Still reeling from the revelation last week that the West Tisbury School will need over $1.5 million in repairs, on Wednesday the selectmen discussed the town’s next steps.

Selectman Cynthia Mitchell, who also serves on the capital improvements planning committee, said that the group had met on Monday to discuss the news in light of the town’s other major capital projects, including a $5 million library renovation, half of which may be covered by a state grant, and new police station that could cost the town up to $2 million.

“Because we’re putting the capital improvements budget to bed for the year and this has come up sort of late-breaking, and . . . given that there are a number of other town building projects already on the docket . . . the general feeling was we did not want to get in the way of planning projects that were already in the pipeline,” Mrs. Mitchell said.

She said as a result the committee is recommending a longer-term debt schedule to pay for the school repairs.

“We would be looking at maybe a 15-year debt service,” Mrs. Mitchell said.

In a presentation before the selectmen last week, Vineyard public school business administrator Amy Tierney said annual payments for bonds with a 15-year term would range between $83,200 and $128,000.

Although the town owns the building and will fund 80 per cent of the repair costs, the up-Island regional school district will be in charge of the project. On Wednesday all three selectmen expressed their desire for town representation.

“I feel very strongly that West Tisbury needs a seat at the table,” said selectman Richard Knabel, who pushed to appoint a building committee for the project.

“There needs to be some town oversight,” agreed selectman Jeffrey (Skipper) Manter 3rd.

In other business Wednesday, MVTV executive director Julienne Turner, who is making the rounds to all the Island selectmen, updated the board on her organization’s budget. The community broadcast channel currently has $450,000 in a reserve fund, $420,000 of which has been reserved for capital improvements. She said MVTV needs $90,000 in equipment upgrades and is looking into installing robotic video equipment in each of the town halls, possibly broadcasting town meetings live, which Ms. Turner estimated would cost $25,000 per town. The organization is also looking into expanding its facility but is $320,000 short of the necessary funds, she said.

And Ms. Turner reported that an Islandwide survey of cable customers shows that 57 per cent of Comcast subscribers had contacted the company within the past year for loss of signal, with the average customer logging three and a half calls per year.

Selectmen also approved up to $5,000 in legal expenses for the town conservation commission to appeal a ruling by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to allow a permit for a revetment at a private residence on Tisbury Great Pond.