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ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF NONVOTING TAXPAYERS ^—'
Minutes of meeting 10 A.M., SATURDAY, September 15, 2012pat :a m
4 Fairgrounds Road ^� o
1. Attending: Lou Bassano, David Brown, Steve Meader, Bill c`'a
Sherman, Jay Strauss and Jim Treanor plus Lee Saperstein aril
Hams Stone.
2. ACNVT Vice Chair Jim Treanor called the meeting to order at
10:00 a.m. The minutes of the September 1, 2012 meeting were
approved subject to confirmation with a quorum present.
3. Taking up the ACNVT concem about preserving natural
vegetation on a lot undergoing development, Lee spoke of Florida
regulations restricting tree removal as a possible model. For the lot
on the west lobe of Polpis harbor, the Nantucket Landscapers
Council might be an informal conduit for offering an alternative
better than clear cutting.
4. As was expressed in the ACNVT letter to the BOS, completion of
the in -town bike path is still viewed as our #I priority. Lou
Bassano reported his experience driving an NRTA bus on lower
Orange Street, confirming the hazards for bikers. Expanding the
street width there, per the current blueprint plan, would certainly
improve biking safety.
5. Another stretch of road dangerous for bikers is First Way used by
kids biking from Backus Lane and the schools to Hooper Farm
Road. Yet another is the stretch of Prospect (NW of the existing
bike path) continuing on Quaker to the Madaket Road. Identified
to the west is a possible alternative link involving Mill Hill, Mt.
Vernon, Saratoga Lane and Winn Street. We have been told at a
prior meeting that easements for such an alternative bike path may
be difficult to secure.]
6. With lower priority, Lou Bassano identified a bike path running
parallel to Tom Nevers Road as needed for safety. A bike lane at
the edge of the road would not remove the present dangerous
condition. Concern was also expressed that bikers continue to use
the Milestone Road rather the parallel bike path. Perhaps a home
rule petition would provide State sanction for the BOS to restrict
bikers to available paths except for Triathlons and similar in -road
biking events.
7. The suggestion was made to invite NPD Chief Bill Pittman to our
June 2013 meeting.
8. In answer to Lou's question, Bill Sherman said that Civic League
area association presidents had not been asked to appoint area
representatives to the ACNVT.
9. Turn down of Harris Stone's application for re- appointment to the
ACNVT was discussed. Whether on -island voter status of any
existing ACNVT members would disqualify continued
membership is unclear.
IO.Jay Strauss expressed his belief that the currently proposed smaller
wind turbine [2012 Special Town Meeting Article 5] is not
economically justified. Depreciation charges in anticipation of
future maintenance costs would wipe out what otherwise might be
net savings in electricity charges borne by the Town. No ACNVT
position was taken, e.g., in anticipation of FinCom hearings on
STM articles.
I I.Responding to Lou Bassano's expression of concern about
islanders on public assistance, various human services agencies
were mentioned: the Emergency Food Pantry and the Town's
Council for Human Services [webpage ) tit :/ /www.nantucket-
ma.aov/Paaes/NanmcketMA HS /index ]. Challenges of island
living including high costs may have some bearing on feelings
about seasonal residents, aka nonvoting taxpayers. Bill Sherman
spoke of a recent pair of I &M issues, the second with a letter to the
Editor quite negative about ReMain Nantucket. Brought to mind
was the tension leading to the creation of ACNVT. A question
remains whether the very considerable progress made in good
relations needs a further boost; if so, how?
12.Harris Stone raised the concern about Martins Lane and I DC
rulings on a proposed curb cut for new offstreet parking space.
Status of the controversy was unclear but mention was made of a
proposed change in HDC enabling legislation [2012 STM Article
11 for HRP to seek that enabling legislation]. Again, no position
was taken by ACNVT.
13.The meeting was adjourned at 11:07 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Sherman, Secretary
Draft minutes e- distributed and submitted to Town Clerk 9/25/12
Minutes adopted 6/29/13, hard copy submitted to Town Clerk 7/3/13