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Special Town Meeting opens on Monday night On Monday, Nantucket opens its second Town Meeting of the year. This Special Town Meeting, originally required to seek voter approval for the town to borrow additional money to cover the cost overages for 'Sconset's new elevated water tank and for a second one for the town off Polpis Road, evolved into a 12-article warrant of essentially housekeeping projects. For any of these articles to be voted on at this Special Town Meeting, there must be at least five percent of the 8,163 registered voters in attendance - 401 people - to obtain the quorum needed at special Town Meetings to make appropriations, said Town Clerk Catherine Flanagan Stover. Monday's meeting begins at 7 p.m. Liquid assets Last summer's record-breaking pumping of 79 million gallons in June by the Wannacomet Water Co. from its Wyers Valley and State Forest wells, two million more than in June 2007, underscored the need for the town's second water tank that will provide an additional two million gallons of water storage and pressure in an elevated storage tank at the eastern end of the State Forest opposite Shimmo Road. Since the town's existing water tank off Washing Pond Road, which holds two million gallons, relies on the elevation of the tank itself on the land, only 777,000 gallons of its capacity can be used to meet the state-required minimum pressure of 20 pounds per square inch. In case of fire, to keep up a good head of pressure, the Washing Pond Road water tower also has to provide around 3,000 gallons per minute for three hours downtown for firefighting needs. Meeting both these demands in the peak usage months during the summer is becoming increasingly difficult as the island's population expands. With this new tank, all of its capacity would be usable for water pressure. Unfortunately for Wannacomet Water Company, the cost of this new tank increased 44.6 percent since it was designed in 2006, adding $2,815,510 to the original cost estimate of $5 million due to increases in the cost of steel, concrete, fuel and transportation. "We knew a year ago the appropriation was going to be very close, and then it became obvious we would exceed the appropriation," said Wannacomet Water Company Manager Bob Gardner. Article 1, if adopted, would give the town permission to borrow this money to help pay for Wannacomet's new tower that it wants to have online in early 2010. The good news is that this will not impact the tax base because the money for this tank is coming from Wannacomet water customers known as ratepayers. Wannacomet has already filtered out enough money to start paying for this new tower from a surcharge on the monthly water bills paid by the town district's 5,600 users, so there is no increase in rates to cover the adjusted cost of this tower. On a parallel track is the design/ construction of 'Sconset's new elevated storage tank that will replace its existing 192,000-gallon tank built in 1925. Wannacomet's engineering firm, Haley & Ward said the 'Sconset tank is in decrepit condition. Of this tower's total capacity, 57,000 gallons is usable for water pressure to meet the state's minimum standard of 20 PSI, while its pumps keep the tank filled at around 750 gallons per minute. If voters support Article 2, the town can borrow $2,473,004 to cover the 63 percent increase over the original 2006 cost of $3,900,000 due to the same materials cost increase at the town's new tank. However, the roughly 800 'Sconset ratepayers, many of them summer residents, will shoulder the cost of this tower, which is going to nearly double their rates. But, said Gardner, both projects are necessary despite the cost increases. "The need hasn't gone away for these projects," he said. "We just had an inspection on the 'Sconset tank and the inspector noticed a rivet lost and he said he would not be surprised if there were small leaks on the tank in a couple of years." In addition to these infrastructure efforts, Articles 10 and 12 deal with the town's stormwater runoff project along the harbor and with general ditching and trenching safety. Article 10 is asking for voter approval of the town's desire to acquire .12 of an acre at 1 South Beach St. in the northwest corner of the Nantucket Yacht Club's boat basin where it wants to install a new stormwater outfall pipe connected to a special catch basin that filters out solid waste and toxic fluids before the water enters the harbor. This outfall pipe and catch basin are designed to replace the pipe at the Children's Beach boat ramp. Additionally, a tide gate valve would be fitted onto the end of this pipe that closes automatically when water enters it, preventing street flooding. Through Article 12, the town is inserting the language of a new state law that establishes "reasonable standards" for excavation and trench safety into the town code. Away offshore As with most Town Meetings, this Special Town Meeting warrant contains two home rule petitions, both involving the waters surrounding Nantucket's three islands. In Article 9, the town is angling to transfer the 119.1 acres it owns of the 296- acre Muskeget Island to the Nantucket Islands Land Bank. It needs a home rule petition to make this happen because, when conservation land is transferred from one entity to another, it requires legislative approval. Motivated by its ongoing dispute over .01 of an acre of the land the town believes it owns on Muskeget with Jason Briggs, who is also claiming rights to it, the town is restating its ownership to the land, citing a deed filed in the registry of deeds on Nov. 25, 1895 resulting from a state-backed taking of the land by the town, which named it Muskeget Island Park. The Nantucket Planning & Economic Development Commission wants more than just a reviewing and advisory role when it comes to offshore renewable energy projects, including wind turbines and tidal energy generators within three miles of the island. Article 11 is the NP&EDC's shot at getting state-empowered regulatory authority specifically to hold public hearings for issuing permits for these installations. However, the Board of Selectmen might withdraw Article 11 because of language in it that they and Planning Director Andrew Vorce believe could prevent the state legislature from approving the home rule petition. If Article 11 were withdrawn, it would be revised for inclusion on the April 2009 Annual Town Meeting warrant. Show us the money Voters hoping the Special Town Meeting would offer them a respite from taxes and collective bargaining are in for rude awakening. Articles 3, 4 and 5 address funding collective bargaining agreements that were reached during this fiscal year and Articles 6, 7, and 8 address setting the tax rate and getting the tax bills out by the end of the year. In Article 3, $119,300 is needed to meet contractual obligations for the Our Island Home Union employees for fiscal ................... year 2008 and an additional $101,200 for fiscal year 2009. Article 4 asks for $151,300 to fund contractual obligations for fiscal year 2009 for the town's Laborer's Union employees. The Board of Selectmen included Article 5 as a placeholder in case a collective bargaining agreement was reached with the police union. As of press time, an agreement had not been reached. It is still possible for the town to file a technical amendment to this article with a dollar amount to be appropriated to fund raises and other obligations, should an agreement be met before Dec. 8. Article 6 seeks to transfer $929,000 from different expense accounts and the medical insurance appropriation to cover $99,300 in salaries, $80,000 in debt service and a $750,000 shortfall in the sewer enterprise fund. Once the $750,000 shortfall in the sewer enterprise fund is covered, the tax rate can be set and tax bills mailed. Article 7 asks that $ 1 million be moved from the medical insurance appropriation to offset revenue declines in building permits, motor vehicle excise tax and Our Island Home. The $1 million from the medical insurance appropriation will be covered by the medical insurance trust fund. Article 8 is necessary to adjust the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund budget for fiscal year 2009. The article decreases the total budget by reducing projected revenue and increases the amount of funding from other sources. Voters are being asked to reduce the operating expense by $1,303,930, reduce revenues by $2,053,930 and increase the transfer from the General Fund by $750,000. ................... Until the Solid Waste budget is submitted, the tax rate is not set by the Department of Revenue and tax bills cannot be mailed. I 1 1 Intent Authorizes the town to spend an additional $2,815,510 over the original price tag of $5 million for the construction of the two-million-gallon Polpis Road elevated storage tank. Pro This storage tank would be built on schedule, giving Nantucket greater water storage capacity, longer sustained pressure for fire fighting and little or no rate increases for users despite the cost increase. Con N/A Finance Committee ................... Recommendation Adopt 2 2 Intent Authorizes the town to spend an additional $2,473,004 over the original cost of $3,900,000 million for the construction of a new 400,000-gallon elevated storage tank for 'Sconset to be situated behind its existing wells off the top of Main Street. Pro 'Sconset's aging 83-year-old, 192,000-gallon tank with its rivets popping out and its roof disintegrating would be replaced with an elevated storage tank that could handle all of 'Sconset's water needs. Con Water rates for the roughly 800 ratepayers in 'Sconset will nearly double to cover the cost of their new water storage system. ................... Finance Committee Recommendation Adopt 3 Intent3 This article settles a three year union contract with the Our Island Home union employees. If adopted, $220,500 will be transferred from the medical insurance appropriation line item, and of that amount, $119,300 will cover pay raises and other contractual obligations for FY 2008 and $101,200 will cover pay raises and other contractual obligations for Fiscal Year 2009. Pro Passing this would allow the town to pay for its contract with the Our Island Home union employees. Con The town and the Our Island Home union employees would return to the bargaining table for contract negotiations. Finance Committee Recommendation Adopt 4 4 Intent To cover a collective bargaining agreement between the town and the Laborer's union employees, $151,300 would need to be transferred from the contractual increases line item to fund the first year of the contract, Fiscal Year 2009.Pro Would fund a contact with the Laborer's union and cover pay increases. Con The town and the Laborer's union would return to the bargaining table and continue negotiations. Finance Committee Recommendation Adopt 5 5 Intent The town hoped to have reached an agreement with the police union by the start of the Special Town Meeting, yet as of press time, this has not happened. The Police union's contract expired on June 30, 2008. Should a settlement be reached before December 8, the town will add a technical amendment to the Special Town Meeting warrant. Pro Would cover the town's contractual obligations with the police union, should a settlement be reached. Con It would be back to the bargaining table between the town and the police union. Finance Committee Recommendation Not to Adopt 6 6 Intent This article requests a transfer of $929,300 to cover salaries, debt service and a shortfall in the solid waste enterprise fund. It asks to transfer $830,000 from the medical insurance appropriation line item to cover a $750,000 shortfall in the solid waste enterprise fund and $80,000 to cover debt service. The shortfall in the solid waste enterprise fund must be covered in order to set the FY09 tax rate. The additional $99,300 will be transferred from expense line items to pay salaries. Pro The tax rate will be set and the bills will go out by the end of the year. Con An immediate cut to the municipal budget. Finance Committee Recommendation Adopt 7 7 Intent An article to amend the FY09 municipal budget to cover declining revenues from Building Permits, Motor Vehicle Excise Tax and Our Island Home by transferring $1 million from the medical insurance appropriation line item for FY 2009. The medical insurance trust fund will cover the $1 million transferred from the medical insurance appropriation. Pro Town can meet its budget obligations for FY 09. Con If this article does not pass, a $1 million shortfall would also need to be split between the Town and the School, 60 percent and 40 percent, respectively. There is also a projected shortterm borrowing cost of approx $80,000 that would need to be split 60-40. Finance Committee Recommendation Adopt 8 8 Intent The total amount being sought to fund the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund FY 09 revenue deficit is approximately $1 million. $750,000 is currently referenced in the Fin Com motion, but that amount is likely to increase via a technical amendment to be made at the STM.Pro Town will be able to set tax rate and send out tax bills by the end of the year. Con If not approved, $1m in budget cuts would be split between the town and the school, 60 percent and 40 percent respectively. Finance Committee Recommendation Adopt 9 9 Intent A home rule petition that would transfer the town's 119.11 acres of the 296-acre Muskeget Island to the Nantucket Islands Land Bank if the state legislature creates the act to make this happen. Pro Forever protects the fragile barrier beach habitat of Muskeget Island as conservation land and properly delineates the town's lot on this island. Con Leaves disputed Muskeget Island property owner Jason Briggs with no land to move his cottage from the eroding western end of the island. Finance Committee Recommendation Adopt Intent Authorizes the town to acquire .12 of an acre at 1 South Beach St. where it plans to install a catch basin and a stormwater outfall pipe with a tide gate valve on it. Pro Harmful pollutants and trash would be kept out of the harbor, and the streets in this area would remain dry during astronomical high tides. Con The Nantucket Yacht Club would have to give up .12 of an acre to the town for this purpose, with the land currently assessed at $3,121,500. Unless the Yacht Club gives the land to the town, the town is going to have to come up with several million dollars to buy it. Finance Committee Recommendation Adopt 11 11 Intent A home rule petition to amend the special act of the legislature in 1973 that created the Nantucket Planning & Economic Development Commission to confer upon it regulatory power, which it could use only to review and issue permits for offshore renewable energy projects including wind turbines and tidal energy generators.Pro Developers of offshore renewable energy projects would need a permit from the NP&EDC to proceed, giving Nantucket a say in how its waters are developed up to three miles off shore. Con Developers of these projects would need a permit from the NP&EDC for their installations in addition to the other required state and federal permits. Finance Committee Recommendation to be provided at Town Meeting. The Board of Selectmen may pull article from discussion and resubmit it for annual Town Meeting in April. 12 12 IntentPuts the language of a new state law on excavation and trench safety standards into the town code of Nantucket. Pro Workers who dig trenches and perform excavation work either by hand or with heavy equipment and citizens of the town would be further protected from onthe job injuries and property damage. Con Another layer of bureaucracy would be added to trenching and excavation projects on Nantucket. Finance Committee Recommendation Adopt |
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