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, facilities, parks and recreation, central fleet and solid waste — with 49 budgeted positions and six current vacancies. He told the board the department is focused on retention, succession planning and recruiting skilled tradespeople.

On operating and capital finances, Patnode said the department created a new equipment-replacement line for items that are too costly for operating but not large enough to be capital items (plows, spreaders, mowers). He also flagged higher electricity costs tied to electrifying HVAC systems and a custodial-services contract that raised operating expenses. The department ran an on‑island CDL training program this year that resulted in seven DPW employees obtaining licenses.

Central Fleet Manager Nick Torres outlined near-term vehicle and equipment acquisitions — two assessor vehicles, an IT vehicle, a front‑end loader and an E‑Transit van already on site — and described a Verizon asset-tracking rollout for the town fleet to support proactive maintenance and faster storm response. "The program speaks to us in real time as far as engine codes being thrown or any potential issues with vehicles or equipment," Torres said.

Deputy Director of Operations Richard Moore reviewed recent pavement and pedestrian work: a bike-path surface-condition assessment for all 35 miles of paths, multiple in‑house sidewalk cleanups and contracted sidewalk projects that included brick resettings and asphalt repairs. Moore said the DPW plans to bid recessed centerline reflectors for roads with posted limits over 25 mph (examples cited: Surfside Road, Madaket Road, Polpis Road) and to install steel-back timber guardrails using Chapter 90 funds.

Deputy Director Paul Burrard described a facilities-maintenance plan update (three phases: envelopes, systems, finishes), an exterior-lighting inventory (the town owns roughly 1,420 exterior fixtures) and beach-access upgrades tied to a Massachusetts Office on Disability grant application. Parks and Recreation manager Charlie Palacky noted recently completed projects including the Dennis Tennis Court renovation — finished under budget at about $1.2 million — and playfield and playground work at Tom Nevers and Overder Fields.

Board members and members of the public praised DPW crews for multiple completed projects and urged continued emphasis on recruitment, retention and the new facility design work. The Select Board did not take formal action but asked staff to return with further cost estimates and a proposed scope for a citizen advisory group to review the DPW facility project.

Provenance: DPW presentation and Q&A (tc 00:18:57–01:02:00).