I ON SELECTMEN

CatherineStover

AT ITS MEETING NOV. 29, THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:

(Newly elected member Catherine Stover present for her maiden session)

• Heard an announcement from Transportation Planner Mike Burns that the new mid-island round-about under construction will have to be closed to through traffic sporadically for another two weeks while paving is completed. The closure is expected to be over by Dec. 15, he said.

• Tabled a request (Chadwick recused) until Dec. 13 from Nantucket Homes for People seeking a building permit in advance of its sewer permit.

• Made appointments to open seats on the Commission on Disability, with Liz Winship being chosen for that board, the Conservation Commission, with Diane Holdgate chosen to fill her brother Arch McColl's remaining time in his term, picked Cheryl Bartlett for a seat on the Council of Human Services and reappointed Flint Ranney to another three-year term as the island's representative to the Steamship Authority.

• Learned of a coastal pollution remediation grant of $125,000 to the town for its Consue Springs clean-up project. Marine Department superintendent Dave Fronzuto said Nantucket was one of just five communities to be granted funds and that the island's allocation was the highest of all in the state.

DougBennett

• Heard an informational overview on the process of gasification at the landfill from the town's engineering firm of Camp, Dresser and McKee. CDM representative Bruce Haskell explained that the clean technology which can also produce electric power is gaining attention and may be appropriate for the island to address its construction and demolition waste, bulky items like mattresses, tires and more, to avoid shipping costs and save landfill space. Transportation Planner Mike Burns, who is also on the Energy Study Committee, said that board supports this technology and would like the concept to be further examined. The idea is also supported by Department of Public Works director Jeff Willett and selectman Doug Bennett. Whitney Hall, president of Waste Options, also investigating the concept, said the average cost for a plant suitable for Nantucket is coming in at $10-to-$15 million and that there do not appear to be problems gaining Department of Environmental Protection permits as long as raw feed stock (sludge) is not used in the process. Composting and recycling would continue as separate waste methods.

WhiteyWillauer

• Heard a review of the preliminary FY08 general fund budget, indicating that at this point, though numbers will change during the budget process, the projected expenses for FY08 are $70 million including roughly $33 million in town salaries, up by nearly $2 million, and more than $9 million for town employee health insurance, up by just over $1 million from last year. Operating expenses are estimated at just over $11 million, less than $1 million more than last year.

CONVENING AS THE BOARD OF HEALTH, MEMBERS:

• Heard an updated presentation of proposed long-term rental regulations meant to enhance the health and proper living conditions for islanders who lease housing. Health Inspector Richard Ray said it is anticipated that property owners with substandard units will not volunteer for inspections and will need to be pursued, perhaps through reports from renters fed up with their living conditions.

BrianChadwick

• Heard a flu season awareness update wherein Ray recommends that people get flu shots - especially children ages two to six in daycare or kindergarten situations, senior citizens and anyone with respiratory issues or compromised respiratory systems - and said people should stay home if they have a cold or think they are getting the flu to avoid spreading germs in the workplace or community settings. More than 100 cases of the flu have already been documented in the state, he said, with that number expected to rise as the flu season progresses. Ray said he hopes by this time next year the Nantucket Health Department will be sponsoring flu clinics.

• Heard a plea from Ray for people to stop feeding the ducks at Consue Spring so they relocate and allow the area to be cleaned up.

AT ITS DEC. 6 MEETING THE BOARD WILL:

• Renew annual licenses for liquor, entertainment, vehicle rentals, vehicle sales, mobile food services, flowers and produce services and common victuallers.

• Hear a request for a 2007 temporary increased resident population estimate. • Consider a citizen request for partial waiver of a water bill for 135 Orange St.

MikeKopko

• Hear a Nantucket Housing Office request to fund advocacy services to help implement the Nantucket Housing Bank legislation.

• Hear of a resignation from the Finance Committee from Lindsey Perry, who is living off island.

• Hear a departmental overview from the Historic District Commission. • Hear FY08 general fund budget recommendations.