The company that engineered the relocation of the Gay Head Light last spring will play a central role in restoring the brick tower in the coming years.

At their meeting Tuesday, the Aquinnah selectmen agreed to hire International Chimney Corporation of Buffalo, N.Y., to evaluate the condition of the historic lighthouse, identify needed repairs and provide a preliminary budget.

Work to restore a metal railing around the tower has already begun, but a town lighthouse advisory board recommended having the entire structure surveyed to set the course for future projects. Board chairman Len Butler told the selectmen that any structural issues will take priority. “I don’t think there is anything seriously wrong, but we will let the engineers look at that,” he said.

International Chimney has restored a number of lighthouses in the United States, including the Southeast Lighthouse on Block Island and the Cape Hatteras Light in North Carolina.

Work by the company on the Gay Head Light last year will provide a starting point for the survey and reduce the overall cost to the town.

Noting the advice of town counsel, Mr. Butler said a survey costing less than $10,000 would not need to go out to bid. International Chimney has offered to do the work for $9,800.

Work is expected to begin in May, and Mr. Butler expected to have a report by summer. He didn’t think safety would be an issue for visitors. “The only thing that was considered somewhat dangerous is being addressed, and that’s the railings,” he said.

The board will meet next week to review proposals for managing the lighthouse.

In other business, the selectmen hired Island contractor Gordon Perry to continue renovations at town hall, where walls are being added to create more offices and increase privacy. Town voters approved $15,000 for the project in November.

The selectmen also voted to extend a right of entry for contractor J-Way Inc. of Avon Ohio, so it can remove its dredging equipment and repair some damage at the West Basin. The company had hoped to finish dredging Menemsha Channel by Jan. 31, but a late start has delayed the project to next fall. The right of entry had expired Monday and was extended to March 7.