Tisbury selectmen tweak annual town meeting warrant
By Janet Hefler
Published: March 5, 2009
Tisbury selectmen Denys Wortman and Jeff Kristal took another look at the draft annual town meeting warrant and trimmed it by a few articles at a short, fast-paced meeting Tuesday night. Tristan Israel, the third selectmen, was absent.
Starting the meeting on a positive note, ambulance coordinator Jeffrey Pratt presented Council on Aging director Joyce Stiles-Tucker with a citation, in appreciation for her 30 years of service on the Tisbury Volunteer Ambulance Association's emergency medical technician squad.
In discussion about warrant articles, Emergency Services Facility (ESF) committee chairman Joe Tierney reported that there will not be enough information available by annual town meeting on April 14 to estimate the new facility's cost accurately. The selectmen agreed to pull their proposed warrant article for funding the ESF project, as well as the corresponding ballot question for a Proposition 2.5 override.
The selectmen also agreed to withdraw another article sought by the planning board, pending the planning board's agreement, concerning relocation of the town hall annex offices on Spring Street, which relates to the ESF project.
Department of Public Works director Fred LaPiana said the public works commissioners voted to sponsor a warrant article requesting $50,000 in funds to begin the process of creating a comprehensive wastewater plan for Tisbury.
Tisbury Waterways president Melinda Loberg explained that a wastewater plan is essential for applying for state revolving funds, should the town decide to expand its central sewer system in the future, to protect water quality in Lagoon Pond and Lake Tashmoo.
In other business, Mr. LaPiana presented a purchase and sales agreement to the selectmen for their signatures. The property in question is a small sliver of land owned by NSTAR near the IFP property on Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road. Tisbury voters approved the purchase last April. The acquisition relates to plans to build a connector road to State Road.
Pending confirmation from the Shellfish Advisory Committee, the selectmen approved shellfish constable Derek Cimeno's request to close scallop season on March 4, to protect seed.
