West Tisbury selectmen voted unanimously Wednesday evening to end the state of emergency brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The board mirrored the time for the state of emergency to end with that of the commonwealth’s — 12:01 am Tuesday, June 15. The board agreed to meet in person when it next convenes. Masks and social distancing will be mandatory.
“…I think it’s prudent to observe social distancing still,” select board member Cynthia Mitchell said.
The board agreed they would hold the meeting someplace other than town hall in order to allow for sufficient social distancing space. Fire Station 1 and the West Tisbury Free Public Library were considered but no decision was made.
Town administrator Jennifer Rand said the next meeting, at least initially, won’t be linked virtually in hybrid fashion because a technical setup is underway and not expected to be complete by next Wednesday.
Rand told the board there was a caveat to meeting in person. She said that soon legislation that would extend permission for municipalities to hold meetings virtually is expected to be passed by the legislature and be signed by the governor.
Reached Friday, select board chair Skipper Manter said regardless of the outcome of pending legislation to extend virtual meetings, West Tisbury will cease its state of emergency on June 15.
In other business, the board voted unanimously to approve a three-year contract with incoming Fire Chief Greg Pachico. As The times previously reported, Chief Pachico will receive a salary of $120,000 per year. Chief Pachico will officially begin his duties July 1.
It is too bad we can’t end our “State of emergency” in Tisbury, but we are stuck with the same police department and Selectmen.
Congratulations West Tisbury!
Does this mean I can put cream and sugar in my coffee inside Ally’s rather than on the hood of my car ?
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