News Briefs
Fuel available on Oak Bluffs Harbor
Fuel is once again available to boaters in Oak Bluffs Harbor. Damaged underground fuel tanks were capped by filling them with concrete early last week. Capping the tanks was the last obstacle to state and local permits for Oak Bluffs businessmen Mark and Mike Wallace. The Church's Pier fuel facility was re-opened just in time for the July 4th weekend.
When no fuel was available for the beginning of the boating season, the town of Oak Bluffs moved to establish a temporary diesel and gasoline facility to service boats. But the town has said it will not move forward with those plans, as long as reliable private fuel service is available during the summer season.
Buckle up say police as seatbelt campaign begins
The Chilmark Police Department will join over 230 other Massachusetts police departments and the State Police in support of a summer enforcement campaign "Click It or Ticket" to increase seat belt use.
"This statewide effort runs July 23 through July 30 and combines extra high visibility traffic enforcement, public information, and community outreach to reduce motor-vehicle-related fatalities, injuries, and economic loss," according to a press release.
Chilmark Police will team up with the Menemsha Texaco Station to offer a special reward for child passengers who are properly seat belted and using age-appropriate child restraining devices. The child will receive a coupon that can be redeemed at the Menemsha Texaco Station for an ice cream during the week-long safety campaign.
Since its first "Click It or Ticket" mobilization in 2002, Massachusetts has seen its seat belt use increase 16 percent to 67 percent in 2008. However, Massachusetts still lags behind the 2008 national rate of 83 percent, and has the lowest belt use in the country police said.
Taxi wars nettle West Tisbury selectmen
West Tisbury selectman met last week and heard a litany of complaints made by Blue Fish Taxi owner Gary Davidson. The cab owner said that selectmen have made "findings over the past year filled with inconsistencies, contradictions, and departures from longstanding precedents."
Mr. Davidson said in a statement that he had "concerns on what may give the appearance to many as arbitrary and capricious rulings." He also accused competitor MVY Taxi of overcharging customers and not abiding by town regulations.
Mr. Davidson lobbied hard for a public hearing on his complaints. He argued that a complaint against his company several years ago resulted in a public hearing.
Mr. Davidson and selectmen engaged in sharp debate over the merits of the charges and whether the town should license taxis at all, before selectmen voted 2-1 vote to schedule a hearing on Mr. Davidson's charges. Dianne Powers and Richard Knabel supported the hearing. Jeffrey S. (Skipper) Manter voted against it.
At one point during the discussion, normally reserved selectman Dianne Powers interrupted Mr. Davidson. "You know what, I'm going to be very honest here and I hope I don't offend anyone or my fellow board members, but the town of West Tisbury does not benefit from taxi licenses," said Ms. Powers. "We garner, what, $150 a year, and spend a phenomenal amount of time between the selectmen and the police department, going over regulations, refereeing disputes. Quite honestly, I don't see why we issue licenses at all."
MVY Taxi owner Morgan Reitzas was present but did not speak at the meeting. Executive secretary Jen Rand told selectmen that she spoke with Mr. Reitzas before the meeting and was told that MVY Taxi complies with the town's regulations.
Selectmen are currently reviewing the town's 11 pages of taxi regulations with an eye to streamlining and improving a document described by selectman Richard Knabel as "dense prose."
In other business the board approved access to counsel for the planning board in connection with a request for a new access road in the Pauls Point neighborhood of Lamberts Cove. Homeowner Paul Levy has asked to relocate and duplicate a 750-foot stretch of John Cottle Road parallel to the existing road to reduce truck traffic related to renovations on property owned by the family of Dirk Ziff beyond the Levy property. The road would cross land owned by William Graham, who opposed the request, according to minutes of the planning board. The planning board rejected the proposal on June 29.
Selectmen also authorized Jennifer Rand, executive secretary, to dispose of office furniture unneeded in the renovated town hall, first to non-profit organizations and then to residents.
State bicyclist safety law now in effect
The summer increase in bicycle and vehicle traffic means occasional confrontations as various users share the Island's narrow roads. Their efforts will be influenced by the Bicyclist Safety Law, signed by Gov. Deval Patrick on January 15, and intended to increase bicycle safety.
Cyclists are no longer required to give hand signals when both hands are needed on the handlebars, for example when braking or steering. Bikers are also permitted to ride side-by-side on main roads if they are not obstructing the path of faster vehicles behind them.
The new law also provides fines up to $100 for vehicle drivers and their passengers who open a door in the path of an oncoming bicyclist or passerby, a practice known as "dooring."
Motorists are now required to yield to all bikers before making left-hand turns. "Right-hooking" is also not permitted. The term refers to an abrupt right turn that causes a cyclist to crash or make an emergency maneuver to avoid crashing.
Under the new law, bicycle rental businesses are now required to make helmets available to all customers.
Wildlife board approves Thanksgiving hunt in 2010
The Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife board on June 22 voted to change the regulations that stipulate when the state's six-week archery season begins so that in the future it will include the Thanksgiving holiday.
In the past, the number of Mondays in October affected whether the season included the holiday week, a time period when many hunters look forward to hunting with family members.
The Fisheries and Wildlife Board voted to revise the dates of the archery deer season so it will begin on the sixth Monday prior to Thanksgiving, and end on the 1st Saturday after Thanksgiving. "This will retain the six-week archery season while consistently including the Thanksgiving holiday period in the open season," the board announced in a press release. The board also voted to change the shotgun deer season in zone 12, Cape Cod, from one to two weeks, consistent with the rest of the state. Both of these regulatory changes will take effect in 2010. The 2009 archery deer season dates are October 12 to November 21.
Endowment fund gifts surpass $1 million
The Permanent Endowment for Martha's Vineyard awarded $124,500 in scholarships this spring to 54 Island students.
"Over the past 25 years, the Endowment has provided almost one million dollars in scholarships to Vineyard students. With this year's awards, we will top that figure," Debbie Hale, chairman of the Permanent Endowment, said in a press release.
This year the Permanent Endowment received 168 scholarship applications from high school seniors, college students, and students pursuing graduate studies. "With a little more than half of our scholarships designated for students already enrolled in colleges and universities, we want students to know that the Permanent Endowment is here to help support them now as well as in the future," Ms. Hale said.State Capitol Briefs
State House News Service
Senate president predicts more fiscal stress
Senate President Therese Murray rang in the new 2010 fiscal year, which began last week, with a glum prediction. "Fiscal '11 is going to be much more dire than fiscal '10 unless we get any additional stimulus money," she told reporters. "We'll be less than we are in this budget." Ms. Murray said she hoped the federal government would provide more aid to states, possibly in the form of Medicaid funds. "We'd like to think that if they do something with health care, we'll get more ... health care money, which would be helpful to us," she said.
Asked about her feelings on a gas tax increase, Ms. Murray said, "The Senate has already voted against that." Speaking after Gov. Deval Patrick signed a bill toughening state ethics, lobbying and campaign finance laws, Murray hinted at what was to come on the Legislature's agenda. She said a bill incorporating county sheriffs into the state was "very close" - it was sent to conference committee June 30 - and that lawmakers were "progressing rapidly on various safe driving bills."
"And who can forget casinos?" she said. "We will get to that also. But first, we must put in place the proper oversight and enforcement structure that will allow us to manage and sustain a gaming industry here in Massachusetts."
Federal offer of millions not enough to change seat belt law
Beacon Hill leaders left $13.6 million in federal funds on the table by not adopting a primary seat belt enforcement law by June 30, a state transportation official confirmed. The funds were foregone in spite of a need for revenue that has prompted Gov. Deval Patrick and the Democrat-controlled Legislature to agree to $1 billion in new taxes. Even though seat belt usage is mandatory in Massachusetts, the state has the lowest usage rate in the nation, at 67 percent - the national average is 83 percent.
The federal funds were offered to states as an incentive to improve highway safety. A primary enforcement law would enable police to pull over drivers and cite them for being unbuckled.
Under the current law, officers may not pull drivers over if they see them unbelted but may cite them for the infraction if the drivers are pulled over for another reason.
Supporters of the primary enforcement bill say it will reduce highway crash deaths, while opponents say the proposal grants police too much power.
Massachusetts could have saved 300 to 500 lives and prevented 50,000 injuries if it had adopted the primary seat belt law enforcement method the National Transportation Safety Board recommended 14 years ago, an official with the independent federal agency said at a public hearing on the primary enforcement bill in April.
Massachusetts is among 22 states that allow secondary enforcement of its seat belt law.
Business briefs
Martha's Vineyard Savings Bank Charitable Fund awards grants
The Martha's Vineyard Savings Bank Charitable Fund in June awarded a total of $5,000 to support Adult and Community Education of Martha's Vineyard's pre-GED and GED preparation programs, the 2009 Living Local Harvest Fest, the Martha's Vineyard Chamber Music Society's summer schedule, and two children's fishing events organized by the Martha's Vineyard Rod and Gun Club.
In addition, two graduating seniors from Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, Janelle R. Fortes and Laura H. Jernegan, each received two-year scholarships in the amount of $4,000.
"The trustees and employees of Martha's Vineyard Savings Bank are pleased to provide meaningful support to organizations committed to improving the quality of life on Martha's Vineyard, as well as to Island students continuing their education," said Chris Wells, Bank President. "These people and programs are important to this community where we live and work, and we are happy to be able to help."
Since 2006, the Martha's Vineyard Savings Bank Charitable Fund has been a part of the Permanent Endowment Fund, the Island's community foundation. The Martha's Vineyard Savings Bank Charitable Fund is funded by the Bank to help meet the financial needs of nonprofit and community service organizations throughout the community, according to a press release. Grant requests are reviewed quarterly. More information about the Martha's Vineyard Savings Bank Charitable Fund and its community grant program is available online at mvbank.com.
