Oak Bluffs Weighs Zoning Issues

By CHRIS BURRELL

You won't actually need to bring a hammer or architectural blueprints to next week's special town meeting in Oak Bluffs, but nearly the entire warrant is devoted to issues around building and zoning.

Voters who come out Tuesday will decide questions about leasing the old town hall, redesigning the new town hall, hiring a fundraiser for the library building project and protecting historic buildings from the wrecking ball.

At a public hearing on Monday, MassHighway officials told Islanders to expect the temporary drawbridge across Lagoon Pond to stay in place for six years.

Stunned at the prospect, Islanders immediately urged the project engineers to finalize a design for the new drawbridge before beginning construction on a temporary replacement.

In Divided Vote, Board Denies Merit Pay Raise To Superintendent Cash

By CHRIS BURRELL

For the first time in his eight-year tenure here, Vineyard schools superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash failed this week to win the school board’s backing for a merit pay increase.

Aquinnah Deadlocks on Appeal of Tribal Sovereignty Decision

By JULIA WELLS

The Aquinnah selectmen announced this week that they are deadlocked over whether to appeal a superior court ruling that found the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) cannot be sued because of sovereign immunity.

"We are unable to reach a decision on this matter," said board chairman Michael Hebert following an executive session Tuesday afternoon with town counsel Ronald H. Rappaport.

State Auditors in Koines Case

Island Activates New State Law for Investigating ‘Irregularities' in Towns, School Districts; Will Search Go Deeper?

By CHRIS BURRELL

After months of saying they wanted to put this controversy in the past, high school leaders have called on state auditors to wade into the Peter Koines scandal and issue a decision on whether they dug deeply enough into the case of the culinary arts teacher who stole school equipment, student funds and food supplies.

Commission Invites Public Comment on Its Plan for Blind Charitable Trust

By MANDY LOCKE

Responding to criticism that their public agency should not mask the identity of private donors, the Martha's Vineyard Commission last night agreed to host a public forum for Islanders to air concerns about the agency's recently established charitable trust.