Tisbury and Oak Bluffs took top honors in the annual Massachusetts Municipal Association town report contest this year, placing first and second respectively for communities with populations under 4,999.

The cover of the 2015 Tisbury town report is a photograph of a summer concert on the lawn at Owen Park with the Vineyard Haven Band. The picture, which depicts an Americana-like scene, was taken by Island photographer David Welch.

Waterfront was the theme on the cover of the Oak Bluffs town report. — Liz Durkee

The cover of last year’s Oak Bluffs town report is a pictorial beachfront scene captured in an iPhone photograph by Liz Durkee, the town conservation agent.

Town reports are judged on a number of qualities including the attractiveness of report cover and layout, practicality and future planning.

Selectmen in both towns praised the work of the administrative assistants who put the reports together.

The Tisbury report was the last one compiled by Aase Jones, the longtime administrative assistant who retired last winter. Ms. Jones attended the MMA’s annual meeting and trade show last weekend to accept the award, town administrator John (Jay) Grande said.

The last time Tisbury placed was in 2012, when they were awarded third place.

Selectmen noted that the report was dedicated to Mrs. Jones.

In Oak Bluffs this week, town administrator Robert Whritenour praised office administrator Alice Butler for her work compiling the report, which he said is a perennial winner.

“It’s a dynasty, it’s like the Patriots,” he said. “Because of her efforts we’re up on the podium almost every year.”

The town of Marion came in third place in the same category.

According to the MMA, an Island town has placed in the top three of their division every year since 2000. Edgartown has won first six times and Oak Bluffs placed first twice; Tisbury has placed in the top three five times, and West Tisbury won first in 2004, tied with Edgartown. Island towns swept the division in 2007 and 2011.