Nantucket Town Government Roundup, July 24 - August 7

This edition of the Current’s government roundup features new information on municipal contracts, which have become a flashpoint at several recent Select Board meetings.

• New Select Board members Bob DeCosta and Jill Vieth have raised concerns about a number of contracts on the agenda for approval at the last few meetings. Most recently, DeCosta called out contracts related to design for a Department of Public Works building, a climate and sustainability action plan, and an assessment of the condition of a building at 14 Somerset Road. Ultimately, the DPW design funding passed unanimously, and the climate and sustainability action plan passed 3-2 with DeCosta and Vieth voting no. The assessment was tabled for two weeks after DeCosta requested a chance to review the scope of the contract in more detail. Before DeCosta and Vieth were elected, contracts usually passed without much discussion, but both of the Select Board’s new members have called to rein in spending.
• Abby De Molina and Mike Misurelli were reappointed as the chair and vice chair of the Nantucket Planning and Economic Development Commission.

And here are the local government stories the Current covered in full over the last two weeks:

• The School Committee is considering last resort options amid an ongoing bus driver shortage.
• Former Nantucket Memorial Airport manager Warren Smith offered the Current one explanation of the end of his short tenure after he was terminated without cause by the Airport Commission.
• The Land Bank seems skeptical of a proposal from developer Alan Worden to turn one of their properties into an equestrian club. The proposal is linked to Worden’s newly proposed Hensdale Club.
• The Affordable Housing Trust endorsed a new Housing Production Plan for Nantucket.
• The Nantucket Regional Transit Authority’s ridership has continued to surge, jumping another 13 percent over the 2026 fiscal year.
• The Select Board made its second round of committee appointments Wednesday. Notably, Nantucket Cottage Hospital chief nursing officer Amy Beaton was appointed to the Board of Health.
• The Select Board is poised to increase sewer base rates by 15 percent next month.
• A state judge has upheld the Conservation Commission’s approval of the controversial Sconset Bluff geotube project.
• Nantucket Public Schools superintendent Elizabeth Hallett received a 6 percent raise from the School Committee.
• The Historic District Commission has once again denied the demolition of a small garage at 43a Union Street, teeing up a likely appeal to a court that already struck down the denial once before.
• After seven years of delays, the Select Board has finally approved a new harbor action plan for the Nantucket and Madaket harbors.
• The Nantucket Planning and Economic Development Commission has formally denied that it broke the state’s open meeting law during an executive session discussion on Planning Director Leslie Snell’s new contract.
• The Select Board voted to use two town-owned buildings at 77 Bartlett Road for seasonal employee housing.
• Several affordable and attainable housing projects are moving forward across Nantucket with support from the Affordable Housing Trust.
• Participation in the Affordable Housing Trust’s Lease to Locals program has faltered in year three.
• Representatives from the police, fire, planning and land use, public works and communications departments, as well as the public schools and the Nantucket Cottage Hospital, met in an effort to reduce serious injuries and deaths from crashes involving e-bikes and similar devices.