Oak Bluffs selectmen chose a new shellfish constable this week. Charles (Chuck) Fisher, who served as the town’s deputy shellfish constable for five years, will succeed retiring constable David Grunden.

“Chuck, your strengths as far as personality and your time on our pond and your super even temperament, your thirst for more knowledge, your ability to work with everyone and anyone is obviously a tremendous asset,” board chairman Brian Packish said before the vote.

At their meeting Tuesday, selectmen interviewed both Mr. Fisher and William Reich Jr., who works as assistant to shellfish constable Isaiah Scheffer in Chilmark.

Mr. Fisher said he will continue the work of his predecessor to protect shellfish stocks against growing threat from nitrogen pollution in the ponds.

“The largest problem we have is water quality. As far as the shellfish department goes one of our best things we can do is really community outreach,” Mr. Fisher said. “There’s lots of things involved with the nitrogen cycle and every little thing people can do, everything people know they shouldn’t do, the better.”

The vote was unanimous, though selectmen said the decision was difficult. Some said Mr. Fisher’s experience with the department, his collaboration with longtime constable Mr. Grunden and his even temperament were deciding factors. They also referenced an ongoing town effort to promote people from within.

“You have been in the position. You’ve got a little advantage because you know the fishermen. You know the waters,” Michael Santoro told Mr. Fisher.

“We’ve been trying as a town to . . . reward people who come to work for us,” Gregory Coogan said.

Mr. Fisher has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in civil engineering. He has also worked as a harbor attendant in San Francisco and a catamaran captain in Maui, Hawaii.

Gail Barmakian initially leaned toward Mr. Reich for his science background, which includes an undergraduate degree in environmental science. But Mr. Fisher was undeterred.

“While I don’t necessarily have a scientific background, I do have a scientific outlook,” he said. “I’m just going to have to use all the resources available.”

He will begin work June 30.

In other business, selectmen approved an entertainment license from Sea Smoke Barbecue that includes axe throwing inside a mobile cage, a new attraction restaurant owner Daniel Sauer said is popular off-Island.

Ms. Barmakian initially balked at including the sport in an outdoor entertainment license.

“The intent of our outdoor entertainment is music, TVs et cetera. Axe throwing I think is a different category,” she said.

Mr. Sauer’s business partner JB Blau disagreed.

“It’s like cornhole outside except it’s axe throwing instead of cornhole,” Mr. Blau said. Selectmen unanimously granted the license.

They also discussed the makeup of a planned Civil War statue educational committee. The committee is expected to include a veteran, a member of the NAACP, a representative from the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, a member of the Wampanoag tribe of Gay Head, a selectman, and a student.

Selectmen discussed how to proceed with the building commissioner position, following a failed vote in Tisbury this spring to create a shared commissioner between the two towns.

“It is unfortunate. We thought if we shared the service with Tisbury that would be the best option, but if we’re going it alone we should start talking about next steps,” town administrator Bob Whritenour said.

After some discussion, selectmen decided to continue advertising for the position in Oak Bluffs while keeping the dialogue open with Tisbury.

“It’s foolish for us not to work together,” Mr. Coogan said.

Mr. Whritenour also updated selectmen on the town’s liability for OPEB or other post employment benefits. Towns and school systems around the commonwealth are facing similar daunting liabilities mostly for employees’ retirement health care costs. The town’s liability is estimated at nearly $32 million. Mr. Whritenour provided selectmen with a draft policy to begin to address the deficit. He suggested increasing the town’s annual contributions to the OPEB trust fund with the goal of paying off the liability by 2030.

“Obviously it’s one of the major remaining financial challenges that we have,” Mr. Whritenour said. “There’s no magic wand that you wave to eliminate $32 million in unfunded liability.”