The two remaining members of the West Tisbury select board are considering their options for an election to replace Kent Healy, who died Oct. 31 with nearly a year and a half of his term remaining.

At this week’s select board meeting, held Monday online, town clerk Tara Whiting-Wells told chairman Skipper Manter and member Cynthia Mitchell that they can call a special election in January — which would leave less than a month for candidates to meet the 49-day advance deadline for submitting their papers — or work as a two-member board until the annual town election in mid-April.

A third scenario, Ms. Whiting-Wells said, would be a citizen petition for a special election, which the select board would be obliged to approve if 200 signatures are verified.

Town administrator Jennifer Rand urged the board to wait for the April election, in order to provide the maximum time for potential candidates to consider running for the open seat and then submit the required paperwork.

“Being a member of the select board is a big decision, and one that people may not have contemplated until this moment — and it is an unusual moment,” Ms. Rand said.

“I would advocate for waiting and allowing people the time they need to process the fact that there is this unexpected open seat and they may want to be a member.”

Mr. Manter asked to discuss the matter at the board’s next regular meeting.

Among other business Monday, West Tisbury resident Susan Silk asked about job vacancies due to town employees declining the Covid-19 vaccine mandate the board enacted earlier this year, which requires workers in town buildings to have received both shots.

“Do we know how many jobs need to be filled?” Ms. Silk asked the board.

The answer was none, Mr. Manter said.

“It wasn’t 100 per cent [compliance], but those who were not vaccinated, their department heads were able to make reasonable accommodations so they can perform their duties,” he said.

Also Monday, the select board approved a letter to taxpayers from fire chief Greg Pachico, requesting that property owners properly mark and clear their driveways and private roads.

“We’re encountering . . . a lot of driveways and roads not having a street sign or more importantly, access issues [such as] tree limbs down,” Chief Pachico told the board.

In some cases, fire department trucks are unable to pass due to heavy vegetation, the chief said, and in many others the vehicles are sustaining damage to their side mirrors and panels.

“It’s becoming a major issue all across the board, ambulance too, [and] I’m sure police are coming across it,” he said.

The town already has a bylaw requiring driveways to be labeled, Chief Pachico said, and he would like to see a future bylaw specifying the dimensions to which owners must clear them of trees and brush.

“The [fire] code is very vague,” he said. “It’s whether I feel it’s accessible or not.”

Chief Pachico’s letter will be enclosed with the next tax bill mailing.