Owners of the Black Sheep restaurant in Edgartown plan to open a second location at the former Tin Hangar near the airport.
Owner Keith Musinski and chef Judy Klumick attended a meeting of the Martha’s Vineyard Airport Commission Thursday to outline their plans to take over the lease of the Tin Hangar restaurant, pending approval from the commission and the Edgartown zoning board of appeals.
Mr. Musinski said the concept would be similar to the Edgartown location with prepared and takeout foods.
He said expansion is needed because the Edgartown location on North Summer street has grown cramped.
“We’re bursting at the seams,” said Mr. Musinski. “The Tin Hangar location has a much larger kitchen that will allow us to expand our offerings.”
Plans call for a sit-down cafe area and retail, which will require approval from the zoning board for a change of use. The business would be open seasonally from roughly April through the end of December, Mr. Musinski said. The bar will be removed, but no structural changes will be necessary, he said. No decisions have been made about whether to retain the liquor license.
The commission voted unanimously to write a letter in favor of the plan to the Edgartown zoning board. Final approval must then be given by the airport commission.
In other business at the commission meeting, the board postponed voting on officers pending three new appointments by the Dukes County Commission. The county commission planned to make appointments at a meeting on Wednesday, but the meeting was cancelled when the seven-member commission failed to reach quorum.
Members of the airport commission expressed frustration with the process and the delay from the county commission.
“It is very annoying for us to try to get on with our business when they can’t get on with theirs,” said Rich Michelson, acting chairman of the airport commission.
The county commission’s rescheduled meeting is set for March 14 at 4 p.m.
The airport is in sound financial shape and taking steps to address short-term cash-flow needs, according to a finance committee report by treasurer Bob Rosenbaum. Mr. Rosenbaum said the funds are needed for infrastructure problems, wastewater treatment, renovations to the main runway and projects in the business park addressing road issues and flooding.
He said the airport is applying for a bond anticipation note to cover the cost of upgrades to the wastewater treatment facility to meet Massachusetts DEP regulations.
“These absolutely have to be met,” Mr. Rosenbaum told the commission. “Not doing these upgrades is not an option or MassDEP will revoke the license to operate the facility.”
Commissioners met in executive session for two hours to discuss ongoing litigation over the award of the lease to lot 33 at the business park (formerly the site of the Mobil station), the lease of Airport Laundromat Inc., the lease of Martha’s Vineyard Regional Transit Authority and bankruptcy litigation involving H.N. Hinckley & Sons Inc.
Later in public session, a lease-transfer dispute over the Hinkley property involved heated exchanges.
The dispute was between Ted Rosbeck, owner of Island Pools and Spas, and the commission over Mr. Rosbeck’s request to take over the lease of the Hinckley property. The process is delayed due to Hinckley’s rent delinquency that must be settled in bankruptcy court. The commission agreed to delay approving the transfer until the delinquency is dealt with.
Hinckley’s owner Wayne Guyther said he was confident that the holdup will be cured by Monday. Mr. Rosbeck said he believed the delay was caused by too much bureaucracy on the commission and a breakdown in procedure.
“This bureaucracy is going to kill this deal,” said Mr. Rosbeck. “Another lot will be killed because it cannot clear the board.”
Mr. Rosenbaum said the meeting was out of order before Mr. Rosbeck abruptly exited the room. Mr. Michelson then moved to adjourn the meeting, although Mr. Guyther still wanted to speak.
“This is disgraceful,” said commissioner Trip Barnes. “We’ve done nothing to help them.”
Corrected from an earlier version, where Keith Musinski and Wayne Guyther were both misidentified.
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