HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-08-13
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ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF NONVOTING T AXP AYERS
Minutes of meeting at 10 A.M., SATURDAY, AUGUST 13,2005, in the
Town Annex Building Meeting Room.
1. Present: Howard Blitman, Roger Ernst, Bill Sherman, Jay Strauss, and
Duncan (Terry) Sutphen, plus speaker Selectman Whitey Willauer.
2. Chair Howard Blitman called the meeting to order at 10:10 a.m.
Minutes of the 7/16/05 meeting were approved. The Chair welcomed
Whitey Willauer with commendation for his taking on responsibilities
ofa selectmen. Selectman Willauer's background was briefly noted
including aeronautical degrees from Princeton and PhD in astronomy.
3. Whitey Willauer distributed a matrix or spreadsheet listing 100 Town
issues and the corresponding Board of Selectmen (BOS) objectives.
[Any ACNVT member, unable to attend this meeting, can obtain a
copy by contacting Bill Sherman, also a copy of the MA law, c. 41, s.
81D, governing Master Plans and our Planning Board's schedule for
its creation and adoption of a Master Plan including a vote of Town
Meeting on the Plan and the articles to be submitted toward its
implementation. A comprehensive rewrite of the Zoning Bylaw is
expected to follow.] Jay Strauss expressed his belief that a Master
Plan was a prerequisite for enforceability of local zoning bylaws.
4. Highlighting certain of those issues, Mr. Willauer noted his hope that
efforts in addressing the issues would be distributed to those
particularly interested in their resolution. Cited as an example was the
creation of a group of3 'Sconseters working with Town Finance
Director Connie Voges to come up with recommendations for
distributing costs of the new 'Sconset Wastewater Treatment Facility.
5. The Comprehensive Community Plan is "languishing" [but see recent
status report at
6. http://www .nantucket -a. gov/ departments/npedc/CompPlanStatus. pdf
indicating much accomplishment]. The Conservation Commission
needs strengthening, the FinCom needs a paid staff person. Somewhat
like c. 40B proceedings which bring all the Town's regulatory
agencies together to tackle certain developments, a regular way is
needed for coherently addressing major island projects. The proposed
formal update of the 1993 Harbor Plan is commended. For greater
clarity in BOS actions, motions should be put in writing before voted
on. An appointed HDC might achieve a better balance than results
currently with elections, with the HDC strengthened in best use of its
staff. Affordable housing remains a serious problem, given some 200
homeless on island.
7. The Board of Health is expected to come up with a time chart for
accomplishing its objectives. Our Surfside wastewater treatment is
seriously impaired by inflow & infiltration (III) into the sewage
collection system. Brant Point is a notable problem area with sump
pump discharge into the sewer or stormwater system. Analysis of the
problem is proceeding. Retention tanks for off-peak outflow may
help. Septic system inspections are urgently needed, especially in
harbor and pond drainage areas. Terry Sutphen noted availability of a
quick two-pipe test of systems useful when hydrology of groundwater
flow direction is known. Howard Blitman proposed use of licensed
civil engineers (e.g., located through their Boston chapter) to ensure
serious professional inspections when local inspectors do not meet
needs. Board of Health permit grants for sewer tie-ins and septic
systems in response to appeals may be too permissive.
8. More parking spaces could be available through better enforcement of
bylaws including Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board
requirements. The police (NPD) are doing a marvelous job. Reverse
911 holds promise. Better coordination within the taxi sec,tor is
needed. Traffic congestion merits continuing attention but utility of
the proposed transportation center on the electric company's in-town
land warrants cost/benefit analysis. The ACNVT role in upgrading the
Town's handling of its licensing of vehicle rental agencies was noted
but the question remains whether compliance is being checked. Jay
Strauss questioned whether the Town's home rule petition for state
legislative authority to regulate on-island vehicles would violate the
Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution as impermissibly
burdening interstate commerce.
9. Despite reduced numbers of guest house beds, Room Occupancy Tax
revenue is holding up but that continued source of funding both for
visitors and services and for the Town is vulnerable. Team building
within the BOS has proven valuable but full participation of all
selectmen is a key. With year-round population now reckoned at
-16,000, problems arising from rapid growth will be challenging.
Whitey Willauer was thanked by the Chair while indicating the
Chair's resolve to find a long-term fruitful focus for the ACNVT
amidst these many issues.
10.Terry Sutphen reported on the continuing efforts of the Community
Coalition to address water quality issues. Ken Giles and Sylvie
O'Donnell were at CC's last meeting explaining Madaket's efforts to
come to grips with its problem of failed septic systems impairing
Madaket Harbor water quality. A CC letter to the Board of Health is
under consideration.
11.After setting the next ACNVT meeting for Saturday, August 27th, 10
a.m., in the Town Building Annex, the present meeting was adjourned
at 11 :26 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Sherman
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