An Island native and former Coast Guardsman has been named Chilmark harbor master.

Selectmen voted Tuesday night to give the job to Ryan Rossi, 31, of West Tisbury. He will succeed harbor master Dennis Jason Jr. at the end of June.

Mr. Rossi grew up in Chilmark and served for two years as a petty officer at Coast Guard station Menemsha. He told selectmen in an interview last week that his goals are to be a visible leader on the waterfront and maintain harmony between commercial fishermen and recreational boaters.

“Success would be first of all preserving Menemsha harbor as a safe, family-oriented harbor and commercial fishing port, while also finding balance between the commercial fishing industry and transient boating slips,” he said.

There was one other finalist for the position.

Mr. Rossi is the son of former West Tisbury police chief Daniel Rossi. He was unanimously recommended by a selection subcommittee made up of selectman James Malkin, Jeffrey Maida and Everett Poole. Selectman Bill Rossi, who is Ryan’s uncle, did not participate in the decision.

“I think he knows the ins and outs and the goods and bads of Menemsha, and will make a terrific harbor master,” Mr. Malkin said.

In other business Tuesday, selectmen approved a 47-article warrant for the upcoming April town meeting and cast some doubt over the prospects for two articles that will appear by petition to create a housing bank using money from the new short-term rental tax.

Selectmen in the three down-Island towns are opposing the initiative; Oak Bluffs and Edgartown have both sent strongly-worded letters to Cape and Islands legislators outlining their objections. Mr. Malkin said members of the Chilmark financial committee had weighed in on the proposal and said that while they support affordable housing initiatives, more details are in order before they can support the housing bank.

“This is an issue that’s long on emotion and short on fact,” Mr. Malkin said.

“There’s no question that the whole issue is confusing and it’s going around in circles,” added selectmen Warren Doty.

Selectmen agreed to change some language in one of the articles to leave open exactly how much money would be devoted to the bank from rental revenues. The short-term rental tax took effect in January and is in its first year.

The board also held a discussion about potential impacts on public safety from the Wampanoag bingo hall now under construction in Aquinnah. Mr. Malkin referred to a Feb. 22 letter sent to the Aquinnah selectmen from tribal chairman Cheryl Andrews-Maltais that says the tribe will share added costs for public safety, although no details are outlined.

Mr. Malkin said he was pleased to see the offer but said more information is needed, including hours of operation, expected number of vehicles and liquor license status, among other things.

“Our concern is to make sure we have enough money in the budget to cover additional public safety people we need for staffing,” he said.

Fire chief David Norton and liaison Don Leopold gave a report on the project to develop new street sign rules in Chilmark. Mr. Norton said rustic signs and unmarked roads have caused issues for emergency responders. He said he will work with Mr. Leopold in the coming weeks to create a list of requirements to submit to selectmen for review.

“Keeping it as simple as possible, but effective is the whole idea,” Mr. Norton said.

Selectmen said the guidelines may meet some resistance, but will improve public safety.

“There are some people who say doing this will ruin the rural character of Chilmark,” said Mr. Malkin. “I expect that if you are having a stroke, you wouldn’t be too worried about character.”

Selectmen also discussed the hiring process for a new fire chief after Mr. Norton’s contract runs out on July 31. The process will begin in April.

Schematics sent to the town this week for a new firehouse and ambulance barn on land behind the town hall depict two buildings totaling 10,000 square feet. At the annual town meeting in April, voters will be asked to buy the land for $900,000. Selectmen said the renderings will go to the fire and Tri-Town Ambulance chiefs for review before going back to architects at Pacheco Ross. The total project cost is estimated at $6.8 million.

“We’ve been looking at the fire station and tri-town for 18 years plus and it’s about time something happened,” said Mr. Malkin. “Land in the center of town is a precious commodity and an expensive commodity. We will need support if that’s what people want to have done.”