Direct democracy will be on display at the MVRHS Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, April 10, at 7 pm, when the people of Oak Bluffs gather to debate and decide on 29 warrant articles and two ballot questions at annual town meeting — the Massachusetts tradition that dates back to the 1600s.
In order to balance the FY19 budget in the face of slow revenue growth and sharply escalating regional costs — namely the town’s $467,000 increase for the assessment for Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School — selectmen voted on Feb. 27 to approve a $275,000 Proposition 2½ override, an increase in excess of the levy limit for real estate and personal property taxes. Town administrator Robert Whritenour had initially recommended the board approve a $500,000 override to include a buffer for unforeseen expenses. However at its meeting on Feb. 27, the board voted to cut the total to $275,000.
The proposed FY19 $30.3 million budget is a $1 million increase over the $29.3 million budget for FY18, or roughly 3.4 percent. Big-ticket items in the FY19 budget include:
- $350,000 to design repairs and renovations to the Oak Bluffs school roof and HVAC system. A separate ballot question will ask voters to approve a debt exclusion to pay for the actual renovations.
- $250,000 for electrical work in the harbor and renovations to the harbormaster’s office.
- $600,000 to rehabilitate and restore Sunset Lake and Lakeside Park. The article authorizes an immediate allocation of $200,000 in CPA funds and to borrow $400,000, to be paid back by CPA funds over the next two years.
- $208,000 from the Ambulance Reserve Fund for public safety vehicles and equipment, including $100,000 to replace the radio system and $45,000 to replace the police supervisor vehicle.
The Finance and Advisory committee unanimously endorsed spending $250,000 of CPA funds to upgrade the Oak Bluffs School recreation areas, and unanimously rejected a $100,000 appropriation of CPA funds requested by the Island Housing Trust toward construction of 20 rental apartments in Tisbury. FinCom was feeling more generous about building three duplexes at Greenwood Avenue Affordable Housing in Tisbury, voting 6-1 to appropriate $100,000 in CPA funds for the project.
New rules
A nonbinding article to prohibit moped rentals in Oak Bluffs was passed almost unanimously at last year’s town meeting. This year, the referendum on moped rentals will not be ceremonial. Majority approval of “An act concerning the rental of mopeds and motor scooters in the town of Oak Bluffs” will set the “Home Rule Petition” process in motion, which could create special legislation at the state level which would allow the town to effectively phase out moped rental businesses.
A vote will also be taken on a town bylaw that will amend rules and regulations for events at town beaches and parks. Parks commissioner Amy Billings has lobbied selectmen to amend and clarify the rules governing the public areas, citing impromptu gatherings that have drawn large crowds and high decibel levels. Police Chief Erik Blake has told selectmen that without more specific rules, police have very limited enforcement authority in town parks and beaches. If the warrant article passes, special events on parks and beaches will require special-use permits from parks commissioners.