Tisbury selectmen discussed traffic issues and a new public health collaborative at their regular meeting last week. They also looked toward the future of solid waste management in the town and appointed a new police officer.

Tisbury resident Jeremy Rogers approached selectmen about the use of residential roads as a shortcut to avoid traffic jams at the intersection of State Road and Edgartown Vineyard Haven Road. Mr. Rogers asked that the town dead end Oak Hill avenue where it meets Cook Road to prevent cars from cutting through the neighborhood.

“What we’ve seen is access to a commercial district through a residential neighborhood that’s increasing to a point where it’s becoming worrisome to the residents,” Mr. Rogers said.

Selectman James Rogers recused himself from the discussion because he is Jeremy Rogers’s father. Mr. Israel said he would be open to putting the issue on the warrant for town meeting and asked that such a warrant article be drafted, and he recommended a review from the traffic roadway safety committee.

Selectmen approved a request from Cynthia Mitchell, CEO of the Island Health Care clinic, to use vacant office space above the Center for Living for a new public health collaborative. The collaborative would be formed with representatives from various public health organizations on the Island and be tasked with tracking data on programs and applying for federal grants.

“We have, today, no real way of assessing the true need overall, our priority of needs, and how well [existing programs] are performing to meet the needs,” Ms. Mitchell said. “So what we’re proposing essentially is, in place of a public health department that would do the collecting of data... that we set up a collaborative.”

Ms. Mitchell needs approval from all six towns to lease the space on 29 Breakdown Lane in Tisbury free of charge for three years because the original agreement with the Center for Living assumed the vacant space would be rented out at market value: about $43,000 per year. Selectmen in West Tisbury, Chilmark and Oak Bluffs have already approved the request.

Selectmen approved the proposal 2-1 with Mr. Rogers opposed.

Town administrator Jay Grande updated selectmen on a bill from Bruno’s Rolloff for an extra $14,000 for municipal waste management. He said the town had engaged legal counsel to dispute the bill based on the town’s contracts with the waste management company. Bruno’s contracts with both Tisbury and Oak Bluffs to process solid waste and transfer it off-Island.

The bill dispute is still pending, but the issued prompted a broader conversation about the approach to solid waste management in the town as contracts with trash vendors near expiration.

“You need to decide whether you’re continuing with this quasi-public partnership on the curbside [pick-up],” Mr. Grande told selectmen.

The transfer station contract with the Tisbury expires May 31 and the curbside and roll-off contracts expire June 30. The town’s contract with the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District, where waste is taken, expires in about three years, Mr. Grande told selectmen. Mr. Grande said curbside services encourage recycling in the town.

Selectmen voted to ask the department of public works to prioritize the waste management to chart a course forward after existing contracts expire.

Selectmen approved the hiring of a new police officer, William Brigham, to the police department. Police chief Mark Saloio said Mr. Brigham was the best out of 38 candidates for the position. He thanked fire chief John Schilling and Edgartown police chief Bruce McNamee for their assistance with the hiring process.

Mr. Saloio said Mr. Brigham has 19 years of full-time policing experience with the Franklin Police Department.

“He has a wealth of knowledge, experience and humility that he’s willing to bring to the agency,” Mr. Saloio said. The chief took up the post in November and is in the process of restructuring the department and hiring new officers.

Chairman Tristan Israel expressed disappointment with the state department of transportation for not responding to a letter selectmen sent several months ago opposing the state’s overhaul plan for Beach Road. Selectmen voted unanimously to send another letter asking for a response.

Beach Road property owner Dorothy Packer read a letter to selectmen opposing planned eminent domain takings related to the project. Ms. Packer also owns the Menemsha Market, which was severely damaged by fire last month. She asked that utilities be moved underground on Beach Road to prevent another similar disaster.

“We know the utilities should be placed underground,” she said. “You are our leaders. Please lead the way.”