The select board sought to ditch portions of the fence to solve the burden of maintenance costs, but the idea faced pushback from the town’s historic district commission.
The residential exemption would lower the tax burden of West Tisbury town residents, but could result in higher bills for people who own second homes or rental properties in the town.
The white picket fence bordering State Road and the West Tisbury cemetery will remain standing for now after the town historic district commission, in a split vote Monday, denied a plan from the select board to remove most of the fence.
The West Tisbury select board this week took steps to reorganize the town affordable housing committee after a period of disarray, appointing two new members and asking the committee to reconsider its leadership.
West Tisbury voters will weigh in on an initiative to promote private affordable housing in town at their fall special town meeting next week, along with deciding on a series of minor funding articles.
The picket fence around the West Tisbury Cemetery will remain wooden for now, after the historic district commission asked the town select board not to replace rotten pickets with new ones made of plastic.
The West Tisbury select board Wednesday learned that two members of the Up-Island Council on Aging board are apparently in violation of the council's bylaws. The bylaws say members can't serve more than two consecutive terms.
Jefrey DuBard, a member of the housing committee and the Island Housing Trust board, came under scrutiny last month for a potential conflict of interest when he voted on a trust housing project before the affordable housing committee.
Ongoing deliberation over a possible ethics violation on the West Tisbury affordable housing committee flared up once again at a town select board meeting Wednesday.
