[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6334462,"mediaKeyId","2295674-406bd1ace3909e347eb5ad608bb8edec","parentId",2295674,"title","Select Board hears FY26 enterprise budget previews for Our Island Home, sewer/stormwater and water","audioSeconds",851,"startMs",2583000,"endMs",3434000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2295674-406bd1ace3909e347eb5ad608bb8edec&start=2583&end=3434","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2295674-406bd1ace3909e347eb5ad608bb8edec/thumbnail_2583000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6334462/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Select-Board-hears-FY26-enterprise-budget-previews-for-Our-Island-Home-sewerstormwater-and-water","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6334462-044802fef5d2ddb9676923c32387a5cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161718&Signature=oKFkxlQsObdl-awtHPyKgVxGkWQj7ljiHTq0XFiMV5Tm~bB4-kIHuq74tu4z~3d3g56WjZ0UAt-cnmiimLDzDQ1yg5cFAZ0RXW-7XKg8twVLBShtMw4mfN0PADBaKjj3NjmIC7-BKEvhIafxe7JpFlmTa7q8fHFyhzQ9qpeEJ8pY3ZTo5iP-C9YSLI47YI20rc~jzluu84TXHQrb6MEst62UeHRXWkJ2NaUh8s4u3TqiLe2qrryTLytnNBc2rBKTrG4kBLLUyIxxBzOB~or8VnFyySLrE7kh5j2pw7z615jcFu~PQlXNFGBzYzWF7QXcEjdFTC-LyyzuavQ4e1mslQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town-County of Nantucket, MA","date","2025-01-02T22:18:27Z","article","On Feb. 12 the Town of Nantucket Select Board received high‑level previews of fiscal 2026 enterprise budgets for Our Island Home (the town nursing facility), the Sewer & Stormwater enterprise, and the Water Department.

Our Island Home: Peter Holden, administrator for Our Island Home, told the board the FY26 request shows an overall operating increase of about $452,000, driven primarily by payroll (about $361,000 of the increase) for wage adjustments, COLAs and insurance costs. Holden said the facility is focusing on staffing stability, documentation to support higher Medicaid reimbursement rates, and preparation for incoming regulatory survey changes. He noted the facility’s daily staffing metric (PPD) needs to remain above minimum thresholds to avoid Medicare/Medicaid penalties and that the facility is currently serving about 41 residents.

Holden listed several operating increases planned for FY26: heating fuel (+$12,000), electricity (+$11,000), food (+$20,000), medical supplies (+$20,000), pharmacy (+$10,000), employee housing assistance (+$13,000) and propane (+$4,000). He also described capital needs including window replacement, corridor and resident doors, generator replacement and sprinkler system work.

Sewer and stormwater: David Gray, sewer director, reviewed goals and large capital projects tied to the third force‑main construction and CMOM (capacity, management, operations and maintenance) work. Gray said membranes at the treatment plant were recently completed and that year‑two PFAS source testing across streams entering the plant is providing a baseline to inform future treatment plans. He identified potential capital requests including an Airport Road pump‑station upgrade (approximately $1.7 million), Somerset area work (about $3.4 million), Keita Lane improvements (about $1.9 million) and clarifier replacements (about $1.7 million). He also described work to develop stormwater regulations, build a stormwater enterprise, and map stormwater infrastructure in GIS.

Water Department: Water representatives said the department expects FY26 to look similar to recent years but highlighted regulatory pressures tied to PFAS and the EPA’s unregulated contaminant monitoring (UCMR) program. The department said a new North Pasture supply well is under MassDEP review and that planned extensions of water mains will be coordinated with sewer and stormwater street projects. Officials said staffing and customer‑service needs may grow modestly as new connections come online.

Why it matters: Town managers said rising energy, food and chemical costs and emerging PFAS regulations for water and wastewater will increase operating and capital needs. Board members and staff discussed coordinating road work so water, sewer and stormwater replacements occur together to reduce disruption and construction costs.

No formal votes were taken on budgets at this meeting; the presentations serve as previews ahead of budget hearings and the town‑meeting process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Nantucket Select Board - February 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Town enterprise fund managers reviewed high‑level FY26 budgets and capital priorities for Our Island Home, the Sewer/Stormwater enterprise and the Water Department; leaders cited rising operating costs, PFAS testing and regulatory pressures, and capital projects tied to the third force main work.","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},6334467,"Select Board accepts $65,000 gift to fund island eelgrass management plan",86,1388000,1474000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2295674-406bd1ace3909e347eb5ad608bb8edec&start=1388&end=1474","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2295674-406bd1ace3909e347eb5ad608bb8edec/thumbnail_1388000.jpg","/articles/6334467/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Select-Board-accepts-65000-gift-to-fund-island-eelgrass-management-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6334467-5c32024958db253ef9e705fb519f91d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161718&Signature=kLMQT23uXMvcc8Kw5RMpwpVx~pjfRgpmV2UFddV4BmCcun39Tw13dzQ3zflNhJWv~ECaMlmZt4ThTeWfc~DP3VkJdVYlHP4zqwTXyoCktpz1SWzcnDcmBnXkX0~dAHF8n0dKMYrnfIggThcIuH~1-2sY4kdi01JoekLfVTgW3c3NLU2G-UT8usNQgAFwrZEfm7QZpr11V7dx1ACxjmWb2B7HRz11jaBreSlVk4KDGuBAl68a5PT00gKYpCv~CovjoPEhm1P~1s6EVBEl6cXOhvIHDEirPrsXebyW3FLfFD2gyDE-kl6YNQYI7f~XkFbM0a320nlerTbOFEwqeQ8Qfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Select Board on Feb. 12 accepted a $65,000 gift from the Great Harbor Yacht Club Foundation to fund the town’s first eelgrass management plan, town staff announced.

Jeff Carlson of the Natural Resources Department told the board the foundation “finds it in their generosity to gift us $65,000, to engage Urban Harbors Institute, who's the contractor working on our harbor's action plan to actually complete our first eelgrass management plan.” Carlson said the plan will involve on‑island stakeholders including the Land and Water Council and aims to manage existing eelgrass beds and pursue restoration where feasible.

The board voted unanimously to accept the gift and to send a letter of thanks to the donor. Officials said staff will bring the draft plan back to the board for review before it is finalized.

Why it matters: eelgrass provides important ecological services including nursery habitat for marine species and sediment stabilization. The town said the project will coordinate scientific advisory input and local stakeholders to develop management priorities and actions.

Action: Motion to accept the gift and send a letter of thanks was moved and seconded; roll‑call votes were unanimous. Town staff will return with the draft plan for Select Board review.","The Great Harbor Yacht Club Foundation donated $65,000 to the town to fund an eelgrass management plan; the Select Board accepted the gift and will send a letter of thanks.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6334472,"Select Board adopts new public‑comment policy after debate over time limits",2423,2604000,5027000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2295674-406bd1ace3909e347eb5ad608bb8edec&start=2604&end=5027","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2295674-406bd1ace3909e347eb5ad608bb8edec/thumbnail_2604000.jpg","/articles/6334472/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Select-Board-adopts-new-publiccomment-policy-after-debate-over-time-limits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6334472-a9c64c4cd7a61f731ac544ce98960c40/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161718&Signature=D~jhFW6fz8s-XMXflsVMqRGivqGNCnyGBU7KNKyrfCYrYeBxgycC2smXA0wL69iaVKnCwoTeVpdCWiMVQRU0-KQi4GLPwqmI3IrvssH8liFkXVExTbjeeRmXF3MlRaM7uMIGSrnIR1qG~CrP~xUPlWx84dSvljj6f4Yyq4VySdi3y04C70VSvjzslo00viKyMEgA-XBBSSub0-uIfcfcwMkZypQ9QWArNcHjhqKwzzIwrz-WcVU0qiUYaTUN1RwyzheOkR-7bKc0K5FR8KFuCzzG9kH~fGzDBV8wyBiHLUcdYuabZp33BvamB6jDFnzETk~Hd~YBXzNH5kG9fW6xnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Nantucket Select Board voted unanimously Feb. 12 to adopt a new public participation policy recommended by town counsel, after a lengthy public and board debate about time limits and chairs’ discretion.

Town attorneys presented the policy and said recent case law requires clearer, content-neutral time, place and manner rules for public participation. Lauren, speaking for counsel, cited the recent Baron v. Kalenda decision and told the board the court “held that requiring a person to be polite essentially, is a decision that's made by the beholder,” and that a policy focused on neutral limits is a safer legal approach.

Board members and dozens of residents who spoke at the meeting expressed differing views on whether the policy should strictly cap total public-comment time and how much discretion the chair should retain. Several Select Board members said they value public comment and did not intend to curtail it; others asked for predictable limits to keep meetings manageable. Several members of the public urged the board not to narrow public comment and instead to hold separate “listening sessions” or public hearings for highly contentious items.

After discussion the board agreed to adopt the proposed policy with a single change: removal of an explicit 10‑minute total limit that had been in the draft. The adopted policy keeps a per‑speaker guideline (three minutes) and allows the chair to set an overall time limit for public comment at a particular meeting provided the limit is determined before the public-comment period begins and is applied without regard to the content of comments. The board’s motion to adopt the policy with that amendment was moved and seconded and approved by roll call.

Why it matters: Town counsel said the policy is intended to protect both the town and residents’ First Amendment rights by applying neutral procedural rules rather than subjective standards about civility or content. The policy will be recommended for use by town boards and committees to reduce legal risk and create consistent public‑meeting practice across the town.

The board and counsel said the policy does not apply to advertised public hearings, which remain subject to statutory hearing processes and their own procedures. The board asked staff to post the adopted policy online and to distribute it to town boards and committees.","After public testimony and legal briefing from town counsel, the Select Board voted unanimously to adopt a townwide public participation policy; the board removed a proposed 10‑minute total limit and kept a 3‑minute-per-speaker guideline.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6334476,"Select Board declares emergency for Well 15 after PFAS confirmation",168,1501000,1669000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2295674-406bd1ace3909e347eb5ad608bb8edec&start=1501&end=1669","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2295674-406bd1ace3909e347eb5ad608bb8edec/thumbnail_1501000.jpg","/articles/6334476/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Select-Board-declares-emergency-for-Well-15-after-PFAS-confirmation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6334476-cc4caf61026c39da80c10e515613b0ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161718&Signature=jwMAiPOS6yJvWlZSAcLy8z3u-WUga2KQpGS2~ELtcUQqHQFsoB6l3uAZGT9Hxt0Wrd4-rEuvV~c1SVgksV-cLBFtQyg~oXjdcDWvEFMtWD03Sm-H6wRkK7QYXPVhaQoPJyZgduIcqD5NYrKUseUdDnJAbYuZHV0g-fMMrBcayKbfDYvrV8-5pDnMaKVCpMFX9ITv82-EBh9avcE7jebks04ISTa4aKpvNN8YURex0EusKuk0w96MvPhZoyzfu69t5RM-vtHzy3nqKicZxcLlKjAKTXrXxFAMbbzFBJYbjddJOnGovSUomV9mJKKJG2r4fBklCrvmPAfez50TEIIQwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Nantucket Select Board voted unanimously Feb. 12 to declare an emergency under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 44, Section 31 to allow the Water Department to move quickly on design, procurement and installation of a filtration system for Well 15 after confirmatory PFAS results.

The declaration will let the town seek emergency authorization from the state Department of Revenue to spend in excess of appropriations and use expedited procurement procedures. Mark Turban, who presented the item, told the board, “we're asking for the declaration under Mass General Law, Chapter 44 section 31,” and said the water department had already engaged a consultant to design filtration after the December 2024 confirmatory results.

Why it matters: the board and Water Department said the costs for filtration and related work would be sizable and beyond the department’s current appropriation. The emergency declaration clears procedural obstacles so design and installation work can proceed while a warrant article to cover the appropriation is added to the town meeting capital articles.

Town officials said the declaration also enabled procurement waivers. Turban said Finance and Procurement staff had already discussed emergency purchasing rules with the Commonwealth and had secured a waiver of advertising requirements for procurement tied to the project.

Board action and next steps: The board voted by roll call to approve the declaration. Select Board members recorded as voting “aye” were Matt, Don, Malcolm, Tom and the chair; the board chair closed the action by voting aye as well. Officials said the Water Department will continue design work, pursue DOR authorization and follow up at future board meetings and at town meeting for funding authorization.

Public reaction and context: Public commenters raised questions during the meeting about PFAS detection, the proximity of other wells, potential health impacts and future regulation. During public comment, residents urged careful review of development proposals near the aquifer and asked for transparency on testing and timelines for remediation.

The board did not adopt a specific filtration design or a funding amount at the meeting; those technical and budget details will follow once design work and state approvals proceed.","The Select Board on Feb. 12 approved an emergency declaration under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 44, Section 31 to let the town and the water company accelerate design, procurement and installation of a filtration system for Water Department Well 15 after confirmatory PFAS results.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Select Board hears FY26 enterprise budget previews for Our Island Home, sewer/stormwater and water

Select Board accepts $65,000 gift to fund island eelgrass management plan

Select Board adopts new public‑comment policy after debate over time limits

Select Board declares emergency for Well 15 after PFAS confirmation