Government
As the pandemic, housing insecurity and the high cost of living have intensified the need for mental health care on Martha's Vineyard, a growing shortage of trained professionals to help people in crisis has exacerbated the issue.
Capping a months-long hearing process on Sept. 8, the State Ethics Commission heard closing arguments in the matter of Aquinnah selectman Gary Haley, who is under scrutiny for allegedly violating state conflict of interest laws when he performed work for the town four years ago.
The race for county commission is now a little less up for grabs following the Sept. 6 state primary that saw six candidates — three incumbents who were on the ballot as well as three write-ins — winning Democratic nominations to appear on the Nov. 8 ballot.
The Tisbury finance and advisory committee has voted 7-1 to recommend borrowing nearly $26 million in additional funds for the Tisbury school renovation and addition project. Voters will decide whether to approve the borrowing at a Sept. 20 special town meeting.
The project will include raising the ferry’s ramp six inches and conducting engineering assessments of the Chappy Point parking lot, the Chappy Ferry landings and the abutting portions of Dock and Daggett streets.
The next step for the ongoing Menemsha commercial dock replacement will be a special town meeting on Monday, Sept. 26, aiming to appropriate $44,000 in town funding.