Oak Bluffs selectmen highlighted the accomplishments of their town and fielded questions from summer residents Tuesday evening in the annual summer taxpayers forum. Department heads presented a summary of the year’s work, followed by questions.

Issues of concern to taxpayers included parking in residential neighborhoods, beginning with an increase in commercial vehicles parked off Pacific avenue behind the Catholic parish hall. Commercial vehicles pay a fee to the town for parking in the summer months.

Tena Shavers said tradesmen begin gathering at the site at 6:30 a.m., disturbing the nearby residential neighborhood.

“I think people feel like the neighborhood was abandoned,” she said. “There are so many commercial vehicles, boats. The field is now trucks, cars and boat storage.”

Peggy Barmore, who lives on Hiawatha Road, said she has observed a large increase in illegal parking outside the downtown business district.

Police chief Erik Blake promised to assign officers to enforce parking regulations in those areas immediately.

“This summer, there are two to three times more people here, there are more cars here,” said selectman and board chairman Michael Santoro. “We have growing pains. We need a park and ride.”

Mr. Santoro said the town is working on a plan to convert the old landfill into a park and ride facility that would also generate solar energy, but the permitting and construction process could take at least a couple of years.

Parks commission chairman Amy Billings reported that stairway access to town beaches has been delayed again because bids for the project, originally budgeted for $20,000, came in at more than twice that amount.

“The design is there, the permits are there,” Ms. Billings said. “We have to come up with a little more money.” She said she was hopeful the stairs could be installed for the beginning of the summer season next year.

In other business Tuesday, Ron McLaren, the new executive director of the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association, asked selectmen to consider creative ways to help the Camp Ground finance repairs to the Tabernacle. He said the roof of the iconic structure must be replaced, and the present roof contains asbestos, which will necessitate expensive hazardous waste abatement measures.

“It takes all of us supporting each other to figure out how do we pay for these things,” Mr. McLaren said.

Selectmen urged him to apply for Community Preservation Act funds from Oak Bluffs and other Island towns.

Also, the board approved a plan by Creative Entrepreneurs with Opportunity (CEO) of Martha’s Vineyard to raise funds with lemonade stands at six Oak Bluffs locations. The nonprofit group which supports women in business, plans a total of 20 lemonade stands staffed by two children and one adult across the Island on August 29.

The board approved a new business license for Gallery Josephine. Brian Daigle recently purchased the former Dragonfly Gallery and plans to open a new art gallery at that location this month.