[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6184560,"mediaKeyId","5088954-7df0e5b4247262c9f392dfc6d8134d62","parentId",5088954,"title","Council reports transportation, food pantry and shelter updates; nonemergency medical transport not covered","audioSeconds",598,"startMs",2982000,"endMs",3580000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5088954-7df0e5b4247262c9f392dfc6d8134d62&start=2982&end=3580","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5088954-7df0e5b4247262c9f392dfc6d8134d62/thumbnail_2982000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6184560/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Council-reports-transportation-food-pantry-and-shelter-updates-nonemergency-medical-transport-not-covered","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6184560-85eaf8de468b891fd58148cbb7d36f80/orig.mp4?Expires=1770946881&Signature=QYyf6pXFFy-koerSHV6EaoXwrrWRbOJrbNI5tPiYWsnExc~tcxWP76mCoS~f2NL-cOAejEqUn978Y2LwvZbAr5rMbuLVoQ-ZIPvFwxz7eGRpujExvKBpFWM7y5uzdK9D~yXh94hY74aPVsnMmru8eXrZQX-c1wsTz4Z3P-XNKonWlQja0xnBerApjJ6Aheo5pvIgbRLeu7q7coOGwAcPZqlISCi1vEeOuhx-RbqjOHuyema7U3nzgEyBQa8DJH~z0aGpBjdORj4n0u0gopkLoxwDvIIOn~eAL8Js3SoFj1HdT71kMCuxIaq2ZfwgS1hylkpTLx6-WT4ACRFCkKc-VQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town-County of Nantucket, MA","date","2025-06-27T12:24:56Z","article","Council members provided multiple community-service updates at the June 26 meeting, including changes to transportation access, limits on council-funded nonemergency travel, and an urgent need for a new food-pantry location.

Council Chair Veronica Bolchic said she learned the council cannot pay for nonemergency medical transportation; the council’s support is limited to emergency transport. When asked whether off-island cancer infusions or chemotherapy qualify, the council’s staff response in the meeting was: “Correct. Correct. It is not.”

Members said some alternative funds remain for specific cases. Sue Mintonan noted the Marla Lamb Fund, administered through PASCON, provides reimbursement for off-island cancer care and related travel expenses; it is a reimbursement program for cancer-specific treatment costs. Council members also said other small local funds and charitable sources can be used for limited needs.

Several speakers credited NERDA and town transit changes for improving access to the hospital. Members reported that one of the fixed-route lines now stops at the hospital; council member Sarah Wright said drivers are keeping usage data and that maps on the transit website will be updated to reflect the change.

The council also discussed an urgent need to find a new home for the local food pantry. Members said the town-owned building that currently houses the pantry will be repurposed for bus operations as electric routes expand, and that the pantry serves roughly 350 family units in a typical week. The council emphasized fundraising efforts and a new Community Foundation fund named “Find the Pantry a New Home” to collect donations.

Other community updates included the warming-places summer program at Summer Street Church (lunch and case referrals on Mondays) and an outreach idea to set up a rotating table at the farmers market to connect residents and donors with local service providers. The council encouraged residents and stakeholders to monitor announcements about the pantry’s relocation and to consider fundraising and advocacy to secure a replacement location.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Council for Human Services - 6/26/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council members reported that council funds cannot pay for nonemergency medical transport, buses now stop at the hospital, the food pantry needs a new home and warming-place lunches continue on Mondays.","taxTitle","Nantucket County, Massachusetts","taxId",61456,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6184565,"Council begins planning multiyear funding request for FY27 amid calls for emergency reserve",466,1314000,1780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5088954-7df0e5b4247262c9f392dfc6d8134d62&start=1314&end=1780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5088954-7df0e5b4247262c9f392dfc6d8134d62/thumbnail_1314000.jpg","/articles/6184565/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Council-begins-planning-multiyear-funding-request-for-FY27-amid-calls-for-emergency-reserve","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6184565-8d242772526022bc1f8c925500b161dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770946881&Signature=cyDXflJDtFWAezBuLFl3Y4BnKpORP3ShuDTE~AjeBTa~t6p7uofs0-KBUB4BzK6x8EyECoVzPvgVrAfY3HrPiQQEjf1tZmAoU~rgarzCH8a7wc9xLfgZIffsQYacD5G08~ZlD~h5mlCNcacZmfAb9lYMXCId07liVocx7lfC0X~hLTNXXsK-94JGzhQtAVyHf15hTDFdthMj0Q0kIviiQxfdODrnziel-l6CQzBMmqyPZfScrx-hbTLcL3BVesVfe657g95Ze1PU7H-pfZ4XHTnUUFQxnfZWAppStX9vfqeAe4CCNPLf~clCKvZ0e8PiG9ctujut6hp~4YVZaSfifQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Council for Human Services is preparing a multiyear funding request to the town manager and finance director to preserve level funding for fiscal year 2027 and to seek additional resources to respond to inflation and growing service needs, Chair Veronica Bolchic said June 26.

Bolchic told members the current human-services allocation “at $650,001.75” has been in place for at least five years and that the council is discussing a multiyear approach that would lay out projected requests for FY27, FY28 and FY29. She said she and staff member Jericho will draft a letter to the town manager and head of finance and that the council will review and adopt the letter at its next meeting for submission in July.

Council members emphasized the need for data from a pending needs assessment to strengthen the funding request. Sarah Wright noted the council is “catching up” on data and suggested adjusting the allocation for inflation; she estimated an inflation-adjusted starting point of about $770,000. Bolchic and other members said they anticipate asking for level funding for FY27 and possibly more for the first year while acknowledging the limits of the town’s overall budget.

Members also discussed creating an emergency fund to bridge gaps when expected outside funding does not materialize and to help organizations avoid immediate service interruptions. Tara Steering and other members recommended collecting data from prior grant applications about what programs would cut or how service levels would change if funding is reduced; they suggested the council should track how many clients would be affected and whether organizations have alternate funding sources.

The council noted that some opioid-settlement funds are changing source accounts (previously tied to cannabis sales revenue) and that finance staff have indicated those funds will nonetheless continue to be available in a different form. Bolchic said the multiyear letter will be ready for formal adoption at the next meeting, and that council leaders plan to present it to town administration in time for FY27 budget discussions.","Council members discussed preparing a multiyear funding request for fiscal 2027 to preserve level funding and address inflation, and considered creating an emergency fund to respond to sudden needs across island service providers.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6184570,"Council completes interviews for opioid grants; budget review and final deliberations set for July",318,771000,1089000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5088954-7df0e5b4247262c9f392dfc6d8134d62&start=771&end=1089","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5088954-7df0e5b4247262c9f392dfc6d8134d62/thumbnail_771000.jpg","/articles/6184570/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Council-completes-interviews-for-opioid-grants-budget-review-and-final-deliberations-set-for-July","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6184570-fa949cbc157eb0da2e720abe922e31de/orig.mp4?Expires=1770946881&Signature=MJfIvMnDUGXjC9KkoF58r3Q2PjtGhut3UhbFCxBuOnQ2S23BSfju-zwhWRiq8wWlLTNS6N7DFPOdFSpQ0Cl9K~SFo9dadCGcokqHByWvjdfontOVIcOzoloDS6lxCbOcWRJraMJomdiKPjCZt-BuOL30f7mHPIKyDgIzY0tx6vjWq36r0Yj1~WhX6QADundZcodkdC~nyOafhCTNzVWc47VrGtLgwzv-NGHyTa~p2SrE7FHluJb7vmaZ5HcJLGdYjNDwQ8G6Lg7DpO9sCTuLsfRmaaAeSStjW97treRyDt26FHrFxXtsIq775eWvNOXqq1-AYHDKy1B0mjhbbXRmgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council for Human Services members said interviews are complete for grants funded from opioid-settlement funds and that a final deliberation meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. the following day to allocate $55,000 among applicants.

At the June 26 meeting, Chair Veronica Bolchic said two organizations applied for the treatment portion and three applied for prevention, and that the total pool under consideration is $55,000. She summarized the intended split as “$20,000 for prevention and $35.05 35 on treatment,” and said the funding comes from opioid-settlement money rather than town tax dollars.

Tara Steering, who led discussion of the needs-assessment procurement, said the interview process initially narrowed applicants to three but staff later added a fourth for interview; that fourth interviewee became the council’s final consensus choice in the ranking process. Steering said reviewers did not have access to applicant budgets during their scoring; budgets were withheld and are being reviewed separately by Cindy and by town finance staff (including Brian and Jericho) to check for inconsistencies and feasibility before awards are finalized.

Steering described the review as thorough and time-consuming, noting some applications ran 50 to 60 pages and that committee members used a rubric during interviews. She said the committee will reconvene via Zoom to complete consensus scoring and finalize recommendations.

Bolchic said the opioid funds are a separate bucket and are not town taxpayer dollars; she identified the Sackler settlement as a source of some of the funds. No formal award votes were recorded at the June 26 meeting; the council expected formal recommendations to follow the finance review and the scheduled deliberation.","The Council for Human Services finished interviews for opioid-settlement-funded grants and scheduled a July deliberation; the council said budget details were withheld from reviewers and will be reviewed separately by finance staff.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6184575,"Council schedules Sept. 12 celebration for FY26 grant recipients",166,189000,355000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5088954-7df0e5b4247262c9f392dfc6d8134d62&start=189&end=355","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5088954-7df0e5b4247262c9f392dfc6d8134d62/thumbnail_189000.jpg","/articles/6184575/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Council-schedules-Sept-12-celebration-for-FY26-grant-recipients","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6184575-1ac5ba708831ff510876d51dfed250eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770946881&Signature=XahtfreNTjfxdFBvjTK-zMKFQUuTessfFJcokIUPBnEgqw4hBGmL-dLt8jW-R4qjX27W34mql9JyddKnMDwnFjOvahnJfzSJKu0vVErFvSZWNt0qFomKsHUmm9K-N8~bBM1564BYI9vHWK0IZ0LOXU073oRxcthzDLGdA~3PpS-HfAQJiqXXn~Dvuc9FuDWgopZ8ksybnbWLCiDzvzju8PIFWztaAPTh3D14on4WUMAp-DXZuYaNKC111IyWdbF2NyMzaq5JUHrM94gIkCKZIvG0W6ySzWQx0~JVHa006zXXx1xgcWQUIsMKYu-bsOKD0R8CtBPUoHXdTtAYoXzRcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Council for Human Services will host a recognition event for organizations awarded fiscal year 2026 grants on Friday, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to noon at an outdoor tent on Washington Street, Council Chair Veronica Bolchic said at the council’s June 26 meeting.

Bolchic said Mariah Mitchell donated use of the tent and Lemon Press will provide boxed breakfasts for attendees. She asked that representatives of funded organizations be prepared to give brief presentations — “not even … less than 5 minute overview” — about how they will use the awarded funds.

The council plans to send invitations and request RSVPs so staff can plan the program and seating. Bolchic also said the council has instructed staff to include the town logo on organizations’ advertising materials as part of contract terms; she noted the contracts themselves had not yet been distributed but expected them to be issued by July 1.

Alexandria “Lexi” Richards was identified at the meeting as the host and note-taker for the event. Bolchic asked committee members to attend and to consider whether the council should expand future events to a larger public venue such as the Fairground Road auditorium.

The council discussed whether the event should be recorded or streamed and noted that, because the gathering will involve a quorum, it will likely be an official meeting that must be handled through Zoom to permit public access. Bolchic said staff will confirm recording and streaming logistics prior to the event.

No formal vote was taken at the June 26 meeting on event logistics; members agreed to circulate a formal invitation and RSVP in the coming weeks.","The Council for Human Services announced a Sept. 12 event to recognize organizations awarded fiscal year 2026 grants, asked recipients for brief presentations and said contracts and branding requirements will follow.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council reports transportation, food pantry and shelter updates; nonemergency medical transport not covered

Council begins planning multiyear funding request for FY27 amid calls for emergency reserve

Council completes interviews for opioid grants; budget review and final deliberations set for July

Council schedules Sept. 12 celebration for FY26 grant recipients