State Reps Provide Legislative Update To Select Board

Nantucket’s representatives at the State House and Senate updated the Select Board on a series of legislative efforts on Wednesday, including bills related to the Steamship Authority and affordable housing.

State Senator Julien Cyr spoke in favor of a divisive bill that would impose term limits on members of the Steamship Authority Board, citing a recent scathing report from the state Inspector General, which accused the Steamship Authority of wasting millions of public dollars on a failed website redesign project.

“If you read the Inspector General’s report, you can’t help but question the board of governors,” he said. “I think it’s hard-pressed for us to look at this report and be like: ‘oh, there were some real problems with the general manager, but the board of governors is cool.’”

While Martha’s Vineyard leaders have been divided on the bill, the Nantucket Select Board came out unanimously against the proposal in August, citing concerns over a possible loss of institutional knowledge and struggles filling vacant seats. Advocates for term limits argue that they would encourage new faces on the Steamship Authority board and potentially lead to some changes in the organization.

Cyr also floated the idea of requiring some level of prior experience for board members.

On Wednesday, Select Board member Brooke Mohr suggested the possibility of allowing term limits as a local option that each town represented on the Steamship Authority Board could choose to accept or decline.

“We really don’t think it’s a good idea here,” Mohr said. “There is quite a difference of opinion.”

Cyr agreed to consider the option, but was non-committal.

“On Martha’s Vineyard, they are clamoring for a lot of changes to the Steamship Authority,” Cyr said. “I appreciate your feedback. I’m trying to figure out what makes sense for the good of strong operations of the Steamship Authority.”

Cyr and Massachusetts State House Representative Thomas Moakley also spoke about Nantucket’s long-sought housing transfer fee bill, which has faced a series of recent high-profile failures despite support from Governor Maura Healey and comments from Nantucket’s legislative representatives suggesting that the tide might be turning.

“I’m going to be trying my best to ensure that part of this [year’s housing bill] encompasses this really essential tool,” Cyr said.

For over a decade, the town of Nantucket, backed by a broad array of local affordable housing advocates and the Nantucket Association of Real Estate Brokers, has endorsed a housing bank bill that would institute a small fee on high-cost real estate transfers. Supporters contend this would provide critical guaranteed funding for affordable housing that is more flexible than most state and federal funds.

Speaking on offshore wind, Cyr congratulated the town on a “fair and strong agreement” with Vineyard Wind, and suggested future projects are unlikely in the near term because of Trump’s hostility toward wind energy.

Moakley also reported on a series of Nantucket’s home rule petitions, which need state approval. Two were recently passed by the House: one that makes Nantucket’s charter gender-neutral, and another that conveys School Street from the county to the town. Others remain pending before the legislature.