Once More Before the Court: Power of the Commission

By JULIA WELLS

The unique power of the Martha's Vineyard Commission to review low and moderate income housing projects under Chapter 40B, a section of state law commonly known as the anti-snob zoning statute, will come under scrutiny again later this month in the Massachusetts Land Court.

Aquinnah Case in Towns' Eye

Up-Island Selectmen Will Meet; Neighbors Support an Appeal of Ruling That Favored Tribe on Zoning

By JULIA WELLS
Gazette Senior Writer

The town of Aquinnah will join the Gay Head Taxpayers Association in asking a superior court judge for reconsideration of his recent decision in favor of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah).

Although the Aquinnah selectmen have agreed to join the move to reconsider, they have not yet decided whether to take the next step and appeal.

There will be plenty of boom in Friday night's Fourth of July fireworks. The Edgartown Firemen's Association is spending $25,000 or $5,000 more than a year ago.

Developers Bring Their Housing Plan Back to Commission

By JULIA WELLS

Alternately cracking shrill jokes and smacking the table with his hand, a Bolton housing developer last night unveiled a new version of a plan to build 320 homes on the southern woodlands property once planned as the site for the Down Island Golf Club.

Brian Lafferty, who works for property owner and would-be golf club developer Corey Kupersmith, wasted little time before throwing down the gauntlet in front of the Martha's Vineyard Commission.

It's Our Seaside Think Tank - Hebrew Center's Summer Plans

By C.K. WOLFSON

In the midst of summer concerns about ferry lines and tan lines, the Martha's Vineyard Hebrew Center Summer Institute, entices hundreds of Island residents and visitors to consider subjects such as prejudice, medical and legal malpractice, terrorism and civil liberties, and engage in discussion.

They gather at the Hebrew Center in Vineyard Haven - so many some have to be turned away - to attend the Island's seaside Chautauqua: the Summer Institute Scholar Series.

Federal Mediator for Services Talks

By MANDY LOCKE

Acknowledging difficulties in wage talks, Martha's Vineyard Community Services management and union officials have agreed to invite a federal mediator to the negotiation table.

"After 20 sessions, we're still very far apart. To be in this place after so long, we realized we had a serious problem. Something had to be done," said Richard Perras, MVCS labor attorney, who requested the third-party facilitator after a day-long contract negotiation session last week.