HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 13, 2011ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF NONVOTING TAXPAYERS
Minutes of meeting 10 A.M., SATURDAY, August 13, 2011, at
2 Fairgrounds Road =' ~`
1. Present: Howard Blitman, David Brown, Roger Ernst, Bill Sherm~
and Jay Strauss. -
2. ACNVT Chair Howard Blitman called the meeting to order at 10:~
a.m. The minutes of the July 30, 2011 meeting were approved subject
to confirmation.
3. David Brown reported that the Nantucket Community Association,
which he heads, has completed arrangements for the 2011 Summer
Forum. The Forum, co-sponsored by ACNVT with lead organizer
NCA, is scheduled for Tuesday August 16th, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. in the
Great Hall of the Atheneum. David indicated that he would identify
two ACNVT members (Ernst and Sherman) early in the Forum for
participants to contact with questions or expressions of interest.
4. In the hope of enhancing ACNVT's role as representative of summer
residents, hope was expressed that each of the Nantucket Civic
League's 21 area association might propose someone to come to our
meetings. Bill Sherman offered to explore with Town Administration
the idea of reaching summer residents via Town e-mail distribution
for polling or otherwise soliciting concerns and viewpoints. Also to
augment attendance, Bill Sherman undertook polling our members on
preferred day and time for future meetings.
5. Given upcoming efforts to get island views on funding formulas for
wastewater treatment facilities, Bill Sherman suggested that ACNVT
might want to hear from Dual Macintyre.
6. As a follow-on to concerns raised at our last meeting, suggestion was
made that Chair Howard Blitman write to the BOS urging higher
priority be given the in-town bike path. Safety concerns are
paramount. Early use of the old railway right-of--way is wanted.
7. Belief was expressed that National Grid planned withdrawal from
serving the island and other communities. Meanwhile, Whitey
Willauer is understood to be in contact with National Grid to get an
increase in allowable net metering for the Town.
8. Howard Blitman reported his meeting with civil engineers re interest
in island code enforcement. No results so far.
9. Howard Blitman will be submitting FY2011 Annual Report for
ACNVT to the Town Administrator's office by the end of August.
l O.Howard Blitman again invited members to his home in Squam for an
informal social gathering on Sunday evening August 28tH
l l .our next ACNVT meeting is called for Saturday morning August 27tH.
Nantucket Fire Chief Mark McDougall will be sought as speaker on
concerns re island-wide fire safety preparedness. The last meeting will
be on Saturday, September 10tH
12.The meeting was adjourned at 10:58 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Sherman, Secretary
Draft minutes submitted to Town Clerk 8/20/11 Minutes adopted / /11
ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF NONVOTING TAXPAYERS
NOTES ON 2011 FOURTH SUMMER FORUM, AUGUST 16, 2011
IN THE GREAT HALL OF THE ATHENEUM
Moderator David Brown, President of co-sponsor NCA, introduced himself and other ACNVT
members present: Roger Ernst and Bill Sherman, and the panelists Town Manager Libby Gibson
and the five selectmen.
BOS Chair Rick Atherton, after introducing two youth leaders, led off with FY2012 BOS goals
and objectives 9see Town website
• Improved financial management, e.g., getting a `clean' audit report, regular Audit Committee
meetings to track progress.
• Long-term Wastewater/water quality plan, esp. adopt 5-year implementation plan by 12/31/11.
• Long-term Municipal Facilities Management, esp. plans for the Town Building, Mooney
building, old police station, 37 Washington St., and 2 Fairgrounds.
Selectman Mike Kopko elaborated on the financial management goal: a `clean' audit from the
Town's outside auditors would be unconditional, the Audit Committee currently meets twice/mo.
and consists of Mike, Rick and the FinCom Chair, and a benefit sought is early certification of
Town free cash by the MA Dept. of Revenue.
Bob DeCosta spoke of Coastal Management with concern for what, if any, erosion controls could
work at island locations were wanted. Town-owned property can be affected.
Patty Roggeveen spoke of tradeoffs in wastewater management between better water quality and
higher costs. Progress has been made: in sewer collection system, septic system inspections and
upgrades, better fertilizer management, stormwater controls, State estuaries report and
corresponding steps needed in Madaket.
Whitey Willauer, for the Energy Committee, spoke of the island's historic reliance and current
steps toward benefitting from wind power. Envisioned are wind generators at the dump, solar
voltaic at the airport, water company and Surfside Wastewater Treatment Facility, all to reduce
long-term energy cost - as done with the high school wind generator. Whitey is addressing limits
now placed by National Grid on the island's net metering, to benefit from the potential, with a
meeting planned in September. The Town has an energy coordinator financed by ReMain toward
increased energy efficiency and self-reliance. Longer term, move of bulk fuel storage from
harborfront to the airport is targeted.
Libby Gibson spoke of savings achieved with department consolidations (into Code Enforcement
and Natural Resources) in the face of lower Town revenue attributed largely to downturn in
construction. Specifics include Human Services Director, Park & Rec (with Jim Manchester)
under DPW, and amulti-tasked minutes taker.
In Q&A, Peter Hoey got Whitey's explanation of the current tidal energy project jointly with
Edgartown in the Muskeget channel. Solar voltaic inefficiency is offset to the extent subsidized.
Other issues addressed:
• Island gas prices high
• Funding of wastewater management upgrades, being work out with public input, consultant,
etc.
• Desire for School Committee to communicate further with non-school households
• Preference for smaller scale wind generators, notwithstanding relative inefficiency
• Possibility of making regular septic system pumpouts mandatory - at least assuring that septic
system property owners are identified and informed about septic system management.
[Richard Ray brought informative pamphlets to the Forum.]
• Status of free acquisition of FAA property from GSA: depends on whether a wastewater
treatment facility for Madaket is to be sited there. Otherwise, GSA may transfer it to the
highest bidder. Island representatives are working toward a good outcome.
• Tick borne diseases are tracked imperfectly by the Cottage Hospital and MGH. The new
independent Board of Health is working from the report last fall of the TBD Committee. Per
Bob DeCosta, needed herd thinning, e.g., with bow and arrow, depends on access to private
property being given to responsible hunters.
• For lower island homeowner's insurance, the State needs to encourage competitive coverage
with risk evaluation more carefully tailored to different island locations. Our State
representatives are aware of the concern.
Feedback after the Forum: although fewer attended than in 2010, the 2011 Forum was
considered informative and successful, e.g., in identifying and highlighting issues of current
concern to summer residents.
wrs