In the latest battle over an Army Corps of Engineers project to dredge Menemsha Channel, the Chilmark selectmen have refused to allow dredging in Menemsha Harbor for the 2015–2016 season.

Most of the harbor, along with two jetties that were rebuilt this year, have been federal projects since the 1930s, and the area including Menemsha Pond to the south is a harbor of refuge for ships. The dredging of the channel and an area in the pond are expected to begin this year, despite opposition by town officials, who argue it will disrupt shellfish and encourage larger boats to enter the harbor.

Ruby the goat was subject of a complaint after she was found loose on Squibnocket Beach.

A contractor hired by the Army Corps required that the town remove several piles along Crick Hill Road at its own expense, leading the selectmen to pass a resolution at their Tuesday meeting preventing dredging in the harbor.

“This is all private property and I can’t believe that the town is supposed to be the one that takes the piles out and puts the piles back,” selectman Jonathan Mayhew said. “It doesn’t seem to make any sense at all.”

Three harbor tenants who attended the meeting agreed that dredging should not occur along the edge of the harbor.

Mr. Mayhew pointed out that the Army Corps does not dredge where there is eelgrass, an important aquatic plant that helps maintain a healthy ecosystem. The Army Corps has designated most of the harbor as an “eelgrass area,” but not the area along Crick Hill Road.

Harbor tenant Matt Poole said eelgrass does in fact grow around his dock, but has been absent this year. Mr Mayhew added that he has seen some eelgrass at the south end of the harbor, which is unusual.

The selectmen discussed drafting a letter and running it by harbor tenants and town counsel to ensure that it reflects the best interests of the town. Mr. Poole, who also serves on the Chilmark board of health, urged the selectmen to consider first impressions.

“My sense is that you need to make your first shot a very good shot with the Army Corps,” he said, noting that some of its projects have not been well-received by towns. “If you miss the mark on it I’m afraid that we are going to have lost ground.”

In other news Tuesday, the selectmen responded to a complaint of a loose goat at Squibnocket Beach. According to an incident report by beach guard Frances Bradley last Thursday, the goat, owned by Doug Liman, had frightened a neighbor but not caused any serious harm.

“I was in shock when we saw and heard a woman come running down hill [with a large] goat chasing her,” according to the report. “I told her to stop running and went and got rake to keep distance and try to encourage him back up hill.” The goat kept trying to follow the woman home. Ms. Bradley indicated that it was the same goat that had chased a woman around a beach chair last year.

Eventually the goat headed back up the road.

“I had problems with that goat several times last summer,” animal control officer Chris Murphy wrote to Mr. Liman in an email the following day. “It is not cute or funny to have the goat wandering around loose away from your property, people feel threatened by it and it is a pain in the rear end.”

The selectmen confirmed Tuesday that the goat, named Ruby, has caused problems before. But they struggled with how to respond, since there is no town bylaw or state law regarding pet goats.

Selectman Bill Rossi suggested a schedule of fines for offenders. In West Tisbury, the fines are $100 for the first offense, followed by $200 and $300 for repeated offenses. “Some people, those fines are not going to matter,” Mr. Rossi said. Mr. Mayhew, who took care of Ruby a few years ago and agreed that she was an “affectionate” goat, suggested a $300 fine for a second offense and $1,000 for a third offense.

“When Doug takes [her] to the beach, I’m sure everything is fine,” he said. “But the problem is now the goat goes to the beach without Doug being around.”

The selectmen agreed to write a letter to Mr. Liman directing him to keep Ruby restrained. And they will ask Allen Healy, assistant animal control officer in West Tisbury, to work with Mr. Murphy and assistant dog officer Joan Jenkinson to come up with suggestions for a new bylaw that Chilmark could address at a special town meeting in the fall.