HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-10-08
ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF NONVOTING TAXPAYERS
Minutes of meeting at 10 A.M., FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2004, in the
'05 ,JUN 10 1>~,,;rlAnnex Building Conference Room.
1. Present: Howard Blitman, David Brown, Richard Melville, Bill
Sherman, Jay Strauss, and Duncan (Terry) Sutphen.
2. ViCe..:Chair Terry Sutphen called the meeting to order at 10:08 a.m.
Minutes of the 8/20, 9/10, and 9/25/04 meetings were approved
subject to possible revision at a future meeting.
3. Various ideas for easing traffic, particularly in peak summer hours,
were discussed. In addition to existing shuttles from perimeter parking
areas, Bermuda-type limits on cars were commended. RFID tags on
cars could activate pay-as-you-enter billing - similar to London and
Oslo. Paid core district parking might be somewhat more palatable
than limits on numbers of cars per household (if Nantucket's home
rule petition were enacted).
4. The proposed Surfside plant upgrade is to employ a biological process
which is not necessarily the best. Concern was expressed that more
effort had not been focused on III and the wasteful processing of flows
diluted by stormwater. Had that been done before the state-mandated
upgrade of the Surfside plant, its capacity might not have been
exceeded and no upgrade required.
5. Expansion of the Town Sewer District served by the plant should be
kept to a minimum. By favoring use of Code-compliant private septic
systems, public costs are avoided and adequate recharge of the aquifer
made more likely. Richard cited the Cayman Islands as an example of
overdevelopment curbing aquifer recharge to the extent that costly
desalination was necessary to provide adequate water. Concern was
also expressed that our stormwater not continue to drain unprocessed
into the harbor.
6. Howard Blitman expressed hope that the Town would rely on
wastewater consultants more knowledgeable than EarthTech. He
identified the Water Environmental Foundation in D.C. as one that
could be relied upon. Members noted that the BOS typically delayed
needed action until mandated by the state and so action became more
expensive than if planned earlier. While the public has been welcome
at meetings leading up to the currently proposed plant upgrade, no
BOS initiative has been taken to mount an effective public
information campaign. Town information handouts should be
available to voters at the start of the Special Town Meeting.
7. Efforts of the Community Coalition to bridge differences were
commended. Finding some consensus would help in dealing with
serious island issues. Making decisions and setting out priorities and
anticipated costs would be a useful supplement to the CWMP. Hope
was expressed that the public would be fully involved in any process
to create a Master Plan.
8. Responding to Nancy Oliver's request for ACNVT's FY04 annual
report by 11/1/04, Terry will draft and send it to her.
9. Terry Sutphen anticipates speaking on behalf of nonresident property
owners at the 10/19/04 Special Town Meeting.
10.No further ACNVT meeting is planned before June 2005.
11. Terry adjourned the meeting at 11: 12 a.m.
Respectfully su mi
~
Bill Sherman