West Tisbury Finalizes Short-Term Rental Committee

The seven member committee consists of Bea Phear, John Rau, Karen Overtoom, Sheila Morris, Doug Ruskin, Cass Lukin and Andy Kaye.

The West Tisbury select board this week completed its appointments for a new short-term rental committee. The seven member committee consists of Bea Phear, John Rau, Karen Overtoom, Sheila Morse, Doug Ruskin, Cass Lukin and Andy Kaye.

“Thank you to everyone who threw their hat into the ring and to the people who are going to be joining us,” select board chair Jessica Miller said at Wednesday’s meeting.

The committee is tasked with drafting a list of rules and regulations for rentals in town.

“We want to create a work plan and figure out exactly what our target products are going to be, which would include draft regulatory regulations for the board to approach a registration process, a registration form, some kind of research and whatever kind of requirements we want to have for owners in terms of what they have on their property,” Ms. Phear told the select board.

Ms. Phear intends for the committee’s work to be completed by the end of August.

A new outdoor dining policy was also amended and passed unanimously. This comes after implementation of a new state law that allows for town select boards to manage outdoor dining policies in the post Covid era.

West Tisbury’s policy is modeled after other Island towns, with input and suggestions from Lambert’s Cove Inn abutters Dan Scherlis and Andy Kaye. Establishments will have to apply for a permit from the select board annually.

Additionally, the board appointed Jennelle Gadowski as the interim emergency management director, with current director Russell Hartenstine retiring after July 1.

-Katrina Liu 

 

Comments

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 06/10/2024 - 09:26

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Jean WT

Islanders really need to understand we need short term rentals. Without them we will have no jobs.. Our economy is based on tourism.

Barbara West Tisbury

Jean, I agree. Why would we want to ban rentals in any way? I understand we don’t want high rise hotels, but this is not the case. We need tourism to support our economy, if we don’t we will have no jobs and in fact no need for affordable housing. Out Economy is tourism/ rentals driven.
We have no other industry to support us.
Please stop this non sense.
Full disclosure I rent my house out for two weeks so I can afford to live here.

Jen WT

Barbara,
I agree the people looking to ban rentals have plenty of means and do not rely on a few rentals to survive. With inflation skyrocketing I have to rent my place or I will be on the street.
Please do not stop STR we need all rentals.
Our Island depends on it

Bea Phear WT

At town meeting in April, West Tisbury voted to allow short term rentals in residential zones. This committee is tasked with setting the regulations in accordance with the town meeting vote. It is not in the town's interest to ban them, and town meeting agreed.

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