HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-7-16ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF NONVOTING TAXPAYERS
Minutes of meeting 10 A.M., SATURDAY, July 16, 2011, at
4 Fairgrounds Road
1. Present: Lou Bassano, Howard Blitman, Roger Ernst, Bi4 Sherman,
Harris Stone, Jay Strauss and Jim Treanor, plus non -med eQ
Selectmen Whitey Willauer, BOS Chair Rick Atherton, L4eaL* Officer
Richard Ray and our guest speaker Town and County N fana r Irby
Gibson. —' `"'
2. ACNVT Chair Howard Blitman called the meeting to oiger:g 1Q O
a.m. and declared a quorum present. The minutes of theJune__t5 M?Ol 1
meeting were approved. T
3. Following the Chair's call for nominations of ACNVT Rfi*s for
FY2012, motion was made and unanimously adopted to elect the
FY2011 officers for a further one -year term.
4. Attention was 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 would again appropriately have available for
those attending a write -up of ACNVT and a welcome to apply for
ACNVT membership.)
5. After a brief introduction, Town Manager Libby Gibson noted that
current FY2012 goals of the Board of Selectmen are posted on the
Town's website
( http•//www.nantucket-
ma,gov/Pa es/NantucketMA BOS/bosgoals/FYI2BOSGoals.pdf,see
also Town Manager News letter e- mailed 7/11/11)
with focus on three objectives:
Improved financial management. The Town has engaged
Financial Advisory Associates to assure that Finance Department
policies and procedures are in place and followed. The Town's
Audit Committee is meeting twice /month and in continuing contact
with the Town's auditor. The Town's Finance Director provides
the BOS with monthly reports re compliance and timeline status.
Long term wastewater /water quality plan. The first of four BOS
workshops (dates at http://www.nantucket-
ma.gov/Pages/NantucketMA News /0174F916- OOOF8513 )
concerned Madaket wastewater needs. The August 10th workshop
will deal with Nantucket and Madaket harbor water quality. On
September 14th funding options will be considered. Mindful of
impact on septic system users, Dual Macintyre is formulating an
offset for their share of public funding. Progress since adoption of
the 2004 Wastewater Management Plan includes new Board of
Health regulations, public water to Madaket coupled with
restrictions on new growth there, and receipt finally of the State's
estuaries report for the island. The later allows setting Total
Maximum Daily (nitrogen) Load for Madaket, a key to wastewater
planning. Acquisition of FAA land, a gift to the extent justified as
possible site for Madaket wastewater treatment, is fraught with
complexities, still under discussion. If otherwise disposed of by the
General Services Administration, the FAA land could be put out
for bid. Planning issues re Monomoy and Shimmo, plus Wauwinet,
are also slated for public outreach.
- Long -term municipal facilities management. Renovation and best
use of the former police station at 20 S. Water St. are under study
in relation to other Town buildings along E. Chestnut St.
6. Other active concerns include Airport financial management, `Sconset
erosion issues re Coastal Management principles and State role, and
impact of the upcoming Triathlon.
7. Responding to Howard Blitman's question about traffic at the
Surfside Road/Sparks Avenue intersection, Libby Gibson said no
funding was available for the realigned intersection solution. A 3 -way
stop may be needed where heavy Bartlett Road traffic enters Surfside
Road. In contrast a roundabout may be needed where Fairgrounds
Road intersects with Old South Road. Lou Bassano thought to bar
rainy -day `cruising' for Core District parking spaces. Electronic-
signage advisories of parking availability were suggested. To which
Libby responded: "Forget (such) signs on island." Another idea: make
Zip cars available on island. Transportation Planner Mike Burns will
be invited to discuss these and other ACNVT concerns, e.g., the
possibility of further transportation funding grants.
8. Howard Blitman spoke again of Maria Mitchell plans (with a Land
Bank swap) for a planetarium, etc. on Washington Street, urging that
traffic impacts be considered by the Town. Libby Gibson with
Assistant Town Manager Gregg Tivnan has walked the site.
9. Re Finance Department needs, Jay Strauss asked about staffing. Libby
Gibson responded that housing needs added to the difficulty of finding
a new Finance Director, especially if recruited from off island. Further
professional support will be offered for existing staff development.
Answering Roger Ernst, Libby Gibson said that recent delay in getting
RE tax bills out had not adversely impacted the Town.
IO.On renewing the Ad Hoc Fiscal Committee, suggested by Jay Strauss,
Libby Gibson said that the Committee's report (on the Town website)
remains a useful guide, still referred to.
11.Responding to Lou Bassano's concern about any curb on secondary
dwellings, Rick Atherton recalled failures at prior Town Meetings to
impose any limits. While the Town could benefit from taxing seasonal
vacation home rentals as it does guest houses, the State is not likely to
initiate enabling legislation.
12.The Town is looking at elements of its health insurance plan for
possible savings. Health care rates for the Town may be low relative
to other municipalities. (Libby Gibson, Rick Atherton and Richard
Ray departed the meeting about 10:50 a.m.)
13.Proposed future guests include County Sheriff Jim Perelman,
Transportation Planner Mike Burns and Fire Chief Mark McDougall.
14. The meeting was adjourned at 11:06 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Sherman, Secretary
Draft minutes submitted to Town Clerk 7/22/11
Minutes adopted 6/30/12