The Tisbury select board voted Wednesday to place the housing bank article on the annual town meeting warrant, joining Aquinnah’s and Chilmark’s boards in agreeing to bring the question to voters next spring.
Select boards in Edgartown, Oak Bluffs and West Tisbury have opted to wait for a more finished draft of the housing bank article, which is still being refined by its proponents.
“We’re adding explicit language . . . so the housing bank will not be able to do anything that doesn’t align with the goals of the towns,” Laura Silber, of the Coalition to Create the MV Housing Bank, told the Tisbury board during its regular online meeting.
Coalition member John Abrams said that attorney Ron Rappaport — who is counsel for five of the six Island towns — has been communicating directly with the attorney for the housing bank coalition on issues of concern to the towns.
“Most of what Ron said has already been squared away, and we’re going to keep working on that,” Mr. Abrams said.
Tisbury town counsel David Doneski told the board he will also work with the coalition attorney on the draft language, as a matter of course.
“This would be typical town meeting preparation business,” Mr. Doneski said.
But Mr. Doneski recommended against adding a ballot question to Wednesday’s vote while some towns are still undecided.
“At this point, a vote to put this article on the warrant can’t necessarily include a requirement of a ballot question,” he said. “It would have to be across the board.”
However, select board members made it clear that they intend to hold the ballot vote next spring.
“This is one of the biggest pieces of legislation we have seen on the Island in years,” said board chair Jeff Kristal. “I think it should go to the ballot right after the town meeting.”
Among other business Wednesday, the select board promoted acting police Lieut. William Brigham, making permanent an interim position he has held for several months.
“All of us are extremely impressed with his level of professionalism, knowledge and management skills,” said town administrator and personnel director Jay Grande.
Also Wednesday, the board approved closing Union street for the Christmas hayride, Dec. 19 from noon to 2 p.m., and began the process of reviewing departmental budgets and proposed warrant articles for town meeting.
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