Robert Huss, the Oak Bluff port council member and George Balco, the Tisbury port council member have served their port towns and the Island of MV since 2005 and 2009 respectively. They have participated in the review and evaluation of SSA financial activities and have spent many hours reading, evaluating, listening and advising the SSA management and Board. The Island should join me in thanking them for their service.

When it was amended some years back, the SSA enabling act established the port council, specifically charging it with reviewing the annual budget and advising the Authority board members concerning any activities underway or proposed in any port community in which the SSA operates. The information and the entire enabling act can be found on the SSA website (under the Policies, Forms and Information Section). Both the Oak Bluffs and Tisbury port council members are appointed by their town selectmen for a two-year term.

The operating expenses, capital expenses and financial well being of the SSA are critical to those of us on the Island, both personally and economically. I am asking interested Oak Bluffs and Tisbury residents to apply to their boards of selectmen if they have an interest in doing the work involved in these positions. The current operation and the future direction of the SSA is crucial to all of us.

James Malkin

Chilmark

The writer is the Vineyard SSA governor.