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A Newsletter from Town Manager C. Elizabeth Gibson
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Wednesday, October 7, 2026
What’s Happening
in Town Administration
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This time of year, we are busy initiating preparations for the upcoming Annual Town Meeting (ATM) (scheduled to start Monday, May 10, 2027), Annual Town Election (scheduled for Tuesday, May 25, 2027) and budget development (including capital project requests) for the next fiscal year. This involves scheduling dozens of meetings, looking at what has come up since or before the last town meeting with respect to potential warrant articles and budget requests; economic indicators; and numerous other factors and emerging information for both the town meeting and the budget.
The timeline for the 2027 ATM was endorsed by the Select Board at its August 19th meeting. Meanwhile, if you are contemplating a citizen warrant article (CWA), please be sure to thoroughly review the Guide to Preparing a Citizen Warrant Article. CWAs currently require the signatures of 10 voters registered in Nantucket; however, pending legislation will change that requirement to 25 as soon as it is signed by the Governor. We recommend that if you are considering a CWA that you obtain at least 25 signatures and, because people occasionally believe they are registered voters when they are not, it is always prudent to obtain more signatures.
The Town of Nantucket also offers two sessions at which citizens may meet with Town Counsel to discuss and receive legal advice on citizen warrant articles – those dates/times may be found in the timeline (Wednesday, October 14 from 10 am to noon; and Thursday, October 15 from 4 pm to 6 pm); both sessions are remote via Teams. Contact TownManager@nantucket-ma.gov for meeting links.
FY 2028 General Fund Budget
A strong real estate market is certainly an indication of economic conditions – and while Nantucket’s real estate market remains strong, there are other indicators as well, such as unemployment, interest rates, inflation, wages, economic sentiment, local receipts, grant opportunities, and state aid. We are monitoring these on a regular basis. Our FY 28 budget projections take these factors into consideration.
We hope to continue our focus on operational areas that need additional resources, including infrastructure, project management, facility maintenance, staffing, recruitment and retention, and furthering items in the Select Board Strategic Plan. We reviewed our preliminary projections with the Select Board on September 9th. Our budget recommendations are scheduled to be reviewed with the Select Board on December 9th.
A More Resilient Long-Term Plan for Town Projects
The Town is rethinking how it plans for big-ticket investments like buildings, roads, vehicles, and infrastructure. Instead of reviewing capital requests year by year, the Capital Improvement Plan is becoming a true long-range plan. The Select Board will play a stronger role in setting priorities. Major projects will be scheduled to keep borrowing and tax impacts manageable, and the plan will account for whether staff can realistically carry out projects. Lower-priority needs will stay on the list for future consideration instead of falling off. The goal is steadier spending, fewer surprises, and projects that get done.
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Welcome Aleesha and Joanna!
On September 9, residents and Town staff gathered at the Public Safety Facility to welcome two new members of the Town's leadership team: Public Health Director Joanna Watson and Director of Municipal Finance Aleesha Nunley Benjamin.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by to meet them and learn about their work!
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Recognitions
Retired Lt. Daniel Mack Honored by Civic League
At the Nantucket Civic League Annual Meeting on September 28 at the Nantucket Inn, recently retired Police Lieutenant Daniel Mack was honored with the NCL's Civic Salute. Lt. Mack served the Town with the Police Department for 37 years, rising from seasonal officer in 1989 to Lieutenant. I'd like to take this opportunity to recognize Danny for his service. His commitment to the Island, the community, and the Department is evident in all of his actions and work ethic. We greatly appreciate his service and wish him all the best in retirement. Thank you, Lt. Mack!
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Health & Human Services Grant Awards Recognition
The Town’s Human Services Contract Review Committee and Council for Human Services acknowledged the local and regional organizations receiving this year's Human Services grants at a ceremony on September 18. The funding supports a wide range of island services, including mental health care, food assistance, senior services, early childhood education, housing help, and support for residents with special needs.
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Additionally, the grantees will be acknowledged at the October 7th Select Board meeting.
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Celebrating 40 Years at Nantucket Cottage Hospital
On a recent visit to Nantucket Cottage Hospital, I was able to talk Gerri Amparo into a photo op to honor her 40th anniversary with NCH. Gerri must know nearly everyone on the island, and her cheerful greetings make hospital visits almost a treat!
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Other Select Board/Town Administration News & Activities
Select Board Strategic Planning Workshop
On October 6, the Select Board held its annual strategic planning workshop to set goals for the year ahead. These priorities shape where Town staff focus their time and budget, including issues like housing, transportation, environmental leadership, and effective and efficient Town operations. Watch the meeting here.
Town Manager's Report
The Town Manager's report to the Select Board on September 23 covers updates from across Town departments. Watch the presentation here.
Road Work and Traffic Disruption
Town projects through the fall, winter, and spring may close roads or disrupt traffic around the island. To help you plan ahead, the Communications Office emails a road closure update every Monday. Sign up here, or check the page anytime for current closures and detours.
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Committee of the Month: Advisory Committee of Non-Voting Taxpayers
If you own a property on Nantucket but vote somewhere else, the Advisory Committee of Nonvoting Taxpayers (ACNVT) represents you. Town Meeting created the committee in 1991 to make sure seasonal and part-time property owners have a say in local decisions.
The committee has 15 members and 2 alternates, all unpaid volunteers appointed by the Town Manager to three-year terms. Members bring backgrounds in law, medicine, facilities management, media, finance, government, and more. The ACNVT shares recommendations with the Select Board, Town Manager, Finance Committee, Planning Board, and Town departments. It also sends letters to local media and is invited to address Town Meeting on issues under consideration.
If you're a non-voting taxpayer, the committee wants to hear from you. Email ACNVT@nantucket-ma.gov, or attend one of their Saturday meetings in person or on Zoom. Agendas and minutes are on the ACNVT webpage.
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Left to right: William Gardner, Peter Halle, chair, Kathy Baird, secretary, Mike Herlihy, Peter Kahn, Steve Perelman, vice chair, Gene Briskman, Donna Martino, Scott Ulm, Patti Deuster, and Eric Kraeutler. Not pictured: Lou Bassano, Jon Delano, Pamela Suan, and Robert Vidoni.
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Now let’s take a look at what our departments have been busy with…
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Halloween on Nantucket: Saturday, October 31
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, and there's something happening from mid-afternoon into the evening. Costume contest check-in runs from 3 to 3:30 PM, and the Main Street Halloween Parade steps off at 4 PM. Also at 4, the Nantucket Atheneum courtyard opens with treats and activities. From 4:30 to 6 PM, the Nantucket Historical Association hosts Halloween festivities at the Discovery Center. In the evening, The Dreamland has a free Halloween movie at 8 PM and a costume and dance party from 7 to 10 PM.
Follow the Town of Nantucket on social media for updates, including any weather-related changes.
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Household Hazardous Waste Collection: Next Event October 24
Have old batteries, motor oil, aerosol cans, or other hazardous waste? Bring them to the next Household Hazardous Waste Collection on Saturday, October 24, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The drop-off is at the DPW Offices, 188 Madaket Road, through the second white gate after the Landfill entrance. See the list of accepted items before you come.
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The September 12 collection was a big success. Staff served 185 vehicles, including 33 commercial participants, and kept traffic moving at nearly one vehicle per minute.
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EV Charging Rates Increase November 1
Starting November 1, charging at the Town's public EV stations will cost $0.35 per kilowatt-hour, up from $0.30. The increase covers rising electricity costs and the cost of operating and maintaining the stations. It follows the Town's EV charging cost recovery policy, which the Select Board adopted in 2023.
Help Shape Nantucket's Electric Future: Take the IslandReady Survey
How should Nantucket's power grid grow over the next 50 years? National Grid wants to hear from residents and businesses. The company is running an 18- to 24-month study, called IslandReady, to plan for the island's electricity needs through 2080. The study looks at upgrades, new technologies, and alternatives to building more power lines, all aimed at keeping service reliable and affordable. Take the Community Priorities Survey and learn more about IslandReady Nantucket.
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Energy Efficiency Day - October 7
On October 7, the Town of Nantucket joins communities across the country in recognizing Energy Efficiency Day and encouraging residents to take simple steps to save energy, lower costs, and improve home comfort. Residents can schedule a no-cost Mass Save Home Energy Assessment to identify energy-saving opportunities and may qualify for incentives on insulation, heat pumps, appliances, windows, batteries, and more. In-person assessments are available November 2–6, with additional appliance recycling opportunities on November 14. Visit Ngrid.com/Nantucket to learn more and schedule an appointment.
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Property Tax Bills Due November 1
Second-quarter real estate and personal property tax bills were mailed October 1 and are due November 2nd. Nantucket's fiscal year runs July 1st to June 30th. Bills go out quarterly, each due on the first of the following month: August 1st, November 1st, February 1st, and May 1st, exception: if the 1st falls on a weekend, taxes are due the next business day. Taxes are due on time even if you don’t receive a bill. If you haven't received one, contact Tax Collection to confirm the amount and to avoid interest charges.
Buying or selling? Contact Tax Collection to update your mailing address. Owner names are updated from the Registry of Deeds records, so new owners may see the previous owner's name on a bill for a while. If you've sold a property and use UniBank AutoPay or e-alerts, you'll need to cancel them yourself, because the Town can't access your UniBank account. For help, call UniBank at 1-877-227-1157. Personal property tax is based on ownership as of January 1, so whoever owns the property on that day owes the full year's tax, even after a sale.
Motor vehicle excise bills are mailed throughout the year. The majority are mailed in February and due in March. Address changes for these must be made with the RMV, not the Town.
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New Fire Engine Arrives at the Fire Department
Last month, the Fire Department received its new Engine 5, a 2025 Smeal pumper that can pump 2,000 gallons per minute and carries 1,000 gallons in its onboard tank.
Voters approved the custom-built truck at the 2024 Annual Town Meeting. Crews are training on the engine now and expect to put it into service in the next few weeks. Its sister engine, Engine 3, is expected to arrive in November.
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Progress Continues on Waitt Drive Employee Housing
Site work at 15 Waitt Drive is ahead of schedule. Crews have finished clearing the property, and excavation is expected to begin in the coming weeks. For more information about the project, click here.
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Nantucket Housing 101 with Remain
Remain hosted Nantucket Housing 101 at the Nantucket Atheneum on Monday, October 5. The event helped year-round residents, homeowners, and landlords learn about the housing programs and resources available on the island. Municipal Housing Director Kristie Ferrantella joined other local housing leaders on the panel. Together, they walked through common housing situations and took questions from the audience.
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From left to right: Anne Kuszpa, Executive Director, Housing Nantucket, Cecil Barron Jensen, Executive Director, Remain, Samantha Pillion, Panel Moderator, Kristie Ferrantella, Town of Nantucket Housing Director, Tucker Holland, Executive Director, Nantucket Land Trust, Beth Ann Meehan, Cape Cod 5 Mortgage Loan Officer and Nantucket Housing Authority member, Dave Armanetti, Director of Real Estate Development, Housing Nantucket. |
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Don’t Make Life Easy For Hackers
A few simple habits make your accounts much harder to break into. Use a long password of at least 12 to 16 characters, and use a different one for every account. A short phrase of random words is easier to remember than a jumble of symbols, and it's just as strong. A password manager can create and store strong passwords for you. Many are free and easy to use. Short passwords can be cracked quickly, and every character you add makes yours much harder to guess.
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NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT
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Climate and Sustainability Plan Launch
The Town has started work on a Climate and Sustainability Plan, a roadmap for cutting emissions, preparing the island for climate impacts, and setting practical sustainability goals. The effort kicked off at the Island Fair on September 12. About 60 residents stopped by to share what they value most about Nantucket and their top climate and environmental concerns.
Your input will help shape the plan. To share ideas or sign up for updates, email Shanika Amarakoon of Environmental Research Group at Shanika.Amarakoon@erg.com or the Town’s Sustainability Programs Manager, Vince Murphy.
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Left to right: David Meyers and Shanika Amarakoon from ERG Consultants, Town of Nantucket Conservation Agent Will Dell'Erba, and Sustainability Programs Manager Vince Murphy.
Fall Pond Openings Coming to Sesachacha and Hummock Ponds
The Natural Resources Department will open Sesachacha and Hummock Ponds to the ocean in mid-October. Pond openings are one of the island's longest-running water quality efforts. A channel is dug to the ocean to flush out nutrient buildup from sources like wastewater while helping balance salinity in the ponds. The goal is to keep the channels open for at least two days, but how long they stay open depends on the weather.
For your safety, please stay away from the openings while work is underway. Heavy machinery, unstable sand, and fast-moving water make the area dangerous. Wait until the work is done to visit. Opening dates will be announced on the Natural Resources Department's Instagram and Facebook (@NRDack).
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Have Your Say on the Draft 2026 Master Plan
The draft 2026 Master Plan is ready for public review, and the Planning Board wants your feedback. Read the draft and leave comments on the Master Plan project page, or email Megan Trudel at mtrudel@nantucket-ma.gov. Comments are due by October 15. The Board is tentatively scheduled to vote on the plan at its October 19 meeting at 4:00 p.m.
PLUS Building Files Digitization Update
Starting Monday, October 19, Building Department files will be removed from the Planning & Land Use Services (PLUS) building to scan and convert them into digital records. Requests for building files will take longer while this work is underway. If you're a property owner, contractor, or anyone else who may need these records, plan ahead and allow extra time. Once the project is finished, building records will be easier to find, better preserved, and more accessible to the public.
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Volunteers Needed for Senior Lunches at Saltmarsh
Can you spare an hour or two on a weekday? The lunch program at the Saltmarsh Senior Center needs volunteers to help serve meals, clear tables, and wash dishes. Elder Services of Cape Cod & the Islands runs the program. It gives local seniors a hot meal and a chance to connect with others, and even a little of your time helps keep it going. To sign up, contact the Saltmarsh Senior Center team.
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Amelia Drive Becomes One-Way for a Three-Month Pilot Period
Heads up, drivers: during October, a section of Amelia Drive will be one-way as part of a pilot program the Select Board recently approved. Between Waitt Drive and Ticcoma Way, traffic will flow in one direction only, southwest toward Ticcoma Way. The Town wants to hear how the change works for you. Visit the project webpage to take a survey and share your thoughts. Your feedback will help decide whether the change becomes permanent.
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Milestone Rotary Reconstruction
MassDOT is planning to reconstruct Milestone Rotary and improve the surrounding intersections, and it wants to hear from residents. If you missed the September 29 virtual public meeting, you can learn more on the project page.
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Level 2 Drought Restrictions Continue
Nantucket remains under State-imposed Level 2 Drought Restrictions, allowing for hand watering only (5–9 PM) and limited pool fills. Fines escalate with repeat violations: warning, then $250, $500, and shutoff. If you haven't checked for indoor leaks recently, now's a good time. Call Wannacomet Water (508-228-0022) with questions. The Massachusetts Drought Management Task Force reassesses the situation monthly.
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Thanks for staying connected with the Town of Nantucket.
See you next month!
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