After a summer of plentiful fuel for boaters in the Edgartown Harbor, the town select board voted Tuesday to extend R.M. Packer Co.’s lease to sell gas at North Wharf for one more year.

The extension will give the town more time to make needed improvements to the town-owned dock before entering into a long-term lease with an operator, town administrator James Hagerty said.

“We’re looking at renovations. We did put a town meeting warrant bonding article about two years ago,” Mr. Hagerty told the board. “We’re looking at the costs, as they have increased, and potentially looking at asking for additional funds this coming town meeting.”

Ralph M. Packer, who has operated the fuel dock for decades, was cited by the state Department of Environmental Protection in 2019 for a series of environmental violations, including defective gas tanks. His pumps were temporarily locked, creating problems in the harbor for boaters unable to refuel, and prompting the select board to cancel his 20-year lease and replace it with a short-term agreement. That agreement was set to expire Oct. 15. 

Mr. Packer agreed to install temporary above-ground fuel tanks to prevent fuel leakage.

In extending Mr. Packer’s lease through next summer, the select board noted that there were no issues with fuel availability this summer despite a very busy season on the water. The fee for the one-year extension is $10,000.

In other business, the board approved police chief Bruce McNamee’s request to hire Dodi Klingensmith as a full-time police officer, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of Sgt. Jamie Craig in July. Ms. Klingensmith, a graduate of the police academy, was hired as a special officer in the spring.

“You’ve probably seen her downtown. She’s done a terrific job. I think she’ll make an excellent addition to the department,” the chief said.

“I think she’ll make a very good choice,” said select board member Margaret Serpa.

“Yes, congratulations. Welcome aboard,” added board member Michael Donaroma.

The board also approved the hiring of Sergeant Craig and another recent retiree, officer Mike Gazaille, as special officers. The two will not add to the department’s payroll, but will fill a growing demand for police to handle construction and event details, the chief said.

The board voted to accept a gift of two electric bicycles from Ocean State Job Lots. Chief McNamee said the town would likely use them for traffic enforcement downtown.

Noting that The Terrace had lost its chef, the board agreed to allow the restaurant to close for the winter. Mr. Hagerty said the town was being more flexible with year-round liquor license holders because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but would likely be more restrictive in the future.

The board also directed Mr. Hagerty to take steps to form a 15-member advisory committee to address recreation activities in environmentally sensitive Cape Pogue Pond.