HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-7-30ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF NONVOTING TAXPAYERS
Minutes of meeting 10 A.M., SATURDAY, July 30, 2011, at
2 Fairgrounds Road
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1. Present: Howard Blitman, Roger Ernst, Bill Sherman, Harri42;to► e,
and Jim Treanor, and our guest speakers County Sheriff Jim�ereianA
(until 10:29 a.m.) and from 10:12 to 11:05 a.m. Transportaon , M
Planner Mike Burns. —' w rn
2. ACNVT Chair Howard Blitman called the meeting to order 10 4 M
a.m. The minutes of the July 16, 2011 meeting were approveeT-su*ct°
to confirmation. m s
3. After a brief introduction, Jim Perelman told how his role as
Nantucket County Sheriff differs from sheriffs of the other 13
counties, significantly in absence here of a jail. (The NPD has a
lockup facility.) A principal task for Jim is transport of prisoners to
and from the Barnstable House of Correction, assisted by deputies
when needed. That jail is run by the Barnstable County Sheriff with a
staff of about 300.
4. Now that the State has taken over the Deeds Excise Tax revenue along
with our Sheriff's department, the largess of the prior sheriff is
replaced by budget trimming efforts. Jim makes openness to the
public a priority.
5. The Sheriff is responsible for service of civil process, aids in landlord -
tenant disputes and conducts foreclosure auctions. Civil process fees,
totaling $18,000 /year, are expended at the Sheriff's discretion for
island law enforcement purposes.
6. The Sheriff's department is currently housed in the former police
station on East Chestnut. To bring that substandard facility into proper
condition is estimated to cost —$3 — 10 million. [Ideally the three
Town facilities on East Chestnut would all be upgraded and
consolidated.]
7. On occasion, the job takes Jim to residences in squalor or violating
health regulations administered by the Town's Health Officer.
8. A good working relationship with the Nantucket Police Department
results in reciprocal aid as occasions warrant.
9. Our next guest Transportation Planner Mike Burns distributed print
copies of a Power Point presentation he had recently made to the
Board of Selectmen. [Copies have been mailed to ACNVT members
absent from the meeting.] This is in furtherance of Nantucket's
Regional Transportation Plan update for 2011— 2035. After further
public input, final approval by the NP &EDC is expected by the end of
the month.
I O.Funding of transportation improvements from federal and state
sources, —$250 — 800,000 /year, is generally inadequate to cover
urgent projects such those listed in the first (TIPS) panel. The Cliff
Road bike path segment will be completed this year. The Hummock
Pond bike path should follow in 2013 — 2016 and the `in -town' bike
path by 2020. [See Page 4, top right panel of Power Point.] Howard
Blitman and Roger Ernst urged a higher priority for the latter, e.g.,
using volunteer labor if practicable.
1 l.To move such projects ahead, the Town has considered alternative
revenue sources (paid parking, RO tax applied to seasonal vacation
home rentals) with no success to date. Further revenue is wanted for
NRTA operations and expansion.
12. Mike noted lower - priority plans for a roundabout to replace the
eccentric 4- corners intersection near the high school, subject to
incorporating better safety features for student pedestrians. Also a
roundabout at the intersection of Fairgrounds Road with Old South
Road would increase safety.
13.Last November, the BOS considered an alternative to bike lanes on
the narrow stretch of Prospect and Quaker Streets, namely, a way
offset to the west and including privately -owned Winn Street. For
public use of the latter, a takings might be sought. The BOS, faced
with neighborhood concern, opted for in- street bike lanes.
14.Jim Treanor urged extension of NRTA to Dionis beach, e.g., as a
portion of the NRTA Madaket route.
15.Howard Blitman urged that careful transportation planning be given to
prospective impacts of the proposed MMA facility on the inland side
of Washington Street. Mike noted studies of possible Wilkes Square
parking and the effort to get all NRTA bus parking to such an off -
street location.
16.To reduce traffic impact of food supply trucks, the SSA gives them
priority on the 6:30 a.m. ferry from Hyannis. Roger Ernst urged
attention to potential impacts of a new (Whole Foods/Trader Joes)
food market on the Craig property. A food market near the town
harbor front needs to remain viable.
17.Attention was again called to the 2011 Summer Forum co- sponsored
by ACNVT with the lead organizer Nantucket Community
Association. The Forum is set for Tuesday August 16th, 9:30 — 11:00
a.m. in The Atheneum. ( ACNVT is expected to have available for
those attending a write -up of ACNVT and a welcome to apply for
ACNVT membership.)
18.Howard Blitman invited members to his home in Squam for informal
social gathering on Sunday evening August 28th. Any food brought
would preferably not be seafood or pork.
19. Our next ACNVT meeting is called for Saturday morning August 13th
20. The meeting was adjourned at 11:13 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Sherman, Secretary
Draft minutes submitted to Town Clerk 8/9/11
Minutes adopted 6/30 /12