July/August Town Manager Newsletter

Fiscal Year 28 Operating Budget

We are beginning preparations for our FY 28 operating budget, following the close of FY 26 and the activation of FY 27. Budget development takes months and involves a great deal of information gathering, analysis, and internal and external meetings. We are planning to update the Select Board on preliminary projections in late August/early September.

Capital Improvement Plan

We are in the process of a CIP “reset” with the Select Board. We kicked this off with an overview of current projects in the existing plan at the Board’s July 22nd meeting and have a follow-up workshop meeting (open to the public) scheduled for Thurs, August 13 starting at 5 pm at the Community Room at 4 Fairgrounds Road. At the workshop meeting, the Board and staff will review capital projects in detail to understand their importance and cost, and begin prioritizing them.

Stormwater Regulations

Town Administration has received a number of resident questions about stormwater regulations, so here's where things stand: the stormwater bylaw approved at the 2026 Annual Town Meeting (pending state approval) would let the Select Board set stormwater regulations addressing flooding and erosion and establish a stormwater utility with a fee, likely based on impervious area, with credits for on-site stormwater management, as many other municipalities do. The fee amount hasn't been set yet; it would fund drainage infrastructure upkeep and water quality programs. The Board reviewed a public outreach timeline at its August 5th meeting and is expected to finalize the fee and regulations in the coming months.

Nantucket Welcomes the Vineyard

On Friday, July 24, Deputy Town Managers Gregg Tivnan and Rick Sears and I met with Town Managers from Martha's Vineyard for our annual Get Together; it was their year to visit us.

We toured the Brant Point Shellfish Hatchery with Shellfish and Aquatic Resources Manager Tara Riley, Assistant Biologist Griffin Harkin, and Water Quality Specialist Tessa Peixoto. It was fascinating. Afterward, we had lunch at Sand Bar at Jetties and a tour of Nantucket Harbor with Harbormaster Sheila Lucey. We swapped stories on issues common to both islands; it's a good relationship to keep strong.

Town, Valet Parking of America, and National Grid representatives celebrate the reopening of the National Grid Lot with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 3.

Now let’s take a look at what our departments have been busy with…

Now You Can Get Public Comment Responses by Email

Curious about questions raised during Select Board public comment? The Town posts responses on our Public Comment Questions & Town Responses webpage, and you can now have them delivered straight to your inbox.

Here's how it works: residents ask questions during the public comment portion of Select Board meetings, Town Administration reviews them, and responses are posted on the website ahead of the next meeting. Subscribe here to get those responses by email as soon as they're published.

Mosquito Activity Up After Recent Rain

The Town has received comments from Madaket residents about increased mosquito activity this summer. VDCI, the Town's longstanding mosquito-control contractor, has run routine larval treatments at established sites across the island, including Madaket, since spring. The treatment program targets larvae, not adult mosquitoes, in keeping with long-standing public-health and environmental practice. Although mosquito bites remain uncomfortable, lab testing shows a low risk of EEE, West Nile, and similar diseases this season.

This year, a dry June followed by heavy rain and high July tides created new standing water and breeding habitat, causing more mosquito activity despite continued treatment. Some nearby wetlands are owned or managed by other organizations outside the Town's treatment authority. Mosquitoes from those areas can travel into surrounding neighborhoods.

To reduce exposure, wear long sleeves and pants, use an EPA-registered repellent, limit outdoor time at dawn and dusk, keep screens in good repair, and remove standing water around your home.

July's Hazardous Waste Collection Day

July’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day drew 183 vehicles to the free event at DPW Offices on Madaket Road, helping residents safely dispose of hazardous materials and keep them out of the environment. Mark your calendar: the next event is on September 12!

New A/C Battery Bank Pilot: Earn $50, Support Nantucket's Grid

This summer, National Grid and Every Electric are launching a pilot on Nantucket through the ConnectedSolutions+ Demand Response Program. Eligible residents and small businesses get a free plug-in battery power bank that works with any standard 120-volt window or portable air conditioner; during peak summer demand, it quietly powers the AC, easing strain on the grid without affecting comfort.

Participants earn a $50 incentive for the season and keep the battery afterward. It's free, requires no installation, and just needs Wi-Fi. Enrollment is limited to the first 50 households/businesses.

Enroll here | Questions: nantucket@everyelectric.com or contact Energy Coordinator Lauren Sinatra at lsinatra@nantucket-ma.gov.

Tick Control Efforts on Island

Over the last few months, the Health & Human Services Department has carried out a tick survey program to better understand the prevalence and composition of tick populations across the island. The program visits volunteer properties once, during working hours, and shares findings with homeowners. It's currently full and not accepting new applicants — stay tuned, as spots may open before season's end.

Nantucket is home to four main species of hard-bodied ticks: two native, established species, the American dog tick and the blacklegged (deer) tick, and two non-native, emerging species, the lone star tick and the longhorned tick. All four are known to transmit diseases.

To reduce your risk: check yourself, family, and pets for ticks after time outdoors, wear light-colored clothing to spot ticks more easily, treat clothing/gear with permethrin, and remove any attached tick promptly.

NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

Strategic Retreat & Relocation Public Workshop  2

On August 12 and 13, join us at one of three locations to learn how the Town is planning for coastal flooding, erosion, and rising sea levels, and to share your ideas about Nantucket's future.

Unpermitted Snow Fencing on Nantucket's Beaches

Roll-out wood-and-wire fencing is a common sight along Nantucket's dunes and bluffs. It's designed for areas with drifting snow, not the forces of the ocean, and while it may appear effective in the short term, a single storm can destroy it, often removing more sand than it ever captured. The fencing also tends to become beach debris, creating a hazard for beachgoers.

Any alteration within a resource area (dunes, banks, bluffs, beaches) or within 100' of one requires a Conservation Commission permit, and wood-and-wire roll-out fencing is not a permitted method. Other options are available, including sand drift fencing, coir arrays, and american beachgrass plantings.

Coastal property owners interested in erosion control or sand capture options can contact Conservation Agent Will DellErba at wdellerba@nantucket-ma.gov.

Public Safety Partners Address Micromobility Safety

On July 21, representatives from the Police and Fire Departments, Planning and Land Use Services, Public Works, Communications Office, Nantucket Cottage Hospital, and Nantucket Public Schools met to discuss preventing serious e-bike and micromobility crashes. Priorities identified: better multi-use path signage and maintenance, clearing sightline obstructions, partnering with bike rental businesses, and stronger education for families. The group reconvenes in October to review progress.

Shark Fishing Restrictions Extended to Nantucket
The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries has issued emergency regulations extending shore-based white shark fishing restrictions to Nantucket through late October, following documented shark fishing activity on island beaches this summer. Learn more about what this means for anglers and beachgoers.

Sea Street Pump Station Force Main No. 3 Complete

After four years of construction, the Sea Street Pump Station Force Main No. 3 Project is substantially complete — about 18,000 feet of new sewer force main between the Sea Street Pump Station and Surfside Wastewater Treatment Facility, plus utility upgrades along the corridor. The new main lets the Town retire the aging 16-inch line that failed in 2018, adding critical redundancy for years to come. Thank you to residents and businesses for your patience throughout.

Wauwinet Road Multi-Use Path
Town staff and the Federal Highway Administration will host a public meeting on August 12 at 5 PM to present alignment alternatives and recommend a preferred option, followed by a review period. Details: nantucket-ma.gov/wauwinetpath.

Tom Nevers Road Multi-Use Path
Following the public forum and hearing, the County has acquired the right-of-way needed to finalize permitting; construction begins this fall. More info: nantucket-ma.gov/tomneverspath.

Travel Demand Forecast Model
The Town is coordinating with TraInfo, MassDOT, and the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization in developing a multi-modal Travel Demand Forecast Model. Two of three planned presentations to the NP&EDC are complete; a third, projecting 2050 traffic conditions under various strategies, comes in September. Learn more here.

Level 2 Drought Restrictions Continue

Nantucket remains under Level 2 Drought Restrictions, hand watering only (5–9 PM), 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.

Thanks for staying connected with the Town of Nantucket.

See you next month!

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