At Loggerheads
From November, 1985 Gazette editions:
U.S. Congressman Gerry Studds told a crowd of more than 100 in Tisbury that on the way to the Vineyard he saw a rainbow. From the sound of how things went in Washington the previous week, he needed it. The gloomy news of a federal budget still suffering from chronic imbalance and Coast Guard belt-tightening measures that left the coast unprotected from drug running and illegal fishing fit right in with the gray day.
The meeting was part of the 20th round of open meetings held by the congressman from the 10th district since he was elected in 1973. In two weeks Mr. Studds will have fielded questions at 820 meetings, he informed listeners. He refused to open the session until the appearance of Mrs. Gratia Harrington, a self-proclaimed supporter and favorite constituent of the congressman.
“This has been one of the most frustrating, one of the most awful weeks in Washington in a long time. One of the problems I foresaw coming here was trying to find the words that could be used in polite company to convey my feelings about what the Congress has been doing or not doing this week.”
Shortly before the meeting drew to a close Thomas Osmers, a fisherman from Lambert’s Cove, rose and gave the congressman what he had asked for at the outset of the meeting — a citizen’s critique of the performance of a federal agency. He said: “My opinion of the Coast Guard has changed in the last few years since the 200-mile bill. Their purpose has taken on a new meaning. They’ve gotten heavily involved in drug enforcement. They’re loaded down with all kinds of gear. It must cost a thousand dollars to put a man on one of those cutters. They’ve got dry suits, holsters, harnesses and boots and gloves, and straps along the rail so they don’t fall overboard.”
Mr. Studds replied: “You’ve raised about 712 questions. It is not easy for fishermen to deal with the Coast Guard.”
Two of the Oak Bluffs selectmen walked out of a board meeting this week, leaving the chairman holding the gavel and a full audience of town residents and officials. The walk-out came amid debate over a proposal to trade offices between the town clerk and a room shared by four town boards. Selectmen Anthony Rebello and Roger Wey voted to adjourn the meeting in mid-session over loud protests of “I’m in charge” from chairman Linda Marinelli, after she refused to halt discussion on the proposal to exchange offices.
Mr. Rebello said he proposed the switch several weeks ago and that Mrs. Marinelli then thought it was a great idea. But Tuesday night Mrs. Marinelli said: “I think you are correct that in the beginning I thought it was a good idea. But after thinking it over, I said this is the most ludicrous idea I have ever approved.”
“I make a motion we close the discussion,” Mr. Rebello said.
“As long as I am chairman, Mr. Rebello, I don’t care what you make a motion on,” Mrs. Marinelli said.
“I second the motion,” Mr. Wey said.
They walked out of the building.
Two Island Steamship governors voted this week to remove executive director Joseph F. McCormack in a move which came as a slap in the face to the communities of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Vineyard governor Alfred Ferro and Nantucket governor Bernard Grossman stood alone when every elected and appointed official who spoke at the Woods Hole meeting argued against removing the director. The two Island governors waited out the storm of protests, and then defiantly voted their will.
Dukes County commissioner Robert Morgan told the governors: “I think it has gotten to be a personal vendetta, and you can sit there and you can come up with all your justifications for getting rid of Mr. McCormack. But this is strictly a job of railroading.”
Mr. Morgan is right. Are Mr. Ferro and Mr. Grossman — as they vote in the face of overwhelming disapproval — really representing Island communities? Pressed to give his reasons for firing Mr. McCormack, Mr. Ferro stated: “I think the motion stands as it is. If there is any litigation later on this, I think all the factors will be made public at that time.
“I’ve thought this over very carefully,” Mr. Ferro said. “I have seen things go on here that I certainly won’t make public, and my feeling is that Mr. Grossman’s motion is in the best interest of the authority.”
Dukes County commissioner John Alley said: “This is a vague response from a person in a key position and it’s going to be very difficult for the people of Dukes County to listen to that justification.”
“This is reprehensible and unjustified,” said Norman Beach, the Nantucket member of the financial advisory board. And Edgartown selectman Fred Morgan drove to the heart of the issue: “I think the question of representation has gone out the window and as far as I am concerned the Island has no representation.”
Compiled by Cynthia Meisner
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