[{"_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",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6145768,"mediaKeyId","5530950-a4b0e6cb303182ef9c86db3527c54e9c","parentId",5530950,"title","Council signs consultant for needs assessment; kickoff and community survey planned for fall","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",4191000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5530950-a4b0e6cb303182ef9c86db3527c54e9c&start=4191&end=4191","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5530950-a4b0e6cb303182ef9c86db3527c54e9c/thumbnail_4191000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6145768/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Council-signs-consultant-for-needs-assessment-kickoff-and-community-survey-planned-for-fall","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6145768-8ad2a8f231742568b81d5cadedf2024c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770527266&Signature=RUm4RYbg2rjSIqGJztv9k1yp7L82OqBiccm~quVu~hHr6LbTS8r8xTChxg3ulceVrkbSt-GtLOXmCHrmBemz6aRLQyj8wSEKumDYnnmXE1OhHWyQwh22qsi~3VNzGo0VE6yo4Lo4wAF8m1PI0v8neJb5EHTKCsf1~jZR8vxt40NCmJCQRN8EFr0Blaqilb2e-dRkGaBVsmvydcdnaFYpSM2E0olezvFSwpmG~JFB7IXmYFzWfvjTpMCxGp39YptxiMBSKX45G~OtoOBgfnMhrwX4zHKWCGePHuL84uqyttpjq095tqQtDR~N8Lfu3cBJkoqtPgd4kkqYr5tXH7BGJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town-County of Nantucket, MA","date","2025-08-05T10:53:06.637Z","article","Council staff told members on July 31 that the Council for Human Services has signed a contract with Kulik Consultancy (top-rated bidder) to conduct the town’s human-services needs assessment. Staff said the kickoff meeting with the consultant is scheduled for early September and that stakeholder interviews and focus groups will begin that month.

Jericho said the consultant is a small, hands-on firm whose managing principal is bilingual in English and Spanish; council members said that bilingual capability was important for outreach. The council plans to release a community survey between October and November to capture fall and shoulder-season needs and expects final analysis and reporting to extend into the following summer.

The needs-assessment work will inform the council’s allocation priorities and help set measurable outcomes for funded programs. Council members said the assessment’s findings will be used to tighten grant categories and to help the Contract Review Committee evaluate applications in the upcoming FY27 award round. The council also plans a public grant-award ceremony on Sept. 12 to recognize current grantees and to raise public awareness of funded services.

Members said they selected Kulik Consultancy after an interview and scoring process; the firm was both the top-rated and (unusually) the least expensive bidder, according to council comments. Staff asked members to expect contact from the consultant and from staff as part of outreach and stakeholder mapping over the next weeks.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Council for Human Services - 7/31/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council approved a contract with Kulik Consultancy to conduct the townwide human-services needs assessment; focus groups and stakeholder interviews are planned in September with a community survey due in October–November and final reporting into next summer.","taxTitle","Nantucket County, Massachusetts","taxId",61456,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6145772,"Council to request FY27 human-services funding; substance-misuse allocation to be sought at $175,000",1021,3446000,4467000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5530950-a4b0e6cb303182ef9c86db3527c54e9c&start=3446&end=4467","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5530950-a4b0e6cb303182ef9c86db3527c54e9c/thumbnail_3446000.jpg","/articles/6145772/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Council-to-request-FY27-human-services-funding-substance-misuse-allocation-to-be-sought-at-175000","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6145772-1bd04f19f2fe18b9d16fdd60c874106e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770527266&Signature=YxaexnXDiMm5hFVobe~UCnas8Ki7l8caKpqmsC0D-2rmNbgUaVtTHfP0LIpvZocVfUNV0G15n1um9NzVlw3vT6UJjl8zDgOcG6o9gA28WItAZk~BtBW6J6edhBPj3Z3GJaNEFkLVbZeKz~-Iy~pKwEOM9FoFEjOoJpa8xxVbhrMlGZOXiiIZQQNSuhhKAK2Piu5YXmKe4IsRXKvgAOE5Xzy6Fv5LhKN-E2Y8UlA92YCEuKjVt-uhI8DwrtYHIswgPC9LynaEfTBZBbbcQ5gfo2Zpj4xnVeyVRWijl2EGrBQ5hdnyTLsAl~cBPz-C4HwYqTwZiy6Mg35NwsNSlRzoDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Council for Human Services said at its July 31 meeting it will send a formal request to the town manager and select board for fiscal year 2027 human-services funding levels before releasing the fall grant round. The council plans to request $175,000 specifically for substance-misuse services for FY27 and is seeking clarity from the town finance office on how funding can be structured.

Veronica Bolchick told members the substance-misuse allocation has historically been funded by cannabis-related revenues, which are no longer available. Last year the council used a different funding source (not specified in the meeting). To align grant expectations with available funds, the council will ask finance staff to brief CRC and CHS at a joint session; the meeting with the town finance director, Brian Turbot, is scheduled for Friday, August 8, at 9 a.m., the council said.

Discussion at the meeting also touched on a proposed cap on awards to individual applicants; council members discussed a possible $100,000 cap per organization to prevent concentration of the available pool in a small number of programs. Members noted that the total pool available in recent years has been in the range of $650,000 and that, when adjusted for inflation, the town’s purchasing power has decreased (staff cited an estimated $183,000 loss in purchasing power since 2018). The council intends to finalize funding requests and circulate a draft letter to the town manager and select board ahead of the finance briefing.

The council said it wants funding levels known before releasing grant applications so applicants understand the pool available. The council also said it will continue to classify grants as operational/capacity awards versus seed or program-start grants when evaluating requests.","The Council for Human Services will submit a formal letter to the town manager and select board seeking FY27 funding levels before the fall grant release; the council plans to request $175,000 for substance-misuse services and will meet with the town finance director for guidance.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6145777,"Council proposes focused work groups, refines grant rubric and stresses open-meeting compliance",1738,1755000,3493000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5530950-a4b0e6cb303182ef9c86db3527c54e9c&start=1755&end=3493","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5530950-a4b0e6cb303182ef9c86db3527c54e9c/thumbnail_1755000.jpg","/articles/6145777/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Council-proposes-focused-work-groups-refines-grant-rubric-and-stresses-open-meeting-compliance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6145777-80d8e655230a7b7eb9956b2a41f38837/orig.mp4?Expires=1770527266&Signature=IkSFbGKwV9M99hS9Vfaq8sVf1DGIamkcNwfxjpPD66DUnAKJMY81pyoKrX5O~gE2LB1sXCfZg2ZUkEpVe1qrR9FmdIqoq3wzB95iuKPOJ5nwlOfaCSbl2KYhVAbxDGU8SC7OATuyhBx3nVVv-sAqN1cpk-V5uuXmuS3htx4yhWyMqu-x7JOHFnC7B2jYiKjJxTX3ti62K-GNZGQqQGOUW7ls13OKwRoG6p~x-Uubzsp5ewtTJrxpx1myu-14CKjik331jvc788jyqQgasQnuCGgD6kzcIR0Wg8MEC0u5fktETaBtCCKPSL5p8181Ez3Q~QOd6Xxm8~3vla-b4dNMAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the July 31 meeting the Council for Human Services proposed creating three small work groups to give subject-area review and community outreach support to the Contract Review Committee’s grant-evaluation process. Council members said the groups will supplement CRC’s review by providing sector expertise and by helping develop interview questions and follow-up items for applicants.

Council members described two possible sector breakdowns: a Maslow-like grouping used in earlier needs assessments (basic needs → other fundamental needs → emergency preparedness) and a more granular sector list the council used in its recent report (housing; health care; substance misuse; elder care; child and youth services; emergency services; behavioral health). Jericho, the staff lead, said the finer sector breakdown better aligns with common funder taxonomies and will help compare local funding with other grantmakers.

Veronica Bolchick said staff will e-mail council members next week with the sector options and a short deadline for members to state their preferred focus areas. The council intends to keep most work groups small to avoid triggering open public meeting requirements; Jericho and Bolchick emphasized that more than two members discussing the same topic in a private forum could be subject to open-meeting rules.

Members asked for written guidance; Bolchick said the council will include a “cheat sheet” from the compliance office and contact information for Maureen Coleman, the town compliance officer. Council staff also reminded members that written communications can be subject to public-record rules and advised against “reply all” when coordinating informally by e-mail.

The council asked members to review the existing grant-evaluation rubric before the next full meeting and to bring suggested changes. The plan calls for the CRC to incorporate the council’s revisions, finalize the rubric and then use it during the fall grant season when applications are expected to arrive and be evaluated.","Council for Human Services members agreed to form small work groups to review grant applications and suggested revisions to the grant-evaluation rubric; staff will circulate assignments and compliance guidance on open meeting and conflict-of-interest rules.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6145782,"Council for Human Services elects chair, names representatives to contract review committee",821,776000,1597000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5530950-a4b0e6cb303182ef9c86db3527c54e9c&start=776&end=1597","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5530950-a4b0e6cb303182ef9c86db3527c54e9c/thumbnail_776000.jpg","/articles/6145782/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Council-for-Human-Services-elects-chair-names-representatives-to-contract-review-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6145782-5f520c98d5c958ff4b012456e4b7646c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770527266&Signature=i44oJNv7XeQytWpYqFaKva2A-zDbCKTYQpFzR2XkT0aXKMxZ9k01sBabQERbBfQkIb38c6PsPcMf0qV82MHJIgf05l5s4xdA2shc70nbJztwlLuWLEKiATTZFGf2Eo9bMTvi4pJMN7ou1ibrLbcLohwj8BG1PQ7RsJsi9HY7eEtmg2Ehoq3Ag5RacaY4v-8z157khORImSAr9IA4U-5egn6euq331C7OWuBOLgBe5UrtHn8EhHW7KcjdxtcWFxVBNlhFJKPBj9ELqsQThTXV~NGjuUbeR-CGKfUtU4COGHY4vEQWAMW5cwdtaUKzRSYYcDDohUnqVTyihRzxLXoWjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its Thursday, July 31, meeting the Council for Human Services elected Veronica Bolchick as chair and Sarah Wright as co-chair and approved two council members to represent the body on the town’s Contract Review Committee. The council voted by roll call to confirm the leadership and to name Veronica Bolchick and Suzanne Keating as the council’s two representatives to the Contract Review Committee (CRC).

The vote followed roll-call motions and brief discussion of members’ availability. “I would be interested in staying involved on this level,” Bolchick said during the meeting when noting that one prior co-chair had stepped down and that she expects to travel later in the fiscal year. Sarah Wright, who was elected co-chair, is identified in the meeting as director of social services at Nantucket Cottage Hospital.

The council also addressed staffing and participation on CRC, the subcommittee that develops and evaluates human-services grant requests. Suzanne Keating volunteered to serve on CRC; the council ratified Bolchick and Keating as its representatives. John Belash, introduced as a member at large of the Contract Review Committee, was present as a member of the public and noted his long experience on CRC.

Discussion at the meeting emphasized continuity and institutional memory as reasons for confirming the appointments. Members said CRC work is more time intensive during the fall grant season and requires review of proposals, interviews and quarterly monitoring.

The council closed the meeting by confirming the appointments and adjourning. No substantive policy decisions beyond the leadership and representative appointments were made at the meeting.

The council’s next planned meeting activity related to CRC is a joint informational session with the town finance office scheduled for the coming week to review funding rules and timelines for fiscal year 2027 grants.","At its July 31 meeting the Council for Human Services elected Veronica Bolchick as chair and Sarah Wright as co-chair, and appointed Veronica Bolchick and Suzanne Keating as the council’s two representatives to the town’s Contract Review Committee.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council signs consultant for needs assessment; kickoff and community survey planned for fall

Council to request FY27 human-services funding; substance-misuse allocation to be sought at $175,000

Council proposes focused work groups, refines grant rubric and stresses open-meeting compliance

Council for Human Services elects chair, names representatives to contract review committee