HomeMy WebLinkAboutRight-of-Way Minutes - July 19, 2011 (Draft)_201402041507104017
TOWN AND COUNTY OF NANTUCKET ROADS AND RIGHT OF WAY COMMITTEE
DRAFT MINUTES
July 19, 2011
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Allen Reinhard called the monthly meeting to order at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, July 19 in
the Conference Room of the Town Building at 2 Fairgrounds Road. In addition to Mr. Reinhard,
the following Committee members were present: D. Anne Atherton, Sylvie O’Donnell, Bert
Ryder, Lee Saperstein, John Stackpole and Harvey Young. Also in attendance was Joe
Marcklinger, a member of the public.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The motion to approve the draft Minutes of June 21 was made by Mr. Stackpole and seconded
by Mr. Ryder. The motion was adopted unanimously.
ANNUAL REORGANIZATION MATTERS
Chairman Reinhard welcomed Mr. Ryder to the Committee, as well as reappointed members,
Messers Nat Lowell and Saperstein.
Election of Officers: Mr. Stackpole moved that the Committee continue with the same officers
and nominated the followed slate:
Chairman, Allen Reinhard
Vice Chairman, Harvey Young
Secretary/Treasurer, D. Anne Atherton
The motion was seconded and adopted by acclamation.
Vision and Mission Statements: Mr. Saperstein moved that the current Vision and Mission
Statements, recently reviewed, modified and adopted by the Committee, be adopted once
again. The motion was seconded by Mr. Stackpole. It was reiterated during discussion of the
motion that public access is a GIFT, and Mr. Reinhard commented that this was especially
apparent in viewing historical aerial photographs of the island, available online, which clearly
depict the amount of development that has taken place, as well as the vast acreage that has
remained open and accessible by the public. The motion was adopted unanimously.
ROW VISION STATEMENT
The vision of the Roads and Right of Way Committee is to preserve access to Nantucket's public and
private lands, including our harbors, coastline, ponds, moors, conservation lands and historical sites.
Access is one of the greatest gifts the Town of Nantucket can protect for our current and future citizens.
DRAFT ROW Committee Minutes, 7.19.11 2
ROW MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission as the Nantucket Roads and Right of Way Committee is to review any issues concerning the
status of access over public and private roads, rights of way, abutters ways, proprietors roads, footpaths,
and any other ways throughout Nantucket Town and County and to make recommendations to the
Board of Selectmen/County Commissioners to ensure and improve public access over them.
PRIORITIES FOR COMING YEAR
Extensive discussion ensued in regard to priorities for the coming year. Suggestions included
the following, but no final decisions were made:
· access down First Way, as a matter of public safety
· sidewalk on Prospect Street, also as a matter of public safety; “something needs to be
done;” perhaps the Committee should make a recommendation to the BOS; the need for
a sidewalk and bike path are linked
· footpath and bike path on Washington Street/Orange Street Extension; the duck pond
needs to be dredged; there used to be a “nice” path here; the suggestion was made that
this could be a project for CPC funds; ACTION Mr. Reinhard will follow up with Ken
Beaugrand of the CPC Committee and Transportation Planner, Mike Burns
· restore the old railroad bed as a foot path; this would involve open space AND historic
preservation, a suggestion made by Mr. Saperstein
· publication of “History of Roads and Rights of Way of Nantucket;” this also could be a
CPC grant request; only a modest amount would be needed (under $5000)
SURFSIDE AREA ROAD TAKINGS: UPDATE
The ballot question on this matter was defeated by 34 votes on June 14. The property owners in
the Pochick-Clifford area, where “giant puddle” is, collected funds for road-repair work, with
the Surfside Association also contributing. About $60,000 has been raised to make some
improvements which have been “nicely done,” according to Mr. Reinhard and included some
drainage work.
SCONSET FOOT PATH MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chairman Reinhard gave an update to the BOS update on July 6. He outlined the progress made
to date: the Sconset Civic Association is working on signage; we had met with DPW re path
maintenance; path has been trimmed and mowed about three or four weeks ago; John Smith
has been very helpful. The Committee will ask Sconset Civic Association to report back to us
about signage. The BOS has accepted a pedestrian easement at #67 Baxter. Therefore this pubic
access/egress spot is in need of a sign. ACTION Ms. Atherton will send a communication to
Ms. Marianne Felch, the President of the Sconset Civic Association, informing her of this matter.
DRAFT ROW Committee Minutes, 7.19.11 3
PUBLIC WAY MONUMENT INSTALLATION: PHASE II
Mr. Saperstein reported that, thanks to Messers Reinhard, Neil Paterson, Joe Marcklinger, Frank
Holdgate and Dave Visco, the second phase of the Public Way Monument Installation Project
has been completed.
Mention was made that North Beach Road changes names where it hits Bathing Beach road and
turns into Jefferson. This spot is another candidate for marker. Apparently this area is NOT
wide enough for a map and parcel number: In order to determine if it is a public way, the deed
will have to be pulled. ACTION Mr. Marcklinger volunteered to search the deed. Access in
this area would be much easier than going up Cobblestone and down the steps at Steps Beach.
NEW BUSINESSES, AND POSSIBLE UPDATE OF ITEMS ON ATTACHED PROJECTS AND
ISSUES LIST
Points made during the discussion included:
· CPC funding: the Committee has a full $50,000 as of July 1; we need to direct how it should be
used; a question was raised about the $100,000 of CPC monies previously appropriated for
“public access” and how it has been spent
· Ms. Atherton suggested that a comprehensive inventory should be developed of possible access
point that the Committee should be paying attention to; “we need to know what we don’t know;”
apparently this is difficult to do; we rely on surveyors, and others; Mr. Marcklinger will ask his
surveyor colleagues about how the Committee could go about compiling such a list
· is there a role for Ms. Bissinger-Poor, a title researcher, here? perhaps she could do some research
for us; the point was made that the Land Bank has taken this on, as part of redoing their map; the
current one dates back to 2007; the map will identify north-south and east-west trails and the
paths that lead to them
· encroachments: Mr. Marcklinger suggested that encroachments could be handled by regulation,
as part of the “sign off” when the property changes hands; right now nothing seems to be
remedied by the sending of letters; tie a finding of the absence of encroachments into the building
permit; the property has to be “encroachment free;” this led to a discussion of **encroachments on
pedestrian walkways,** and the Committee agreed to add this to the priorities list; an inventory of
such encroachments, especially in the downtown area should be done
ADJOURNMENT
Having reached the end of the agenda, the Chairman adjourned the meeting at 5:36 PM. The
next regular monthly meeting of the Committee is scheduled for 4:00 PM on Tuesday, August 16
at 2 Fairgrounds Road.
Respectfully submitted,
D. Anne R. Atherton
Secretary
8.14.11