Nantucket County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Select Board ranks two capital projects high, holds others; housing plan, water, and school votes ahead

The Select Board this week reset the town's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for fiscal years 2028-30, ranking two infrastructure projects as high priority and holding several others for further discussion. No final votes were taken, but the board agreed to hold the Senior Center Design, Downtown Neighborhood Flood Barrier, Sconset Fire Station, Employee Housing, Sesachacha Pond Living Shoreline, Senior Center Construction, and Steamship Wharf Resilience projects. It ranked Orange Street/Milestone Rotary Utilities Undergrounding and Town-wide Radio System Infrastructure Improvements as high priority.

Housing

The Planning Board and Select Board will hold a joint meeting Aug. 19 to consider adopting the 2026 Housing Production Plan and submitting it to the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities for certification. The Affordable Housing Trust is reviewing a contract with SMRT, Inc. for 14 Somerset Road, with votes possible. Construction of 64 rental units at Ticcoma Green (6 Fairgrounds Road and 4 Waitt Drive) is underway, with a housing lottery tentatively scheduled for early 2027.

Land Bank and Water

The Nantucket Islands Land Bank Commission will discuss Milestone Stables at 41 Milestone Road, a park discussion for properties at 7 & 9 W. Sankaty Road and 31B & 31C New Street/Field of Dreams, and a contract award for 8 Wesco Place/Lily Pond Park. It will also enter executive session to discuss litigation (Ocean Heath LLC v. Nantucket Islands Land Bank) and real property negotiations.

The Water Commissioners will review pending vendor contracts, including amendments with Weston & Sampson and CDM Smith, and receive updates on drought conditions and water quality.

Schools

The Nantucket School Committee will vote on a 2026-2029 contract for the superintendent, policy changes for student transportation, and several donations, including $60,000 from the Nantucket Golf Club Foundation for Ready, Set, School tuition assistance, $10,000 from the Community Foundation for Nantucket for Adult ESOL classes, and $15,000 for the Summer Boost program. It will also vote on contracts for the Executive Director of Special Services and School Business Administrator.

Historic District and Other Boards

The Historic District Commission will review a large agenda Aug. 18, including a Superior Court remand on 43A Union St (motion to deny and provide written decision, 3-2 vote), 20 consent items, and 51 new business items. The Sign Advisory Council will review five sign revisions at 57 Prospect St.

The Conservation Commission will hold public hearings on four wetland permit applications, including 53 Nobadeer Avenue and 145 Wauwinet Road. The Board of Health will vote on septic variances and loan requests, including a variance for 119 Surfside Rd (660 gallons/day on 40,000 SF lot).

The Community Preservation Committee will approve fund requisitions totaling about $303,000, including $124,932 for an elevator at Landmark House and $102,000 for HVAC at the Hospital Thrift Shop.

Decided This Week

The Cemetery Commission elected Lee Saperstein as Chair, Frances Karttunen as Vice Chair, and Jascin Leonardo Finger as Secretary, and approved the sale of two cremation lots at Polpis Cemetery to Janette Rose Hudson (Lot J31) and Sophia Liburd (Lot G2).

Coming up

• **Historic District Commission** – Aug. 25, 5 sign requests and 9 old business items.
• **Nantucket Islands Land Bank Commission** – Aug. 25, golf course reviews, FY27 budget, land purchase.
• **Nantucket School Committee** – Aug. 25, vote on superintendent contract and policy changes.
• **Coastal Resilience Advisory Committee** – Aug. 25, strategic retreat review and Climate Change Awareness Month proclamation.
• **Advisory Committee of Non-voting Taxpayers** – Aug. 29, DPW director guest speaker.
• **Council on Aging** – Sept. 2, elect officers and plan Senior Expo.

Nantucket Sign Advisory Council Approves Two Signs; Boards Set Agendas for Housing, Sewer, and Capital Planning

The Nantucket Sign Advisory Council approved two sign applications at its July 28 meeting, the only recent board action with published minutes. Other town boards met last week to set agendas on housing, sewer rates, coastal resilience, and school contracts, but no decisions have been published yet.

Sign Advisory Council

The council unanimously approved a permanent sign for The Hill House at 33 Main St. and a temporary sign for Marky's Caviar at 10 Easy St., with the condition that no additional sign applications be reviewed until violations are addressed. A temporary sign application for Nantucket Dreamland at 17 S. Water St. was withdrawn, and the council took no action.

Other Recent Meetings

Most recent meetings were agenda-only, with minutes not yet published. Key items discussed include:

• **Select Board (Aug. 5):** Proposed sewer rate increases, a contract amendment for a new public works facility totaling $2,563,439, a Surfside WWTF Phase 2 & 2B amendment for $1,165,900, and a $768,000 professional services agreement with Eisenstein Flaherty & Associates.
• **Affordable Housing Trust (Aug. 4):** Reviewed the draft 2026 Housing Production Plan, endorsed the FY27 operating budget, and heard updates on Habitat for Humanity projects and the Attainable Homeownership Project at 158 Madaket Road.
• **Coastal Resilience Advisory Committee (July 28):** Reviewed materials for the Strategic Retreat and Relocation Program and heard a presentation on Coastal Resilience Districts. Public workshops are scheduled for Aug. 12 and 13.
• **Harbor & Shellfish Advisory Board (July 28):** Discussed Great Harbor Yacht Club's Chapter 91 license compliance, a proposal for intertidal oyster farming at Wyers Point, and potential changes to shellfish regulations.
• **Nantucket Islands Land Bank Commission (July 28):** Reviewed golf course finances, a building deconstruction at 19 E. Creek Road, and a site design for 41 Jefferson Avenue/Cliff Beach.
• **School Committee (July 28):** Met in executive session to discuss Superintendent contract revisions; no vote was reported.
• **Historic District Commission (Aug. 4):** Reviewed 57 property applications, including roofing, solar, and fences.
• **NRTA Advisory Board (Aug. 5):** Discussed a lease agreement with Greenhound and FY26 ridership.

Coming Up

• **Planning Board (Aug. 10):** Review and approval of the 2026 Housing Production Plan, plus public hearings on several properties.
• **Affordable Housing Trust (Aug. 11):** Review of a contract for 14 Somerset Road; construction of 64 rental units at Ticcoma Green is underway, with a housing lottery tentatively set for early 2027.
• **Select Board (Aug. 13):** Capital Improvement Plan workshop for FY2028, focusing on project prioritization.
• **Board of Registrars (Aug. 19):** Ballot test for the September 1 primary election.

All meetings are open to the public unless noted as executive session. Agendas and minutes are available on the town website.

Nantucket Boards Tackle Utility Hearings, Housing, and Contracts in Busy Week

Most Nantucket boards and committees met over the past two weeks with full agendas, but minutes have not yet been published for any of the sessions listed below. That means items are described as they appeared on agendas — not as confirmed outcomes. Residents should treat figures and proposals as pending unless minutes later confirm action.

Select Board: Utility Petitions, Housing, and Pending Contracts

The Select Board held public hearings July 20 on several utility petitions involving new junction boxes, handholes, and conduit on Nobadeer Farm Road, Gray Avenue, Fairgrounds Road, and Sparks Avenue. One petition to relocate a joint-owned pole was withdrawn. No decisions are recorded in the agenda.

On July 22, the board was scheduled to approve pending contracts and grant agreements ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 (listed in Exhibit 2), petition the County Commission to lay out Egan Lane (Common Drive) as a public road, and consider amending the Affordable Housing Trust Fund declaration to raise the AMI limit to 250 percent. A historic-preservation restriction for 6 Broadway, held by Sconset Trust, Inc., was also on the agenda.

County Commission: Eminent Domain Hearing for Tom Nevers Road Path

The County Commission held a public hearing July 22 on taking temporary and permanent easements by eminent domain on the east side of Tom Nevers Road, from Milestone Road to Tom Nevers Park, for a multi-use path. The commission was also asked to accept a petition to lay out Egan Lane (Common Drive) as a public road and refer it to the Planning Board.

Community Preservation Committee: $122,538 in Fund Requisitions

The CPC was scheduled July 21 to review three fund requisitions: Main Street Streetscapes Survey FY 25 ($50,000), W. Monomoy Neighborhood Survey Phase 1 – FY 25 ($60,000), and Interfaith Council May Rental Assistance – FY 26 ($12,538.00). The committee also planned to discuss preservation easements and an August 18, 2026 annual public forum.

Historic District Commission: 43 Permit Applications

The HDC was set to review 43 new business applications for permits on July 21, including new dwellings, garage additions, and pool installations, plus consent items for fence and hardscape work and the Nantucket Golf Club gate house and hardscape projects. A July 28 session added new dwelling applications for 19R Hooper Farm Rd, 10 New Ln, and 4 Sea St, a new Harbor Master Building at 34 Washington St, and signage requests for 33 Main St, 17 S. Water St, and 10 Easy St.

School Committee: Superintendent Contract Vote

The Nantucket School Committee held workshop sessions July 23 and July 28 to discuss district goals aligned to DESE District Standards & Indicators, with executive sessions for contract negotiations with the Superintendent of Schools and a vote on potential revisions to the Superintendent's contract.

Other Meetings

• **Transportation and Public Access Advisory Committee** (July 21): Reviewed Tom Nevers Road and Wauwinet Road multi-use path projects, including easement acquisition and construction bidding, plus downtown sidewalk parking and DPW stormwater updates.
• **Real Estate Assessment Committee** (July 23): Discussed subdividing Lot G (Plan 2016-47) into 2 lots and conveying Parcel 14 (Plan 2014-52) for $18,853.80.
• **Coastal Resilience Advisory Committee** (July 28): Reviewed Strategic Retreat and Relocation Program materials and heard a presentation by Arcadis on Coastal Resilience Districts. Public workshops announced for August 12 at 326 Madaket Rd. and 13 Broad St., and August 13 at 5 Amelia Dr.
• **Harbor & Shellfish Advisory Board** (July 28): Discussed Great Harbor Yacht Club Chapter 91 compliance, a proposal for intertidal oyster farming at Wyers Point by Sean Fitzgibbon, and adding Saturdays for soft shell clamming.
• **Land Bank Commission** (July 28): Reviewed golf course business, a building deconstruction discussion for 19 E. Creek Road, and 2012 Series A Bond Payment authorization. Executive session scheduled for litigation strategy regarding Richard G. Corey v. Nantucket Islands Land Bank and Ocean Heath LLC v. Nantucket Islands Land Bank.

Coming Up

• **Aug. 4 — Historic District Commission**: 57 property applications for roofing, solar, fences, and structural changes.
• **Aug. 4 — Affordable Housing Trust**: Review of 2026 Housing Production Plan draft and FY27 operating budget; executive session on real property at 7 Dooley Court and 12 Honeysuckle Drive.
• **Aug. 5 — Select Board**: Proposed sewer rate increases and a public hearing request; contract amendments for Weston & Sampson Engineers totaling $2,563,439 (new public works facility) and $1,165,900 (Surfside WWTF Phase 2 & 2B); professional services agreement with Eisenstein Flaherty & Associates for $768,000.
• **Aug. 6 — Select Board/County Commissioners**: Executive session on collective bargaining with three unions, real property at 21 Amelia Drive, and litigation regarding offshore wind and land bank matters.
• **Aug. 6 — Conservation Commission**: Public hearings on projects at 23 Dukes Road, 14 Almanack Pond Road, 27 Osprey Way, and Falmouth Avenue Relocation; potential enforcement actions at 21R Madaket Road, 16 Meadow Lane, and Baxter Road Geotubes.
• **Aug. 10 — Planning Board**: Review and approval of 2026 Housing Production Plan; public hearings for multiple properties including Nantucket Cottage Hospital at 16 & 18 Vesper Lane.

Nantucket boards weigh $69.8M in bonds, housing purchases, and utility hearings in busy July stretch

Nantucket's town boards and commissions covered a wide range of business in the week of July 7–18, 2026, from a proposed $69.8 million in borrowing to affordable housing purchases, sign reviews, and cemetery lot sales. All meetings listed below are agenda-only — minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes and vote tallies are not yet confirmed in the public record.

Select Board: $19.62M bonds and $50.23M notes on the table

The Select Board's July 8 agenda included approval of $19,620,000 in general obligation bonds and $50,229,504 in bond anticipation notes covering general fund, sewer, water, affordable housing, airport, and solid waste projects. The same agenda listed four town employee housing leases: 4 Mayhew Rd ($72,000), 32 Sparks Ave ($55,890), 36 Pine St ($39,600), and 2 Nobadeer Way ($52,800). Recognition of retiring employees Fernella Phillips, Debra Bechtold, Lt. Daniel Mack, and Lt. Brendan Coakley, and swearing-in of new police officers, were also scheduled. An update on the investigation of African Meeting House vandalism was listed.

A July 13 Select Board agenda included only a Finance Department request to approve FY2026 year-end budget transfers. A separate July 13 meeting at the Nantucket Atheneum Great Hall, 1 India Street, listed participation in the Nantucket Civic League Annual Summer Forum.

Affordable Housing Trust: property purchases and trust amendment

The Affordable Housing Trust's July 7 agenda included a Third Amendment to the Declaration of Trust, a mortgage discharge for 1 Webster Road, withdrawal from registration of property at 158 Madaket Road, and a contract with SMRT, Inc for a building assessment of 14 Somerset Road. An executive session was scheduled to consider real property at 7 Dooley Court, 8A Thirty Acres Lane, and 135-137 Orange Street.

Zoning Board of Appeals: Surfside Crossing curbing question

The ZBA's July 9 agenda asked whether switching from vertical granite to concrete curbing at the 13.6-acre Surfside Crossing project at 3, 5, 7, 9 South Shore Road (Map 67 parcels 336, 336.9, 336.8, 336.7) is an insubstantial change to a comprehensive permit, which could avoid a public hearing. Also listed: a special permit and variance for a net-zero lot line change at 11 & 12 Jonathan Way to install a septic system in the LUG-3 zone, and a variance for a 160-square-foot swimming pool at 13 Fawn Lane in the R-5 zone.

Historic District Commission: new dwelling at 25 Nobadeer Ave

The HDC's July 7 agenda included a new dwelling application at 25 Nobadeer Ave (Seven Dials Nant LLC), demolition and new garage consents at 5 Huckleberry Ln (Sunshine Daydream LLC), rooftop solar at 19 Cato Ln, and a fence/gate at 38 Lovers Ln (B'Whale, LLC). A July 14 HDC agenda listed old business for eight properties, including fenestration changes at 4 S Mill St, a new dwelling at 2 Sea St, a pool at 3 Pops Ln, and a garage addition at 28 Lily St.

Cemetery Commission: Juneteenth markers and lot sales

The July 8 Cemetery Commission agenda included a ceremony at the Coloured Cemetery unveiling markers for Absalom Boston and Hannah Cook Boston on Juneteenth, election of officers, and approval of lot sales at Polpis Cemetery: Lot J31 to Jannett Rose Hudson and G2 to Sofia Leiburg. Updates on the Monument Restoration Project at New North Cemetery and the legal status of Newtown Cemetery were listed.

Airport Commission: contracts and public hearing

The July 14 Airport Commission agenda included a public hearing to amend rules on ramp parking and APU use, a security system maintenance contract with Pavion Connect and Protect for $227,500.00, an ARFF vehicle maintenance contract with Cox Aviation for $509,052.00, a LYFT, Inc. lease extension with a $3.25 per originating fare trip fee, and FY2028 capital project requests. The July 10 Aviation Fuel Subcommittee agenda listed discussion items only, including a fuel farm engineering task order and MEPA hardship waiver consideration.

Conservation Commission: dredging and development notices

The July 16 Conservation Commission agenda listed public hearings on Notices of Intent for 73 Hulbert Avenue, 27 Nonantum Avenue, Polpis Harbor & Hither Creek dredging (Town of Nantucket), and 27 Osprey Way, plus an amended order of conditions for 7 North Gully Road.

Other boards and committees

The Water Commissioners (July 9) listed reviews of water quality, drought conditions, and storm/waste water projects. The Finance Committee (July 13) listed 33B transfers, reserve fund transfers, and election of a chair and vice chair. The Planning Board (July 13) listed discussion of the 2027 Annual Town Meeting and re-advertisement of a public hearing for 30 North Beach Street. The Cannabis Advisory Committee (July 16) listed discussion of DEA rescheduling from Schedule I to III, state cannabis reform legislation, and social consumption. The Board of Health (July 16) listed a continued appeal of a sewer connection order at 49 Polpis Road and a septic system design revision at 13 Woodland Drive. The Parks and Recreation Commission (July 16) listed FY'28 capital projects including Winter Park playground renovation and Delta Baseball Fields upgrades. The Land Bank Commission (July 14) listed a Horsley Witten Group contract amendment and construction services contract for 8 Wesco Place/Lily Pond Park, plus Tom Nevers Bike Path funding discussion. The Tree Advisory Committee (July 15) listed Liberty Tree Project follow-up and pest updates. The Historical Commission (July 17) listed West Monomoy and Brant Point/Cliffside survey updates. The Advisory Committee of Non-voting Taxpayers (July 18) listed continued discussion of a year-round resident property tax exemption increase, with Town Manager Libby Gibson as guest speaker.

Coming up

• **July 20 — Select Board:** Public hearings on utility petitions for Nobadeer Farm Road, Gray Avenue, Fairgrounds Road, and Sparks Avenue, plus car rental medallion applications.
• **July 21 — Community Preservation Committee:** Review of $122,538 in fund requisitions, including Main Street Streetscapes Survey ($50,000), W. Monomoy Neighborhood Survey Phase 1 ($60,000), and Interfaith Council May Rental Assistance ($12,538.00).
• **July 21 — Historic District Commission:** 43 new business applications for permits, including Nantucket Golf Club gate house and hardscape projects.
• **July 22 — Select Board:** Pending contracts and grant agreements ($10,000–$100,000), a petition to designate Egan Lane as a public road, an amendment to raise the Affordable Housing Trust Fund AMI limit to 250 percent, and a historic-preservation restriction for 6 Broadway.
• **July 22 — County Commission:** Public hearing on eminent domain for easements on Tom Nevers Road from Milestone Road to Tom Nevers Park for a multi-use path.