Government
After financial woes that led to a free cash deficit of nearly $1 million, the Oak Bluffs town administrator said this week that the town ended fiscal year 2012 on a much more positive note — still in the hole, he said, but steadily climbing out. Mr. Whritenour said, and he said it will take years to fully overcome impacts from the recession.
In a repeat of a presentation given to the Oak Bluffs selectmen last month, the Edgartown selectmen Monday heard serious warnings about reducing nitrogen levels in Sengekontacket Pond.
With members of the Joint Committee on Sengekontacket in attendance, the selectmen heard that based on a thorough review of the Massachusetts Estuaries Project study on the pond, nitrogen levels need to be reduced and removed.
The Martha’s Vineyard Commission last week approved a wind energy plan that will regulate wind turbine development on Island land and waters.
The commission will use the plan as guidance when reviewing turbines. The commission plans to review the plan again in five years, though members emphasized that the plan could be changed at any time.
Steamship Authority governors this week approved an operating budget for the coming year that includes slight fare increases for automobiles to and from the Vineyard.
Meeting Tuesday in Woods Hole, the board approved a budget with operating expenses of more than $83 million, a 4.1 per cent increase over estimated total operating costs for 2012.
The monthly meeting of the Steamship Authority governors, originally scheduled to take place on Island, will instead take place this week in Woods
Republican candidate for Congress Christopher Sheldon made a campaign swing through Martha’s Vineyard Saturday, chatting with voters in Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven and Edgartown and making stump speeches along the way.
“It’s not partisan problems, it’s good government issues,” Mr. Sheldon said about what he’s hearing from Vineyard voters. He is challenging incumbent Cong. William Keating in the ninth district congressional race.