Tisbury Center Plan Is Delayed

Failure to Issue State Permit Snags Main Street Sewage Project; Town
Officials Raise Public Safety Concerns About Work

By JOSHUA SABATINI

On the eve of the planned groundbreaking for the Tisbury sewage
project, two Island officials raised serious safety concerns regarding
the renovation plans even as the town faces a snag in starting
construction work due to a delay at the state level.

Tisbury selectmen had set a timetable under which construction work
along Main street was to begin Oct. 15, end temporarily Nov. 22 and pick
up again Jan. 1.

But in order for work to proceed, the state Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) has to issue a notice to proceed after
reviewing final documents relating to the project.

Paperwork was submitted to DEP Oct. 1, said town administrator
Dennis Luttrell. But when Mr. Luttrell contacted DEP on Wednesday, the
agency had no record of the submission.

Officials from Earth Tech, the engineering firm hired for the
Tisbury sewer project, confirmed yesterday that the papers did reach DEP
on Oct. 1.

Steve McCurdy, deputy director of DEP's division of municipal
services, told the Gazette there was a mix-up at his agency. He said a
second copy was received yesterday and it has been put on "the
fast track."

Ordinarily, the review process takes two to four weeks, Mr. McCurdy
said, but that under the circumstances DEP would work to speed the
process. He could not, however, say for sure when final approval would
be given.

As of yesterday, Tisbury selectmen did not know how they would
proceed with the project.

Selectmen chairman Ray LaPorte said yesterday that no work will
begin next week. At best, he said, the board will have a preconstruction
meeting with the contractor and decide upon a schedule for the work.

No matter what, Mr. LaPorte added, the board is committed to making
sure the local businesses' holiday season will not be interrupted
by contractors' work.

"The sidewalks and roads will be passable for the holiday
season," he said.

Selectmen will not know the work schedule for sure until they know
when DEP will grant approval.

Department of public works director Fred LaPiana, who is overseeing
the project, said the original schedule already called for double shifts
by workers in order to have a full layer of asphalt on Main street by
Nov. 22. While that plan factored in the possibility of small delays, he
said, it would be impossible to adhere to the same schedule as a result
of the longer, DEP-related holdup.

Mr. LaPiana said consideration should now be given to not starting
any work on Main street until Jan. 1. Everything depends on the new
start date, he said.

"We all have to cooperate and pick up the pieces and figure
out what's best for the community," he said.

Tisbury Business Association president Jeff Kristal said yesterday
that his organization is "totally opposed to carry any work
through November and December.

"The businesses really need the holiday season, which accounts
for a good portion of the yearly revenues," he said. "Some
shops would be forced to close down forever because of the financial
impact that would cause."

Mr. Kristal said if the town can't observe the planned Nov. 22
stop date, it should hold off on all work until Jan. 1.

Selectman Tristan Israel said the most important thing to do amid
the delay is to keep the public informed. He said the selectmen will
discuss the issue further at their meeting at the Katharine Cornell
Theatre this Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Along with the uncertainty of the start date, Mr. Luttrell voiced
objection to the renovation plans for downtown streets and sidewalks
- also known as the Main Street Project - after they are dug
up to install new sewer and water lines and electrical conduit. All
three projects were to begin Oct. 15.

Mr. Luttrell submitted a letter to the selectmen this week in which
he said "the Main Street Project as proposed will diminish public
safety."

Mr. Luttrell's objections were echoed by David Wessling, staff
planner for the Martha's Vineyard Commission, who was given a copy
of the plan for review.

Mr. Wessling cited a number of safety issues concerning proposed
parallel loading zones, handicap spaces, sidewalks, location of
crosswalks, placement of bike racks and the design for Union street.

At an April town meeting a design review committee was set up to
present to the selectmen a final plan. In September, selectmen received
the committee's recommendations for the renovation plans.

Selectmen have yet to sign off on the plans.

Mr. Luttrell's letter to the selectmen this week objects to a
number of the committee's recommendations and advises bringing in
professional assistance and taking more time.

"The new Main street created by the project will be a part of
the board's legacy to the town for decades to come, and I would
recommend that the board not succumb to the pressure to act quickly in
arriving at its collective decision," Mr. Luttrell wrote.

He also advised selectmen to make use of Bill Veno, another MVC
staff planner.

The selectmen may have more time to examine the plans if the project
doesn't get under way until the winter.

According to Mr. Luttrell, they need it: "I have never seen a
project of this magnitude and using this amount of dollars put together
in this fashion."

For example, he said, the design review committee was using an
artistic, not a technical, rendering of Main and Union streets -
and putting Post-Its on it to represent parking places. He said there
are no professional drawings that incorporate additions made by the
design committee to the original plan.

Mr. Luttrell said that at least one consultant had offered, for
$5,000, to study the committee's recommendations and have it
completed by Oct. 15. The board declined the offer, he said.

The town administrator said that with some extra effort the
selectmen can still plan the design properly.

Mr. LaPorte said the only aspect of the plan that might need to be
finished as soon as possible if the project got under way would be the
curbing and possibly the sidewalks. Everything else, he said, could be
discussed further into the next year.

Mr. LaPorte added that he was focused on public safety.