Annual Town Meeting Season Begins With Three Towns
Pews of the Whaling Church filled with voters.
Pews of the Whaling Church filled with voters.
Edgartown moderator Steve Ewing opened town meeting at 7:13 p.m.
Edgartown moderator Steve Ewing opened town meeting at 7:13 p.m.
Edgartown voters gathered at the Old Whaling Church.
Edgartown voters gathered at the Old Whaling Church.
A proposed party bylaw that would limit people to having no more than two parties a month with more than 50 people elicited much discussion.
A proposed party bylaw that would limit people to having no more than two parties a month with more than 50 people elicited much discussion.
Town meeting lasted into the wee hours of Wednesday.
Town meeting lasted into the wee hours of Wednesday.
More than 200 voters assembled for annual town meeting at the Performing Arts Center.
More than 200 voters assembled for annual town meeting at the Performing Arts Center.
Jesse B. (Jack) Law 3rd presided as moderator.
Jesse B. (Jack) Law 3rd presided as moderator.
Beth Folcarelli lets her voice be heard.
Beth Folcarelli lets her voice be heard.
Voters worked their way through 15 articles for special town meeting and the 58-article annual town meeting warrant.
Voters worked their way through 15 articles for special town meeting and the 58-article annual town meeting warrant.
Harbor master Emily DeBettencourt speaks in favor of repairs to town jetties.
Harbor master Emily DeBettencourt speaks in favor of repairs to town jetties.
Residents raise their yellow voter cards
Residents raise their yellow voter cards
Dan Waters receives standing ovation at his last town meeting as moderator.
Dan Waters receives standing ovation at his last town meeting as moderator.
Cindy Mitchell said to Bruce Stone, “Clearly, West Tisbury loves you.”
Cindy Mitchell said to Bruce Stone, “Clearly, West Tisbury loves you.”
Quorum of 234 town voters attended town meeting.
Quorum of 234 town voters attended town meeting.
Kathy Logue.
Kathy Logue.
Officials count voters during the short-term rental vote.
Officials count voters during the short-term rental vote.
Voters also approved a $1.8 million expense to replace the HVAC system at the town library.
Voters also approved a $1.8 million expense to replace the HVAC system at the town library.
Democracy at the ground level — in a grammar school gym, an historic whaling church and a performing arts center — began last night when a trio of town meetings opened the political season on the Vineyard.