After hearing concerns from abutters, the Oak Bluffs select board indefinitely delayed plans for an outdoor concert series on the Oak Bluffs harbor at a brief meeting Monday.
Last week organizers of the concert series called Jetty Jam came before the board seeking permission to hold 10 outdoor music events in the Island Queen ferry parking lot on Wednesday evenings from late June through early September. The organizers are Henry Wallace, Sofie Green and Kathleen Cowley.
Selectmen discussed the event and possible logistical and public safety challenges, suggesting that they would give preliminary approval for a first concert, pending a site visit from the police chief and harbor master.
But on Monday the board changed its tune after multiple abutters voiced opposition to the plan.
“I’m very much not in favor of it, I think it’s a horrible place to have this,” said Dr. Jason Lew, an abutter who also sits on the town harbor advisory committee. “It’s a very nice idea if the kids want to get together and have a party somewhere . . . [but] put it somewhere else, please.”
Belleruth Naparstek, another abutter, echoed the sentiment, adding concerns about underaged drinking. “I think it’s a crazy boneheaded idea. It makes no sense to me,” she said.
Selectman Ryan Ruley also reported that the harbor master had not yet been consulted about the plan and had lingering concerns about the event. The harbor advisory committee also recently voted to not to recommend the plan to the select board, he said.
Ms. Cowley and Ms. Green defended the concert and the location, emphasizing the event’s mission of supporting local musicians. John Stanwood, an Island musician, also spoke in favor of the plan.
But selectmen remained unconvinced, and said they could possibly consider the plan again in the future, if organizers are able to resolve abutter concerns.
“I’m having second thoughts,” said selectman Gail Barmakian. “I think it might be a good idea for this group [to consider other venues] because some of these issues are just not surmountable.”
Selectman Brian Packish agreed. “In the short term, it seems like all the board members recognize there’s some more work to be done before any action can be taken,” he said.
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