e t c e t e r a
1. A number of unspecified additional things; 2. pl. additional items, odds and ends

NATIONAL GRID SEEKS RATE INCREASE National Grid has filed a request with the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy for a new rate to cover the cost of the second cable system that serves Nantucket Island. The new 31-mile submarine cable system began operating in April 2006; the original cable system that also serves the island was placed in service in January 1997.

The new rate is designed to minimize the impact on Nantucket customers by blending and leveling out costs for both cables until 2017, when the surcharge to cover the cost of the first cable system ends.

National Grid is seeking an increase of 0.892 cents per kilowatt-hour to the cable facilities surcharge, which will raise the current average rate of 1.692 cents per kWh to 2.584 cents per kWh, effective January 1, 2007.

If approved, a typical summer residential customer using 500 kWh of electricity per month would see an increase of 5.0 percent, or $4.93 in the overall monthly bill. Currently, a typical summer residential customer has a total monthly bill of $97.70. A typical winter bill would increase 3.3 percent or $3.06, from $93.95 to $97.01.

“We followed through on our commitment to make every effort to mitigate the cost of the second cable for customers. By blending the existing cable facilities surcharge with the new one and spreading out these costs over time, we are able to reduce the impact of this proposed rate increase on our customers,” said David Fredericks, vice president for National Grid on Nantucket. “Additionally, we will continue with our current seasonal rate structure that addresses increased seasonal usage resulting in a slightly higher rate during the summer season.”

Nantucket’s second cable system, a $42 million project, was built and installed to meet the rapidly growing electric demand on the island as well as enhance the reliability of its supply system. It adds another 35 megawatts to the existing electricity capacity for the island provided by the first cable system. Both cables currently serve 12,000 year-round customers and approximately 40,000 additional summer residents and visitors.

MARCAVITCH LEAVING HDC FOR HOUSING OFFICE Four years after joining the staff of the Historic District Commission, Assistant Administrator Aaron Marcavitch is leaving the HDC to take the executive director position with the Nantucket Housing Office.

Marcavitch, who has a bachelor’s degree in historic preservation from Roger Williams University and a master’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University, said he wants to the move up to the next level of paid community service by taking this job. He said the Nantucket Housing Office directorship is another form of preservation in terms of community character. Renting his home on Hooper Farm Road, Marcavitch is the ideal person for the job because he can empathize with prospective first-time island homebuyers.

His first day with the Housing Office is Jan. 5. His starting pay, although not confirmed because Marcavitch has yet to sign a contract with Sustainable Development, should be around $75,000, part of the amount allotted to Sustainable Nantucket this year from the Community Preservation Committee for the executive director, according to Nantucket Housing Office board chairman Emily Avery.

HDC Administrator Mark Voigt will be left alone in the HDC office as Office Administrator Erin Kerwin is also leaving her post. Kerwin is moving back to Potsdam, N.Y. where she attended college at State University of New York (SUNY) at Potsdam to enter a graduate program for counseling. Kerwin, whose last day with the HDC is Dec. 26, is going to work as a career counselor in the SUNY Potsdam career planning office.

SCHOOLS TO STEP UP SECURITY IN JANUARY Beginning in January, the public schools plan to have part-time security personnel on hand after school.

Director of facilities Jack McFarland said the hope is to hire two to three people shortly after the new year. “We want to have more of a presence in the school buildings after 2:30 p.m.,” McFarland noted.

Although School Resource Officer Chris Carnivale works at the school every day, McFarland said additional hours would be cost-prohibitive if billed as overtime by the police department. At last Tuesday’s School Committee meeting, he proposed an annual budget of $70,000 to fund the positions. He said a job description will be forthcoming, and the positions will be posted and advertised.

“I think we need to acknowledge that the building is a community center,” noted School Committee Chairman Susan Genthner. “In the after school hours it receives extremely heavy use by students and the community, and we want to ensure the safety of both.”

McFarland said that security people would not only keep an eye on the doors, but would roam the grounds.

Also planned for the new year is the installation of additional security cameras. McFarland said that although his original estimate was to add 16 cameras, the number of stairwells and corners in the school buildings could prompt more. He plans to bring in a consultant to ensure the best placement.

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