e t c e t e r a
1. A number of unspecified additional things; 2. pl. additional items, odds and ends
TOWN GOVERNMENT STUDY COMMITTEE SUBMITS FINAL REPORT

The Town Government Study Committee has submitted its final report to the Board of Selectmen, County Commissioners and Town Administrator. The report is scheduled to be reviewed at the selectmen's meeting on March 14.

The report reviews the committee's deliberations and sets forth its reasoning on the many issues it considered, including changing the title of the Town Administrator to Town Manager, changing three town boards from elected to appointed and mandating an audit committee. Nine articles submitted for the 2007 Annual Town Meeting resulted from the committee's recommendations.

The report also contains many advisory recommendations for improving the processes of town and county government and a list of nine areas requiring further study. That list includes changing to a mayor/council form of government or, in the alternative, implementing substantive changes in how the Board of Selectmen is constituted and functions.

One of the Warrant articles proposed by the committee mandates a review of government processes every five years. However, in its report, the committee has left the door open for a continuing role for itself.

SHERIFF OFFERS $1 MILLION FOR NEW PUBLIC SAFETY COMPLEX

Sheriff Richard Bretschneider is offering the town $1 million from deeds excise tax revenue towards the purchase of equipment for the central dispatch planned for the new public safety facility at 2 Fairgrounds Road. In a letter to Town Administrator Libby Gibson dated March 6, Bretschneider said the contribution is pending approval and appropriation by the County Government Finance Review Board. Central dispatch will link police and fire communications as well as include emergency management.

"It's for the good of the community - for protecting the community," said Bretschneider. "At the same time, this is what these funds are for. It is the taxpayers' money and this ensures their taxes won't go up with the use of this money, so it's a benefit for public safety and the islander's pocketbook." Gibson said, "I appreciate this gesture from the sheriff and look forward to working with him when the time is appropriate for acceptance of this contribution and an ongoing funding mechanism for the public safety facility."

OIL LEAK TAKES EAGLE OFF-LINE FOR TWO DAYS

During its 6:30 a.m. Saturday trip from Nantucket to Hyannis, an oil tank leak was discovered on the MV Eagle, causing the boat to be out of service until it was repaired and could leave Hyannis at 5 p.m. Sunday. Although the freight vessel Sankaty filled in on the five trips the Eagle missed, it is a smaller boat. Consequently, by Sunday afternoon there were about 60 vehicles backed up on standby at the Hyannis terminal. H. Flint Ranney, the Steamship Authority's Nantucket representative, explained that the Eagle made an extra trip Sunday night, docking at the island at 1 a.m. As of Monday there were just nine cars left on standby. Ranney said the Eagle's oil tank had to be drained, welded and refilled before it was operable. I