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Committee clarifies deed-restriction timing as Lighthouse School readies rain garden; approves multiple fund requisitions
Summary
The Community Preservation Committee approved several fund requisitions May 19 and told Nantucket Lighthouse School it may begin rain‑garden work before a preservation deed restriction is finalized, while agreeing to probe reports that the Nantucket Preservation Trust charged fees to hold easements.
The Community Preservation Committee approved fund requisitions for several local preservation projects and clarified that recipients may begin work before a deed restriction is fully executed, the committee’s chair said at its May 19 meeting.
Chair opened the meeting and read a list of fund requisitions, including one corrected amount of $7,740.17. After a motion and second, the committee voted to approve the listed payments; members then signed the requisition paperwork.
Jason Leonardo Finger, who identified himself as representing the Mariah Mitchell Association and as a Kaufman School trustee, used the public-comment period to thank the committee for town‑meeting support and CPC funding that enabled a roof‑walk repair project. "We greatly appreciate it," he said.
Representatives from the Nantucket Lighthouse School reported they have completed phase 1 of a drainage project funded by the CPC and are preparing a second phase: a rain garden. "We have been able to complete phase 1 of the project," said Emily Miller; Olga Vasco, identified as a business manager at the school, said the school completed drainage work "without disruption to school" and asked what steps are needed to put a deed restriction in place for the rain‑garden area.
The Chair told the presenters that a deed restriction does not have to be finalized before the committee releases funds. "You don't need a deed restriction in place in order to put the money in," the Chair said, while adding that projects generally must be in process and that a deed restriction or at least work toward one should be in place by the time the grantee reaches the 50% funding milestone.
Committee members also raised a separate concern about easement holders. The Chair said a call had reported that the Nantucket Preservation Trust (NPT) was charging $25 per project to prepare or hold preservation easements, which the Chair called problematic. Committee members urged staff to consult town counsel and Stewart (town staff) to determine which local entities are authorized to hold conservation or preservation restrictions and whether charging a fee to accept an easement is appropriate.
The committee asked staff to follow up with the select board or the conservation commission as needed and to report back to the committee on the authorized holders and any standard templates for deed restrictions. The committee also encouraged applicants to contact staff if they need assistance preparing required paperwork.
The committee recessed at 10:43.
