Tisbury residents voted in favor of appropriating $4.8 million in town funds to overhaul and expand the Vineyard Haven Public Library at a special town meeting that lasted more than three hours Tuesday.
More than 160 people attended the meeting at the Performing Arts Center to decide on the seven-article warrant, presided over by town moderator Donald Rose.
The funding article for the library needed a two-thirds majority to pass, and garnered favor in a voice vote Tuesday. The measure will need to pass by a simple majority at the ballot box in order to override the borrowing limits of state Proposition 2 ½ to pay for the renovation.
The town will hold an election on Jan. 7.
The library was last renovated in 1999 and since then, has been regularly flooding when it rains. Proposed renovations include a new roof, shingles, windows, insulation, heating and air conditioning systems, bathrooms, paint, ceilings and carpeting.
Library director Amy Ryan said the library will decide on a contractor after construction companies submit their bids in January.
The construction could cost as much as $8 million, with another $4 million coming from the town’s building stabilization funds.
For the other articles on the warrant, voters debated several amendments on town meeting floor.
Voters took issue with article four to add a town administrator specific bylaw detailing job responsibilities to the Tisbury bylaws, claiming the article as written gave too much power to the town administrator. The town voted to take no action on the article.
Article five, which called for the allocation of $600,000 in capital building and infrastructure stabilization funds to build a new town hall at 66 High Point Lane, was amended to omit the address, leave the location to be determined and set no funds to be spent until a location is determined. The amended article was passed.
An article to amend the town’s zoning bylaws to include short-term rentals was passed, but not before a failed amendment of its own.
Select board chair Roy Cutrer proposed amending the article to increase the minimum number of days allowed for short-term rentals from 75 to 90 calendar days. The amendment, which had the support of the select board, was rejected by the voters.
Article three, which adds two associate planning board members, along with article six, which adds a parcel to the centralized wastewater collection and treatment system service area, both passed.
The town will hold elections on Jan. 7 from noon to 8 p.m. in the Tisbury emergency services facility at 215 Spring street.
Comments
Comment policy »