Aquinnah police are readying a new beach safety program this summer that will involve placing numerical markers on beaches for use when calling for help in the event of an emergency.

Det. Ryan Ruley described the plan to the Aquinnah selectmen at their meeting last Thursday. He said police will line town beaches with numbered placards that will help emergency dispatchers identify a person’s location.

The police and fire departments, Tri-Town Ambulance and Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) are all involved in the project.

And speaking of emergency services, selectmen expressed concern about the dwindling number of volunteer firefighters in town.

“There are only two firemen in this town, one doesn’t live in town, and both work out of town,” selectman Jim Newman said. “If we had a fire it’s a little scary, you might as well walk away from your house. They’d come from Chilmark and West Tisbury but it takes time for people to get to the firehouse and the truck and get here,” he added. He suggested the town hold an open house at the start of the summer to get information out to the community about being a firefighter.

“I think if we made it clear that you don’t have to be the one going into the burning building, that you can help in other ways,” said selectman Beverly Wright. It was her first meeting since she won the seat in the annual town election earlier this month.

In other business the selectmen agreed to begin a review of town shellfish regulations at their next meeting on June 7.

The meeting began with a warm welcome to Ms. Wright, and another new post for her — she was appointed as the selectmen’s representative to the town community preservation committee.

“I’d like to welcome Beverly, I think you’ll have a lot of fun,” Mr. Newman said, who was voted in as board chairman at the meeting. “We’re happy to have you here. You’ll feel right at home, I’m sure.”