[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6252554,"mediaKeyId","3187553-39451ff7b399fa7ead9d00162c43e697","parentId",3187553,"title","Town approves $1.9M for 9 Goldfinch employee housing; larger Wait Drive municipal housing borrowing fails","audioSeconds",1002,"startMs",5120000,"endMs",6122000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3187553-39451ff7b399fa7ead9d00162c43e697&start=5120&end=6122","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3187553-39451ff7b399fa7ead9d00162c43e697/thumbnail_5120000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6252554/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Town-approves-19M-for-9-Goldfinch-employee-housing-larger-Wait-Drive-municipal-housing-borrowing-fails","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252554-0e4c47782fc405bfb6a25b0d5c75e1c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149555&Signature=kw7RRB6f~NuJJgQqI8nhOqZCra0sCn61sj~eUjwtj6fY6WZx9Y5kziGESXUwR9vGPSGFd2KXBx4dhO46yI~tRNaR6D4N5DsIUhjwACNzZ7A74ghmJAC7my3XmftiPzEJC-ykVqTWxwa1c8e3exgIPe7sWWYkkoXopgRH41oBg1x~HiIl2RxnLZyCzXE2oVCgkQLf4wdyf6eIALBNpC0e8omT5Ek6bY37co-54Dep1eu2zU7MU5TLkOadcIjy329ia5m9E9EBaGOcncz0FgjjUaYtdjRIaEOjyoajAZr4rQ2ZagN4ehekZqfhx6lnRBgOE5GyKgyTu4LEHnsdHi6S6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town-County of Nantucket, MA","date","2025-05-03T20:58:41Z","article","Town Meeting approved Article 10 as printed, which included authorization of up to $1,900,000 for acquisition of a house at 9 Goldfinch Drive for municipal employee housing; an amendment to delete that acquisition failed. Separately, Article 11 — an authorization to borrow $14 million to design, permit and begin construction of new municipal employee housing at three lots on Wait Drive — did not receive the two‑thirds vote required for passage.

Supporters of the Goldfinch acquisition said the house is move‑in ready, located near central services, and that owning housing for municipal employees lets the town provide stable housing and reduce turnover. Housing Director Christy Ferrantella told Town Meeting that current rental rates for 3‑bed properties range from about $5,500 to $7,500 per month and that owning units locks in costs and avoids market rent volatility.

Opponents questioned costs (purchase price and recurring association/insurance fees) and asked whether construction of dedicated employee housing on town-owned land would be more strategic. An amendment by a town meeting member to strike the $1.9 million from Article 10 was defeated (yes 186, no 573) and the Goldfinch acquisition remained in the article; overall Article 10 passed (two‑thirds required) with yes 624, no 122.

Article 11, which would have authorized $14 million for phased construction of nine homes on Wait Drive (creating up to 25 bedrooms over lots), drew debate about total project cost, staging and whether the $14 million would complete construction of multiple lots. Proponents said modular construction and staged buildout could deliver needed homes for teachers, DPW staff and first responders. Opponents and several town meeting members said the $14 million was an incomplete funding ask and would likely require future supplemental appropriations; that article failed to reach the two‑thirds threshold (yes 432, no 317 — required 499).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Nantucket Annual Town Meeting 2025 (Day 1) - May 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Town Meeting approved appropriating up to $1.9 million to acquire a move-in-ready house at 9 Goldfinch Drive for municipal employee housing, while a separate $14 million borrowing authorization for multi‑lot municipal employee housing on Wait Drive failed to reach the required two‑thirds vote.","taxTitle","Nantucket County, Massachusetts","taxId",61456,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6252558,"Town meeting approves operating budget including sizable funding for Affordable Housing Trust amid calls for transparency",0,5893000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3187553-39451ff7b399fa7ead9d00162c43e697&start=5893&end=5893","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3187553-39451ff7b399fa7ead9d00162c43e697/thumbnail_5893000.jpg","/articles/6252558/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Town-meeting-approves-operating-budget-including-sizable-funding-for-Affordable-Housing-Trust-amid-calls-for-transparency","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252558-613c620e958033324ee02e99c91e1b98/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149555&Signature=OIiaBNpzFuLOqIGcINEeRgAjLmjLaGXwbSjVevTWaEDhzeJ-yniS2GwrwL3tf5dZjijKQ4XlnCmCoJd3ItOLy2ow-HqQRikDQF6CudoA2rMvDGE04BopBMI80rpj1m52Vm9avddHmCzYuS3QvZVwTyo-G~c07TPV6jD2Vog0TLjr2g54ACSqcPUj2gnOtOm-BLjVNTY3sJxpSMEml6nVP75TOELSKrv-uAlc7ftHx046AsKexzC64m4syn8yGxEeltdbo42XZ0zdL3biX~W22e44Yk0cn~2CQBclHYbReWw0o-2OtoxJeVBwwWHD6PxQQh8CAa4JVre3z8ljSHioFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town Meeting voted to adopt the finance committee’s Article 8 operating budget, which includes continued funding for the Affordable Housing Trust and the town’s housing office. An amendment by Town Meeting member Toby Brown sought to remove $7,790,094 from the town housing office’s line items; that amendment was defeated and the finance committee’s motion was adopted as printed.

Brown argued the town should slow down certain large appropriations, questioned project delivery and noted the Housing Trust carries substantial unspent balances. Housing Director Christy Ferrantella and Affordable Housing Trust vice chair Penny Dye outlined the trust’s recent results: the trust has supported more than 350 households in six years, has used funds for closing-cost assistance, lease-to-local programs and strategic investments to preserve year-round housing, and has projects lined up that the trust expects to deploy over multiple years.

Ferrantella said trust funds allow bonding without raising the annual tax rate and support programs such as year-round deed restrictions and down-payment assistance — tools the housing office and trust say are necessary in Nantucket’s high-cost market. Brown’s amendment failed (yes 134, no 596), and the main motion adopting Article 8 passed (yes 630, no 97).

Speakers highlighted tensions that surfaced during the debate: some residents urged slower spending and stronger project-level accountability; housing officials said there are active pipelines of projects and that funds are being deployed strategically to maintain the town’s compliance with state housing programs and local needs. Select board and finance representatives said the budget process included detailed review by the finance committee and multiple public hearings.","Town Meeting adopted the fiscal 2026 operating budget (Article 8) including funding that supports the Affordable Housing Trust. An amendment seeking to cut $7.79 million from the housing office line (proposed by one member) failed after extended debate on the Trust's strategy, existing balances, and the speed and scale of housing projects.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6252563,"Town meeting keeps Surfside-area transportation project funding after debate over reallocating prior year road funds",578,4817000,5395000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3187553-39451ff7b399fa7ead9d00162c43e697&start=4817&end=5395","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3187553-39451ff7b399fa7ead9d00162c43e697/thumbnail_4817000.jpg","/articles/6252563/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Town-meeting-keeps-Surfside-area-transportation-project-funding-after-debate-over-reallocating-prior-year-road-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252563-7c9813380595407fb69b1787ae08e17b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149555&Signature=aKj3H0R2zvsYKBKO4tLehWUhCBHpPPTMnJOukaLx-0Im97Cr06NHaLiBeZdt6FirKpqd1~c-CcvTnOL0rfuEaJ64U1kbFOc8UskDdudJ5ttTAMHnCDpnwHBCTH88PleOag8ba6MuEvoYywI5kGi8N-8mV0yJkph0~a7MS9uw6UlI31G1S7ARZbao8t9NkkJ7NAROykQ1spQew69WNnSNGWCK~gmFlkj~FobOnb5Kncefd-RfP3nTfVXQ1qGC55LLmKOr6LMA8c-CS6qZ0OZGRSjTf~HLp8GGyQxoHEYuDzE3sbdeEUsHskX9MXNSrlMgQE2n~Wae5W2vPeY9Nvqmag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town Meeting on May 20 voted against an amendment that would have removed $1,894,016 from prior-authorized capital funds and held them for general annual road maintenance; the main motion to reappropriate prior-year funds to allow immediate award of a construction contract for the Surfside Area Transportation Improvements project was adopted.

The contested line item was money originally authorized for prior sidewalk, bike path and cobblestone projects that, the Department of Public Works said, was not fully spent and could be applied to the multi-road restoration package that includes Lovers Lane, Orkawa Road and Monahansett Road. DPW Director Drew Padno told the meeting the project includes two miles of new bike paths, full-width paving and stormwater infrastructure sized for 100-year storms and that bids came in substantially below estimate. Padno warned that without reappropriation the town would have to rebid, risking higher prices.

Resident and Town Meeting member Thomas Barreta proposed an amendment to instead redirect $1,894,016 to annual road repair and maintenance rather than to the Surfside project. Barreta argued the town’s road network shows deferred maintenance in many locations and said the change would restore a prior-year maintenance balance that had not been spent; he outlined local pothole and drainage failures as evidence of need.

DPW Director Padno and other supporters said the funds are necessary to award a timely contract for the Surfside project and that state Chapter 90 money and other appropriations left a gap the reappropriation would fill. Finance staff and town counsel explained that the rescinded borrowing authorization cited in a different article could not be repurposed because those borrowing authorizations had not been executed.

On the amendment vote the tally was yes 191, no 533 and the amendment failed. The planning board/finance committee main motion reappropriating prior-year funds for the Surfside project was adopted (yes 655, no 61); the moderator noted the vote met the required majority. DPW said awarding a contract could proceed and that the town had one asphalt supplier and one paving contractor on-Island, making timing and contract continuity important.","Town Meeting rejected an amendment to reallocate $1,894,016 from a prior Sidewalk/Multiplath/Cobblestone appropriation to broader annual road maintenance; the planning and public works teams pressed to reappropriate older authorizations to award a construction contract for Surfside transportation improvements (Lovers Lane, Orkawa, Monahansett).",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6252568,"Town meeting votes against exploring switch to town council; nonbinding question sparks split public comment",1319,3058000,4377000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3187553-39451ff7b399fa7ead9d00162c43e697&start=3058&end=4377","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3187553-39451ff7b399fa7ead9d00162c43e697/thumbnail_3058000.jpg","/articles/6252568/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Town-meeting-votes-against-exploring-switch-to-town-council-nonbinding-question-sparks-split-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252568-ec358e6a08e116984998da5b0414eb9f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149555&Signature=OjcUtyLkM5oGNS5AQwNLYNs2rIEXC8JJJQIP3m6MiOJbpvxfpD~Vp5zE5~6kKwLsZyKou-pZfENv60E7PY586SuVsT0902IojkWidvzLpSTxm64crhMFtjnVvoPacbCRzvbF6ZVaAsYfB0Io7lPq6nIWVIPp30ttmr-jMlfFV0t1dw-9O9mCCM48wPKDysD5vFeXB6AdGeYwcRMtslMxGQJUIDS-Cq5Fsfe-Xf05VlBtlWtGjaW06eEIv5GG8R9g0xKTi2BgNVedQ3vFBxR5N8TOeuyFU2O0uQDX2mSysuIlGHZry9IEABCtKOYPP4KoGZpN5uMxowqF8fLZEAFg2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Nantucket Town Meeting on May 20 voted a nonbinding sense question expressing opposition to converting to a town council–town manager form of government, with the result 251 yes, 477 no on the measure as read. The moderator explained a “yes” vote would indicate interest in conversion while a “no” vote would signal a preference to retain open town meeting.

The question was placed on the warrant by the Town Council Study Committee, created after a 2023 article that authorized a committee to explore charter options. Jeff Carlson, vice chair of that study committee, told the meeting the committee has held 38 public meetings and multiple information sessions and was “ready to deliver” a draft charter for review, but framed the ballot question as a way to test current interest among town meeting members.

The session limited discussion because the question was nonbinding. Supporters said a change could increase access and make legislative functions more inclusive; opponents raised concerns about losing direct voter control and the speed and power municipal councils can exercise. Beau Barber, a former town employee, described the separation of powers and urged using budget authority to hold executives accountable under the current system. Several speakers, including Marshall Keys and John Fones, urged a “no” vote, arguing the open town meeting is a long-standing local democratic practice.

Carlson said the study committee’s work was commissioned by prior town meeting direction and that a nonbinding vote was intended to guide whether the committee should proceed with delivering a draft charter for public review. He told the meeting the committee’s draft is intended to preserve citizen access while redesigning legislative processes.

The moderator emphasized the question was nonbinding and described it as guidance for future deliberations, not a policy change. Because the result expresses the sense of this legislative body only, any formal change to government structure would still require future steps, including a binding vote or charter change process consistent with state law.

The discussion was short by design; committee members said they will continue outreach and may bring a future, binding proposal if public support and political processes warrant it.","Nantucket Town Meeting voted a nonbinding sense question opposing a change from open town meeting to a town council/town manager form of government. The discussion drew several public speakers on both sides and a town council study committee presentation about next steps.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Town approves $1.9M for 9 Goldfinch employee housing; larger Wait Drive municipal housing borrowing fails

Town meeting approves operating budget including sizable funding for Affordable Housing Trust amid calls for transparency

Town meeting keeps Surfside-area transportation project funding after debate over reallocating prior year road funds

Town meeting votes against exploring switch to town council; nonbinding question sparks split public comment