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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-08-20 ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF NONVOTING TAXPAYERS Meeting at 10 A.M., Friday, August 20, 2004, in the High School Conference Room. 1. Present: Howard Blitman, David Brown, Bill Sherman, Jay Strauss, Duncan (Terry) Sutphen, Helene Weld, Joan Wofford, and guest Selectman Michael Glowacki. 2. The acting Chairman Terry Sutphen called the meeting to order at 10:13 a.m. with a quorum present. The minutes of the 8/6/04 meeting were approved. 3. Howard expressed the belief, as a PE, that Earth Tech was likely not the best choice for the CWMP and the Surfside plant design. His views are personal (as are wastewater treatment expert Don Harleman) and not representative of the Land Council. The NLC seeks pure water for the island but has no direct focus on the CWMP. Michael Glowacki responded that the Harleman proposal [communicated by letter of2/20, meeting with two from BaS plus town staff, and at 7/8/04 Civic League forum] of using chemical treatment for lower plant cost was viewed as "11 th hour." Howard questioned whether a potentially significant cost saving might warrant the town's taking a look. [See below for more on this.] 4. Terry offered ACNVT background to Michael Glowacki, noting that the bylaw committee had traditionally nominated to the Town Moderator the non-resident property owner to speak at Town Meeting. Bill Sherman added that such a spokesperson was called for in the Town Charter. Terry also cited, as an example of ACNVT recommendations to the BaS, the proposals for change of the town's ~ bylaw on licensing rental car agencies. These have since been \.0 implemented. ACNVT, he noted, lent its support to the ComPlan. ?- Jay expressed the concern of non-resident taxpayers that they have :: little voice in town affairs despite paying some 87% of the town's ~ residen~!al tax levy. Michael responded that, after joining the BaS, he ,J" became=:aware that the gap between year-round and summer residents P was wider and deeper than he had realized. The BaS must remain responsive to the voters who insist that their interests should be paramount. Terry interjected that the Community Association sought mutual understanding, for example, through its 20/20 Forum. They agreed that careful listening to one another was important. 6. Michael was then asked whether development of the proposed Planning Board Master Plan will entail a very public process, as did the ComPlan. Michael expressed belief that the Planning Board would follow requirements of state law. [M.G.L. c. 41, Sec 81D. Master Plan; Para. (1) provides: "---Each community shall conduct an interactive public process, to determine community values, goal and to identify patterns of development that will be consistent with these goals." If one takes the view that the ComPlan meets that requirement, a master plan could be adopted incorporating the ComPlan and adding 3 or 4 exhibits, namely: (1) an updated Town Open Space and Recreation Plan, (2) a Town Land Inventory, (3) the town's official zoning map, and likely (4) the town's schedule of its infrastructure needs with anticipated costs and revenues. ] 7. After extended discussion, Howard spoke of his interest as a professional engineer and off-island general contractor (also with the Scarsdale Planning Board) to find a role helpful to the town. As a specific, he noted ACNVT concerns that the state's estuary study report may be delayed, so the standards it might set are not available in addressing septic system problems in the harbor watersheds. Terry urged that the town identify the 20% of systems that are causing some 80% of the problem and move to get them fixed as a priority over eventual inspection of other systems. Providing homeowners with a list of qualified septic inspectors was also commended. Howard noted that current state law empowers all PEs to inspect but economics limits the interest of some, e.g., for surveyors. Perhaps others could help if a shortage exists. A particular concern, Howard noted, was that a critical level (perhaps 50%) of water taken from the island's aquifer be returned as recharge. That means that no excess of wastewater gallonage should be treated at the sewer plant to the extent non- polluting septic system treatment is possible. Effluent from a plant goes to the ocean while that from septic systems returns to the aquifer. 8. Responding to Terry's question about the RKG report funded by NCA, Michael said that the BOS had not rejected it but did not think it had sufficient priority to be taken up by town department heads. He thought the BOS should not give advance endorsement to a proposed privately funded study. He also commented that the NP&EDC and its Planning Department were not a part of town government - only turning to Town Meeting for funding. 9. Bill Sherman suggested that non-resident taxpayers were open to a higher tax rate provided the money was spent well and efficiently, that the town now lacked the resources to properly address urgent problems. 10. Terry Sutphen, representing the Nantucket Community Association in the Community Coalition, and Bill Sherman for ACNVT reported on three initiatives. . Terry reported hearing that the BOS is expecting an $80,000 grant to go forward with harbor management, perhaps a Harbor District Plan. . The Coalition has also urged town implementation of the recommendations made by the Septic System Regulatory Workgroup to the BOS. With no BOS response [but see Town Administrator letter of 8/20/04 sent to ACNVT via Coalition], follow through by Health Officer Richard Ray is sought. . Howard commented that the Airport Commission plans to shift general aviation planes and jets to the east side of the airfield, perhaps with a new GA building. For the main terminal expansion, assurance is sought that limits set by the 2002 Town Meeting will be respected. While enlargement for security and back office space is necessary, probably also for public accommodations, the lineal extent of ticket counter space should not be increased to accommodate more air carriers. 11. Terry and Howard spoke further of the proposal ofMIT wastewater treatment expert Don Harleman for use of chemical treatment at the upgraded Surfside plant sharply to cut total plant cost. Prof. Harleman is drafting a letter to the BOS. [Both he and Howard know other U.S. experts who concur in the utility of chemical treatment. Howard and Bill may draft an ACNVT letter to the BOS expressing this concern.] 12. Reported appointment ofH. Flint Ranney to represent Nantucket on the S SA was welcomed. 13.A question was raised about allocation of the costs of upgrading the Surfside plant, namely, whether Prop 2~ had an exemption allowing a reallocation of costs from users to the tax levy after an initial allocation to users. 14. The next ACNVT meeting is set for Friday, September 10, 2004, at 10 a.m. in the Town Annex building at 37 Washington Street. 15. Terry Sutphen adjourned the meeting at 11 :42 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Bill Sherman