Expanding County Crisis Poses Tough Challenge for Leadership

By JONATHAN BURKE

Dukes County commissioners are determined to overcome the chaos of the past few weeks.

"The county is in turmoil right now, but we're doing the best we can to put everything back on track. We'll get through it and we'll get through it with good leadership," said Roger Wey, county commissioner, in a conversation with the Gazette yesterday.

John Alley, county chairman, said he would unveil a plan to move forward at the commission's next meeting.

For the first time in more than two decades, Larry Mercier is sleeping past 4:45 a.m. And as snow blanketed the Island Tuesday morning, Mr. Mercier watched through the window of his North street home instead of through the windshield of one of Edgartown's snowplow fleet.

Retirement is a big change for the veteran Edgartown highway superintendent, who stepped down from his post in early December.

Jail Employees Vote Union Membership After Long Dispute

By MANDY LOCKE

The lowest ranking jail employees offered Massachusetts Correctional Officers Federated Union (MCOFU) a seat at the county negotiating table Tuesday afternoon, as seven deputy sheriffs cast votes inviting the union into the facility.

"Everyone is relieved, but we're anxious to know where we go from here," said deputy sheriff Phill Fuentes.

County Faces Political Crisis

Leaders Schedule Second Meeting to Wrestle with Turmoil Caused By Departure of Top Manager; Commissioners Seek Answers

By JONATHAN BURKE

The Dukes County commissioners this week held their first meeting since the abrupt departure of county manager Carol Borer, and went home without taking action to address the crisis.

Shifting Hotel Plans Ignite Controversy

By MANDY LOCKE

A flurry of phone calls, letters, accusations and denials shook Tisbury this week - tremors that followed public suspicions that construction plans for the Mansion House differ from architectural drawings the Martha's Vineyard Commission and the town zoning board of appeals approved in the spring of 2002.

A $1 million project to upgrade and expand the Massachusetts State Lobster Hatchery in Oak Bluffs is on hold while the state addresses its fiscal crisis. Massachusetts state lobster hatchery director Mike Syslo he is not surprised, given the budget cutting going on in Boston.

Two months ago, the hatchery's saltwater pumps were shut off. Jim Rossignol, the assistant hatchery biologist, has moved back to the mainland.