Aquinnah Opens Annual Town Meeting with Free Cash Unsettled Once Again

By MAX HART

After a tumultuous fiscal year that saw three failed attempts at a Proposition 2 1/2 override, an operating budget pared to the bone and the use of reserve funds to pay for basic town services, Aquinnah voters will look for a new start at their annual town meeting on Tuesday night.

Chilmark voters breezed through their annual town meeting on Monday night without batting an eye, approved a $5.7 million budget and voted in favor of the Martha's Vineyard Housing Bank and two versions of a renewable energy resolution along the way.

But when they came to the final vote of the evening -- whether to use $23,000 from the community preservation committee's open space reserve fund to fight an invasive reed in Chilmark Pond -- the debate began over how to vanquish the mighty phragmite.

A lean budget, a short spending list and a relatively slim warrant await Chilmark voters at the annual meeting on Monday night.

Moderator Everett H. Poole will once again take up the gavel before voters take on a 27-article warrant. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Chilmark Community Center.

Tisbury Voters Choose Thomas Pachico

By MAX HART

Tisbury voters chose the familiar over the untested and handed selectman Thomas W. Pachico a third term in the annual town election on Tuesday. Mr. Pachico beat challenger Jamie M. Douglas 520-315.

Boat Line Sees Fuel Cost Spike

Steamship Authority Governors Consider Slowing Down Ferries On Vineyard-Woods Hole Run In Effort to Save Money

By JAMES KINSELLA

Facing the possibility of up to $1 million in unplanned fuel costs, Steamship Authority management is taking a hard look at slowing down its ferries to and from Martha\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Vineyard as a way to cut costs.

Finance, School Boards Face Off Over Budget; District Fate Uncertain

By IAN FEIN

Emotions ran high and arrows flew this week at a joint meeting between the Up-Island Regional School Committee and the West Tisbury finance committee, ostensibly called to find a meeting of the minds on budgetary matters as the annual town meeting season gets under way.

But hanging in the air was the unspoken issue of the fate of the small regional school district.