Oak Bluffs voters zipped through a 15-article special town meeting warrant Tuesday evening with surprising speed, passing every measure with little or no dissent and a bare minimum of debate. The entire meeting lasted less than 22 minutes.
“I think it’s one of the shortest town meetings I’ve ever been involved in,” said Michael Santoro, chairman of the board of selectmen.
The only article that drew more than a modicum of debate was a measure to change a town bylaw that requires town hall to be open until 4:30 p.m. For many years town hall has been open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and union contracts were negotiated that schedule.
Selectmen favored the article, which would make the current 4 p.m. closing time official, because they said complying with the 4:30 closing would require renegotiation of union contracts and an added salary expense of $44,571 over the next two and a half years.
Moira McGroarty, a member of the financial advisory committee, argued that keeping town hall open until 4:30 would not involve any added expense.
“We can reschedule people,” Ms. McGroarty said. “I think that’s an option that ought to be explored. I think it’s important to be accessible to people that pay the bills.”
Only a handful of people voted against the article.
In other action, voters approved $155,000 in Community Preservation Act (CPA) projects, including $150,000 to finish construction of Niantic Park. Voters previously approved $819,000 in CPA funds for refurbishing the popular park. Voters also authorized $5,000 for a joint feasibility study with the town of Tisbury to explore whether a permeable barrier could mitigate nitrogen pollution in Lagoon Pond.
Selectmen withdrew a $230,000 request for CPA funding to help finance repair of the crumbling North Bluff and installation of a boardwalk from Oak Bluffs Harbor to the new fishing pier. Following a disputed bidding process, the town received a lower than anticipated price for the project, and the cost can now be funded entirely with state grants.
With no dissent, voters agreed to change a town by-law to give the Oak Bluffs Affordable Housing Trust control of some town-owned land previously controlled by the town’s resident homesite committee. The homesite committee had not met or taken any action for more than a decade. The change will allow the housing trust to move forward with plans to develop or award town-owned land for affordable housing initiatives.
In other action, voters approved a measure to pay prior year bills totaling $1,625; authorized $185,234 to pay the first interest payment on the nearly-completed fire station; approved $50,000 to repair and replace harbor equipment; approved $150,000 for an Oak Bluffs student who needs to be educated in a special facility; transferred $30,000 in funds to repair beach stairs near Samoset avenue; approved a measure to pay $46,950 to Dukes County for the first assessment for a new Center for Living facility; changed the probationary period for new town employees from three to six months, and approved requiring a 60-day waiting period before new town employees get health insurance benefits.
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