With Sunday street closures coming to an end, Oak Bluffs selectmen Tuesday heard a summer review from a business perspective.
Oak Bluffs Association director Christine Todd said closing Circuit avenue and part of Kennebec avenue to vehicles on summer Sundays was well received by visitors, residents and merchants.
“For the most part it went extremely well,” Ms. Todd told the selectmen at their meeting Tuesday. “We as a business community would like to remain open to the possibility of doing this again in 2021 — and based on what scenario we’re facing with this virus, being able to modify it to make it an even better experience next year.”
Selectmen agreed, with a few suggestions for the coming year.
The last Sunday street closure was over Columbus Day weekend.
In another, unrelated street closure matter, at the suggestion of police chief Erik Blake, selectmen agreed to close Vineyard avenue on the night of Halloween to help facilitate socially-distanced trick-or-treating in town.
Unless Governor Baker issues a statewide order to the contrary, Chief Blake told the board he would work with town health agent Meegan Lancaster on creating health and safety protocols for the evening.
“I think we should treat it like any other event we have in town or any other time in town where we encourage people to wear their mask and socially distance if they can . . . I don’t think we’re encouraging a super-spreader event, I think people just want to get out and I think people tend to be in their own pods with their family . . . people are pretty smart in terms of what the rules are.”
In other business Tuesday, selectmen set dates for bay scalloping. Family scalloping will begin Oct. 17 in Sengekontacket Pond and all other outside waters. Commercial scalloping in Sengekontacket and outside waters begins Oct. 26.
Family scalloping on the Oak Bluffs side of the Lagoon will begin Nov. 14, and commercial scalloping opens Nov. 16.
Oak Bluffs shellfish constable Chuck Fisher said it looks like a generally poor year.
“From a couple natural sets I’ve seen around and our seeding efforts I believe it will be a bit better harvest than it was last year but it’s still on a downturn right now,” Mr. Fisher said.
Selectmen asked Mr. Fisher about the possibility of giving family scallopers a longer lead time next year before commercial season begins. “We have a lot more residents who pay taxes on this and pay for their permits, so I think they should be given a little bit more of a chance before the drags go out there and clean everything out,” said board chairman Jason Balboni.
Selectmen Ryan Ruley and Brian Packish agreed. “Right now we don’t get 10 spots that are loaded. There’s usually one spot that gets pushed by the wind and there’s a small opportunity before commercial cleans it out Monday to Friday. And then when you go back the following weekend, the party is over,” Mr. Packish said.
“I would like to see a little more access, a little more time for the recreational gang,” Mr. Ruley said.
Mr. Fisher said the suggestion could be considered.
Also Tuesday, selectmen unanimously approved requests for closures from Sarah Brown’s and Seaweeds. Sarah Brown’s will close from Oct. 21 to Nov. 4, and Seaweeds will close from Oct. 25 to Oct. 28.
In appointment business, Richard Toole was appointed as the town representative to the Cape Light Compact, and reappointed to the Cape and Vineyard Electric Cooperative. Kevin Brennan was appointed to the personnel board and Grace Guck was appointed to the zoning board of appeals.
Selectmen also appointed Mr. Ruley to the town harbor committee and reappointed Mr. Packish to the roads and byways committee.
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