Miniature liquor bottles sales could be banned on Martha’s Vineyard, Edgartown could get a new fire station, and the process of revamping the regional high school could gain some steam tonight as town meeting season gets underway.
Miniature liquor bottles sales could be banned on Martha’s Vineyard, Edgartown could get a new fire station, and the process of revamping the regional high school could gain some steam tonight as town meeting season gets underway.
Voters in Edgartown, Oak Bluffs and West Tisbury will kick off the Island’s town meetings this evening. Edgartown town meeting will start at 7 p.m. at the Old Whaling Church, Oak Bluffs starts at 7 p.m. at the high school performing arts center and West Tisbury will get underway at 6 p.m. at the West Tisbury School.
After the push for a housing bank dominated town meetings in 2022, this year is largely concerned with funding requests for projects and everyday government operations.
There are some broader issues, though.
In one of the only Island-wide issues being considered this spring, each of the six towns have been asked to pitch in for a $2 million feasibility study to better understand the potential to replace or reconstruct the 64-year-old regional high school in Oak Bluffs. Getting funding for the study is the first step in the process of overhauling the school, which officials say is in need of a “significant reinvestment.”
Residents in Edgartown and Oak Bluffs, the only towns with package stores on the Island, will both decide on a proposed ban on the sale of “nips,” the single-serving liquor bottles that have come under fire statewide out of concern for drunk driving and littering.
In one of the largest funding articles, voters in Edgartown will also be asked to spend $21.5 million on a new fire station.
Oak Bluffs is looking at some other smaller projects, including $250,000 to repair the East Chop bulkhead and $325,000 to pay for culvert work to restore tidal flow at Farm Pond.
West Tisbury residents will consider funding $1.2 million in repairs to the heating, ventilation and air condition system at the West Tisbury Public Library. That warrant was pared down in the months leading up to town meeting, and several other articles are expected to be pulled from town meeting floor.
Chilmark holds its town meeting April 24, Tisbury town meeting is April 25, and Aquinnah town meeting is May 9.
Comments
21.5 million for a new
Michael edgartown21.5 million for a new building, a fire station......reallly? let that sink in. 21.5 million dollars for a fire station...
Imagine the maintenance costs
Edgartown ResidentImagine the maintenance costs from them keeping their vehicles outside or imagine the fact that if someone is in need of fire or medical services on the water they have to first unwrap their boat, de-winterize the engine, fuel it up, and trailer it to be put in the water because it has to stay outside all winter. Have you ever been in that building because they did tours and my god it's amazing they let anybody sleep in that building the way it is. Construction costs is construction costs, when your life depends on their dependability, you won't be complaining about the small increase in taxes.
Will the local police be
john jaronczyk New Hyde ParkWill the local police be monitoring the Wharf this year? We stay at the Harborside Inn every year and the wharf is loud and disruptive every night. I understand there are regulations in place but no one seems to enforce them. It’s hard getting a good nights sleep with all the loud music and loud people on the street.
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