The sixth and final round in Martha’s Vineyard’s annual town meeting season plays out Tuesday, when voters are scheduled to gather in Aquinnah Old Town Hall to take action on a $4,115,596 operating budget for the 2016 fiscal year (FY), and 28 articles spread out over special and annual town meeting warrants.
The special is scheduled to begin at 6:45 pm, followed by the annual. That schedule is far from certain for residents of the Island’s smallest and westernmost town, where annual town meeting is a social event that marks the unofficial end to year-rounders’ off-season hibernation and a chance to catch up on the news with winter-season escapees.
On Wednesday, May 13, voters go to the polls between noon and 7 pm to elect town officers and answer four ballot questions.
Selectman James Newman, seeking a fifth term, faces a challenge from Barbara Bassett for a three-year term on the board of selectmen.
Voters will be asked to approve a Proposition 2.5 override of $120,000 to fund a portion of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) assessment.
Voters will be asked to chip in on the county-engineered purchase of the VNA building to house the Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living and its Supportive Day Program.
The center currently uses borrowed space at the Edgartown and Tisbury Council on Aging buildings, and has been searching unsuccessfully for a new home. The county is asking for $1.6 million to purchase, renovate, and equip the building.
Voters will also be asked to help pay the costs of constructing a new school administration building on the grounds of the regional high school. The measure needed approval by all six Island towns, and is moot, following no votes by West Tisbury, Chilmark and Tisbury voters.
Voters will also be asked to approve an override for the cost of purchasing two lots at the Aquinnah Circle as part of the lighthouse relocation project.
The town purchased the Manning-Murray property for $583,298.
School is up
School costs fuel the six percent increase in spending forecast in the budget that selectmen, who also double as finance committee members, will present to voters Tuesday. Total education costs will rise by $121,436, from $1,129,902 to $1,251,338, a 10.75 percent hike.
Elementary school costs will rise slightly, from $921,516 to $924,018
in FY16. The big hike is in the high school assessment, which will jump from $208,385 to $327,320, 57 percent increase.
In contrast, several department budgets show reductions over the previous year, or more modest increases. Aquinnah town administrator Adam Wilson said department heads were asked to hold the line and seek reductions where they could in town spending.
Total government, which includes the offices of the selectmen, accountant, treasurer and clerk, will drop from $703,345 to $674,680, a 4.08 percent reduction.
Culture and recreation, which includes the library and recreational programs, will increase from $226,658 to $232,613, a 2.63 percent hike.
Public safety, which includes, police, fire and Tri-Town Ambulance service, will rise from $877,029 to $974,387, a 11.1 percent increase. The largest portion of that increase is attributable to the Tri-Town Ambulance service, the cost of which will go from $196,419 to $251,920, a 28.26 percent rise tied to the addition of a full-time paramedic.
Money requests
When it comes time to tackle the warrant, Aquinnah voters will be asked to approve money requests for police vehicles and equipment, clean up the language in town personnel policies, and contribute to several regional efforts.
The Aquinnah police will ask voters to spend $4,900 to equip a new
Polaris Ranger 4×4 Utility Vehicle purchased with a $13,662 grant provided by the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.
Police will also seek $36,500 to purchase and equip a new police cruiser.
Regional requests will include $7,627 for an upgrade to the 911 Dukes County Communications Center computer system; $7,280 for county services for the elderly; $2,583 for continuing education; $11,570 for the Center for Living; and $2,593 for an information and referral service, First Stop, for the elderly.
Community Preservation Committee requests include $60,000 for the restoration and relocation of the Gay Head Light project; $24,720 for mortgage costs to buy a lot on State Road to create affordable housing; and $12,000 for the Dukes County Regional Housing Authority rent-subsidy program.
