Edgartown selectmen shifted their annual town meeting and election to mid-June, announced that the Chappy Ferry would return to regular hours and heard a presentation from Mayflower Wind about a proposed offshore wind energy development on Monday.
Due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, selectmen voted unanimously over video conference to move their annual town meeting to June 16, with the town election set to be held two days later on June 18.
Selectmen discussed possible locations for the town meeting, including the Tabernacle or high school auditorium in Oak Bluffs, as well as a tent outside the Edgartown School. According to town administrator James Hagerty, it is legal to hold annual town meetings in a different town.
Mr. Hagerty told selectmen that if they decide to hold the meeting under a tent, it would cost approximately $7,000 to $8,000 for the covering and set-up. He also suggested that if the town decides to pursue the tent option, they file a motion in district court to decrease the town meeting quorum.
Mr. Hagerty said he would present a more crystallized plan to the board next Monday.
In other business, selectmen announced that the Chappy Ferry had returned to its regular schedule. The ferry runs from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with a final run at 11 p.m. An early-morning trip runs at 6 a.m. for seniors to attend early shopping hours at Stop & Shop.
The ferry had been only running boats on the hour for the past few weeks in order to lower the exposure rate for captains.
Selectmen also heard from Mayflower Wind CEO John Hartnett about the offshore energy company’s plan to build a 1,200-megawatt wind farm about 25 miles south of the Vineyard.
The company plans to run a 70-mile undersea cable from its lease site through the Muskeget Channel, where it makes landfall at Falmouth, according to a powerpoint presentation from Mr. Hartnett. The cable would run due east of Chappaquiddick.
Mayflower Wind was recently awarded the state’s second offshore energy contract, following in the footsteps of Vineyard Wind. Mayflower’s lease area is southeast of the Vineyard Wind lease site. This winter, the company signed a power purchase agreement with state utility companies to provide the cheapest offshore wind energy in the country’s history.
Mayflower Wind’s project would be the second offshore wind farm to be permitted south of the Vineyard.
Last summer, the Edgartown conservation commission denied a request from Vineyard Wind to run a cable one mile east of Chappaquiddick after hearing concerns from fishermen, although the matter was later settled out of court. The Vineyard Wind project has since been delayed by federal permitting setbacks.
Mr. Hartnett said Monday that Mayflower hoped to submit its federal permitting plans at the beginning of 2021, and was eyeing 2023 for approval. Depending on the cable’s location, company would need approval from both the Martha’s Vineyard Commission as well as the Edgartown conservation commission, along with dozens of other local, state and federal agencies.
“We look forward to working with the town as we move forward in our development,” Mr. Hartnett said.
Alan Strahler, chairman of the town energy committee, asked Mr. Hartnett whether the company had any specific community development plans for the Island. Vineyard Wind has promised 40 Island jobs, as well as a $35 million investment in the Island.
“At this point we have not identified or developed any community benefit agreements with individual towns,” Mr. Hartnett said.
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