Nantucket Land Bank Clears $315,755 Change Order for 41 Jefferson Avenue Site

NANTUCKET — June 9, 2026 — Nantucket Land Bank approves $315,755 change order and awards surprisingly low pine beetle contract. The commission voted unanimously Tuesday to authorize Executive Director Rachel to sign Change Order 5 for 41 Jefferson Avenue — covering garage closure, mechanical room modifications, and site grading — at a ceiling of $315,755.28, with a target opening of around July 1. The board also awarded an 18-month on-call southern pine beetle response contract to Chattel Farms as primary contractor at just $15,000, with Davey Tree Experts as secondary at $75,000; the high bid from local contractor Nancy Yarger of Nantucket Yard Guard came in at $103,400. Staff acknowledged the Chattel Farms price was strikingly low, noting "I'm struggling to see how one would humanly accomplish this goal for that cost," but said all references were uniformly strong and the contractor declined to withdraw after being shown the spread. The commission also directed staff to pursue police enforcement of existing two-hour parking limits at Lily Pond and no-overnight-parking rules at Washington Street and Petrol Landing, where contractor vehicles have repeatedly blocked public access.