West Tisbury selectmen this week voted to appoint Sgt. Daniel Rossi as acting police chief beginning in April for six months, while a search is conducted to find a replacement for outgoing chief Beth Toomey.

Selectmen Richard Knabel and Dianne Powers approved the appointment at their weekly meeting Wednesday afternoon.

Selectman Jeffrey (Skipper) Manter, also a sergeant on the police force, abstained.

Chief Toomey, who announced her impending retirement last month, gave a brief statement in support of Sergeant Rossi, a 19-year veteran of the department.

Reached later by telephone, Sergeant Rossi expressed his gratitude.

“This is always something I have wanted to do, and I am grateful selectmen have given me this opportunity,” he said.

He also confirmed that he intends to apply for the permanent post. Last year Mr. Rossi was one of three finalists for the police chief position in Chilmark, which went to Brian Cioffi.

In other news this week, executive secretary Jen Rand told selectmen the town attorney has given a thumbs-down to a request from the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce for the town to contribute $10,000 to a tourism fund.

The chamber has asked all six Island towns to contribute a portion of money collected from the state rooms tax to the fund, to help make up for cuts in state funding.

Last week selectmen voted 2 to 1 — with Mr. Manter dissenting — to place an article on the warrant of the April town meeting putting the $10,000 request in front of voters. But Ms. Rand said this week the town attorney advised that a contribution of public money to a private organization would be illegal.

“My understanding is this won’t be on the warrant for any of the town meetings [in other towns],” Ms. Rand said.

“Well that makes things simple,” Mr. Manter responded.