I ON SELECTMEN
AT ITS MEETING WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN COVENING AS THE BOARD OF HEALTH
+ The board unanimously approved variance requests for a tight tank septic at 1 Pimny's Point and a well replacement at 265 Madaket Road.

CatherineStover

+ Heard an update on septic system inspections in the Nantucket and Madaket watershed areas. Health Inspector Richard Ray said of 1,616 properties in the Nantucket watershed area, 202 have already been inspected with only a small number found to be failing. Of the 698 properties in Madaket, 37 have been inspected with 10 septics found to be failing at older homes.

+ Heard that the location for a public forum on proposed long-term rental regulations will be the large group instruction room at the high school. The forum will be at 7 p.m. on April 23. The proposed regulations requiring inspections and licensure of properties rented for more than 29 consecutive days address safety and sanitary conditions. "I want to listen to the community," said Ray, noting that Falmouth and Hyannis have had similar regulations for several years. "If they like it, they like it and if they hate it, they hate it. This is nothing more than a public forum to have people tell me what they think. We are simply trying to protect public health. This may exacerbate the housing issue, but what's more important?"

DougBennett

+ Learned that the state auditor's office has issued a review of the state's health departments, but did not include Nantucket in a list of offices behind on inspections. "We are a health department that has met or exceeded any expectations," said Ray.

CONVENING AS THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, MEMBERS:

+ Approved the payroll and treasury warrants for March with the exception of payment of some bills from the sheriff's department. Though the sheriff's budget is approved by the state County Finance Review Board, the town may withhold for examination any bills they question as appropriate expenditures. Selectman Brian Chadwick questioned the purchase of thousands of wiffle ball bats with Sheriff Richard Bretschneider's name and the slogan 'Say no to drugs' printed on them as well as 24 T-shirts for the soccer team. "I think the sheriff should be able to do this," said Selectman Doug Bennett. "He is using passive aggression to keep kids off drugs. I think it's a good message." The vote to withhold some bill payments was 4 to 1 with Bennett opposed.

WhiteyWillauer

+ Unanimously accepted a planning department conceptual plan for the Nobadeer Farm Road bike path.

CONVENING AS THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN, MEMBERS:

+ Unanimously approved a finance department request to allow the treasurer to borrow $4.9 million as a "tax anticipation note" from Nantucket Bank for 45 days. Treasurer Deborah Weiner explained that this is not uncommon and is to maintain a cash flow until property tax payments begin coming in at the start of May.

+ Unanimously approved requests from the Nantucket Land Council for execution of conservation restrictions by the Linda Loring Nature Foundation for 90 and 110 Eel Point Road.

+ Rescheduled for April 4 a public hearing to determine tax allocations by classification and percentage, if any, of residential exemptions for FY07.

+ Heard a status report on application of the Sewer District criteria of Article 42 at Town Meeting. Some audience members voiced concern that the criteria is confusing. No vote was taken because the list must be approved or disapproved at Town Meeting.

BrianChadwick

+ Voted 4 to 1 (Chadwick opposed) to support a recent Finance Committee motion with new text concerning a proposed Sewer Act and advance the motion for Town Meeting consideration. The Sewer Act is Article 60 on the warrant.

+ Heard parting comments from outgoing selectmen Catherine Stover and Doug Bennett. Stover said she continues to favor the idea of "floating" town employees between departments based on need, believes the town should obtain insurance for historic and current public town records, and believes there is a need for an additional island cemetery as the elder population grows. "Other than that, I have enjoyed sitting with my brothers," said Stover, who was elected to an interim seat on the board last November. "I have enjoyed the trip." Bennett said he believes housing remains the island's most critical issue, that roads need more investment for maintenance and that some private roads should become public ways. He also cited the need for a transportation center, consideration of power generation a wind farm could produce and the importance of encouraging young people to serve in town government. "Do not leave the community of Nantucket to others," he said, adding that he plans to earn his master's degree in administration from UMass Boston and will be getting married.

MikeKopko

AT ITS MEETING TONIGHT, APRIL 4,

THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN WILL:

+ Hear a citizen/departmental request for call firefighters to be designated as special municipal employees.

+ Hear a request to accept Jason Flanagan's resignation as a Planning Board alternate.

+ Hear a request from the Adult Community Day Center to accept a gift to its program.

+ Consider a change of corporate name on the alcoholic license for Hatch's Package Store.

+ Hold a public hearing to determine tax allocation by classification and percentage, if any, of the residential exemption for FY07 (continued from March 28).

+ Hear a building and zoning departmental overview.

- Compiled by Mary Lancaster