What's up in Town Administration
This time of year, we are busy preparing for the upcoming Annual Town Meeting and budget development for the next fiscal year. This involves scheduling dozens of meetings, reviewing what has come up since or before the last town meeting with respect to potential warrant articles; economic indicators; and numerous other factors and emerging information for both the town meeting and the budget. This year, we are also in the midst of final preparations for the November 7th Special Town Meeting.
2024 Annual Town Meeting and Town Election
Mark your calendars:
- Tuesday, May 7 – 2024 Annual Town Meeting will start (at 5:00 pm)
- Tuesday, May 21 – 2024 Annual Town Election
A preliminary outline for potential warrant articles was discussed by the Select Board at its October 25th meeting, and warrant article review will continue to appear on the Board’s weekly agenda until adoption of the warrant in late January.
Note regarding Citizen Warrant Articles - If you are considering submitting a Citizen Article, please refer to this guidance. Citizen submittals are due by Monday, November 13th at 4pm and require the signatures of at least 10 Nantucket registered voters.
FY 2025 General Fund Budget
We provided the Select Board our preliminary budget projections in September. Now, budget instructions have been issued to all departments and throughout October and November we are meeting with all departments about their budget requests. We are scheduled to review the Town Administration General Fund budget recommendations at the Board’s December 13th meeting.
Our Island Home – New Facility
At the 2022 Annual Town Meeting/Election, funding ($8,500,000) was approved for design and associated pre-construction costs for a new Our Island Home (OIH) facility at the Sherburne Commons site. We have established a work group to assist with planning for the project. The work group is comprised of Administration staff as well as representatives of stakeholder groups. The required “Owner’s Project Manager” has been secured and the contract for the design architect will be before the Select Board at its November 1st meeting. A meeting with the work group and these consultants will be scheduled shortly. It is expected that a construction appropriation will be put before the 2025 Annual Town Meeting.
Baxter Road Alternative Access
In October 2021, Arcadis submitted to the Town a report titled “Baxter Road Long-term Planning Summary of Findings.” Subsequently, in January, 2022, the Town re-engaged Arcadis to assist with developing alternative access for property owners along Baxter Road. Since then public stakeholder meetings, meetings with abutters, design planning and updates have been provided to the Board. The most recent update to this project can be found here.
This is the Town’s first large scale project being undertaken in direct response to coastal erosion projections. It is hoped that despite a Conservation Commission enforcement order to remove the existing geotubes currently in place along the base of a section of Sconset Bluff, that in conjunction with the Sconset Beach Preservation Fund (SBPF), the geotubes will ultimately be able to be remain and potentially be expanded concurrently with planning of the alternative access project.
On Nantucket, we are now seeing what many coastal communities are or will experience with a project of this nature: conflicts with private property owners over use of their property for alternative access; cost – who pays?; permitting; utility relocations; concurrent solutions to buy time. All of these things are controversial and require a lot of discussion, outreach, evaluation, and exploration of potential solutions. The Select Board has also discussed what it would take to establish Coastal Resiliency Districts for specified areas where erosion control measures will be necessary.
Sustainability Programs Manager Vince Murphy October Update on Baxter Road Alternative Access
Near Term Capital Projects
At the Board’s September 27th meeting, we reviewed what we have termed the “Collision Projects.” These are very large, proposed capital projects on our near horizon to be before town meetings in the next 2-5 years. The challenge is to space them so that voters are not overwhelmed with significant projects at one town meeting. Stay tuned on this!
Personnel
- Police Chief – We have hired Chief Jody Kasper as our new police chief to replace outgoing Chief William Pittman who will be retiring at the end of November. See details here.
- Housing Director – We are currently in the process of interviewing candidates for this position, which will be vacated by Tucker Holland, who is leaving the Town to pursue another Island opportunity later this fall.
Trending
- Strategic Planning – The Select Board held a 5-hour retreat on October 24th to review progress with its Strategic Plan and update it. Town Administration will be working on follow up and will be back to the Board with an updated plan later this year.
Securing Nantucket through Strategic Planning - October 2023
- Town Council Study Committee – on October 4th, the Select Board appointed a Town Council Study Committee in response to the vote on Article 81 of the 2023 Annual Town Meeting. The Committee’s first meeting has been scheduled for November 30th. Agenda to follow.
Culture & Tourism
TODAY - Join us on Main Street for the Annual Halloween Parade!
All costumed adults and children are encouraged to join in on the fun. Meet at lower Main Street at 3:30 PM to participate in the costume contest. The parade begins at 4:00 PM.
Historic Preservation
Earlier this month, National Alliance of Preservation Commissions CAMP (Commission Assistance & Mentoring Program) trainers, Lisa Craig, Will Cook and Robin Zeigler visited Nantucket to assist with a special CAMP-related project. Town of Nantucket Preservation Planner Holly Backus joined them in the tour of some of Nantucket's most iconic and historic locations.
Fire Department
Community Wildfire Preparedness Event Recap
On October 1, families gathered at Tom Nevers Park for our Wildfire Preparedness Event, an educational and exciting day! Special guest Smokey the Bear made a memorable appearance, and kids not only explored fire trucks but also met firefighters and had a blast using a fire hose.
A big thank you to all the families who joined us! And to the Town's Fire Department, Nantucket Memorial Airport Fire Department, MA Forest Fire Control, Nantucket Land Bank, and Nantucket Conservation Foundation for making this a successful event.
Health & Human Services Department
Upcoming COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics:
The Town of Nantucket, in partnership with the State of Massachusetts and Cataldo Ambulance Company, is pleased to offer COVID vaccine doses to all interested persons. Pfizer and Moderna doses will both be available.
- Dates: Saturday, November 4 and Saturday, November 18
- Hours: 9am - 2pm
- Location: Nantucket Elementary School Cafeteria on Backus Lane.
These clinics will feature Moderna and Pfizer vaccines of the new formulation, and the CDC advises that all individuals should get a single dose. This marks the transition to seasonal COVID-19 vaccines, similar to flu vaccines.
Nantucket Cottage Hospital COVID-19 vaccine clinics (adults 19+) -Appointments are required and are available to book by calling 508-825-1000.
- Tuesday, October 31, 2023
- Thursday, November 2, 2023
STEAM Program at the Nantucket Boys & Girls Club
The Nantucket Boys & Girls Club partnered with the Town to offer a 7-week program introducing Nantucket youth to STEAM career opportunities on Nantucket. Kids had to opportunity to gain hands-on learning from Town employees from the Health Department, Natural Resources Department, Nantucket Airport, Department of Public Works and Nantucket Fire Department.
Housing
Healey-Driscoll Administration Unveils $4 Billion Affordable Homes Act
On October 18th, the Healey-Driscoll Administration unveiled a $4 billion plan to jumpstart the production of homes and make housing more affordable across Massachusetts. The Affordable Homes Act, a comprehensive package of spending, policy and programmatic actions, represents the largest proposed investment in housing in the state’s history while simultaneously striking at the root causes of housing unaffordability and making progress on the state’s climate goals.
Natural Resources
Nantucket Awarded Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management Grant
The Natural Resources Department has secured a $421,875 coastal resilience grant from the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management. This funding is essential for our Downtown Neighborhood Flood Barrier-Phase 1 Project, specifically targeting the Downtown waterfront along Easy Street from Straight Wharf to Steamboat Wharf. Chronic inundation threatens this area, impacting ferry services, businesses, and our community.
Over the next 18 months, Natural Resources staff will be developing comprehensive strategies to combat flooding, ensuring the safety and resilience of this vital downtown area. This includes conducting thorough flood risk assessments, exploring innovative alternatives, engaging the community and stakeholders, and creating a strong foundation for a more secure future. Stay tuned for updates as we work together to protect Nantucket!
Information & Technology
October is Cybersecurity Awareness month
During the month of October, users of the Town’s information systems were sent weekly, short, easy-to-read, informative tips and advice on cybersecurity. On Friday, October 13th, officials from the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) visited Nantucket to provide Ransomware Awareness and Prevention Training to our employees. The importance of awareness and cyber vigilance cannot be overestimated; make sure your devices are properly protected!
Planning & Economic Development Commission
Three Sidepath Proposals and Three Questions
- Tom Nevers Road Sidepath - A short section of the proposed Tom Nevers Road path includes a boardwalk over a low-lying conservation area. Is this experience worth considering if it increases construction and maintenance costs? Let us know here!
- Wauwinet Road Sidepath - If impacts to natural resources and abutting properties can be mitigated, do you support construction of the complete path between Polpis Road to the Gatehouse? Give us your opinion here!
- Pleasant Street and Williams Lane Complete Street Improvements - There are two options being considered to accommodate bicycle and pedestrian traffic along Pleasant Street. Would you change a section of Pleasant Street to one-way to accommodate both types of traffic? Leave your comment here!
NP&EDC Wants to Hear from You!
- Our Vision - A resilient, sustainable, and equitable Nantucket community balancing economic, environmental, and social factors for current and future needs.
- Our Mission - To provide leadership, support and coordination for the Nantucket region by developing plans, policies, programs, and projects that consider the diversity of our demographics, culture, and environment to benefit both visitors and residents; to serve as an advocate outside the Nantucket region, fostering cooperative efforts with other government entities; and to promote public and private efforts to resolve issues, solve problems, meet needs, and explore opportunities whenever and wherever such efforts can benefit from sound regional planning.
We want you to share your suggestion for 3 organizations or roles that could be considered for representation on the Commission. Click HERE to leave your comments.
Public Works
Latex Paint Collection Event Recap
On October 21, DPW hosted a paint recycling event with the help of RECOLOR. Nearly 800 gallons of paint were collected. Recycling paint prevents harmful chemicals from seeping into the environment, and saves valuable landfill space, contributing to a more sustainable future for our island and planet. Thank you to all who participated!
DPW is in the process of creating a storage area and setting up multiple drop-off paint days throughout the year.
Southern Pine Beetle Mitigation Efforts
This week, the DPW tree crew worked on the urgent removal of trees infested with Southern Pine Beetle on Town property. This is in addition to the infestation already recorded on Nantucket Conservation Foundation property. The Southern Pine Beetle poses a significant threat to pine forests, and swift action is crucial to curb their impact.
The Nantucket Conservation Foundation is actively working on suppression management efforts to reduce Southern Pine Beetle infestation and destruction. Suppression efforts may include cutting of infested trees, understory thinning, and extensive monitoring of beetles.
Sewer Projects
Sea Street Sewer Force Main No. 3
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 October, the contractor, Robert B. Our completed sewer force main installation on Surfside Road between 1st Way and Vesper Lane.
The crew will progress the installation of the force main down Surfside Road towards the 4-way intersection at Atlantic Avenue. Work will continue to occur at night between the hours of 4:00 PM and 3:00 AM. Temporary paving of Surfside Road is conducted on a weekly basis every Friday. It is estimated that this portion of the work will be completed by Thanksgiving week. Once complete, the same crew will resume work in the downtown area on Lily Street.
Water Department
On October 30, 2023, construction began on a significant water main extension project west of the Nantucket Airport. This project will bring to the area 14,000 linear feet of water main, enhanced stormwater systems on Nobadeer Way and Skyline Drive, and improved roadways.
This project will not only provide water service to residents impacted by PFAS but also enhances public safety with the installation of new fire hydrants.
Thank you for reading the Town of Nantucket October 2023 News!