L E T T E R S
BOARD SHOULD REMAIN ELECTED

To the editor:

An open letter to the voters of Nantucket, Board of Selectmen, Nantucket Civic League and Marine Department.

At our meeting held on February 20, 2007, the Harbor and Shellfish Advisory Board discussed the misconception held by the public, as evidenced at a Civic League meeting, that we are in favor of becoming an appointed board.

On October 22, 1976 An Act Establishing a Harbor and Shellfish Advisory Board in the Town of Nantucket was approved by the Massachusetts legislature, under Chapter 465. This board would consist of seven elected members, serving to make recommendations and to advise the Board of Selectmen on matters concerning duties and responsibilities of the Harbormaster, Shellfish Warden and use and management of the water and shellfish of the Town of Nantucket.

While it appears that many are of the opinion that, other than shellfish and its related needs, SHAB has no interest or desire to "use" its enacted powers, the fault lies with the Board of Selectmen in not directing the relevant matters to SHAB for review. Herein lies the potential problem: if the BOS does not refer matters to SHAB, or disregards recommendations and advice given by SHAB, how can SHAB be effective and utilize its "powers?" And, if the BOS appointed SHAB, would those members reflect the opinions and desires of that board (and simply be "puppets") and be useless as a voice of the people?

With three vacancies coming up this April, SHAB needs a boost with some new members who care about water quality (from road runoff to fertilizers and ducks), harbor conditions (from mooring field management to buoy marker placements), management of resources (from hiring of interns to educating the public), shellfish (from licensing to propagation to inspecting catch), and more.

Keep it ELECTED and get involved!

Sincerely,

- Patricia Stolte, Patrick Sullivan and Frederick Holdgate

Members Harbor and Shellfish Advisory Board