Court Ruling on Impact Fees Has Import for Island Towns
In a ruling that could carry special importance for the town of Aquinnah — as well as for other Vineyard towns that want to adopt impact fees — the Massachusetts Appeals Court this week struck down a school impact fee in the town of Franklin.
 
The court found that the impact fee, charged to developers, is an improper tax.
 
“This is so totally contrary to tax philosophy as to require it to be stricken down,” declared Mel Greenberg, an associate justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court, who wrote the decision.
 
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Citing Town as ‘Essence of Island,’ Aquinnah Asks for MVC Protection As Area of Critical Planning Concern
Marking an extraordinary moment in the recent swirl of discussion about growth on the Vineyard, the Martha’s Vineyard Commission accepted a request late last night from the tiny town of Aquinnah to nominate the entire town as a district of critical planning concern (DCPC).
 
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Three Annual Town Elections See Light Voter Turnout

Edgartown voters reelected longtime selectman Michael Donaroma and gave final approval for the restoration of the Katama Airfield hangar in the annual town election April 11.

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Ted Morgan, Martha's Vineyard's Senior Statesman, Dies at 97

Fred B. Morgan Jr., the decorated World War II veteran who parachuted into Normandy on D-Day and long-serving Edgartown selectman, died on April 7 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. He was 97.

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Tisbury Goes to a Third Night, Housing Bank Undecided

With the housing bank question still undecided, Tisbury voters will go to a third night for their annual town meeting. Voters adjourned at 11 p.m.

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Two Towns Defeat Housing Bank; One Approves

Edgartown and Oak Bluffs voters defeated the controversial housing bank question Tuesday night, while in West Tisbury the question won approval. Tisbury voters take up the question tonight.

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Annual Town Meetings Under Way; Four Towns See Large Turnouts

A plastic bottle ban was swiftly approved in West Tisbury, and an emotional tribute marked the start of the annual town meeting in Tisbury Tuesday night.

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Super Tuesday: Four Annual Town Meetings Tonight

Millions of dollars in spending initiatives and the fiercely-debated housing bank proposal will be on the agenda when voters in Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury and West Tisbury take up the annual business of their towns tonight.

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Services Planned for Two Chilmark Residents Killed by Motorist

Services are planned for next Wednesday for two longtime Chilmark residents who were killed when they were hit by a motorist Saturday night in Connecticut.

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Chief Who Charged Ted Kennedy After Chappaquiddick Dies

Former Edgartown police chief Dominick Arena had earned fame — both in life and later in film ­— for his role as chief during the infamous 1969 incident.

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