Tisbury eyes shared police services with Oak Bluffs
By Janet Hefler
Published: August 13, 2009
Tisbury selectmen Tristan Israel and Jeffrey Kristal agreed Tuesday to pursue discussions with the Oak Bluffs selectmen exploring possible areas of cooperation between the two town police departments. Selectman Geoghan Coogan was absent.
The Oak Bluffs selectmen voted at a meeting July 28 to suggest discussions, which was communicated in a letter written by Oak Bluffs town administrator Michael Dutton to Tisbury town administrator John Bugbee.
Mr. Bugbee read Mr. Dutton's July 29 letter Tuesday and told selectmen that he met informally with Mr. Dutton and Oak Bluffs selectman Greg Coogan last week to discuss the idea.
Mr. Israel said that Tisbury and Oak Bluffs have had many discussions about the possibility of creating a joint police force or district, and that he would be interested in exploring the topic again.
Mr. Kristal said he would withhold public comment pending a final report by Robert Wasserman, a West Tisbury resident and international security consultant who is reviewing the Tisbury department's operations and management, following the May 20 departure of former Tisbury Police Chief John Cashin.
In the meantime, the two selectmen agreed to begin discussions with Oak Bluffs.
In other business, a lengthy discussion about whether fuel sales should be allowed at the Lake Street dock on Lake Tashmoo ran out of gas.
After hearing convincing arguments on both sides of the question - from commercial fishermen, the Tashmoo management committee (TMC), a fuel delivery salesman, and town officials - Mr. Israel and Mr. Kristal suggested that everyone continue their discussion and come back in a few weeks to talk some more.
A few commercial fishermen who attended the meeting said they need a convenient and safe refueling location on Lake Tashmoo and argued that deliveries from a truck are safer than filling their tanks from cans.
Tashmoo management committee (TMC) chairman Melinda Loberg said people who live in the neighborhood near the dock complain that the fuel delivery trucks are too noisy. Recreational boaters also have complained that fuel trucks and commercial fisherman obstruct the dock, she said.
Ms. Loberg said one of the regulations the community specifically wanted was a ban on fuel sales at the dock. "We want the town to enforce the regulation that prohibits commercial activity on the dock and to further deliberate the issue of fuel sales at the dock," she said.
Tisbury currently has a policy and regulation concerning commercial activity on town property, filed with the town clerk in July 1998. Products and services listed may not be offered for sale in any town building or on property subject to the selectmen's custody and control.
Tisbury harbormaster Jay Wilbur and shellfish constable Derek Cimeno each expressed concern about the potential for accidental spills and pollution.
Ms. Loberg invited everyone interested in discussing the issues to attend the TMC's meeting today at 5:30 pm, at the Tisbury Senior Center.
Department of Public Works (DPW) director Fred LaPiana said the preliminary design for the connector road between Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road and State Road should be done in about three weeks. This week, the DPW started constructing a bike path around Veterans Park, which should be done in a few weeks, he added.
Emergency Services Facility committee chairman Joe Tierney said plans for the proposed new fire, ambulance, and emergency management facility on Spring Street were sent to a cost estimator last Friday, on schedule.
In other business, the selectmen appointed Mary Snyder to the wastewater planning committee. They also reappointed Richard Townes as Tisbury's emergency management director for one year or until a new applicant is appointed. Mr. Townes had resigned, but agreed to serve when no candidates applied, in response to advertisements for the job, which pays a stipend of $2,500 a year.
The selectmen also scheduled sewer abatement hearings for six applicants, on September 1 at 5:30 pm.
