Oak Bluffs Town Meeting Passes Budget, But Will Need a Second Night

When Oak Bluffs town meeting adjourned Tuesday night, the parting message was not “goodbye,” but “see you tomorrow.”

Voters approved the $46 million operating budget, a $1.9 million general override and several free cash expenditures Tuesday, but with roughly 50 articles still in limbo, residents and officials must reconvene Wednesday to finish off the meeting.

Tuesday’s meeting began at around 7:30 p.m. and adjourned at about 10:30 p.m. following roughly three hours of votes and floor discussion. At its height, the meeting drew a crowd of about 300 voters, and a line out the door of voters checking in necessitated the late start time, said town moderator Jack Law.

The budget passed Tuesday, which includes the $1.9 million general override, covers the town’s basic operational costs. The override must also pass as a ballot item at Thursday’s town election.

Acting town administrator Wendy Brough said the override, which is projected to increase property taxes by $300 per year on a $1 million property, is necessitated by inflation that outpaces the 2.5 per cent annual property tax increase the town is able to levy without a special town meeting vote.

Gail Barmakian, a former select board member and current wastewater commissioner, questioned if the town will need to continue asking for overrides in future years as operational costs increase.

“What is the plan going forward?” she asked.

During the special town meeting, voters asked that the town enter into an easement agreement with the owner of the East Chop Drive boat launch to ensure that it remains available for public use. Voters approved a new wastewater improvements stabilization fund, which will act as a “savings account” from which the town’s wastewater department can draw funds for major projects.

While voters agreed to make the tree warden an appointed position in town, they voted down a plan to make the town clerk position appointed instead of elected — the only item of the night that did not pass.

Several voters approached the microphone to express their desire to keep the position elected, including Marie Doubleday, who said voting on a town clerk is a crucial part of the local democratic process.

“You never know when voter suppression is going to arrive,” she said.

After the article was voted down, the room erupted in cheers, and Mr. Law adjourned the meeting for the night.

Many big-ticket items remain unresolved, including the fate of the Island Theatre, the new bylaw regulating large events in residential areas and a new blight bylaw. Just before the final budget vote, Mr. Law announced that one much-anticipated article proposing new regulations on short-term rentals would be tabled until future notice.

Oak Bluffs town meeting will reconvene Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Performing Arts Center.