Letters
Decisions shape our future To the editor:

Having just finished viewing the tape of last week’s Nantucket Planning and Economic Development Commission (NP&EDC) meeting on Channel 17, I now understand the decision of the two at-large members to resign and Debbie Bennett’s decision not to seek re-appointment.

It was a good thing that the lights were on in the cafeteria because, otherwise, this group demonstrated that they would have been operating completely in the dark. I was embarrassed to observe the Commission in action, but grateful to have had the opportunity to be alerted to its ineptitude.

Change in the constitution of the NP&EDC is greatly needed, particularly because of the responsibility it holds for the future of our Island. Encourage qualified citizens to seek appointment in May to fill the at-large seats. Please pay attention and ask pointed questions of the candidates for Planning Board when elections are held next April. All five members of the Planning Board also sit on the Commission.

The decisions of the Planning Board and Commission, which will shape our future, are clearly too important to rest in the hands of some of the people I saw seated at those tables tonight.

Improvements in Nantucket’s government were started this year with the two newly elected members to the Board of Selectmen; continuing improvements are clearly needed with changes to the members of this Board and Commission as well.

— Charity I. Benz

No need to overcomplicate

To the editor:

In this day and age of complicated procedures, regulations and paperwork, one would assume that hiring someone for the “top job” always requires an extensive, time-consuming, costly search for the “qualified” person.

There are situations where that process may be the correct approach to take. Sometimes, the right person isn’t sitting directly across from you. But there are occasions where the only expense will be a slight bump in pay and ordering a new nametag with a different title.

The town didn’t need a nationwide search to promote Bruce Watts or Randy Norris to their respective top jobs. Here’s what can happen when board members decide a search is needed.

The Steamship Authority goes out and hires Armand Tiberio in 1996. Then makes the same mistake five years later and hires Fred Raskin smack in the midst of a battle of political wits only an “insider” could begin to comprehend.

If Wayne Lamson could have been persuaded to take the top job nine years ago, the islands would have saved about $7 million in wasted ventures, not to mention severance packages, personal vehicles and moving expenses.

In Lamson’s case, he understands the red tape as well as the nuts and bolts of the operation. More has been accomplished in six months than in the last seven years.

Sometimes “qualified” people can be overqualified for certain positions. You don’t always need a Masters Degree in some gobblygook subject matter. You just need to understand the job and go to work. The NP & EDC couldn’t have made a more obvious decision in simply ordering Andrew Vorce a new nametag.

— Nathaniel S. Lowell

Just another step

Statement of the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound (APNS) on Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) Decision on Cape Wind cable

To the editor:

This is not a win for anyone. It is just one more step in a very long process. It is time to put the interests of Cape Cod first, not the special interests.

Although this is a decision only on the cable and not the whole project, we are disappointed that any group of Massachusetts officials would give away our public coastal resources without at least first fully examining the impacts to our fishing community, our commonwealth’s environment or getting something in return for our state treasury and taxpayers.

Cape Wind still has many hurdles ahead including several additional cable permits from DTE and other local and state agencies and a federal permit for the overall project. Cape Wind must also remove any turbines planned for state waters as they are prohibited in ocean sanctuaries like Nantucket Sound.

— Susan Nickerson,

Executive Director of the

Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound

What a place!

To the editor:

Nantucket — what a wonderful community! On Saturday, May 7, the Nantucket Community Music Center presented an extraordinary concert by the University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club. Behind the scenes, it was necessary for the NCMC to provide housing for fifty-four young men of the Glee Club.

The NCMC called upon the Nantucket community to open their homes and to provide sleeping accommodations, breakfasts and transportation for Friday and Saturday, through Sunday morning.

The enthusiastic response to our outreach was overwhelming, and we had many more beds offered than were needed. This proved providential, since understandably some homes became unavailable as we approached the May 6th arrival of the Glee Club.

Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate as well as the community. During the heavy rains and high winds our “host” families went far beyond the “bare necessities” requested by the NCMC, and each host provided wonderful hospitality. Further, when it became apparent that the Glee Club could not get transportation off the island on Sunday morning (which was also Mothers’ Day), a frantic round of early morning telephone calls was made by the NCMC to the hosts.

Each and every host family happily offered to extend the hosting through Monday, notwithstanding that some had to rearrange their plans for Mothers’ Day. Through the entire extended visit warm friendships developed between the host families and their young and energetic guests, some of which already have resulted in future plans between them.

While our hosts had a great deal of pleasure from the service they provided for the NCMC, they performed an important and successful benefit for the Nantucket community. Uniformly, the young men of the Glee Club agreed that in all their touring (including all regions of the United States, and in Europe, Asia and South America) they had never enjoyed the hospitality and warmth they found in Nantucket.

While the national media has tried to apply an image of wealth and snobbery to Nantucket, that false image has been fully dispelled for the Glee Club and its staff.

I wish to publicly acknowledge our host families: Audrey and Bill Obremski; Louise and Jim Ozias; Susie Jarrel and Bill Hance; Ann Maury; Jackie and Al Peterson; Edythe Travelstead; Joelle and John Bouchard; Sally and Dick Beckwith; Kathy and George Butterworth; Christine and Ed Sanford; Judy and John Lochtefeld; Mary Beth Splaine and Jack Weinhold; Joan and Les Ottinger; Marcia Tooker; Donna and Bill Ellis; Patty Tasch; Laura and David Fredericks; Normand Berthelette and Binth Rustad; Pam and Chris Lohmann; Susan Lapine and Don Mroz; Bev and Phil Stanbaugh; Judy and Dan Drake; and Georgia Snell. This terrific group of our neighbors truly represents the genuine spirit of the community and certainly are good will ambassadors for Nantucket.

This letter would be incomplete without commenting upon the many local residents and business people who extended the hand of friendship and many courtesies to the members of the Glee Club. So many folks walked up to young men on the streets, in restaurants and stores with warm greetings. Several of the young men recounted that complete strangers picked up dinner tabs and provided other “treats” for our visiting entertainers.

The performance by the Glee Club at the concert was met with tremendous applause and acclaim, beginning when the singers merely marched on the stage, and this continued throughout and following the performance. Further, we thank Barbara Elder for providing the wonderful music of our own Accidentals and Naturals, as well as Marcia Hempel, who both accompanied and conducted the Accidentals and Naturals when Barbara was stuck in America by the wild weather.

What a pleasant way to open the concert and to allow us to feel justifiable pride in our high school students.

One often asks why Nantucket is able to successfully support so many 501(c)(3) organizations on such a small island. The answer is simple: it’s the community.

Very truly yours,

— Michael D. Varbalow

Secretary, NCMC