West Tisbury selectmen will delay their vote on a new town fire chief for another week, after members of the fire department asked to weigh in on the matter.
Selectmen interviewed three finalists for the job last week and were expected to make a decision this week. But at the weekly meeting Wednesday, board chairman Cynthia Mitchell said some members of the department had asked for more time to submit comments.
“Members of the department have expressed a desire to have input, which is certainly reasonable,” Ms. Mitchell said at the meeting held by Zoom.
She explained that people wishing to comment could do so at a public meeting or by sending an email to the town administrator. All emails will automatically become public, under the state public records law, Ms. Mitchell also noted.
The three finalists for the job — William Choate, a senior lieutenant with the West Bridgewater fire department, Marques Rivers, a captain with the West Tisbury department, and deputy chief Gregory Pachico — were all present at the meeting, along with a handful of members of the department. Mr. Pachico made the lone comment. “It’s a good idea to reach out to members of the department, they should be involved in the decision-making process,” he said.
Ms. Mitchell clarified that while input was welcome, the decision-making rests with the selectmen.
“They [firefighters] are not part of the decision-making process,” she said. “The decision . . . rests with the board of selectmen.”
The new chief will replace Manny Estrella 3rd, who is retiring after 30 years.
Meanwhile, with the selection process in mid-stride, board members agreed to delay their annual reorganization until after a new fire chief is chosen. Per protocol, Jeffrey (Skipper) Manter 3rd, who was recently re-elected to a new three-year term, is due to take over as chairman for Ms. Mitchell.
In other business Wednesday, after weeks of haggling over the details, selectmen reached an agreement in principle with Eversource for a manhole project on Music street, Panhandle Road and Middle Road, that aims to improve utility services. The project is expected to take two months to complete, and will start next month and pause for the summer, with completion in early fall.
Highway superintendent Richard Olsen had asked that Eversource pay for someone to independently monitor the project to be sure the work was done to the satisfaction of the town, including repaving of roads. On Wednesday, Eversource spokesmen said that while an independent monitor was not in the budget for the project, they sought to assure the town that the job would be conducted according to the highest standards of quality, using a reputable subcontractor.
“We do want this project to happen, and we believe it is for the benefit of residents,” said Terri Feuersanger.
In the end it was agreed that Mr. Olsen could adequately monitor the project, after selectman Kent Healy, a longtime civil engineer, volunteered to help oversee the work.
Also Wednesday, selectmen took quiet note of the town’s 129th birthday. West Tisbury was incorporated as a town on April 28, 1892.
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