What's up in Town Administration
FY 2025 Budget
We made our General Fund budget recommendations to the Board at its meeting on December 13th. Our budgetary focus is mainly to address initiatives contained in the Select Board’s Strategic Plan with housing (Town employee and community), continuing to be a top priority. Other priorities include staffing resources, and increased programming in response to growing issues, such as facility and infrastructure maintenance, coastal resiliency and public safety staffing. The Board will hold its annual public hearing on the budget on January 10 and following that, the Finance Committee begins its review of the proposed budget and will finalize its recommendations in March for the 2024 Annual Town Meeting. All the meetings at which the budget is discussed are public and available on our YouTube channel.
2024 Annual Town Meeting
Throughout December, the Board has continued its discussions about potential articles for the Town Meeting. The Board had discussion with Town Counsel about citizen articles at its December 13th meeting and the Finance Committee held a public hearing on the citizen warrant articles on December 14th. Zoning articles are currently under review with the Planning Board, Town Administration has begun to assemble the town meeting warrant, and the Select Board is currently scheduled to adopt the 2024 Town Meeting and Election Warrant at its meeting on January 17th.
Select Board Strategic Plan
The Board held its annual strategic planning retreat workshop on October 24th for an update on implementation progress with current goals, and, to consider updates to the Plan. Several updates were made, and the Board adopted its updated plan on December 20th. Our next step will be to establish implementation teams for the goals of the Focus Areas. Informally, one Select Board member has been designated as a liaison with staff for each Focus Area.
Tax Rate and Residential Exemption
At its December 20, 2023 meeting, the Select Board approved the Town’s tax rate and residential exemption (25%). Click here for the Assessor’s supporting materials and here for more detail as to how the tax rate is set.
Solid Waste
As reported in previous e-news editions, as the expiration of the waste services agreement with our solid waste facility operator, Waste Options, approaches (expiration in November, 2025), a work group has been convened by Town Administration, the membership of which includes a Select Board member (Brooke Mohr), a Finance Committee member (Peter Schaffer), Town Manager (me), Asst. Town Manager (Rick Sears), Solid Waste Manager (Chris Lowe), DPW Director (Drew Patnode), Energy Coordinator (Lauren Sinatra), Special Projects Manager (Chuck Larson), Town Counsel (John Giorgio), Finance Director (Brian Turbitt) and a recently appointed Capital Program Committee member (Howard Matz) who has a strong background in contract negotiation and restructuring, renewable energy, project finance and related fields. We are also assisted by our Solid Waste consultant (George Aronson) of CommonWealth Resource Management. This group has been meeting approximately monthly for the last two years to evaluate various approaches to managing our solid waste. We have scheduled a workshop to provide the public, Select Board and other town agencies with a comprehensive overview of the solid waste operation with a look at the options being evaluated and recommended as the contract comes to a close. The workshop is scheduled for Thursday, January 11th starting at 6:00 pm. The meeting will be held in the Community Room of the Public Safety Facility at 4 Fairgrounds Road and will also be online.
Also….
- The Capital Program Committee is working on its recommendations to update the Capital Improvement Plan and prepare recommendations for FY 2025 capital projects. The Committee has been meeting weekly since September and will present its recommendations to the Select Board and Finance Committee in January (date TBD).
Thank You!
Thank you to all the Town employees, and Town officials who contribute their time to the operation of the Town. Happy holidays to everyone! Your efforts are greatly appreciated.
Special Thank You’s also to:
- Kevin Manning, Chief Wastewater Treatment Facility Operator, retires this month with 19 years of service with the Town. Kevin’s knowledge of our wastewater facilities is immense, and we thank him for helping to keep our system functioning well. Best wishes, Kevin! We aren’t entirely saying farewell to Kevin, however, as he has agreed to assist on a part-time basis due to a staffing shortage in the Sewer Department.
- Tuki Attapreyangkul, long-time member of the Our Island Home cooking team, retired this month with 20 years of service. Her contributions to keeping Our Island Home residents well-nourished and healthy are truly appreciated. Thank you, TK, and we wish you all the best!
- Kathy Lafavre, Health Inspector in the Health Department, retired this month with 20 years of service. During Kathy’s tenure, she also worked for PLUS and in the Finance Department. Kathy’s kind and helpful demeanor is a tribute to the Town. Thank you, Kathy and best wishes!
- Nantucket Public Schools Director of Technology Jennifer Erichsen retired this month with 31 years of service to the Town. Jenn began her career with the Town, in the Town’s (at that time) fledgling Information Technology department. She was instrumental in expanding the scope of the department. Jenn then became the technology officer at the Police Department for several years before joining the School Department. Jenn’s calm manner has been a constant throughout her tenure with the Town and her work is greatly appreciated. Happy retirement, Jenn!
This REMINDER appeared in our December, 2022 E-news and because COVID, flu and RSV illnesses have been on the rise, we issue it again:
- Wear your face covering as needed or required
- Wash your hands frequently
- Sanitize surfaces frequently
- Get vaccinated and/or get your booster shot
It is ONLY when we all do these things that we can keep our community safe and cases low. Personal responsibility depends on each of us.
Happy New Year, Nantucket!
Holiday Hours
Short-term Rentals Registration Process
The Health Department is working on the implementation of a short-term rental registration program, the regulations for which were authorized by the 2022 Annual Town Meeting. The regulations were jointly adopted by the Board of Health and the Select Board on September 21, 2022.
The Short-term Rental Registration Program website, powered by GovOS, will be available in early 2024. The registration process is expected to start in early February. For more information on the STR Local Regulations, visit this webpage.
Projects
Baxter Road Notice of Intent
The Notice of Intent filed jointly by the Town and the Sconset Beach Preservation Fund (SBPF) seeks to extend the same level of toe stabilization to approximately three-quarters of Baxter Road, safeguarding an area where the bluff is currently eroding. This planning effort not only aims to protect properties in the area but also plays an important role in preserving the current location of the public road. Importantly, the entire project will be privately funded, imposing no financial burden on the Town or taxpayers. Watch the video below where Sustainability Projects Manager Vince Murphy explains the importance of the Notice of Intent.
Intersection improvement at Sankaty Avenue/Coffin Street, 'Sconset
The DPW crew recently finished work on Phase 1 of improvements to this intersection. Drainage structures are installed, plated, and will be covered until preparations begin for paving.
Personnel Highlights
Police Chief: Stop by the Public Safety Facility Community Room at 4 Fairgrounds Road on January 5th at 9:30 am to meet Chief Kasper during her first week as our new Police Chief!
Housing Director: The Town of Nantucket is pleased to announce that Kristie Ferrantella began her role as our new Housing Director on December 18th. Learn more about Kristie.
Airport
The Nantucket Memorial Airport Commission will host a virtual Public Information meeting for the construction of the South Apron expansion, surplus material disposal stockpile, drainage outfall relocation, and habitat management on Thursday, January 11, 2024, at 4:00 PM. The meeting is open to the public via Zoom (no registration required).
Communications Office
Multilingual Language Support
The Town of Nantucket is proud to announce the expansion of language support offerings for its multilingual population.
This service will provide access to telephone interpreting, video remote interpreting and document translation services, enabling Town departments to communicate with limited English-speaking residents easily.
An estimated 18.7% of Nantucket’s residents speak a language other than English at home. GLOBO Services, the new interpreter service, will help amplify the voice of Nantucket’s limited English-speaking population and allow for the expansion of community awareness and participation in Town forums, events, and ongoing initiatives.
El Municipio de Nantucket se enorgullece en anunciar la expansión de sus ofertas de apoyo lingüístico para su población multilingüe. Este servicio proporcionará acceso a interpretación telefónica, interpretación remota por video y servicios de traducción de documentos, permitiendo a los departamentos municipales comunicarse fácilmente con los residentes con dominio limitado del inglés.
Se estima que el 18.7% de los residentes de Nantucket hablan un idioma distinto al inglés en sus hogares. Los servicios de GLOBO, el nuevo servicio de intérpretes, ayudarán a amplificar la voz de la población de Nantucket con dominio limitado del inglés y a expandir la conciencia comunitaria y la participación en los foros, eventos e iniciativas del Municipio.
O Município de Nantucket tem o prazer de anunciar a expansão de suas ofertas de apoio linguístico para sua população multilíngue. Este serviço fornecerá acesso a interpretação telefônica, interpretação remota por vídeo e serviços de tradução de documentos, permitindo que os departamentos municipais se comuniquem facilmente com os residentes com domínio limitado do inglês.
Estima-se que 18,7% dos residentes de Nantucket falam um idioma diferente do inglês em seus lares. Os serviços de GLOBO, o novo serviço de intérpretes, ajudarão a ampliar a voz da população de Nantucket com domínio limitado do inglês e a expandir a consciência comunitária e a participação nos fóruns, eventos e iniciativas do município.
Culture & Tourism Department
Passport Application Acceptance Facility
The Culture & Tourism Department’s Visitor Services Office located at 25 Federal Street has been certified by the United States Department of State as the Nantucket Passport Application Acceptance Facility.
Beginning January 29th, applicants for U.S. passports will no longer have to leave the island for this service. Applications will only be accepted by appointment, Mondays and Wednesdays from 8 am to 12 pm Information for booking an appointment will be available on the Town's website in late January 2024.
Human Resources Department
We're Hiring!
Start the new year with a meaningful career in local government! The Town has openings in several departments, including Town Administration, Planning & Land Use Services (PLUS), and Sewer. Additionally, there are open positions at the Airport, Our Island Home, Nantucket Community School, and Nantucket Public Schools.
Nantucket Land Bank
The Nantucket Land Bank's Forest Management Project at Gardner Farm will kick off on Tuesday, January 2nd. This work will involve partial and temporary trail closures. The Land Bank urges residents who utilize the open sections of the trail network to keep their dogs leashed to ensure they do not enter the work zone. This project will not only make the Gardner Farm forest more resilient to the threats of the southern pine beetle and wildfire, but will also increase biodiversity and restore pine barren habitat at this site.
Questions? Email the Land Bank at info@nantucketlandbank.org or call 508-228-7240.
Natural Resources Department
Managed Retreat & Erosion Monitoring at Sankaty Lighthouse
Managed retreat is a coordinated process to relocate structures, people, and infrastructure away from vulnerable coastal areas. An example is the relocation of Sankaty Lighthouse by the 'Sconset Trust in 2007. The Trust moved the lighthouse 405 ft away from the coast due to bluff erosion. Recently, the Town's Coastal Resilience Coordinator Leah Hill shared with 'Sconset Trust members the Town's Erosion Monitoring Program that is used to monitor erosion rates at Sankaty Lighthouse.
Downtown Neighborhood Flood Barrier Project
Arcadis has been hired as the consultant company for this project. In the next year and a half Arcadis will work closely with the Town, the Nantucket community, and stakeholders to determine and develop a 30% design for a flood barrier for Easy Street that will help mitigate chronic flooding issues.
Nantucket Planning & Economic Development Commission
Open Commission and Committee Seats
- NP&EDC - The Nantucket Planning and Economic Development Commission (NP & EDC) is accepting letters of interest for an At-Large Member with a term expiring June 2025. Letters of interest may be submitted to Senior Planner Meghan Trudel at mtrudel@nantucket-ma.gov by Monday, January 15th at 4:00 pm. Late submissions will not be considered. The member will be appointed by the Commission at its January 22nd meeting.
- BPAC - Interested in joining the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC)? Send a letter of interest to Transportation Program Manager Mike Burns at mburns@nantucket-ma.gov, or addressed to the Planning and Land Use Services Office at 2 Fairgrounds Road, Nantucket, MA 02554. BPAC advises the NP&EDC on bicycle and pedestrian projects to be included in its Long-Range Transportation Plan, participates/organizes educational opportunities to encourage biking and walking, seeks to maintain Nantucket’s designation as a “bicycle-friendly community,” and makes other recommendations to encourage biking and walking as modes of transportation. Letters of interest are due by January 1, 2024 at 4:00 pm.
Police Department
Beach Stickers
Beach driving stickers for the 2024 season are now available for purchase. Permit forms can be picked up in the lobby of the Public Safety Facility at 4 Fairgrounds Road and completed in person, or can be completed online here. To learn more about beach access locations, permit fees, and more click here.
Public Works Department
‘Tis The Season to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
Did you know that during the holiday season, waste production increases by 25% across the country? Before your ride to the landfill, make sure you know how to properly dispose of common holiday items and what steps you can take to be "greener" for the holidays. Together, we can make the holidays more sustainable by responsibly recycling and disposing of our trash on Nantucket.
More tips:
- Glitter: Skip the glitz and go for more sustainable options this year to be more eco-friendly! Anything covered in glitter or metallic ink is NOT recyclable and is considered Non-Recyclable Non-Compostable (NRNC) waste.
- Cards & Gift Wrapping: Embrace recycled paper cards, e-cards, reusable gift bags, cloth wraps, and craft paper rather than single use cards and gift bags.
- Wreaths & Garlands: Most wreaths and garlands have wires and/or plastic elements, which means they cannot be recycled and are considered NRNC waste.
Learn more about Nantucket's waste streams and guidelines here.
HOLIDAY HOURS: The Landfill and Take-It-Or-Leave-It (TIOLI) will be closed on Monday January 1, 2023 in observance of New Year's Day and Monday, January 15 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Sewer Department
Sea Street Sewer Force Main No. 3 Updates
The second year of construction for the Sea Street Pump Station Force Main No. 3 Project began on September 11, 2023. During the month of December, contractor Robert B. Our Company (RBO) completed sewer force main installation on Surfside Road and began work on Lily Street and Atlantic Avenue.
- Construction Crew #1 (Lily Street): During the month of December, RBO completed water main bypass work on Lily Street and began installation of the sewer force main near #22 Lily Street. Once complete, they will begin gravity sewer, water main, and stormwater work on Lily Street.
- Construction Crew #2 (Atlantic Avenue): During the month of December, RBO began installation of the sewer force main on Atlantic Avenue at its intersection with S. Prospect Street. Once complete, they will begin gravity sewer and stormwater work on Atlantic Avenue.
Street Closures: Please be advised that Atlantic Avenue (between S. Prospect St. and Pleasant St.) and Lily Street (between N. Liberty St. and Centre St.) will be closed 24/7 until work is complete. Construction hours are between 7 am - 4 pm. Residents on these closed streets will be able to access their property.
About the project: The Town is upgrading its current sewer force main infrastructure. This project involves installing a new pipe and conducting an assessment of the existing infrastructure. Visit the project page to see updates and learn more HERE.
Thank you for reading the Town of Nantucket December 2023 News!