Contractors arrive Monday to begin a two-week project replacing the collapsed culvert and headwall on Lambert’s Cove Road in Tisbury. The work is expected to finish by Feb. 7.

“Those, I understand, are firm dates,” town administrator Jay Grande told town selectmen Tuesday.

“This is all conditioned on the weather . . . being suitable,” Mr. Grande added.

The road has been closed to traffic since mid-December, after sinkholes and a washout developed in heavy rains.

Town officials considered a temporary repair before deciding to proceed with the already-planned Smith Brook culvert replacement project.

“The good news is we’re going to fix it right the first time, without getting into this debacle again,” selectman James Rogers said.

Fire chief John Schilling said the town has coverage agreements with the West Tisbury fire and police departments and Tri-Town Ambulance to respond first in case of emergencies on the western side of the road closure.

“It’s nice to see us working well together across boundaries,” board chairman Melinda Loberg said.

Selectman Jeff Kristal was on vacation and did not attend.

Tuesday’s meeting included budget presentations, a new refuse and recycling contract and an unscheduled appearance by a local businessman whose car dealer’s license was not renewed for 2020.

Hybrid SUVs are the best vehicles for the Tisbury police department, police chief Mark Saloio told selectmen during his budget presentation.

“I can’t think of another occupation where having a hybrid is more important,” Mr. Saloio said.

Police cars frequently operate in idle during traffic stops and accident scenes, among other situations, the chief said. Because hybrid motors don’t run in idle, the vehicles use more than 1,200 fewer gallons of fuel per year, he said.

Manufacturers are extending the warranty period for hybrids to 100,000 miles, the chief added.

He told selectmen he would like to lease three hybrids in the coming fiscal year, rather than purchasing one at a time.

“Historically, the police department has acquired one vehicle a year,” he said. “That disproportionately stacks the mileage on the five other vehicles.”

Staggering the acquisition of new vehicles by adding three at a time, two or three years apart, would lower maintenance costs significantly, Chief Saloio said.

The chief is also seeking to replace the department’s 17 tasers, high-tech electrical weapons that he said are reaching the end of their useful life.

“If we do not get them this year, there will be no wiggle room next year,” he said. If forced to choose, he would prioritize the vehicles this year, he added.

The police chief backed up fire chief John Schilling’s budget request for a diesel-powered LED light tower to provide illumination for incidents after dark.

“We could use it throughout the year,” Mr. Saloio said.

The town obtained several of the devices from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency to light area streets during last summer’s Beach Road Weekend music festival.

“These things are extremely efficient, they’re quiet and they run for up to 117 hours on one tank of diesel,” Mr. Schilling said. “This is something that can be utilized across departments.”

Town emergency medical services coordinator Tracy Jones presented a 2020-2021 budget that adds two additional emergency medical technician positions, one at 30 hours and one at 40 hours.

Most Tisbury EMTs are part time and have day jobs that prevent them from covering basic shifts, Ms. Jones said.

As a result, she said, the department is consistently using overtime to cover these shifts. “It’s not sustainable.”

In past years, EMS has not run through all its budgeted overtime, returning up to $25,000 to town coffers, Ms. Jones said.

“I’m not anticipating much going back this year, because we’re burning through it,” she said.

The department’s revenues continue to increase, Ms. Jones said. “We do cover all our operating costs every year, and then some.

“Our revenues last year out-covered our budget by roughly 48 per cent.”

In other business, selectmen approved a new contract with Bruno’s Rolloff Inc., for curbside residential refuse and recycling collection.

Garbage sticker costs will go up 30 cents under the new agreement, with no increase for recycling.

Near the end of the meeting, State Road businessman Trip Barnes, whose car dealer’s license has not been renewed, approached the board.

Selectmen declined to review Mr. Barnes’s renewal last week because the town building inspector found that too many people were living in the building where he does business.

“The inspector has nothing to do with my used car license,” Mr. Barnes said. “You’re fooling around with about nine people’s lives.”

Mrs. Loberg told Mr. Barnes that because his appearance was not on the agenda, selectmen could not act on the matter during the current meeting.

“We can hear you, but we can’t deliberate or take action,” she said.

“This is a real kick in the ass from my town,” Mr. Barnes said, leaving the meeting.

The next selectmen’s meeting is Jan. 28.