A request for proposals will go out for a developer for new affordable housing units behind the Aquinnah town hall, after a vote by selectmen Tuesday.

The town plans to build two duplexes with four rental units off Totem Pole Way.

The long-planned project is part of a larger plan for the area behind town hall that includes a new playground and community food forest. “I’m happy to see this finally happen, it’s been talked about for years,” said selectman Jim Newman.

Also Tuesday, selectmen approved an amendment to the Tri-Town Ambulance agreement to use 100 per cent of insurance revenues for one year to help offset an ambulance budget deficit.

Tri-Town Ambulance chief Ben Retmier appeared before the board with the request. “Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, we had a significant decrease in our call volume and that resulted in a decrease in our revenue. This is just an attempt to try and lessen the impact on the taxpayers,” Mr. Retmier said.

The original agreement allows 75 per cent of insurance revenues to be applied to the operating budget, while 25 per cent goes into a separate revolving equipment fund.

Finally, a request from a wedding planner to use Lobsterville Beach in June for a 50 to 100-person clambake saw a cool reception from the board.

Selectmen said they would need more detailed information about the event, and they questioned whether it would even be allowed at that point under state Covid restrictions.

“There are few more specific things we should ask them about and I don’t know what the governor’s orders are going to be at that point,” selectman Juli Vanderhoop said.

— Aaron Wilson