West Tisbury selectmen this week signed a letter to the Cape and Islands legislative delegation seeking a home rule petition that would allow the town to regulate herbicides.
The letter to state Sen. Julian Cyr and Rep. Dylan Fernandes follows a vote at the annual town meeting last month to begin the petition process. A similar question was approved at the Tisbury annual town meeting and is slated to come before Aquinnah voters next Tuesday.
Growing concerns about herbicide use on the Island come in the wake of recent spraying by the utility giant Eversource to keep control vegetation beneath power lines. The spraying is allowed by the state department of agriculture, leaving Island towns with little authority to regulate use at the local level.
The home-rule petition aims to change that by giving the authority to town boards of health. Home rule petitions require approval by the legislature.
In other business Wednesday, selectmen voted to revoke the license of Alpha Taxi following a public hearing.
Town administrator Jennifer Rand said it had come to her attention earlier this year that the company had not been in operation. Town bylaws state that any taxi company advertising hours of availability should be available when called during those hours. In the off-season, companies can only suspend service if they have calls diverted to another service and request permission from the town.
Alpha Taxi owner Benoit Baldwin was not present for the hearing. Ms. Rand said he was invited to participate by phone, but declined to do so.
Selectmen considered giving Mr. Baldwin a two-week warning, but Skipper Manter argued that the license should be revoked citing lack of cooperation.
“It’s a clear violation. He’s been not responsive to us. He’s had numerous opportunities,” he said.
After some discussion, selectmen voted to revoke the license.
The board also continued a discussion of taxi regulations. Ms. Rand submitted a version of new regulations based on suggestions from Michael Mszanski who operates with Martha’s Vineyard Taxi company, which is licensed in Tisbury and Edgartown, and on similar regulations in other communities. The new rules would require taxis to use a tracking app and tablet devices to set rates. Cameras would also be required.
Selectmen asked for more clarity on how multiple fares would be calculated. They will continue the discussion after reviewing Ms. Rand’s draft regulations.
They also appointed Russell Hartenstine to the emergency management director position. The emergency management department oversees response to disasters including hurricanes and power outages. Mr. Hartenstine will take over for John Christensen, who has served in the post for the past 15 years. Mr. Hartenstine said he had learned from Mr. Christensen’s tutelage.
Last week selectmen voted to change the structure of the emergency management department to include a stipended director and deputy director position, adding a volunteer assistant role. Mr. Christensen will now serve as the volunteer assistant.
“We want a really smooth transition, that’s the whole goal here,” Mr. Hartenstine told selectmen.
Selectmen also appointed Jeffrey Dubard to the affordable housing committee, and reappointed a list of nearly 80 government positions ranging from cemetery commissioner to fence viewer to herring warden. Term lengths for the director and assistant at the council on aging were extended to three years.
Selectmen reminded West Tisbury residents of the second annual town picnic on June 16.
And they discussed an appointment to the high school building committee as requested by superintendent of schools Matthew D’Andrea. Mr. Manter reluctantly volunteered for a one-year term after it was made clear no one on the finance committee had expressed interest. In addition to serving as a selectman, Mr. Manter serves on the up-island regional school committee, the high school committee, and various other subcommittees.
“Me and my big mouth,” he said.
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