Three people will vie for two seats on the Oak Bluffs board of selectmen this spring, including two new faces, after longtime selectman Greg Coogan decided to not run again.
A plan to renovate the ailing Oak Bluffs town hall will get a third chance after voters voiced strong approval for the plan at their annual town meeting Tuesday night.
“To be or not to be” - stock or no stock - railroad or no railroad - was the principal question before the community last Saturday, and the town and its “dependencies” (?) turned out en masse to meet the emergency. Every able-bodied voter was in attendance, and the people seemed determined that the matter shouldn’t go by default.
Hon. J. T. Pease was chosen moderator.
The second article of the warrant, “To see if the town would subscribe to the stock of the Martha’s Vineyard Railroad,” &c., coming up, Mr. Samuel Osborn submitted the following resolution:
When they gather next week for annual and special town meetings, Oak Bluffs voters will decide on a range of issues, including the fiercely-debated housing bank and money to study possible predators for a toxic jellyfish.
Oak Bluffs voters took a first step toward banning moped rentals, signed off on a laundry list of capital improvement projects, and approved a $30.3 million budget, the largest in the history of the town.
Facing a budget shortfall for the coming fiscal year fueled by education costs, health insurance and salaries, Oak Bluffs town administrator Bob Whritenour is recommending a $750,000 general override at the annual town meeting in April.
A sprawling annual town meeting in Oak Bluffs drew debate over two nights this week, with voters grappling with issues related to moped safety, the crumbling Island Theatre and a new town hall.
