2026 Annual Town Meeting & Election

Article 11 and Ballot Question 1 ask voters to approve a $119 million debt exclusion to fund the construction of a new Our Island Home skilled nursing facility. The project, previously endorsed at the 2025 Town Election but not approved at Town Meeting, returns with a similar design that includes updated resident amenities, outdoor spaces, and improvements focused on energy efficiency, reduced emissions, and long-term operational performance.

Tax Rate Impact
If approved at Town Meeting and Town Election, the estimated tax impact would increase the annual bill by approximately $230.71 for 20 years for a year-round property valued at $1,878,950 that qualifies for the residential exemption. Click HERE for the 2026 Town Meeting Tax Rate Calculator.

Background

Post 2025 Annual Town Meeting & Election
Construction of a new Our Island Home skilled nursing facility was endorsed by voters at Nantucket’s Annual Town Election on May 21, 2025 but failed to receive the required two-thirds vote for approval at the May 3rd Annual Town Meeting, jeopardizing the project as currently proposed. The Town and its consultants will now consider alternative options for Our Island Home, some new and some previously evaluated, with the goal of presenting a more affordable and acceptable project.

The project returns to Town Meeting
At its December 10, 2025 weekly meeting, the Select Board voted unanimously to include the Our Island Home proposal on the May 2026 Annual Town Meeting warrant. The project voted by Select Board is for all intents and purposes the same design as brought to the 2025 Annual Town Meeting.

Design Progress
Throughout the design process, several aspects of the project were thoughtfully refined. Amenities include a covered drop-off area, outdoor resident spaces developed, two dens and a private dining room. Interior touches to the porches that access to the courtyards are in concept stage as is the landscaping design for the courtyards.

Environmental/sustainability decisions were made with goals to dramatically reduce energy consumption, reduce carbon emissions, and provide superior indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and acoustics. If a decision is taken to alter the design, Town staff and SMRT will work together to analyze various sustainability initiatives and in each case consider aspects like: balancing initial cost with payoff, maintenance and repair costs on the island, cost of operating, lifespan, etc.

Steering & Advisory Committees
In 2022, the Town Manager established two groups to assist with the planning and development of the proposed Our Island Home project.

The Steering Committee, which now meets on a regular basis, is charged with analysing alternatives for a new OIH The Steering Committee members are:

• Select Board member Dawn E. Hill
• Town Manager C. Elizabeth Gibson
• Deputy Town Manager Rick Sears
• Finance Committee member Peter Schaeffer
• Our Island Home Operations Administrator Michelle Munroe
• Finance Director Brian Turbitt
• Our Island Home Operations Consultant Robert Eisenstein (representing Eisenstein Flaherty Associates)
• Architect Craig Piper (SMRT)
• Owner’s Project Manager Jon Lemieux (Vertex)
• Construction Manager at Risk (Jack Dankert, representing Consigli Construction)

The Advisory Committee will meet as necessary. Participants include:

• Friends of Our Island Home members Kathy Grieder and Alison Forsgren
• Sherburne Commons Director Rachel Mandle
• Nantucket Cottage Hospital President Amy Lee
• Sherburne Commons Residents Representative Ann Oliver
• Local Citizen Alan Atwood
• Council on Aging member Mary Ann Easley

Additional Resources

• To view public presentations and important documents, visit this page.