Tisbury Prepares for Key Election in Board of Selectmen Contest

By JOSHUA SABATINI

Facing plans for big changes in Tisbury, town voters will decide
next week whether experience or a fresh look will have a contested seat
on the board of selectmen.

Denys Wortman said a number of people asked him to run and he
decided to do just that. "The town should have a choice,"
said Mr. Wortman, who is running against incumbent Thomas Pachico.

The Gazette spoke to the two candidates this week and discussed
personalities, the future and the town's prevailing issues,
including the two major projects impending in town, a sewage treatment
system and a Main street improvement plan.

Thomas Pachico

Mr. Pachico, 49, has served for one three-year term on the board of
selectmen. He was born and raised on the Island, sat on the board of
health for nine years and continues to serve as the town's health
agent, a position he has held for nearly a decade.

Asked what he brings to the job, Mr. Pachico said, "Common
sense and I am not afraid to tell it like it is. I do not play games. It
saves time, money and energy."

Mr. Pachico, a father of four and a grandfather, also sits on the
sewage advisory committee and the land bank advisory committee.

During his three-year term, Mr. Pachico has played a significant
role in Steamship Authority (SSA) issues, including the pending
legislation that could alter the SSA board of governors, and held a key
role in the planning of the new wastewater treatment facility.

"There are a lot of things that need to be finished, and that
is basically why I am running again," said Mr. Pachico. "I
don't think this is the time to change players with the SSA
legislation on the table, and the major role I played in that. And the
same thing with the sewage project. If it was something I was remotely
involved in it wouldn't matter. But I am intricately involved in
those things."

The owner of a private septic inspection company - not in
Tisbury - Mr. Pachico is the only selectman on the three-member
board with experience in construction and excavation.

"There are going to be a lot of problems [with the sewer
project] that will need to be figured out. My expertise in that field is
useful," said Mr. Pachico.

During Mr. Pachico's term, the housing committee has taken a
more active role in town affairs. Mr. Pachico said he wants to further
involve the housing committee and work to create more affordable housing
in town.

Mr. Pachico is sympathetic to residents concerned about the
increasing tax rate. "Sure I am concerned. I pay taxes, too. I
juggle every month to pay my bills," said Mr. Pachico. "I
know what everyone is talking about."

Mr. Pachico said he understands business concerns about the
installation of the sewer system in the downtown. The entire sewage
project is projected to be complete by May 2004. Construction will begin
in October. To help businesses cope with the disruption, Mr. Pachico
said he is talking with the businesses and can possibly ease the
economic impact by planning the installation to avoid the busy holiday
seasons.

One component of the Main Street Project, a plan to make
improvements downtown when the roadways are dug for the sewage system,
involves putting the wires on Main street underground. Mr. Pachico
supports the change, but said he wants to see what the town's
financial status is a year from now.

As for the other components of the Main Street Project, Mr. Pachico
supports a close scrutiny. "We need to look at it more. The
majority of the sidewalks in the downtown area do not have to come
out," said Mr. Pachico. "Taxpayers need to know what this
will cost."

Mr. Pachico played a key role in changing the leadership of the
police department this year. He speaks highly of its new leader, acting
chief Theodore Saulnier. "[The acting chief] is up for appointment
on June 30," said Mr. Pachico. "I have no reason to think he
won't do a good job and be the leading candidate for that
position. I think it has been a positive change. The change in
leadership had to be done."

As for the size of the police department, Mr. Pachico said he plans
to sit down with his fellow selectmen and talk to the acting chief in
the near future to "see exactly what is needed on a year-round
basis."

For three years, Mr. Pachico has held ongoing discussions with the
SSA to improve the town's ferry terminal. Some improvements to the
terminal's operations will be made for this summer season.

Mr. Pachico said the relationship between the town and boat line has
improved with the new CEO and the new Island SSA representative. He
plans to meet with the other Cape and Island towns to develop a clear
vision for the SSA's future.

Mr. Pachico said he goes to all the SSA meetings, and often is the
only selectman from the Island in attendance.

Mr. Pachico took some heat this year for altering the pay scale for
moorings in the harbor. Mr. Pachico said the town takes on the
responsibility of maintaining the harbor, including dredging, additional
pump out times, bathrooms and rubbage service. "The only way to
recoup what our investments are is to create additional taxes or through
mooring fees. The mooring fees should just cover what it costs us, and
not be subsidized by the taxpayers," he said.

Mr. Pachico said he feels his first term as selectman has been a
success, and he feels credit is due in part to the municipal employees.
"Thankfully, we have good town employees who banded together and
helped," he said. "It hasn't been an easy three
years."

Denys Wortman

Mr. Wortman, 64, said, "I am a people person. I like to bring
people together and work toward building a consensus."

When pressed for the reason why he would make a better selectman
than his opponent, Mr. Wortman simply said, "That is up for the
voters to decide."

His parents purchased a home on the Island - the same home on
Hines Point where he currently resides with his wife, Marilyn - in
1933. His father, a newspaper cartoonist, decided when the war broke out
in 1941 that the Vineyard would be a good place to live year-round. That
began Mr. Wortman's childhood on the Island. He attended the
Tisbury School, "when the Tisbury School was a high school,"
and was graduated in 1957. One memory he is fond of from his schoolboy
days is playing on the basketball team and contending against the other
towns on the Island - "a very good rivalry."

After college, Mr. Wortman resided in Sudbury with his wife and
three children. In 1961, his mother sold the Vineyard home to former
harbor master Tom Hale. When the house was for sale for the first time
in 34 years, Mr. Wortman bought it and three years ago returned to the
Island full-time.

Like most Tisbury residents, Mr. Wortman is concerned about the tax
rate and the economy overall.

"We are going to face some real tough economic times. State
money is being cut back. We have a slower business environment. On the
high end, rentals are down. This is all money that comes into the Island
and fuels the economy. This is one thing that definitely concerns
me," said Mr. Wortman.

For more than 30 years, Mr. Wortman has worked as a stock broker,
and he believes his expertise in the financial field can serve the town
well.

"Cut waste wherever you can find it. We have to be very
careful where we spend our money," said Mr. Wortman. "The
alternative is not to spend it and be creative. But there is no magic
silver bullet to say, ‘Here, this is the easy way
out.'"

In March, the Tisbury police department saw a change in leadership
and a debate continues as to how many officers the department needs.

He believes in having as small a department as possible -
"for the sake of taxes - but not to sell out on
safety," he added.

"I would like to see a very constructive relationship between
the selectmen and the police department. Whenever you hire a leader, you
put him in charge and you let him do the job and you don't try to
micromanage him. If he wants input he should come to you. And he should
feel comfortable coming to you, knowing you are supporting him. But not
be on his case every day," said Mr. Wortman.

Similarly, Mr. Wortman said the Steamship Authority management team
is going through a leadership change. "Here again, we have a new
CEO," said Mr. Wortman. "Let's sit back and see how he
performs."

For the overall political picture in town, Mr. Wortman thinks a
change in attitude can make Tisbury a better place. "If you
don't want to support [a political figure], you have your chance
at election time to support somebody else," he said. "But
support those who are in. Work with them. Do what you can to help them.
I hear a lot of negativity and I would like to turn it around so there
is more of a positive feeling."

Mr. Wortman has a new idea for the town-neighborhood forums. He
would like residents in neighborhoods to gather together and discuss any
issues and reach a consensus. He would like to attend the forums and
believes the forums can improve the political atmosphere and the policy
making process.

Mr. Wortman's concern for the Main Street Project, a plan that
will alter the town's infrastructure in a number of ways, rests
heavily on finances.

On putting Main street wires underground, Mr. Wortman said, it is
best to proceed with caution. "Is it worth spending a million
dollars at this time? We are putting the conduits in, we can wait on
doing the poles. And I think we should wait … definitely wait at
least a year, two years," he said. "We have got to see how
the economic times are. So that if we do it, we are not jacking up
taxes."

Mr. Wortman supports the choice of concrete for the sidewalks in
downtown, but wants them built as simply as possible. As to the concept
of a visitor center: "I am not in favor of the visitor center. We
do not need to spend big money on a visitor center," said Mr.
Wortman.

The other large project in town, the sewage project, is going to
have a heavy impact on the downtown businesses in its first year.
"Try to make it as easy as possible for the businesses,"
said Mr. Wortman. "We can have a campaign to support our
businesses because they will be having a tough time. When things are
tough, you do your best to help people."

With high taxes and the challenging economic times, most every
resident is concerned about affordable housing in Tisbury.

"I would like to do whatever I can to help in that area. It is
going to be tough. We should do all we can to work out a plan. This
should be done with the planning board. I would challenge the planning
board to work hard and I will work with them. We have to plan; if we
don't plan we end up reacting. And when you are reacting you are
putting Bandaids on it," said Mr. Wortman.

Mr. Wortman was introduced to town politics over the past year with
a seat on the Tisbury finance committee. He is also president of the
board for Martha's Vineyard Community Television and was
instrumental in creating its facility at the regional high school, which
will be open by September.

Tisbury town elections are set for Tuesday, May 7, with polls open
from noon to 8 p.m. at the American Legion Hall.