Public drinking, downtown visibility of police officers and advertising boards on town property were all topics for discussion by the Oak Bluffs selectmen Tuesday night.

Police chief Erik Blake said all the issues are being addressed in response to complaints.

Among other things, he said a group that was gathering regularly near the harbor bathrooms has been dispersed.

“That’s been curbed a lot,” Chief Blake said. “Some of the people that were hanging down there were being rude and using vulgar language and drinking so they’ve been dispersed. The thing is once you disperse them from one area, they may end up in another area.”

Chairman Gail Barmakian said the selectmen received complaints last summer about police officers not being visible and available in the downtown area.

Chief Blake said he has made it a priority for summer offices to be visible downtown, and for patrol officers to be out of their cars and visible during their shifts.

“It’s as important to me as it is to you,” the chief said.

Selectmen said they have also received complaints about a proliferation of advertising sandwich boards that obstruct the flow of pedestrians on town sidewalks.

Chief Blake said his department is addressed that problem too. “What we’ve done now is take the next step, and actually removed the signs and brought them to the police station and let them pick them up,” he said. “Now when they pick up their signs, there’s a warning that the next time they’ll get a bylaw ticket for obstructing the sidewalk.”

The chief also reported that new taxi and tour bus regulations are working well.

Also Tuesday, Chris Scott appeared before the selectmen representing Vineyard Youth Tennis to discuss upcoming changes in the organization.

The sole benefactor for the program that provides free tennis instruction to Island youth will bow out in the fall, and the program will be looking to change its funding model by allowing some adult play for a fee at the facility off Barnes Road. The permit that has been in place for 20 years currently restricts play to youth tennis.

Mr. Scott told selectmen the organization will go before the town zoning board of appeals to seek amendments to the special permit to allow adult play for fees at the facility, and to charge a nominal fee for youth tennis instruction.

“It’s going to be impossible to keep it alive, without some change to the model,” Mr. Scott said. “We’re going to ask families that can afford to pay for lessons to pay a nominal rate, and we want to set up a scholarship program for kids whose families can’t pay for tennis lessons, to make sure no child is turned away.”

The selectmen asked for more specifics on hours of adult and youth play, and the cost of lessons.

“We’re saying in order to support something, we need something more substantial to support, rather than just an idea,” said Ms. Barmakian. “Go forward, but I think we still need more documentation.”

In other business, selectmen agreed to close Dukes County avenue between Warwick and Masonic avenues on three Saturday evenings for the annual art strolls.

The road will be open to pedestrians only from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on July 7, August 4, and Sept. 1.

Selectmen also approved to extended hours for bars over the July Fourth holiday. From July 4 to July 8, bars can serve until 1:30 a.m., and all patrons must be off the premises by 2 a.m.