Nantucket DPW outlines staffing push, facility redesign and capital slate as budgets tighten

The Department of Public Works told the Select Board on Monday that it is prioritizing updates to road-opening and curb-cut permitting, completing a new facilities-maintenance plan and advancing final design work for a proposed consolidated DPW facility on Shadbush Road.

"We want to improve the process and what are the requirements for contractors working in our roadways," DPW Director Drew Patnode said, noting the department is moving from schematic design to design development on the new facility and will perform value-engineering and an updated cost estimate. He said the town has also run an energy model to pursue Mass Save rebates and is evaluating potential off‑site mitigation so the town could use more of the 27‑acre property tied to the project.

Patnode presented an organizational snapshot showing six DPW divisions — administration, operations,…