Government
On the morning that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney announced that Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan will be his running mate, Martha’s Vineyard Democrats focused on a more local political decision as they heard from the two candidates they will choose between in the congressional primary on Sept. 6.
On the morning that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney announced that Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan will be his running mate, Martha’s Vineyard Democrats focused on a more local political decision as they heard from the two candidates they will choose between in the congressional primary on Sept. 6.
An annual forum for summer taxpayers in Aquinnah turned quickly into a light grill session for two town selectmen this week about plans by the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) to bring some kind of casino gambling onto tribal lands in the smallest town on the Vineyard.
Summer residents asked the selectmen why they had not engaged in more open dialogue with the tribe.
Martina Thornton was sworn in as the new county manager on Wednesday evening. Mrs. Thornton, who served as executive assistant to the county manager for four years, said she is pleased with the contract she negotiated with the seven-member elected commission last week in executive session.
The terms of Mrs. Thornton’s contract include an annual salary of $67,709.
Tisbury selectmen, the town fire chief and citizens joined the chorus of frustration this week over the Emergency Services Facility which sits unfinished and unoccupied on West Spring street.
At the selectmen’s meeting Tuesday, fire chief John Schilling chided the selectmen for diverting too much of the project manager’s attention to the issue of landscaping for abutters, leaving less time to focus on the more pressing matters at hand with the building, which now include a half-failed asphalt test and interior humidity problems.
West Tisbury selectmen this week called for a comprehensive study of the Mill Pond watershed before any decisions are made about dredging the historic pond.
At their meeting Wednesday, the selectmen asked the Mill Pond committee to draft a warrant article for a special town meeting in November that would include details of the scope of work needed to study the watershed system. The watershed includes Mill Pond, Mill Brook, Tiasquam River, Priester’s Pond and Scotchman’s Lane.