Oak Bluffs selectmen took no action this week on a request to expand Sunday downtown street closures to evening hours on other days of the week.
The proposal came from Danielle Pattavina, a co-owner of Seaweeds on Kennebec avenue.
Early this summer selectmen decided to close Circuit avenue and Kennebec to car traffic on Sundays, as a way to help business owners who are struggling due to the pandemic. As a result, every Sunday the two streets are converted to pedestrian malls from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
At the selectmen’s meeting Tuesday, Ms. Pattavina asked the town to consider closing the two streets five nights a week from 6 to 10 p.m.
“We’re looking for help so we can be around next year,” she said.
Selectmen Gail Barmakian and Ryan Ruley suggested the proposal warranted fuller discussion, possibly at a special meeting.
Selectman Brian Packish opposed any expanded street closures but said he was “not opposed to creative solutions to increase seating that don’t involve . . . . street closures.”
Mr. Packish is also a businessman with an ownership interest in the building on Kennebec that houses the Red Cat Kitchen restaurant
Selectmen said they would continue to review the proposal and call a special meeting for further discussion if warranted.
In other business Tuesday, selectmen disagreed with a recommendation from the town roads and byways committee to place a gate on Pennsylvania avenue at the intersection of Alpine avenue, as a way to discourage heavy truck traffic heading to Bruno’s transfer station.
The committee’s recommendation stemmed from complaints from residents on Pennsylvania avenue, who say an increasing number of heavy trucks are cutting through the neighborhood from Barnes Road. A gate at the Alpine intersection would force trucks to reach Pennsylvania avenue from County Road, the committee reasoned.
But selectmen said blocking off the road could create even more problems. Ms. Barmakian called it a drastic step. Mr. Ruley and selectman Greg Coogan agreed.
Oak Bluffs police chief Erik Blake also weighed in, saying he felt the town would need a better reason to limit which vehicles can use the road. For example, Chief Blake said the closure of a section of East Chop Drive due to the eroding buff beneath it as an example of an appropriate road closure.
“The bluff was collapsing, this is just because you don’t want heavy trucks there. I don’t think that’s a viable option,” Chief Blake said.
Mr. Packish moved for more public outreach, including signs, in the short term, and with a plan to revisit the issue in September or October. The motion passed unanimously.
Selectmen approved a license for the Offshore Ale food truck to park in front of the Portuguese American Club on Vineyard Avenue. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
In a series of appointments, Michael Santoro was appointed to represent the town on the Steamship Authority’s long-range transportation task force and Vineyard working group; Skip Finley was appointed to the cable advisory board; Kathy Taylor was appointed to the library board of trustees; and Peter Yoars was appointed to the zoning board of appeals.
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