Government
The Steamship Authority governors this week finalized a policy prohibiting children younger than 13 from traveling unaccompanied.
At their monthly meeting Tuesday in Woods Hole, the governors voted to establish a policy that children up to age 13 must travel with a person 13 years of age or older who is responsible for their care and custody.
Edgartown is slated to become a bustling cruise ship port this summer, with cruise ships scheduled to dock in town 22 times between May and September.
On Monday the selectmen distributed the American Cruise Lines’ Vineyard schedule, which shows that the company’s three vessels — Independence, American Star and American Glory — will be docking in EdgartownThe Oak Bluffs selectmen signed off on the annual town meeting warrant Tuesday, but said they expect lively discussion about two agenda items: funding for a new school district building and stipends for some elected town officials.
Selectmen expressed hesitation at a request for $45,172, which would pay for the town’s portion of architectural designs for a new superintendent’s building on the high school campus.
Head Start, the home-based preschool program for low-income Vineyard families, will end programming one month earlier and begin one month later this year to accommodate federal budget cuts due to sequestration, the program’s director announced this week.
Debbie Milne, early childhood program director at Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, which operates the Head Start program on the Island, said the program’s budget is being cut by $19,000.
“We made the best of a bad situation,” Ms. Milne said on Thursday.
The West Tisbury selectmen are taking a second look at an agreement with the Cape and Vineyard Energy Cooperative for a town solar project amid questions about a draft contract for the project.
At their meeting last Wednesday, the selectmen directed town administrator Jennifer Rand to consult with town counsel about certain details in the contract.
Selectman and board chairman Cynthia Mitchell said the board has “a couple of things to check out, like the opt-out language, with our counsel.”
Oyster season in Chilmark is set to begin on Monday after the board of selectmen approved the opening of the short season.
At the selectmen’s weekly meeting on Tuesday, the board approved a recommendation from the shellfish committee that permits two heaping bushels a day, Monday through Wednesday. The season ends April 30. Shellfish constable Isaiah Scheffer said half a dozen oystermen had expressed interested in permits — “a controlled amount,” Mr. Scheffer added.