Chilmark voters may have the opportunity to usher in infrastructure for better cellular connectivity soon.
Chilmark has 34 warrant articles to consider for its upcoming annual town meeting, which is scheduled to be held on April 27 at the Chilmark Community Center, starting at 7 pm.
Among these articles is a set of seven ballot questions, three of which involve asking voters whether cellular infrastructure should be allowed in the town to improve coverage, such as permitting “traditional macro cellular telephone towers.” The other two questions ask for more specific measures for cellular infrastructure, such as installing a cell site at Peaked Hill near the existing U.S. Coast Guard tower, and building and leasing out up to two macro cellular tower sites.
Spotty cell phone connectivity has long been an issue in Chilmark, even being raised as a public safety concern by first responders. But the installation of cell towers was banned in the town around 15 years ago, forcing companies to use other options.
While there was a proposal from Verizon to boost connectivity in town, the proposal was rejected by the Chilmark Select Board in January because it was deemed an unfair advantage to Verizon and its customers over other carriers. That led Verizon to file a federal lawsuit against the town last month in an attempt to upend the decision.
Even if the ballot questions are approved at town meeting, voters will need to again approve them during the annual town election on April 29 at the Chilmark Community Center.
The remaining four ballot questions involve override requests, which also need to be approved by voters in the town election. These include $252,210 to partially cover costs of up-Island regional schools, $48,283 toward the town’s share of the the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School budget, $43,427 for an additional full-time EMT, and $24,044 to extend operational hours of the Chilmark library.
The Chilmark Select Board held a public hearing about the overrides on Tuesday evening. Tim Carroll, town administrator, highlighted that the overrides are needed to cover rising costs of services and salaries. The town is proposing to raise $16.5 million for its budget for fiscal year 2027; the budget for fiscal year 2026 was $15.38 million. Sarah Smith, town accountant, said the use of free cash and transfers from other funds brings the total budget to $18.6 million.
Carroll also said during the hearing that Chilmark tends to utilize overrides every three years to cover increased costs of services.
Meanwhile, the majority of the rest of Chilmark’s warrant articles include expenditure requests, including regional services like $90,951 to Dukes County programs. The town is also looking to spend $60,000 for a rapid food-waste recycler to be placed at the local drop-off station.
Additionally, the town is proposing to add Juneteenth and Indigenous Peoples’ Day as holidays observed by the town.
Chilmark is also considering updates to some of its bylaws, including the wetland protection bylaw and the short-term rental bylaw.