Post-Town Meeting Reality Check: What Actually Happened (And What's Coming)

May 8, 2026 · ACK Deals

So Town Meeting happened Monday night, and if you missed it, here's what you need to know without the Inquirer and Mirror spin.

First, the big shock: Our Island Home is actually moving to Sherburne Commons. After voters said absolutely not last year, somehow 959 people showed up to flip that decision. The employee housing got approved too — $7 million that'll probably turn into $10 million by the time shovels hit dirt, but hey, at least someone might be able to afford rent by 2028.

The athletic complex renovations passed, which means Vito Capizzo Stadium gets its facelift. Good news for anyone who's ever sat on those bleachers and wondered if tetanus shots were up to date. Bad news? The LORAN barracks repair got voted down despite having majority support because it needed two-thirds. Classic Nantucket math.

Now everyone's gearing up for the actual election on May 19th, because apparently we vote twice on everything here. Between now and then, you've got Figawi weekend (May 22-25) to survive — stock up on patience if you're driving anywhere near the harbor.

The daffodils are still going strong, which is nice since everything else costs twice what it did last spring. Speaking of which, if you're one of the 959 people who voted yes on housing, maybe check out some of our local vendors who actually keep prices reasonable. Just saying.

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