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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 Contact Us! Town of Nantucket Website Newsletter Archives Subscribe to the Newsletter 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!