West Tisbury selectmen on Wednesday voted to nominate several ancient ways as additions to a special ways district of critical planning concern, heard a presentation about the new Islandwide reverse 911 system, and approved the process for hiring a new administrative assistant position at town hall.

The meeting began with a joint session of selectmen and the roads and byways committee, which was called to discuss the nomination of Pine Hill Road, Shubael Weeks Path and Red Coat Hill Road/Motts Hill Road, as the latest addition to the special ways DCPC.

The district falls under protection of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission and prohibits development and clear-cutting from 20 feet of the center line.

The district is intended to protect historic roads in town that in some cases date back to colonial times and were sometimes used as ox cart and horse trails.

The roads and byways committee tried to nominate the roads last year, and held a meeting with abutters in November. But the nomination application did not get to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission in time for the annual town meeting; the commission is now expected to review the nomination sometime this summer.

The nomination was approved.

Selectmen also heard a presentation from town emergency management director John Christensen on the reverse 911 system that will give towns the ability to provide information to the public during an emergency.

Mr. Christensen said the new system, called CodeRed, is up and running. He said emergency management officials in the coming weeks will put out more public information about the system.

Selectmen also approved language for a request for proposals that will be used to hire an engineer to draft a plan for the preservation of Mill Pond, and agreed to appoint a three-member selection committee for hiring a new administrative assistant for town hall.