Nantucket Select Board Endorses New Our Island Home Facility
The Nantucket Select Board has made a pivotal move by signaling its support for the construction of a new Our Island Home skilled nursing facility. This endorsement, discussed during Wednesday’s meeting, marks a significant shift from the position of the Finance Committee, which remains opposed to the costly proposal. The future of Our Island Home—a vital resource for Nantucket’s elderly population—now hangs in the balance as town leaders grapple with internal divisions and the immense financial implications of the project.
Divided Leadership Over Skilled Nursing Facility
The decision to support the new skilled nursing facility sets the Select Board at odds with the Finance Committee, whose recent vote narrowly recommended against the project. The Select Board’s comments, though still in draft form, reveal a deep split among town leadership over whether Nantucket should continue to provide on-island skilled nursing care. This division is not new; a similar proposal last year saw equally split endorsements before ultimately failing to achieve the two-thirds majority required at Town Meeting, despite majority support from voters both at the meeting and the ballot box.
Select Board member Brooke Mohr emphasized the gravity of this year’s decision, stating, “This is the last opportunity for the community to vote to build a new facility and stay in the nursing home business, and this not passing [at Town Meeting and the local election] will initiate a procedure to close the current [Our] Island Home.” According to Town Manager Libby Gibson, should the vote fail, the closure process for Our Island Home could begin within three to five years—leaving Nantucket’s seniors with few local options for skilled nursing care.
Financial Stakes and Community Impact
The future of Our Island Home is not just an emotional issue but a deeply financial one. The proposed new facility comes with a staggering price tag of $119 million, in addition to funds already allocated. Critics, including Finance Committee member Joseph Wright, argue that the long-term expenses are unsustainable. “If you add up the annual losses that this facility will have, it totals, over 15 years, about $240 million—roughly double the amount of the borrowing,” Wright said. “And to me, that’s not an investment that makes any sense.”
Proponents, however, maintain that the decision is a moral imperative. Without the facility, Nantucket’s elderly residents may be forced off the island for care, increasing costs for families and eroding the community’s character. The Select Board’s endorsement reflects these concerns and underscores the urgency of the moment: failure to approve the new facility could mean the end of skilled nursing on Nantucket.
Town Meeting’s Crucial Role
With the future of Our Island Home at stake, the upcoming Town Meeting will be the deciding forum. The Select Board is preparing a positive motion seeking funding for the project, even as the Finance Committee continues to recommend against it. The Finance Committee’s split 4-3 vote underscores just how contentious the issue has become within the community. As Finance Committee chair Jill Vieth noted, “We’re as split as the rest of the community. I think we reflect the community.”
Other high-profile issues on the warrant also drew attention from the Select Board, including skepticism about a proposed expansion of the geotube erosion control project along Sconset Bluff. The Board expressed frustration at the lack of a license agreement and questioned the project’s viability. Additionally, the Select Board agreed to support a town employee housing initiative and the next phase of repairs at the LORAN barracks, while backing the Finance Committee in favoring sewer expansion for the Somerset needs area and design funding for a new Department of Public Works building. They opposed a proposal for a stabilization fund for offshore wind expenses, citing concerns over operational slowdowns and unnecessary restrictions.
What’s Next for Nantucket’s Seniors?
As the Select Board finalizes its comments for the Town Meeting warrant, the fate of the future of Our Island Home remains uncertain. The decision is poised to become the most controversial issue voters will face this spring, with profound implications for the community’s elderly residents and the island’s identity. If Town Meeting and the local election do not approve the new facility, closure procedures for Our Island Home will commence, potentially within the next three to five years. This makes the upcoming vote a defining moment for Nantucket’s commitment to its seniors.
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