Nantucket town manager outlines administration duties, new offices and focus on staff housing

Libby Gibson, town manager, introduced the Town of Nantucket’s administration and staffing in a video presentation, saying she has served the town 37 years, including 30 as town manager. "The duties of town administration are primarily outlined in the town charter which specifies 15 areas that the town manager is responsible for overseeing," she said, and gave the administration’s office at the town building, 16 Broad Street.

Gibson said town administration currently includes seven full‑time employees, naming two deputy town managers, an operations administrator, an office manager, the public records access officer, and a new committee operations coordinator. She described core responsibilities as operational oversight and planning, responding to citizen inquiries, processing public records requests, and project management that supports the Select Board’s weekly meetings and strategic plan implementation.

The manager emphasized interagency coordination and legal compliance: the office organizes Select Board meetings, coordinates road closures and certain permits with utilities and other agencies, and works to ensure committees, boards, and commissions comply with the open meeting law. "An activity that is essential to the department's work, but not so visible to the public, is a growing focus and emphasis on staff recruiting and retention strategies to ensure continuity of operations which includes employee housing," Gibson said.

She described three recently created offices and their roles: the communications office (established in 2023) manages the town website, social media and branding and supports departments in producing accessible printed and digital materials; the project management office (established in 2024) manages timelines, scope and budgets, monitors financial health and risk, and aligns projects with Select Board strategic goals; and the real estate office (established in 2024) manages town and county property interests — leases, licenses, acquisitions, dispositions and easements — and supports the Affordable Housing Trust with property acquisitions and projects.

Gibson framed these changes as efforts to improve project outcomes and resident engagement. "Through these efforts, the office helps residents stay informed, engaged, and connected to town initiatives and services," she said. She closed by inviting residents to contact the office by phone or email, visit the walk‑in location, follow the town on social media and subscribe to the town manager’s e‑newsletter for updates.