e t c e t e r a
1. A number of unspecified additional things; 2. pl. additional items, odds and ends
GOVERNMENT STUDY COMMITTEE TO SUBMIT NINE ARTICLES AND MANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TOWN MEETING The Town Government Study Committee has decided on nine warrant articles it will submit for the 2007 April Town Meeting and tonight will ask the selectmen for a two-week submission extension so the texts can be reviewed and perfected by Town Counsel Paul DeRensis.

The TGSC will also be making approximately 30 recommendations for improving governmental functions and changes to the town's charter that do not require article form. Prior to Town Meeting the group will release a lengthy report that will be posted on its Web site and be available to the public at the Town Clerk's office, the library and other locations, said TGSC chairman Allen Reinhard.

Home Rule Petitions seeking to have the Planning Board and Historic District Commission members appointed by the selectmen rather than elected will likely draw some debate. Reinhard explained that this change would allow the selectmen to choose representatives of these important boards who possess particular expertise related to their duties but who may not want to go through the election process. It would further give the selectmen the discretion to remove board members who are not adequately performing their roles.

The Shellfish and Harbor Advisory Board has now been thrown into this mix after SHAB indicated to the committee that it believes it will be better if members are appointed because of their knowledge on harbor issues.

The articles include a proposal to change the title of the town administrator to that of town manager. Reinhard said though our town administrator has more powers than many other towns' managers, the term carries more weight within municipal management circles and essentially is a recognition of the authority given the position.

Another article would reassign some appointment powers from the selectmen to the town manager to strengthen that position. Reinhard said the selectmen would still appoint regulatory boards such as the Airport Commission, but the town manager would gain advisory boards such as the Non-voting Taxpayers and Commission on Disability.

Another article seeks to prohibit selectmen from holding jobs as town employees. Reinhard said arguments on both sides of the issue include letting the voters decide who they want as selectmen regardless of whether they work for the town, and conversely, whether being a town employee and a selectman poses a conflict of interest.

The group decided that the definition of a town employee is one who works 20 or more hours per week and is entitled to benefits. Those people could still run for the office, but if they won a board seat they would either have to give up their town job or reduce their hours to less than 20 a week. Reinhard said if this article passes it would not be retroactive, therefore if a town employee had already won in April's election that person's overall status would not change.

Other articles include mandating the town's Audit Committee because currently the charter only specifies that the selectmen may create a committee. This proposal is based on a recommendation by the Finance Committee.

There will be a proposal to eliminate the charter's reference to the town's personnel board because the board no longer functions. There will also be a request to create a bylaw establishing a five-year regular review of town government operations including a review of the charter.

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COMMUNITY FOUNDATION QUALIFIES FOR IRA ROLLOVER CONTRIBUTIONS On August 17, 2006 President Bush signed the Pension Protection Act of 2006. The significant item in this bill for the Community Foundation for Nantucket, and other Nantucket public charities, is that it permits current gift IRA charitable rollovers of up to $100,000.

During 2006 and 2007, IRA owners 70 and older can rollover up to $100,000 of their IRA to a public charity with the benefit that the distribution is not included in the donor's taxable income, thus simplifying the donor's tax return and saving some tax. These rollovers cannot be made to donor-advised funds, private foundations, or to deferred gift plans. IRA owners should contact their IRA bank or other custodian to direct transfers to qualified public charities, such as the Community Foundation for Nantucket.

Peggy Gifford, president of the Community Foundation for Nantucket, said, "We are hopeful that individuals with large IRA balances will consider transferring some of them to the Community Foundation and save some money on their taxes, while supporting the new Foundation's goal of philanthropy for the island's nonprofits."

For more information on the Community Foundation for Nantucket, contact Bob Felch, director of development, at 508-825-9292, or www.cfnan.com.

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