County Commission Puts Charter Study Question on Ballot in November

By JAMES KINSELLA
Gazette Senior Writer

Come November, voters in Dukes County will decide whether to launch
a formal process to study and possibly change the structure of their
county government.

The Dukes County Commission on Wednesday voted 6-0, with
commissioner Leslie Leland absent, to place the question of a county
charter study commission on the state election ballot, scheduled for
Nov. 7.

The vote comes at a time of growing turmoil inside county
government.

"I think that the voters should ultimately decide the
direction of county government," declared county commission
chairman John Alley, who introduced the motion at Wednesday's
joint meeting of the county commission and the county financial advisory
board.

"A charter commission will bring a reasoned, thoughtful report
on the direction we should be going," Mr. Alley said. Rather than
engaging in emotional debate, he said, "Let's step back and
look at all the facts, pro and con."

The five other county commissioners welcomed Mr. Alley's
proposal, which he put forward under the state law known as Chapter 34A.

"Any [government] body periodically should be reviewed to see
if it's meeting its objectives," said county commissioner
Robert Sawyer.

Commissioner Leonard Jason Jr. said the charter commission route
provides an excellent process. Commissioner Paul Strauss said be
believes a timely review of county government is a good idea.

Under Chapter 34A, the charter commission's function and duty
would include studying the form of government of the county, comparing
it with other forms available under the laws of the commonwealth, and
determining whether or not in its judgment the government of the county
could be strengthened, made more accountable to the people or whether it
could be more economical or efficient under a changed form of
government.

The present county government is the result of a charter study
commission formed in 1990.

But there has been growing criticism of county government in the
past year. Much of the controversy has centered on the Martha's
Vineyard Airport, which is owned by the county but managed by the
airport commission.

A superior court judge last year awarded triple damages to two
airport managers who had sued the county commission in a dispute with
the airport commission over control of wage scales. Damages and other
costs in the court case could exceed $800,000, and in the wake of this
some residents have begun to question decisions made by the commission
and the relative benefit of even having a county government.

In the current fiscal year, county taxpayers are providing $750,762
to support county government through assessments on the seven towns in
the county. The annual county budget is $4.45 million.

Most Massachusetts county governments already have dissolved,
shifting functions such as registries of deeds to state control.

Recently a task force of Vineyard selectmen convened to explore
questions about the future of county government. Dukes County includes
Martha's Vineyard and the town of Gosnold on the Elizabeth
Islands.

Wednesday's unanimous decision by the commission formally puts
the question of the future of county government before the voters. At
the same November election, voters will select 15 people to serve on the
study commission, if the commission be approved.

Tisbury selectman Tristan Israel, a member of the selectmen's
task force as well as the county advisory board, praised the vote.

"I am glad that they are stepping up to the plate on their
own," he said. Mr. Israel said he expects that the task force will
continue to meet, perhaps now shifting its focus to generate information
for the voters this fall.

Sixteen years ago Dukes County voters approved the creation of a
charter study commission. At the time county government was led by three
part-time commissioners who oversaw county operations. Reformers said
the time had come to create a county charter.

The commission subsequently recommended adopting a charter and a new
structure for county government, with a professional manager appointed
by an unpaid county commission.

In 1992, voters approved the charter. In 1994, voters elected their
first county commission under the new charter. The county's first
professional manager took office in 1995.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, advocates of the county charter
were excited by the regional initiatives that a vibrant county
government could offer the Vineyard.

But the actual performance of county government has at times been
disappointing, marred by what some see as a lack of regional leadership,
by a revolving door in the county manager's office and a prolonged
battle with the airport commission, which is appointed by the county
commission.

Relations between the county and airport commissions reached a new
low in recent weeks, when the airport commission ignored an airport
governance agreement concerning the employment terms of the airport
manager. The county commission rescinded two airport commission
appointments. Three other airport commissioners have resigned.