HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-07-15
ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF NONVOTING TAXPAYERS
Minutes of meeting at 9:30 A.M., SATURDAY, JULY 15,2006, in the
Town Annex Building Meeting Room.
1. Present: Howard Blitman, Roger Ernst, Bob Strauss, Bill Sherman,
Jay Shapiro, Duncan (Terry) Sutphen, and Jim Treanor - a quorum.
2. Chair Howard Blitman called the meeting to order at 9:33 a.m.
Minutes of the 6/30/06 meeting were approved.
3. Among issues to focus on, Jay spoke of parking, e.g., the se of pay-
and-display systems in the core district to assure availability of
parking. That would reduce core district congestion by autos milliUk
around in search of open spaces. Questions include use ~~e in-tqwn
electric company property and in-town bike paths. If Sta~ fegislatRm
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allowed, town issuance of vehicle permits might help. Tr?nsportatitm
Planner T. Michael Bums is to be asked to meet with us.r~_:! -0
4. Bill Sherman noted interest expressed by BaS Chair whitey Will@er
in addressing transportation issues. Bill will distribute to ACNVl
members a draft of BaS FY07 goals, including #4.D on automobile
limitations.
5. Members also expressed interest in having a say as the Town
Government Study Committee formulates its recommendations. E.g.,
are Town departments and committees subject to performance
evaluation? Is tighter review of proposed new facilities needed? Allen
Reinhard, Chair of the TGSC, is to be invited to give us an update.
6. Howard Blitman reported that bids for construction of the Surfside
Wastewater Treatment Plant had come in over budget, as expert Don
Harlemann had predicted. Terry Sutphen spoke of a planned meeting
with Health Officer Richard Ray to discuss implementation of septic
system inspections in the Nantucket Harbor Watershed District. To be
determined, if possible, is what deadline applies under the 2004 septic
regulations and what is the current level of enforcement. Are systems
inspected by licensed professionals at the time of ownership turnover,
as State Title V mandates? Given availability of off-island
Massachusetts professional engineers plus 13 licensed on-island to do
inspections, are comers being cut or delays incurred? In Madaket,
Sarah Oktay with UMass has offered help with testing. Jim Treanor
suggested that residents in a given area could realize lower cost and
increased efficiency by going in together to engage a licensed
inspector. Richard Ray might be asked to address a future ACNVT
meeting.
7. Affordable housing was recognized as a critical issue for the Town.
While the principle of employers taking responsibility for needed
employee housing is admirable, Jim Treanor questioned whether the
newly provided school employee housing would prove a long term
solution. Has the Town qualified for exemption from 40B housing and
its distortions in Nantucket? Bob Shapiro reported on his personal
effort to develop more affordable housing. After 2 years of planning
and 2 of construction under a restrictive special permit, 14 dwelling
units are now up near Amelia Drive. Residents are given notices in 6
languages. Early on, major Nantucket employers showed no interest
in this mid-range housing. $85,000/year income qualifies for the 1,000
SF, two-bedroom, two-bath units with ~$2,000/mo rent. Occupancy is
limited to 4/unit. Unavailability of Town-owned lots limits the
Nantucket Housing Office, also Habitat for Humanity, in providing
affordable housing. Howard with Bob will look into 'assisted' housing
fund grants.
8. Howard noted the work of the Town's Roads and Right of Way
Committee. That committee is seeking public beach access [as is the
Town's One Big Beach program].
9. Another concern, noted by Jay, is maintenance of private roads. In
Tom Nevers, property owners each put $300/lot into a fund sufficient
to maintain their roads -likely much less than cost to the Town of
doing a comparable maintenance program. Doubt was expressed
whether that solution could be replicated elsewhere unless property
owners had a legal obligation to contribute. Terry Sutphen questioned
whether the Planning Board could condition subdivision approval on a
developer's paving a private abutters' way to provide access to the
project. Would such paving open abutting lots to approval-not-
required (ANR) development?
10. Our next ACNVT meeting is set for Saturday, July 29th, at 9:30 a.m.
in the Town's 2 Fairgrounds Road building [formerly, the electric
company offices].
11. Our meeting was adjourned at 10:42 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Sherman