Tisbury gets updates on town projects

Selectmen Larry Gomez attends last meeting before stepping down.

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On Tuesday, Tisbury selectmen met with Ben Robinson, chairman of the Tisbury planning board, to discuss updates on a project in Owen Park.

Town administrator John Grande said the goal of the meeting was to get selectmen’s approval to give Robinson and public works director Ray Tattersall a green light to move forward on improvements at the park.

The main goal of the project is to “introduce the pedestrians into the park [without] having to walk down the roadway,” according to Robinson. The site plan presented to the selectmen outlined a level, flat surface for people to walk on, and would be ADA-compliant.

This project is likely to be the first step in upgrades to the park, and people should expect changes, Robinson said.

Environmental Partners, an engineering and consulting firm from Quincy, is working on the project with Offshoots, an architectural landscape company in Boston. Part of the site plan from Environmental Partners is to possibly extend the sidewalk from Santander Bank on Main Street to Owen Park.

Selectman Larry Gomez said he appreciated the plans for the park, but said the public wanted to see something get done. Robinson said construction would begin in the fall.

Selectmen Tristan Israel and Melinda Loberg urged that the project move forward.

Grande also presented an update on the Beach Road project. Last Friday, Grande received 100 percent design plans for the project. The estimated value of the project is $5.2 million  for improvements to the sidewalk, the bicycle path, reconstruction of the roadway, replacement of existing stormwater drain pipes, and new lighting on the sidewalk. All utility poles on the sidewalk from Tisbury Market to the seawall on the harborside will be removed as part of the project.

The Martha’s Vineyard Commission offered to host a meeting with project officials and the public. The meeting has not yet been set. Selectmen voted to have Grande work with the commission to organize a public meeting.

A contract extension for curbside trash pickup service in Tisbury was discussed, due to higher prices for recycling. Ray Tattersall compared trash and recycling prices, saying it costs $62 to dispose of a ton of trash, as opposed to $80 to process of a ton of recycling. The selectmen also voted to approve a contract extension for the town transfer station.

In other business, selectmen voted to approve several business license renewals, including Beach Road Restaurant, Stop & Shop, the Look Inn, Able Taxi, Stagecoach Taxi, Vineyard Tour and Limo, Island Auto Rentals, and Hertz.

Selectmen discussed Strategic Policy Partnership, a company based in West Tisbury that specializes in recruitment and selection of high-level career positions, and proposed having it help the town search for a new police chief. The selectmen voted to enter an agreement with the company. Selectman Tristan Israel wanted it to be clear that the company would help bring in candidates, who would then be brought before a committee for review.

Gomez is set to retire from his post as chairman of the board of selectmen, and Tuesday marked his final meeting. Gomez abstained from voting on each agenda item.

“You’re an honest, straightforward guy. We’re going to miss you,” Israel said to Gomez. Grande and Loberg shared similar praise for Gomez. Once the meeting had adjourned, Gomez was given pats on the back and presented with a pie from his colleagues.

“This is going to be a pie in the face or something,” Gomez joked.