Board of Health to put short‑term rental enforcement, long‑term rental inspections on next agenda after public raises staffing and authority questions

At its July 17 meeting the Nantucket Board of Health heard public comments urging clearer rules on who enforces short‑term rental (STR) and non‑health rental violations and whether the town should inspect year‑round rentals, and the board agreed to place STR protocol and rental inspection responsibilities on next month’s agenda.

The issue was raised by Bruce Mandel, who said the board and health department are being asked to enforce many non‑health bylaws and regulations without a clear legal framework, staffing or training. "Can the staffing at the Department of Health and its budget be adjusted to ensure timely enforcement of non‑health related violations? Where does a citizen now file requests for an investigation of violations of bylaws, laws, regulations that don't pertain to…