Nantucket plans to consolidate departments

Facing what Town Manager Libby Gibson describes as a growing awareness that “to sustain government operations, we have to do business differently,” Nantucket is moving toward a reorganization of town government.

The town already has sought to contain costs through steps such as wage freezes and reducing expenses, Gibson said. At a time when revenue generated by construction activity on the island is far below normal levels, however, more sweeping steps are required.

With the expected support of the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee, Gibson said she intends to consolidate what are now 11 separate departments and commissions into three. The equivalent of five to eight positions would be eliminated, leading to annual savings that Gibson estimates at $400,000.

A “Code Enforcement and Regulatory Services Department” would comprise health and building inspections as well as the Conservation Commission and the Historic District Commission, leading to a net reduction of 3.25 jobs, Gibson said.

A Human Services Department would include the town’s municipal nursing home, along with the senior center, the Commission on Disability, and the veterans’ agent. The Public Works Department would absorb parks and recreation, while the Conservation Commission would become part of the town’s Marine and Coastal Resources Department.

Because town government will be operating with a smaller staff, Gibson said, it may be necessary to reduce the hours that certain departments are open to the public, so that the remaining employees have time to fulfill record-keeping and other back-office obligations.

“We’re trying to limit the impact on the public and on the employees, but [the reductions] are going to impact the way they do their jobs,” she said.