The Chappy ferry will carry passengers but no vehicles from April 17 to April 24, when the ferry ramp on the Chappaquiddick side will have to be removed for repairs.

Without the ferry, the only vehicle access to the Island would be along the tenuous barrier beach that connects Norton Point to Wasque.

Chappy ferry co-owner Peter Wells informed selectmen of the repair plans at their Monday meeting. He said he tried to pick a time for the repairs that would affect the fewest people.

“There is of course never an ideal time for such a project,” Mr. Wells said, reading from a letter he submitted to the board. “The least number of travelers would be affected if the work was performed during school vacation week in April.”

Mr. Wells said Chappaquiddick residents and others that travel to the remote island will have 11 weeks to prepare. “We will notify ferry users, town departments and utility companies by all possible means so that they can make arrangements,” Mr. Wells wrote, adding that the barrier beach route between Chappaquiddick and Norton Point will likely be drivable during that time.

Mr. Wells said on the rare past occasions when the ferry could not carry vehicles across the narrow channel, emergency responders stationed fire and ambulance equipment on Chappaquiddick in case of emergencies.

He said in the case of a medical emergency, an ambulance stationed on Chappaquiddick could transport a patient to the ferry slip, and the patient would be transferred to an ambulance brought over on the ferry from the Vineyard side.

Also Monday, members of a committee studying Chappy cell phone service told selectmen they are united in support of an AT&T proposal to establish temporary wireless service, perhaps as soon as this summer.

The plan will involve installing temporary equipment on an 85-foot tower owned by Robert Fynbo at his property on Sampson avenue. Mr. Fynbo has provided local internet access since 2009 from the tower, which was built before current zoning regulations that impose strict conditions for mobile communications towers.

Much of Chappaquiddick has poor mobile phone service if any at all, but residents were sharply divided about the installation of a cell tower or other technology to provide mobile communication.

“It’s somewhat of a miracle,” said Woody Filley, who chaired the wireless committee. “Our committee has a pretty diverse group of people representing different viewpoints. Everybody agreed we would pursue looking at an option for AT&T to work with Bob.”

Mr. Filley said the committee was unanimous in supporting public hearings and discussion about the proposal.

Selectmen Margaret Serpa and Art Smadbeck voted to send the planning board a letter of support for the concept. Chairman Michael Donaroma did not attend the meeting.

“The tower already exists,” Mr. Smadbeck said. “It’s not like we’re adding a tower. That’s why the solution, I think, meets everybody’s needs.”

Fire Chief Peter Shemeth and police Chief David Rossi were enthusiastic about the developments and how they would improve public safety on Chappy.

Engineers and an attorney for AT&T offered a few more details at at preliminary discussion in front of the planning board Tuesday evening. Attorney Brian Grossman told the board AT&T is considering two temporary solutions. The first and preferred option is to add a 10-foot mast to Mr. Fynbo's tower, and mount mobile phone technology on that extension. The other is to erect a new 104-foot tower that could easily be removed at a later time. Both solutions would include a six-foot satellite reception dish at the base of the tower.

“The goal is to get a temporary solution up and running by Memorial Day,” Mr. Grossman said.

Planning board members offered informal support for the temporary plan.

“For this little bit of visibility, we're getting a huge increase in coverage,” said chairman Michael McCourt.

AT&T representatives said the temporary solution would only work with AT&T service, but a permanent solution would be designed so other carriers could use the tower to provide cellular service. They said they will file an application with the planning board for one of the two temporary solutions as soon as possible, and treat a permanent solution as an application at a later date, with new discussions and public hearings.

In other action selectmen voted to accept a donation of $80,225 from the Edgartown Library Foundation to be used to purchase furnishings and equipment for the new library, and a separate donation of $28,775 to transfer art work, rare books, and equipment from the current library site on North Water street to the new facility on Edgartown-West Tisbury Road.

The old North Water street liberay is tentatively scheduled to close on Feb. 26, with a closing ceremony scheduled Saturday, Feb. 27. The move to the new library is expected to take about three weeks.

Town administrator Pam Dolby said she and town building inspector Leonard Jason, Jr. are meeting with developers who are building new condominium units in the existing buildings at the Edgartown Triangle following numerous complaints about parking. Ms. Dolby said the developers have agreed to remove fencing around a temporary loading area, which she said restricted the flow of traffic. She said the town is also talking to the developer about better designated parking for people with disabilities and the removal of a large snow pile that obstructs a number of parking spots.