Nahant town administrator making house calls to discuss U.S. Coast Guard housing property

NAHANT – To help residents understand the potential sale and development of the former U.S. Coast Guard Housing property, Nahant Town Administrator Mark Cullinan has been speaking at informal meetings in residents’ homes.Cullinan, who jokingly refers to the meetings as his “Tupperware Party” said he has already spoken at a dozen meeting in people’s homes and approximately 12 people were present at each neighborhood meeting.”Nahant is unique in terms of size and scale,” he said. “We’re a small community and this approach might not work well in other communities, but it has been very well received in town.”An article is on the April 26 Town Meeting warrant asking residents to vote to accept the recommendation of the Military Housing Advisory Committee and authorize the Board of Selectmen to issue a Request for Development Proposal for that property.Cullinan pointed out when major issues are brought to the floor at Town Meeting there is little room for amicable discussion and people are often polarized on opposite sides of the issue.”There is really no opportunity for personal dialogue at Town Meeting,” he said. “The neighborhood meetings give residents an opportunity to ask questions about important issues and have them answered in their own home among neighbors. Some people don’t like to ask questions in a large public forum.”Resident Erin DiGrande, who held a meeting in her home in mid-March said it was worthwhile.”Approximately seven people were at the meeting,” she said. “The 30-minute presentation was very informative and well laid out. People who came were able to ask questions in a non-threatening environment and could really say what was on their minds.”Resident Judy Walsh also held a meeting in her home in March, which was attended by approximately 20 people.”The meeting was very useful,” she said. “The presentation was thorough and people had their questions answered. It was very helpful.”Cullinan admits his “Tupperware Party” approach is time consuming for him personally, but he said he believes the results are worthwhile.”I’m trying to make it as easy as I can for residents to get information about the project,” he said. “I want to give everyone an opportunity to have their questions answered.”The potential sale and development of the former U.S. Coast Guard Housing property was the catalyst that led to the development of the neighborhood meetings and Cullinan said the method has been very successful.”It’s something we obviously couldn’t do on every issue in town,” he said. “But it’s a venue I would use again in the future for other important issues.”Cullinan is still scheduling community meetings on the Coast Guard Housing property and anyone who would like to serve as a host, should call him at 781-581-9927.