West Tisbury selectmen this week approved warrant articles for a special town meeting in June, set last week when the board learned of the need for voter approval to sell lots in the Bailey Park affordable housing project off Old County Road.
Town counsel Ronald H. Rappaport advised the selectmen that a town meeting vote is needed before the lots can be sold. There are three lots at Bailey Park that have been taken by the town in tax foreclosure proceedings.
The special town meeting is scheduled for June 8 at 7 p.m. at the West Tisbury School.
Four other articles were approved this week, including one that would create a new part-time position of assistant to the town administrator.
Town administrator Jennifer Rand described it as a “floater” position that would fill in when certain part-time employees leave town hall in the late afternoon and when people go on vacation. “Every department in this town is a one-person department with the exception of the assessors, so if someone is out sick or takes a vacation there is nobody even there to answer the phones,” Ms. Rand said, adding:
“This person would be on the first floor for starters, so there would be someone there after the town clerk goes home at 1:30 p.m . . . . if someone goes on vacation this person would deal with their office, not so they have to have the inner workings of the office, but to answer phone calls and give out general information. It provides a better level of service without the town getting bigger,” she said.
Selectmen did not approve an article proposed by fire chief Manny Estrella to increase his annual stipend from $20,000 to $34,000. Although they weren’t opposed to the increase, the selectmen said such a change should be vetted during the regular budget cycle and approved at the annual town meeting.
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