Outgoing Finance Committee Chair Gives Thanks

To the editor: I am writing this letter as the outgoing chair of the Finance Committee. My term ends July 9^th, 2025. I have learned a lot in my eight years on the committee and five as chair. I have a much better understanding of how a municipality works. I’ve seen firsthand what’s important to our community through what people are willing to invest in, both in dollars and time. These were lessons well worth learning. More importantly, I have made connections in our community that I would have never made in any other way.

To my fellow FinCom members, current and past: thank you. It has been my honor to serve with you. Your insights often caused me to look at something in a completely different way and as a result, I changed my mind vs. my original position. To the Select Board and Planning Board, thank you for the collaboration and cooperation. It was a pleasure to work with all of you on topics important for our community. To town administration, especially Libby Gibson and Brian Turbitt: I would not have been able to do the work without your assistance, patience and guidance. When I started out as chair, I had more than my fair share of stupid questions, and both of you gave me much more support than I would have expected, and you did it graciously. To town counsel, John Giorgio, (and your other colleagues at KP Law): I think John participated in nearly all our meetings! I always appreciated how you tactfully got me back on track on a point of order and shared a different point of view. To the moderator, Sarah Alger: thank you. You are the living, breathing representation of “Town Meeting Time.” I owe a big debt of gratitude to Stephen Maury.

While our titles were “chair” and “vice-chair,” our collaboration would be more accurately described as co-chairs. His advice and counsel were invaluable, and I was a much more effective chair because of it. And finally, to all the civically active community members: thank you. I have always believed that our community is one that votes its values, and this was never truer than for the folks who invest their time in making Nantucket better for all of us. I strongly urge anyone who is interested in serving on a board, commission, or committee—Just Do It. And here’s why, best summarized by a quote from Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Sincerely,

Denice Kronau