Island voters will not decide whether to make minor modifications to Dukes County government until the fall, but the county commission has already taken the first steps toward change.

At their regular meeting last week, the Chilmark selectmen took up the ordinarily routine business of making annual appointments and used the opportunity to make some changes.

Selectmen considered 48 staff appointments and the makeup of some 26 committees.

In the end they eliminated one staff position and postponed reappointing the town clerk, the assistant to the executive secretary and receptionist who also serves as the assistant town clerk and the plumbing and gas inspector.

Dukes County Sheriff Michael McCormack, who last week borrowed money from the county treasury to pay his staff, will receive temporary relief in the coming week from state-issued emergency monies. The sheriff will see additional aid when Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick signs his supplemental budget.

The Massachusetts house and senate approved the budget Wednesday, which includes $10 million for county sheriffs. Governor Patrick is expected to sign the budget today.

With requests for financial aid from the state falling on deaf ears, the Dukes County sheriff told the county commission this week that he is out of money. “My main concern is payroll. I was totally out of funds as of April 30. I haven’t paid invoices since March,” Sheriff Michael McCormack told members of the county commission at their regular meeting Wednesday.

County government is here to stay.

This is the recommendation the Dukes County charter study commission will make to Vineyard voters when the commission issues its final recommendation on county government by the end of the month.

At their regularly scheduled meeting last Thursday, the commission took a nearly unanimous vote in favor of continuing the regional form of government which includes the Vineyard and Gosnold.

At their annual town election Wednesday Chilmark voters easily approved three Proposition 2 1/2 overrides and reeelected selectman Warren Doty to a fourth term.

The overrides included $78,000 in education spending and two funding requests that will allow the town to help pay for the county health care access and pest control programs.

A total of 211 voters, or 26 per cent of the 805 registered, turned out for the election on a sunny, cool April day.