Heavy Town Meeting turnout despite daunting warrant
BY MARY LANCASTER INDEPENDENT WRITER
Adaunting 126-article warrant did not keep citizens away from Town Meeting 2008, with 601 residents showing up at the high school auditorium Monday for night one, compared to 469 on the first night of Town Meeting 2007.

As is custom here, the session opened with a moment of silence while Moderator Sarah Alger recognized the loss of three islanders this year who made significant contributions to the community - Albert Brock, Alvin Topham and Alan Brown. Before voters began calling the articles they wanted to discuss or amend, outgoing Planning Board member Frank Spriggs was given a standing ovation, a plaque from the state senate and words of appreciation for his long devotion to improving island life and work on the board.

"You've really crossed the spectrum," Legislative Liaison Tim Madden told Spriggs. "You've really given so much back. It has been a pleasure to know you."

Outgoing Cape and Islands Representative Eric Turkington was also honored and given a Nantucket Booster Club tie with thanks from Madden and a proclamation from the town and county in appreciation of his 20 years of service on Nantucket's behalf.

"This island has given me more issues to fight than any other district," said Turkington. "You certainly have set the record for Home Rule Petitions. The island is a special place."

Alger predicted correctly when she said she was probably unrealistically optimistic that the volume of called articles would be minimal. Voters picked out 40, with several having technical amendments prior to discussion.

Though it was called and challenged, the multi-million dollar appropriation proposal for the 2 Fairgrounds public safety complex passed easily. Article 20, for approval of the airport's bargaining agreement generated debate, with the Finance Committee objecting to its union employee increases being higher than what other unionized departments agreed to. Ultimately, the voters cast a strong voice in favor of its passage. Article 26, for appropriations from the Community Preservation Committee, was called by Alice McWade. Amendments were made reducing funding source amounts from the property tax surcharge and matching state funds and almost doubling the amount from the undesignated reserve balance fund, but the bottom line total of $3,245,564 remained the same.

McWade objected to a $350,000 allocation for the Nantucket Housing Office, the funds slated for a housing resource center and two affordable housing units on town-owned property on Miller's Lane. Noting that she has witnessed some NHO rentals empty for periods of time, that rents have increased and that some tenants have left the properties, McWade questioned the need for its own resource office, wondered why it could not be located in the planned Human Services complex. She said she preferred to see the funds go to Habitat for Humanity, which had experienced allocation reductions in the past.

Town Counsel Paul DeRensis explained that CPC allocations may not be decreased from one category to increase another, but a particular allocation can be lowered with the consent of the CPC. McWade asked to have the NHO allotment reduced to $50,000. After responses supporting the original amount were heard from CPC Chairman Ken Beaugrand and NHO Executive Director Aaron Marcavitch, however, voters unanimously approved the Finance Committee's motion to adopt the article as submitted.

Yesterday morning Marcavitch explained that the $350,000 is intended only for the construction of two affordable apartments, which, on average, cost between $175,000 and $250,000 to build. The design concept to include the resource center is not finalized. Marcavitch added that the Human Services office spaces will be rentals, and if the NHO can avoid paying rent and have adequate room to fit its executive director, program director, an in-house property manager, space for housing education classes and document storage under one roof it will. He also explained that turnover at NHO properties is contributable to the overall high cost of island living and people unable to find work, as well as the occasional need to repair or renovate units. The buildings are all used structures the NHO was able to acquire for its affordable housing program, and the best time to repair or upgrade them is between tenants.

"They all are full now except one which is in the lottery [process]," he said of the current stock of 24 rentals. "If someone has a question about why these

are empty just give us a call." I