Oak Bluffs voters raced through a special town meeting Tuesday evening, approving all eight articles on the warrant, seven of them with no debate or dissent. The meeting lasted 18 minutes.
Voters approved $107,182 for contractual raises for town employees, transferred $500,000 to the town stabilization fund, agreed to pay $77,911 to fund retirement settlements for the police force and to spend $58,500 on harbor repairs, all by unanimous votes.
Voters also unanimously approved a new bylaw that would ease the rules for apartments above shops and stores in the downtown business district. The bylaw will allow the planning board to issue special permits for so-called “top of the shop” apartments that fit within defined criteria.
Unanimously and without debate, voters approved a new non-medical marijuana overlay district that limits recreational sales to three small areas away from the downtown business district. The overlay district exactly mirrors overlay districts for medical marijuana approved by voters in 2013.
The only article that drew any dissent or debate was a change in animal control bylaws that would allow roosters and other farm animals in residential neighborhoods to be classified as a nuisance. Currently, only cats and dogs can be classified as a nuisance. The bylaw would require the animal control officer to investigate complaints, call for a hearing before the board of selectmen, and issue fines of $25.
Kathy Burton, chairman of the selectmen, explained what prompted the article.
“About two years ago, this lovely couple came to the board of selectmen’s meeting,” she said. “The woman complained that she was not able to sleep every single night because a neighbor had a chicken, rooster I’m not sure which, who jumped on her window sill of her bedroom with the open screen and crowed all night long.”
Two voters spoke against the amendment.
“We live on an Island that has always been an agricultural, farming Island,” said one. “This article would change that. I think animals such as goats, donkeys, chickens should not be included. It’s a lot different than a dog that can be trained. I don’t want to see my neighborhood change.”
Though not unanimous, the article passed by a clear majority on a voice vote.
A total of 149 registered voters attended, well above the required quorum of 50 voters.
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