The town of Edgartown bids adieu to two more shade trees this week, following hearings held at the selectmen’s meeting Monday.
A diseased sycamore maple will removed from Robinson Road and a dying oak will be taken down from Planting Field Way.
In voting to approve the removals, selectmen acted in favor of the town tree warden and residents.
“This poor old thing has been struggling for years,” said Morton Fearey Jr., who lives on Planting Field Way and wished to remove an oak tree from his property.
The oak has fallen victim to a gall wasp infestation, said tree warden Stuart Fuller, added that a cluster of oaks at that location were similarly diseased.
“They are very short-lived at this point,” he said. “They are going to make it for a year or two then they come down anyway, we are better of taking them down now.” Mr. Fuller said there were other shade trees already present both locations, so replacing them would not be necessary.
The maple slated for removal is on property at 47 Robinson Road.
In other business, selectmen spoke with taxicab proprietor Colin Butler about the future of his business.
Mr. Butler asked selectmen for permission to sell part of his company, Adam Cab, which he said he’d decided to do for health reasons.
Due to an apparent misunderstanding, Mr. Butler had thought he would be able to split his business without requiring a second taxi license or identifying the buyer.
Selectmen explained that although there are 10 cars in the Adam Cab fleet, Mr. Butler only has one license to sell. An additional license would have to be issued to split the fleet.
“If for instance, a cab company came in and said our business has gotten to the point that we need to add another cab, that is something we can consider,” said board chair Arthur Smadbeck. “A whole new cab company, that is a whole other kettle of fish. That’s a lot more complicated.”
Mr. Butler contended that he was not asking to increase the number of cabs on the roads. He said he would like to be able to assure the prospective buyer that a new license would be granted.
“This person would like to know that if he is going to make that leap,” Mr. Butler said. “By identifying himself, he will almost certainly lose his job.”
But selectmen said they would have to advertise a public hearing, and take a vote on the issuing of a new license.
The town has rejected two previous requests for a fourth taxi license.
“We haven’t felt it was necessary at this point,” Mr. Smadbeck said. “It’s been really working well to have three.”
Selectmen took no action on the issue.
In other business, resident Jeff Agnoli petitioned the selectmen to support a resolution to close the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant. Concerned Islanders have led a successful campaign to drum up Island opposition to the plant.
Mr. Agnoli said to date 15 towns on Cape Cod had taken official action to encourage a shutdown. Voters in Oak Bluffs, West Tisbury and Chilmark have joined the chorus at their town meetings, but an article was not ready in time to make it on the Edgartown town meeting warrant this spring.
“This is a chance to speak with a unified voice,” Mr. Agnoli said. Selectman Margaret Serpa said while the board could not presume to speak for the entire town, town administrator Pamela Dolby would review letter’s language with town counsel.
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