HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-06-30
ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF NONVOTING TAXPAYERS
Minutes of meeting at 9:30 A.M., SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 2006, in the
Town Annex Building Meeting Room. <6.
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1. Present: Lou Bassano, Howard Blitman, David Brown, R~r Erns~
Bill Sherman, Duncan (Terry) Sutphen, and Jim Treanor _.~;quorurrr
2. Chair Howard Blitman called the meeting to order at 9:38 ~l}1. ~
Minutes of the 8/27/05 and 9/10/05 meetings were approved. ~
3. a. Howard Blitman expressed his belief that Selectmen Whitey
Willauer, Michael Glowacki and Michael Kopko might each be
willing to come to a future ACNVT meeting. The Sewer Advisory
Committed formed upon Michael Kopko's initiative is to have at-
large members. Howard has volunteered to serve. Its mission should
be spelled out early on.
b. Terry urges ACNVT to focus upon pushing the Town to complete
septic system inspections in Zone A of the Nantucket Harbor
Watershed. Only 1/3 have been inspected out of ~ 100. The Health
Department has not provided a list of those inspected, or not. Some 13
-15 inspectors are listed on the Dept. website and, as Howard noted,
any Massachusetts P.E. could inspect. ACNVT could add its voice to
those of other NGOs to get inspections done and failed systems
upgraded. Inspections by unlicensed Town employees are
counterproductive.
c. Interest was also expressed in getting a report, e.g., from Chair
Allen Reinhard, toward September on progress of the Town
Government Study Committee. Other possible speakers include
representatives of the Planning Bard and of the Planning Commission.
d. Bill Sherman urged a focus on traffic congestion issues [perhaps if
and when the BaS sets up a transportation advisory committee].
e. Another proposal was a close look at the Town's long-term [5-, and
eventually 10-year] capital planning. ACNVT might end the summer
with a position paper urging efficient, well-planned Town spending to
assure infrastructure and other problem areas are effectively
addressed.; at the same time, alternative (e.g., user) funding sources
need to be developed so that necessary RE property tax increases are
kept from rising at a rate too harsh for those with limited resources.
Strength of residential property values is strongly linked to sound
management of the island and solving its problems.
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f. Another possible focus could be encouraging the BaS to establish a
performance audit of Town departments and committees, starting
where need is most evident and when funding allows.
4. After discussion, motion was made, seconded, and duly passed to
elect the current ACNVT officers to serve again in FY07.
Accordingly, our Chair is Howard Blitman, Vice Chair Terry Sutphen,
and Secretary Bill Sherman.
5. Terry noted that the Community Coalition, in which ACNVT
participates with 8 NGOs, is currently inactive while participants
monitor work underway on the MGL ch. 41, s. 81 D Master Plan and
on the updated Harbor Plan. [The Master Plan is a project of the
Planning Board headed by Chair Don Visco. See
http://www.ackmasterplan.org/ Barry Rector, also on the Planning
Board, is head of the Planning Commission (NP&EDC). The Harbor
Plan update is headed by Harbormaster Dave Fronzuto. See
www.nantucketharborplan.com/)
6. a. Our next ACNVT meeting is set for Saturday, July 15t\ at 9:30 a.m.
in the Town Annex building.
b. Interest was expressed in increasing the active membership of
ACNVT. Suggested potential new members were Peggy Godwin,
Pam Lohmann and Nancy Soderberg. Perhaps letters soliciting
interest could be sent to the I&M, the Independent and to NCL and
NCA. Ellen Roman and Helene Weld have left ACNVT.
7. Our meeting was adjourned at 10:50 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Sherman