Government
The Edgartown selectmen sent a warning letter to the Flatbread Pizza Company after the popular restaurant by the airport closed early for the season. Last week, selectmen authorized sending a letter of warning to Flatbread because it closed for the season in early September.
With a long wait for on-Island health care in the past — though some frustration lingers — Island veterans and Providence VA Medical Center representatives met Wednesday night to discuss the sometimes complicated details of the new contract between the Providence VA and the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.
The former chairman of the Edgartown dredge committee was fined $5,000 by the State Ethics Commission for a conflict of interest violation stemming from an unauthorized dredging project in January.
According to a press release from the ethics commission issued Wednesday, Norman Rankow admitted to violating conflict of interest law when he directed the town dredge to perform work around a dock at a home on Witchwood avenue where he had served as general contractor. The dredge work on Jan. 13 was done without the proper federal, state and local permits.
Steamship Authority governors this week announced plans for fare increases on the Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket routes in order to compensate for rising fuel costs and other expenses in next year’s budget.
At the monthly meeting of the boat line governors Tuesday in Nantucket, a preliminary look at next year’s operating budget showed a budget shortfall of $1.5 million, according to a meeting summary.
A new sidewalk and fresh paint are in store for Skiff avenue in Tisbury as town officials attempt to make the road safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and cars. On Tuesday night the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, on behalf of the Tisbury department of public works and planning board, held a public meeting at the Tisbury Senior Center to present shared-user path options for two areas: Skiff avenue and a section of Beach Road from Wind’s Up Watersports to Saltwater Restaurant.
On Thursday, Oct. 4 at 7:15 p.m., the Martha’s Vineyard Commission is holding a public hearing on the draft for the Wind Energy Plan for Dukes County. This plan was widely distributed last year and can be downloaded from the commission website, mvcommission.org (search for Wind Energy Plan September 2012).