Former Oak Bluffs emergency management director Peter Martell was honored with a certificate of appreciation by the Oak Bluffs board of selectmen at their regular meeting on Tuesday night.
“Peter has been our emergency management director for 38 years,” chairman of the selectmen Walter Vail said. “He retired at the end of December with honor and glory and distinction. We’re remiss for not doing something sooner, but we have this certificate of appreciation for all the years of service to the town, at no cost to the town.”
Town administrator Robert Whritenour added that the Massachusetts state legislature was also passing a proclamation in Mr. Martell’s honor. Representative Time Madden intended to present the proclamation to Mr. Martell at Tuesday night’s selectmen’s meeting but was unable to attend due to the impending blizzard.
Mr. Vail asked Mr. Martell to say a few words, but the usually outspoken Mr. Martell declined.
“I don’t give speeches,” he said. “They get me in trouble.”