HomeMy WebLinkAboutTown Managers Newsletter - 2013 06 28
From the Desk of Town
Manager Libby Gibson
JUNE 28, 2013 VOLUME 4, NUMBER 5
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 June 19, 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: 2013 Annual Town Meeting follow-up, including the development
of a “plain English” guide to the Town Meeting warrant, for the 2014 Annual
Town Meeting; preliminary work on the FY 15 General Fund budget, including
discussions with the Finance Committee about improvement of forms and
information; meetings with our new Auditor and the development of a Fraud
Policy for the Board of Selectmen’s upcoming review; several real estate
items, including the sale of 58A Orange Street (former DPW garage) and the
preparation of a Request for Proposals for “the Mooney Building” at 22
Federal Street; work on long-term municipal space needs and facilities
maintenance plans; getting the necessary items in place (ie, insurance,
improvements, agreements) to get the National Grid Candle Street lot ready
for valet parking for this summer; numerous personnel items including
preparing for upcoming collective bargaining negotiations with several unions
for contracts that will expire on June 30, 2014; organizing an analysis of the
landfill mining program for the Board’s consideration as to continuation of the
program; entertainment and liquor licenses issues; discussions with the HDC
regarding bike racks, benches and trash barrels.
Fourth of July
This year, Nantucket Visitor Services is organizing the Fourth of July Town-
sponsored events. They are doing a great job, along with the help of
numerous volunteers. It is going to be a great Fourth! (Pray for good weather
so we don’t have to rain date the fireworks…)
Visitor Services is also organizing and coordinating summer activities at
Children’s Beach. A lot of the same popular events and activities are
continuing, along with some new ones.
Projects
Hummock Pond Road Bike Path
A terrific and very well-attended ribbon-cutting ceremony with a cook-out,
guest speakers, music, a bike safety clinic and the presentation of a “Big
Check” in the amount of $620,718.31 occurred on Saturday, June 15th at
noon. The “Big Check” was comprised of an anonymous private donation of
$500,000 and the remainder was raised by and through the Friends of the
Hummock Pond Road Bike Path to help pay for the path which cost
approximately $3.2 million. We are extremely grateful for the efforts and
contributions of the private donor, the Friends, the Town staff and officials,
the taxpayers, the contractor, and adjacent property owners - all of whom
brought this path to fruition. The path is already heavily used and is a
tremendous addition to the Town’s bike path system.
Alex Gibson cuts the Hummock Pond Road bike path “grand opening” ribbon.
Formerly-used Defense Site (FUDS)
At its June 19, 2013 meeting, the Board was provided a presentation on this
Army Corps of Engineers multi-year project which involves the identification
and removal of unexploded demolitions at the site known as “Nantucket
Beach”, which basically covers the area of Tom Nevers. This area was used as
a training site for military operations during World War II. The project is
expected to be completed sometime in the next two or so years.
Mosquito Control
At the 2011 Annual Town Meeting $100,000 was authorized to create a
Nantucket Mosquito Control Program under Mass General Law Chapter 252
called Improvement of Low Lands and Swamps. Some progress was made in
2012 as the funding became available and more progress is expected this
year. The Mosquito Control Program will follow an Integrated Pest
Management plan. All pest management decisions will be made after
conducting surveillance and determining that mosquito populations have
reached an action threshold. The integrated plan will combine multiple pest
control measures in an environmentally responsible manner and may include
surveillance, source reduction, ditch maintenance, water management,
application of larvicide and pupacide and education. Larvicides to be used are
"essentially nontoxic" according to the EPA, and will not harm humans,
animals, birds, other insects, fish, shellfish, plants or the environment. Unless
there is a serious public health threat, pesticides and aerial and truck
spraying will not be employed. Private property owners will be permitted to
opt out of testing and treatment. Additional information is available on the
Town’s website.
Fertilizer Regulations
Board of Health regulations pertaining to fertilizer use became effective on
January 1, 2013. An informational brochure for homeowner and commercial
landscapers was developed this spring by the Nantucket Land Council.
Adherence to the regulations is expected to help address water quality issues
by reducing the amount of nitrogen run-off into water bodies, including the
harbor, ponds and other estuaries.
Transportation Improvement Program
Annually, the Board of Selectmen is presented with the “TIP” for review and
endorsement (or modification) in accordance with state requirements for
state funding, and planning purposes. Transportation Planner Mike Burns
presented the multi-year program, which primarily involves bicycle paths, at
the Board meeting on June 19, 2013. These projects are likely to emerge for
future voter consideration in the next few years.
Community News
Veterans’ Agent
The Veterans’ Agent, Mr. Arnold Paterson, is expected to move his office from
the Saltmarsh Senior Center to the new VFW Building on Bunker (New South)
Road by July 1, 2013.
2013 Senior Citizens of the Year
On June 27, 2013 at a luncheon held at the Faregrounds Restaurant and
sponsored by the Nantucket Center for Elder Affairs, two individuals were
honored with the designation of “Senior Citizen of the Year”: Francis Pease
and Sara Johnsen. They were presented with certificates from the Town of
Nantucket by Rick Atherton, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen;
additionally, Rick presented them with Proclamations from the State
Legislature, which were procured by our State Representative Timothy R.
Madden who could not attend the luncheon.
Rick Atherton, presenting the Proclamations
Human Services staff (l-r): Ann Medina, Pamela Meriam, Ginny Carrera,
Laura Stewart
The July Council on Aging newsletter is just out, click here to see it!
Recognitions
Visitor Services Advisory Committee
Long-time Visitor Services Advisory Committee member Charles Balas, who
stepped down this year after 20 years of service, was honored at a
Committee meeting held on June 13, 2013. Chairman of the Board of
Selectmen Rick Atherton and Board member Bruce Miller both attended the
meeting and added their appreciation and thanks to Charles for his service.
Thank you Charles!
Me, Charles Balas, and Rick Atherton
Town Arborist
You may be seeing our Town Arborist Dale Gary and his assistant Scott
Williams around Town lately treating the American Elm trees against Dutch
Elm disease. Dale is happy to explain the treatment program, is extremely
proud of the Town’s trees and does a terrific job taking care of them.
According to Dale, Nantucket has the largest, healthiest population of
American Elms (which also happen to be the state tree) in the Northeast.
Thank you Dale!
Dale, explaining the treatment program to some visitors
Community Service Officers
The 2013 “class” of seasonal Community Service Officers (CSOs) was
presented to the Board at its June 5, 2013 meeting. This year we have 25
CSOs and 7 Reserve Officers. These officers will be deployed to the downtown
area, island beaches, Sconset and the bike paths throughout the island. Their
mission is to monitor and assist with the flow of traffic and pedestrians,
enforce the parking regulations and be alert to suspicious or unusual behavior
as well as assist with special event management. They are representatives of
the Town in their interactions with our year-round residents, summer
residents and visitors. The training these officers receive is built around the
Customer Service Principles adopted by the Board earlier this year. They
have received training on enforcement of applicable Town bylaws and parking
regulations as well as first aid/CPR, traffic control and special event and
crowd control. They received special instruction provided by Strategies for
Youth, a Cambridge, MA organization that specializes in working to improve
the relationship between police officers and youths.
CSOs being presented to the Board of Selectmen
Board of Selectmen Activities
The May monthly Cape Cod & Islands Selectmen and Councilors’ Association
meeting was held in Nantucket on May 11 at the Brotherhood. The meeting
was well attended and the speakers were our own Assessor Deborah Dilworth
and Selectman Matt Fee discussing tax rates and residential exemption. The
presentation was very well-received and produced extensive discussion.
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 Bill Connell, of the Clean Team, a special volunteer
who actually is not a “traditional” Town volunteer but whose dedication,
commitment and motivation is instrumental in the ever-continuing quest to
keeping our island clean.
Q: How long have you lived on Nantucket?
A: This is my 48th summer, and I have been a property owner since 1989.
Q: Where are you from?
A: Born in Brooklyn, New York, I now live here, on the West Coast and in
Connecticut.
Q: What is your job?
A: I am an attorney representing international banks.
Q How long have you served on the Clean Team?
A: Along with Sarah Oktay and Grant Sanders, we founded The Clean Team
11 years ago.
Q. Have you served on any local groups?
A: My only service has been the board of the Nantucket Conservation
Foundation.
Q: What interests you about serving the Town makes you want to be
involved?
A: I recognize the historic significance of Nantucket and its fragile beauty. I
am happy to do anything at all to make it a better place for all who live here
and for all who wish to visit.
Q: What is the most rewarding part about serving?
A: My most direct service is in clearing beaches and roadsides of litter. After
walking a mile along a road or a beach and knowing that you are personally
responsible for clearing a bag or two of trash, one has a feeling of personal
satisfaction and of service to both the Island and to those who will soon come
to enjoy it.
Q: What is the most challenging part?
A: The most challenging part is returning to the same beach or roadside
even an hour or two later and seeing more debris. It takes a certain sense of
perspective not to become discouraged.
Q: If you could change one thing about Town government, what would it be?
A: I am not closely involved with Town government. My only information
comes from the newspaper. But I would like to see all members of Town
government lighten up and have a sense of humor. Yes, certain issues can
divide us, but we must remain civil and respectful at all times.
Q: What is your favorite spot on Nantucket?
A: Any one of the Conservation Foundation’s properties. I particularly enjoy
walking in the Middle Moors.
Bill Connell of the Clean Team
JUNE TRIVIA QUESTION
In what year did the LORAN station in Sconset start transmitting navigation
signals?
MAY TRIVIA QUESTION
Nantucket Memorial Airport is the second busiest airport in:
a) New England
b) Massachusetts
c) Cape Cod & Islands
Answer: b
Correct answers submitted by:
Erika Mooney
Barbara Gookin
Jim Lentowski who also provided this:
8th busiest in New England – behind (in order) Boston, Hartford, Providence,
Manchester, Portland, Burlington, and Bangor.
Charley Walters
Anne Medina
Diane O’Neil
Penny Snow (let her have it after all)
As always, ideas for future e-newsletter topics are welcome!