Tri-Town Ambulance committee members are calling for major changes in the structure of their organization.

Last week Tri-Town committee member and Chilmark police chief Brian Cioffi met with Chilmark selectmen to discuss a $300,000 or 60 per cent increase in next year’s Tri-Town budget; the increase is aimed at covering the cost of four full-time paramedics to satisfy a state mandate that would allow the organization to continue to provide advanced life support services to the three up-Island towns.

This week Tri-Town leaders met with the West Tisbury selectmen to discuss the structure of the organization itself, with some members of the committee questioning the need for a committee at all.

It all revolves around the fact that last year Tri-Town created a chief position for the service. The position was filled for six months by Robert Bellinger, who has since stepped aside to become deputy chief while the committee searches for a replacement. West Tisbury ambulance committee member Dianne Powers told selectmen this week that the committee hopes to have the spot filled by spring, and July 1 at the latest.

“When the chief’s position is filled, I don’t really see the need for a committee,” she said. The seven-member committee currently consists of three up-Island police chiefs, three selectmen or their designees and squad representative Bruce Haynes.

“The Tri-Town Ambulance agreement says that the police chief has to be part of the committee and I have voiced my opinion to several people about that,” said West Tisbury police chief Dan Rossi. “My own personal feeling is maybe it should be one selectman from each town and maybe a squad member or two. I’m new to the committee since April and I feel as though [the committee members] are just middlemen to a point. There’s not enough communication getting back to the powers that really should be in charge of this.”

Mr. Haynes agreed.

“We’re hoping that the new structure is going to be able to give the committee a very limited role in what we have to do and none of the day-to-day stuff should have to be handled by the committee. The committee should really be a minor advisory role,” he said.

Selectman Richard Knabel suggested the three towns revisit the intermunicipal agreement and discuss the proposals.

Also on Wednesday selectmen backed a $12,000 increase in the stipend for West Tisbury fire chief Manuel Estrella 3rd.

“I put in almost 1,200 hours,” the chief said. “It’s not a part-time job; it’s a full-time job. I’m on call 24/7 and don’t get any benefits at all.”

Selectmen told Mr. Estrella to resubmit his department’s budget with the new stipend which will total $40,000. The move brings Mr. Estrella’s stipend in line with those of the neighboring town fire chiefs.

“You do a great job,” said selectman Cynthia Mitchell.

“I can’t do it without the support of my guys,” Mr. Estrella replied. “They make me look good.”

Selectmen also voted to open the commercial oyster season in West Tisbury from Jan. 17 to Feb. 28 and agreed to place a $15,000 spending article on the annual town meeting warrant to buy a boat for the shellfish committee. The boat is intended to assist with enforcement and in oyster propagation. The town shellfish department has not had a boat in some 20 years.

Selectmen were also informed of the resignation of Brian Athearn from the finance committee.