Summer is still months away, but some residents of downtown Edgartown are already dreading one aspect of the busy season.

The town selectmen received complaints last week about the line of vehicles that forms at the ferry to Chappaquiddick, which they say hampers access to their homes and poses a safety hazard in peak season.

“The ferry line often completely blocks the street and creates dangerous situations for its pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers,” residents R. Russell Bridges and Dudley Cannada wrote in a letter to the board in late February. “The inconvenience to homeowners has become unreasonable.”

The line for the Chappy Ferry, a year-round service to the small island off Edgartown, forms at Daggett street and can stretch up Simpson’s Lane, a narrow way. In summer, a police officer manages the traffic flow.

At a regular meeting of the town selectmen Monday, town administrator Pamela Dolby suggested a meeting with town officials, residents and ferry co-owner Peter Wells to discuss the problem.

“If we could come up with a solution to the ferry line . . .” began selectman Arthur Smadbeck.

“We would be really good,” selectman Margaret Serpa finished.

Elizabeth O’Connor and Jonathan Chatinover, residents of Simpson’s Lane, wrote in a letter dated Feb. 22 that the traffic “situation has gotten progressively worse over the past three summers.”

They offered two alternatives: staging cars at Pease’s Point Way, where bike racks are now located, or at the Edgartown School.

“It is our hope that this problem can be resolved without legal intervention,” they wrote at the end of their letter. “We are more than willing to work with the town to explore solutions.”

Mrs. Dolby said the meeting to discuss the ferry situation would take place after April’s annual town meeting.

In other news, the Edgartown police will answer to a new chief this week, as Antone Bettencourt prepares to step down from the job.

Labor attorney John M. Collins was appointed last month to serve as interim police chief in town, and this week his official contract begins.

Under the employment agreement, Mr. Collins is expected to perform the usual duties of the police chief, including supervision of the department and preparation of the budget, as well as assisting in the selection of a replacement for Chief Bettencourt. He will earn the same pay as Chief Bettencourt: $3,100 a week.

“This will include conducting an assessment of the department’s personnel, operations equipment and facilities,” the agreement states in part. “The chief will make recommendations to the board of selectmen on how the recruitment and evaluation process should take place and will oversee this as directed by the board as it deems appropriate.”

Mr. Collins has told the Gazette that he expects Chief Bettencourt’s successor to come from within the police department. Chief Bettencourt officially retires on May 2, and Mrs. Dolby said in an email that the chief will be in and out of the office until then, assisting Mr. Collins.