HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-09-12
ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF NONVOTING TAXPAYERS
Meeting at 9 A.M. held Friday, September 12, 2003,
in the Town Annex Building Meeting Room.
1. Present: Lou Bassano, Howard Blitman, David Brown, Trig Cooley,
Roger Ernst, Bill Sherman, Duncan (Terry) Sutphen, Jim Treanor, Joan
Wofford, Helene Weld, and Richard Wolfe.
2. The Chairman called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. with a quorum
present. The minutes of the previous meeting 8/29/03 were approved
as distributed but amended in Para. 5(b) to read "Union," not ~
"Orange. " --i 0_
3. a) Roger Ernst reported that he had sent to the Board ~~Selectmenl
the letter drafted by Jim Trean~r on undergrounding ut~ity wi~.
b) Roger, at the Selectmen meetlng of 9/10, applauded Finn Murp~y's
report on the Board's summer '03 accomplishments publi~ed in ~
I&M and the Independent. Roger expressed dismay that s2:,:much B~d
time went to an HDC appeal and a Traffic Safety Adviso~~ Commi~e
recommendation, also the priority given these items over agend~
matters for which the public was present. Further reported by ROger
was concern about the town's home rule petition for limiting
vehicles. Roger noted the intention of the town's Budget Advisory
Committee to proceed as it did for FY03.
c) Roger is proposing Jay Strauss to speak at the 2004 Annual Town
Meeting next April on concerns of summer residents. Since the ACNVT
will not be meeting before the 2004 ATM, members are urged to
communicate their views on issues raised by articles in the ATM
warrant (the meeting agenda). Bill Sherman offered to distribute a
summary of citizen and other warrant articles [The Town Charter
calls for publication of the warrant promptly after adopted by the
selectmen and again - with Fin Com recommendations - at least 7 days
prior to the Town Meeting. Publication has been in the I&M and on
the Web.]
d) At a Rotary meeting, Roger heard a comparison between the town's
weak spending to upgrade its infrastructure, about $3.5
million/year, and the present value of all the anticipated
infrastructure upgrade costs totaling $753 million.
4. a.) Howard Blitman's e-mail report of 9/3/03 was distributed,
reading in part:
The following are in addition to the ones provided to the Nantucket Board of Selectmen:
1) Recreation Fee - as much as $5,000 per site / lot common fee. We are paying same amount in
Somers, NY
2) Water Fee - water hook-up approximately $100 per house (if there is a water line at the site).
There could even be a larger fee for well drilling.
3) Fire Department Fee - approximately $300 - $400 per unit to be charged due to impact and
development. The money will be used to purchase additional fire engines and equipment.
4) Traffic Fee - an impact fee on building development on roads. Traffic signals, signs,
commonly used acceleration lanes, special stops arrangements, turn-off arrangements, etc.
5) Drainage Fee - impact on drainage affects the roadway areas which are very sensitive in
Nantucket. Drainage fees should be established as district charges.
A recreation fee is said to have been adopted in some MA towns, but
Lou Bassano questioned its validity. The town is understood to have
MA advisers available to address the validity question. Howard noted
that the town could set a minimum threshold for building project
cost before any fee was due, and the fee could be on a sliding scale
based upon project cost. Proposed for consideration was a higher
public water hookup fee, and for private wells an aquifer depletion
fee. For a project with the potential impact of the 40B, e.g., the
Rugged Road project, traffic and drainage fees are thought
especially apt. (In NJ, a 40B project could be shifted to a more
appropriate site through use of transferable development rights -
TDRs) .
The MA authorization of local adoption of a head tax was noted.
b) Lou Bassano offered to draft an ACNVT letter to the selectmen
proposing a universal island test for "resident", whether summer or
year-round, certainly ownership of island property. (How "resident"
would be proven when ownership was in a trustee or the like was not
settled.) The draft is to be available at our 9/26 meeting - though
Lou will not be at that meeting. Motion was made, seconded, and
passed authorizing our Chairman to send the letter when deemed
'final' .
c) Bill Sherman offered to distribute a summary of ComPlan
strategies reviewed to date - but not the status of action until the
latter has the o.k. of the NP&EDC.
5. a) Howard undertook to have ready for our 9/26 meeting a final text
of letter to the selectmen reporting our recommendation of potential
fees - in lieu of impact fees - the town might consider. Bill
offered to assist.
b) Bill offered to seek estimates of the number of taxpayers subject
to the real-estate tax levy who are year-round (about 1900) and are
not year-round (about 3500). The position of the Town Administrator
on a possible ACNVT mailing to summer residents was reported. Any
release to island newspapers should also have her prior o.k.
b) Terry or Roger will attend the next 2 selectmen meetings. Terry
will keep ACNVT interest in mind while attending meetings of the
Nantucket Community Association and the Nantucket Land Council, Bill
likewise for Civic League meetings.
c) Trig expressed concern about needed septic systems inspections in
'hot spots', e.g., in harbor watershed areas.
6. Roger's invitation to ACNVT members to gather in the evening at his
home was noted.
7. After determining that attendance at our next - and last of '03 -
ACNVT meeting will be limited, Roger declared the present meeting
adjourned at 10:23 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Sherman, Secretary
SEPTEMBER 26 AT 9 A. M. ACNVT MEETS AT THE TOWN
BUILDING ANNEX LOCATED AT 37 WASHINGTON STREET