Chilmark selectmen are actively pursuing the possible purchase of the Santander Bank property located opposite the Chilmark Community Center on State Road. Selectmen visited the property Tuesday morning and met in executive session that night to discuss land acquisition.
Earlier this month, Santander Bank announced it would close its Chilmark branch office on May 29 and place the property on the market. The bank described the action as a “consolidation” with its branch in the Triangle business district of Edgartown, 16 miles away.
The property sits on less than one acre of land, and is assessed at $576,800. The Santander Bank property tax bill was $1,408 in 2014, according to Chilmark Assistant Assessor Pam Bunker.
Selectmen said the upcoming sale provides a unique opportunity. Town officials have been discussing the need to relocate the Tri-Town Ambulance and fire emergency services from a cramped barn adjacent to town hall.
“It’s no secret that we’ve been looking for years unsuccessfully,” Chairman Bill Rossi told The Times Tuesday.
Mr. Rossi downplayed the effect of removing one of the few commercial lots from the center of town. “There is no real commercial base in Chilmark,” Mr. Rossi said. He summed up the current commercial base as the Chilmark Store, the Chilmark Tavern, and the Menemsha stores.
Mr. Rossi said the bank provides jobs to three people, but he does not think another bank is needed. “It’s a tough question; you never want to give up revenue,” Mr. Rossi said, “but I would put more weight on the need of the town at this point. I think if an opportunity comes up in the center of town, that the town has to look at it seriously.”
If an agreement is made, selectmen would have to put the question to voters at a special town meeting.