Edgartown has been asked to take a look at accessibility issues for town meetings, which are held at the Old Whaling Church.

Kathleen Samways, a physical therapist and the former Dukes County associate commissioner on disability affairs, told selectmen at their meeting Monday that the 19th-century building poses several accessibility barriers, including steep stairs going into the sanctuary and poor lighting and sound acoustics.

The church has an elevator which is sometimes unreliable. The Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust, which owns the building, provides an elevator monitor during town meetings.

“I wanted to bring it to the attention now rather than wait until next February, and see if we could start to think about how to make it more accessible in general,” Ms. Samways told the selectmen at the meeting Monday. She submitted a letter to the board outlining concerns and offered to serve on a task force to look at addressing the issue.

In the letter, Ms. Samways notes that she did not see any residents using wheelchairs or walkers at the town meeting this year. “This does not represent a natural proportion of the population,” she wrote, adding that it would be difficult for many to evacuate quickly in an emergency situation and emergency personnel have trouble getting stretchers up the stairs.

Selectman and board chairman Michael Donaroma said he thought it would be easy to improve lighting and add more microphones during town meetings. Broader issues would require working with the preservation trust.

Trust executive director Funi Burdick, who attended the meeting, said she agreed with the concerns. “I think there’s area for improvement in accessibility with that building,” Ms. Burdick said. She said one long-term solution would be to replace the elevator, which would be a matter of coming up with a plan and raising money.

Town officials noted that Community Preservation Act funding can be used improve accessibility in historic buildings. Town administrator Pamela Dolby holding meetings at the school gym, which is the only viable alternative in town, also could be problematic for accessibility due to plastic covering placed on the floor during events.

“If we just start talking we can come up with some solutions,” Ms. Samways said. “I thought we could start a conversation.”

In other business Monday, selectmen appointed a committee to help select a new town administrator.

Personnel board member Marcel LaFlamme, finance advisory committee chairman Paulo DeOliveira and town clerk Wanda Williams were appointed to serve on the committee along with the three selectmen.

Mrs. Dolby announced in February that she would retire in July.

The group is scheduled to meet Wednesday in executive session to begin winnowing applications for the position.

In response to questions from resident Gail Gardner, human resources director Kim Lucas outlined the selection process. The committee will go over applications this week, she said, and start narrowing them down to finalists, probably three or four.

The finalists will be interviewed in public sessions and selectmen will make the final choice, Ms. Lucas said. She said there is no schedule yet for when that will take place.

Ms. Gardner asked if the board would consider appointing a member of the public to the selection committee. Selectman Margaret Serpa declined, saying that the people already appointed were able to do the job. Selectmen also approved a homeowner’s request to replace a cement sidewalk in front of 118 and 122 South Water street with a brick sidewalk, and reorganized the board following the town election three weeks ago. Mr. Donaroma is the new chairman, taking over for Arthur Smadbeck.