Chilmark annual town meeting voters unanimously approved $11.1 million to build a new fire station and a separate headquarters for Tri-Town Ambulance.
The vote brought to an end years of attempts to provide Chilmark firefighters with a replacement for their cramped, deteriorated, and asbestos-lined station at Menemsha Crossroad. For the first time in its history, the vote paved the way for Tri-Town Ambulance, the ambulance service for Aquinnah, Chilmark, and West Tisbury, to have a standalone place to call home.
Voters gathered outside behind the Chilmark Community Center for the meeting Monday evening — a move made to take into account the waning but ongoing pandemic. Town clerk Jennifer Christy told The Times out of 1,066 qualified voters, 135 attended the meeting.
In the wake of the retirement vacancy left by former moderator Everett Poole, voters said yes to planning board member Janet Weidner as the town’s next moderator. Christy swore in Weidner before the assembled voters, and Weidner immediately took to the podium and conducted the meeting. Weidner’s new post must be ratified at the town’s special election on Wednesday. Polls are open from noon to 8 pm, concurrent with the annual election.
Voters were generally in a mood to approve warrant articles with few questions asked. However, the subject of a $20,000 camera surveillance system in Menemsha triggered many questions. Harbormaster Ryan Rossi cited crime as the reason for the cameras. Rossi said thefts and vandalism were difficult to thwart in Menemsha because the harbor department and Chilmark Police cannot always monitor the area. Rossi said boat engines have been stolen, people have trespassed on vessels, and lobsters stored for sale have been pilfered and killed. Rossi fielded a number of questions about the system. The article passed, but was one of the very few not to pass unanimously.
Voters said yes to changing the board of selectmen to a select board. The town will next petition the state legislature for formal legal permission to do so.
The fire station and Tri-Town Ambulance vote must still be ratified at the annual town election as a Proposition 2½ debt exclusion.
