[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6337385,"mediaKeyId","2273251-2f2775fd37ca6f89729d25d91392307a","parentId",2273251,"title","Select board, finance committee back new Our Island Home design despite projected multi‑million annual shortfall","audioSeconds",3278,"startMs",3832000,"endMs",7110000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2273251-2f2775fd37ca6f89729d25d91392307a&start=3832&end=7110","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2273251-2f2775fd37ca6f89729d25d91392307a/thumbnail_3832000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6337385/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Select-board-finance-committee-back-new-Our-Island-Home-design-despite-projected-multimillion-annual-shortfall","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6337385-b2231dd0dd49d959df4ec5626ddca1e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452161&Signature=V-EWnHnb8ibxQxQcUQN7pzFAYc9vHsr4IjwOtGGvOx0cfoUuSnwC4ffKmZEa3am1~~lRdzl72zjDbbkSL4KiBOPNQFsQXXAVxPLHbpOAQv96CfOdDiZTWKSFK3RD8TOwJo9MmepNni8AKeWTH1CEqjl0hYSyog3wYrHx5UoQNYWGhJo3IxirgwuoXkICheW437cvM0xbXXTUyWCglMaJj5NZANZjz7FA9gXuV8aDsC4S3uNgTJPgT8v8xKa-v7hnAwtli2J6c8fQFBOt6IcVGJNyjQgGFPkSmA-xsdsbMUcw49ifQ5CswwjboD5Cz2ak~zvWP-2jHChFaF7PHrN~wA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town-County of Nantucket, MA","date","2025-02-12T00:00:00Z","article","The Select Board and members of the Finance Committee voted 6–3 on Feb. 11 to support a warrant article to proceed with design and construction of a new Our Island Home skilled‑nursing facility at Sherburne Commons, moving the question to the town meeting ballot and a subsequent debt authorization vote.

The town manager, Libby (Town Manager), and the town finance director, Brian (Finance Director), presented a town pro forma and said the project budget request before the board is for borrowing authorization that the pro forma models at up to about $112 million in total project costs (the article request itself is listed at $105 million) and that the town’s five‑year operating forecast shows an increasing annual operating subsidy. Brian summarized that, under the assumptions in the pro forma, annual net cash shortfalls could rise to roughly $14.5 million by year five and that principal and interest on a 25‑year borrowing for the modeled amount would be on the order of $170 million in total debt service.

Why it matters: Select Board and committee members described the project as a community decision about whether the town will continue to provide local skilled nursing care. Supporters said maintaining an on‑island nursing facility preserves family access and continuity of care in a remote island community; opponents warned that the town would be locking in long‑term, large deficits and higher taxes.

Discussion highlights

- Joe (Finance Committee member) voiced a primary fiscal concern: \"we're locking in basically a 14 and a half million dollar negative cash flow,\" and said voters should understand the full projected subsidy rather than only the amount of the previously approved override. He said the pro forma showed a large, sustained annual deficit that the town would have to cover year after year.

- Don Holgate (Select Board member) said the choice was “moral” and argued the town has a responsibility to provide local care so residents and their families do not have to move off island; Dawn (Select Board member) and other supporters echoed the importance of local access and noted turnover and nonresident visitors connected to each bed.

- John Lemieux (Owner’s Project Manager) explained the procurement process: the project has been put out to bid and the town expects a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) from the contracted construction manager at risk; a GMP will be presented and reconciled with the architect’s and OPM’s independent cost estimates before any final construction contract is awarded.

- Libby (Town Manager) and Brian said the pro forma treats the previously approved $5 million debt exclusion override as revenue in the operating model but that the modeled deficit remains substantial even after that amount is included.

Vote and next steps

The committee vote on the motion to adopt the warrant article passed 6–3 (roll call recorded as: Chris Aye; Jill No; Peter Aye; Steven Aye; Joanna Aye; Jeremy Aye; Joe Nay; Rob Aye; Denise Nay). With the vote the article will go forward to town meeting and the ballot as required for debt exclusion questions; if approved by voters there would be subsequent steps to finalize contracts and proceed to construction, including presentation of a GMP for the construction manager and refinements to the cost estimate.

Implementation and public impact

Town staff cautioned that the pro forma carries several material assumptions — projected patient mix, payor rates, occupancy, and construction costs — that drive the deficit estimate. Brian said the town’s five‑year estimate is inherently uncertain and that prolonging design and refining bids will produce more precise numbers before final borrowing. Supporters pointed to nonfinancial values: local access for residents and families, staff employment, and continuity of long‑term services. Opponents said the scale of the projected subsidy and debt service is a fiscal risk for the town and its taxpayers.

What happens next: The article will appear on the 2025 town meeting warrant and on the ballot as a debt‑exclusion question; if voters approve the debt authorization the town will proceed to finalize the GMP and related contracts and then to construction scheduling.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Nantucket Finance Committee - 02/11/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Select Board and members of the Finance Committee voted 6–3 on Feb. 11 to support a warrant article to proceed with design and construction of a new Our Island Home skilled‑nursing facility at Sherburne Commons, moving the question to the town meeting ballot and a subsequent debt authorization vote.","taxTitle","Nantucket County, Massachusetts","taxId",61456,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6337380,"Finance committee roundup: CPC appropriation, capital program, housing and DPW design all advance; Our Island Home warrant moves forward",1730,65000,1795000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2273251-2f2775fd37ca6f89729d25d91392307a&start=65&end=1795","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2273251-2f2775fd37ca6f89729d25d91392307a/thumbnail_65000.jpg","/articles/6337380/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Finance-committee-roundup-CPC-appropriation-capital-program-housing-and-DPW-design-all-advance-Our-Island-Home-warrant-moves-forward","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6337380-ca3b534fa9b66515bb6985bad1d1108e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452161&Signature=FzUwPmx5f-JcplCb1BzEaONMQQuMJ884Ish8sfKz3Us1XAGOSqE5NOVZdlxPRK8miDGIam~3szSmCcUoQG4jDuuO1DaW8Mab3njdjPhdtKcCG3BN57CTNlCAss~eOrQ9yDG5iWPlUl98nPi0Dh-Ond0JGPO62LXlDURoKGjqxhrZnCiLIgN~s519mKZMh5vPO7dwtd-I3a5S8WfANpJ75JX5vsroqAT1gyYJGpVkZ36zlQbCFBCcttRg15Xuz-xfc5CK8n4kO2MmhO0rpEKnrl~sh8hT4~W3-vnW3nZNeMIxw-r~kYF5MmgUON3T4Lgs902cD2S8e2CNauqH76xeRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A series of warrant articles and capital items moved forward at the Feb. 11 joint meeting of the Select Board and Finance Committee. Committee members approved funding recommendations on a number of articles and votes of endorsement; several items were tabled or referred for additional review.

What the committee approved

- Community Preservation Fund (Article 26): The committee voted to adopt the Community Preservation Fund (CPC) appropriation plan for fiscal 2026. Linda Williams (presenter, Community Preservation Committee) reviewed a roster of historic preservation, community housing and open‑space projects. Town staff and CPC members said the CPC expects approximately $4,054,420 to allocate this year; Brian (Finance Director) noted roughly 18% of that amount is expected from the state match and the remainder from the local 3% surcharge on property tax bills. Vote: motion carried by roll call (unanimous among voting members present).

- CPC borrowing authorization for affordable housing (Article 28): The committee voted to support a motion authorizing the CPC to borrow an additional $5,000,000 for affordable housing (a third borrowing authorization). Brian and housing staff said the borrowing would be paid back from CPC receipts and that the town is already carrying existing CPC bond authorizations. Vote: approved (committee roll call recorded as affirmative among eligible voting members; some members recused from related items as noted in the minutes).

- Capital program reconciliation (Article 10): Committee endorsed the capital program presented by the Capital Program Committee, totaling $28,863,650 in combined sources (raise and appropriate, free cash, borrowing and capital exclusions). The article reconciles departmental capital needs with the general fund recommendation. Vote: approved, unanimous.

- Town employee housing (Article 11): The committee approved a motion to adopt an article to fund design and construction of phase‑1 town employee housing on Wake Drive (three of five proposed lots). Rick (presenter) said the request covers design and construction for three lots (roughly six buildings — three single‑family and three duplexes) and that the current ask is $14,000,000 (design plus construction). Vote: approved, unanimous.

- Public works facility design (Article 12): Drew Patnode (DPW director) presented a request for a $1,200,000 supplemental appropriation to finish construction documents and bidding for a new DPW facility at 1 Shadbush Road. Drew said about $2.55 million has been appropriated previously and current independent cost estimates place the building in the tens of millions; the committee voted to approve the supplemental design appropriation. Vote: approved, unanimous.

Items deferred or tabled

- Article 27 (transfers/reserves from prior approved projects): Staff reported the CPC is still finalizing which prior‑approved projects have unused balances to return; Article 27 was tabled for a March 10 update.

- Tom Nevers bike path (right of way / construction funding): Mike Burns and DPW staff reported recent outreach to affected property owners and said revised alignments have reduced estimated right‑of‑way impacts, but recent construction bids suggest rising costs; staff recommended returning the request to the Capital Program Committee for further review and to allow updated estimates; CAPCOM review was requested before this committee acts further.

Context and numbers

- CPC: Linda Williams described a strong historic‑preservation year with multiple large projects (church steeple, roofs, landmark properties). Brian said the town estimates CPC receipts at approximately $3.35 million from the local 3% surcharge this year, with roughly 18% additional from state matching funds, yielding a total allocation package of about $4.05 million for FY2026. Committee members noted the CPC must by law set aside minimum percentages for housing, historic preservation and open space, and that the mix of projects varies year to year.

- Debt and borrowing: For the CPC borrowing item, staff explained the $5,000,000 bonding would add debt service that the CPC would set aside annually; staff estimated each $5 million borrowing would require roughly $350,000 a year in set‑asides under a 15‑year amortization.

What’s next

Approved articles will move forward to the town meeting warrant and (where required) to the ballot for debt‑exclusion questions. Items returned to CAPCOM or tabled will be revisited at the March 10 meeting or at CAPCOM’s next scheduled meeting. The Tom Nevers bike‑path request will return to CAPCOM for design and right‑of‑way adjustments and updated cost estimates before Finance Committee action.

Vote list in brief

- Article 26 (CPC FY2026 appropriation): approved (roll call recorded as unanimous among eligible voting members)
- Article 28 (CPC borrowing authorization, $5,000,000): approved (committee endorsement; some members recused where noted)
- Article 10 (capital program reconciliation, $28,863,650): approved, unanimous
- Article 11 (town employee housing, phase 1): approved, unanimous; phase 1 funding $14,000,000 (design + construction) as presented
- Article 12 (DPW facility design documents and bidding): approved, unanimous; supplemental request $1,200,000
- Article 27 (project transfers/reserves): tabled to March 10
- Tom Nevers bike path (right of way/construction): referred back to CAPCOM for revised alignment, outreach and updated estimates","On Feb. 11 the committee approved multiple warrant articles for the 2025 town meeting — including the Community Preservation Fund appropriation and capital items — and deferred two items for further capital committee review; the Tom Nevers bike‑path request was returned to CAPCOM for rework.","actionData","errors"]

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Select board, finance committee back new Our Island Home design despite projected multi‑million annual shortfall

Finance committee roundup: CPC appropriation, capital program, housing and DPW design all advance; Our Island Home warrant moves forward