water can receive while still meeting water quality standards.
Additionally, we heard from the staff of Natural Resources, who oversee and
perform the actual sampling in the Town’s water quality monitoring program.
There was also a presentation from Dr. Brian Howes of the University of
Massachusetts/Dartmouth, School of Marine Science and Technology
(SMAST), our contractor for the testing, analysis, and reporting of samples
taken. The water bodies included in the testing program are: Nantucket
Harbor, Polpis Harbor, Madaket Harbor, Long Pond, Sesachacha Pond,
Miacomet Pond and Hummock Pond. The data derived from continual, regular
monitoring and analysis of these water bodies will allow the Town to gauge
the effect(s) of the various actions which have been taken, or might be
contemplated, to reduce nitrogen-loading and other man-made and
environmental impacts. The results from 2012 were not significantly different
from the 2010 results (which is the last full year in which testing occurred)
except for Long Pond in which there were some notable reductions in the
established threshold levels of nutrients. The 2012 data continues to confirm
that Sesachacha Pond is well on its way to full restoration, which is a major
milestone for the Town. If 2013 continues along this trend, the Town will
petition the state to remove Sesachacha Pond from the state’s list of impaired
waterways. This is one of the first such success stories in the Massachusetts
Estuaries Program (MEP).
The Town of Nantucket is well ahead of its coastal counterparts on Cape Cod
and in southeastern Massachusetts with its Comprehensive Wastewater
Management Planning and working towards implementing solutions that will
meet the state-mandated TMDLs. This is most evident in Sesachacha Pond,
which is at or below the TMDL levels established as a result of improved pond
management, as well as in the Town Basin of Nantucket Harbor where the
decades of sewering are showing improved conditions that are close to
meeting established TMDLs in this location. The Town is currently working
towards solutions for all of Nantucket Harbor, Polpis Harbor, Madaket Harbor
and Long Pond where the full MEP reports are completed and TMDLs, both
draft and final, have been issued. Also on the horizon is Hummock Pond,
which has an on-going MEP study in progress.
Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Update
At its April 24, 2013 meeting, the Board received a quarterly report from
Woodard & Curran (our wastewater consultants) and Department of Public
Works Director Kara Buzanoski as to the status of the CWMP Update. As you
can see, there are a number of components to the Update, all of which are
being actively managed; and, also, discussed regularly by the Board’s Sewer
Planning Work Group.
See-Click-Fix
This app for smart phones (Android and iPhone) can be used to photograph
various problems or issues, such as potholes, broken or faded signs, illegal
dumping, and other mostly public works-related matters and send them to
the DPW to determine when and if action needs to be taken. The app is
proving to be very popular and the DPW is doing a good job keeping up with
the submittals.
Paul Berard of the DPW attending to a “See-Click-Fix” submitted on South
Water Street
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 April. Construction will be suspended
for the summer season from May 15th to October 14th. The scheduled
completion date remains December 2014.
Hummock Pond Road Bike Path
Final smoothing, paving, landscaping here and there, signage and fencing is
nearly complete along the path. A ribbon-cutting with a special cook-out,
guest speakers, music and the presentation of a “Big Check” is scheduled for
Saturday, June 15th at the corner of Bartlett Farm Road and Hummock Pond
Road. The path is already heavily used and is a tremendous addition to the
Town’s bike path system.
Looking west at Bartlett Farm Road and Hummock Pond Road
Looking west along Hummock Pond Road at the start of the path
Jetties Reconstruction
The Board had an update about an effort to secure federal funding to repair
the Jetties at its April 10, 2013 meeting. With the help of our federal
legislative delegation, Emergency Management Coordinator Dave Fronzuto
and Rosemary Blacquier of Woodard & Curran, this needed project is in the
queue for federal funding for the necessary engineering and design and,
construction. When complete, the repairs are expected to have positive
effects on water quality and navigation issues.
Community News
Our Island Home
On Friday, April 26, 2013, Our Island Home held its annual memorial service
honoring those OIH residents and staff who passed away during the year. It
is a touching ceremony and ended this year with a rousing rendition of “When
the Saints Go Marching In”.
Steamship Authority/Hyannis Harbor
At the Board of Selectmen’s meeting of May 1, 2013, we had the Nantucket
representative to the Steamship Authority provide an update regarding
Hyannis Harbor dredging. During particularly low tides there have been
delays and boat cancellations due to the boat not being able to travel in or
out of Hyannis Harbor because of severe shoaling that occurred over the
winter. Vice-chairman Bob DeCosta and I participated in a conference call
earlier on May 1st with Congressman Keating, Representative Madden, SSA
and Hy-line officials regarding the dredging schedule. As we learned, it is not
a simple matter due to permitting, environmental windows, weather, and
Coast Guard regulations among other issues. The hope is that the necessary
dredging will occur sometime in June. Meanwhile, if you are planning to travel
on the SSA “slow boat”, take the time to check the SSA home page (link
above) for the regular updates provided by the SSA. The Harbor issue has
not affected the fast ferries.
Arson Watch Poster Contest Winners/Nantucket County
At its meeting on May 1, 2013, the Board of Selectmen recognized 6th
graders Sawyer Phillips and Julia Fiske for being named Nantucket County
winners of the annual statewide Arson Watch Reward Program Poster
Contest, sponsored by the Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting
Association. The posters will be entered into a statewide contest and could be
featured in the State Fire Marshal’s Annual Report and a Fire Safety calendar.
Sawyer Phillips, Fire Prevention Officer Elizabeth Shannon, and Julia Fiske
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, Howard Blitman, Chairman of the Town’s Non-Voting Taxpayers
Advisory Committee agreed to be interviewed. Howard’s responses were very
direct and completely unembellished….
Q: How long have you been a seasonal Nantucket resident?
A: 38 years
Q: Where are you from?
A: Scarsdale, New York
Q: What is your job?
A: Professional Engineer
Q: How long have you served on the Non-voting Taxpayers Advisory
Committee?
A: 5 years
Q: Have you served on any other Town boards or committees besides that
one?
A: No, but I serve on the Nantucket Land Council and Maria Mitchell
Association
Q: What interests you about serving the Town and makes you want to be
involved?
A: I am a good citizen
Q: What is the most rewarding part about serving?
A: Helping people
Q: What is the most challenging part?
A: Get a better town government
Q: If you could change one thing about Town government, what would it be?
A: Politics
Q: What is your favorite spot on Nantucket?
A: Squam
Thank you Howard, for your honesty and brevity! And your willingness to
serve the Town.
Howard Blitman
MAY TRIVIA QUESTION
Nantucket Memorial Airport is the second busiest airport in:
a) New England
b) Massachusetts
c) Cape Cod & Islands
APRIL TRIVIA QUESTION
Name the first whale ship of which Absalom Boston (first African American
whale ship captain) was the captain?
Answer: The Industry
Correct answers submitted by:
Jim Lentowski (who also provided an excerpt from an 1822 Nantucket
newspaper about Captain Boston)
Diane O’Neil
Catherine Stover
Jeff Carlson
Barbara Gookin
Ann Medina
As always, ideas for future e-newsletter topics are welcome!