Edgartown selectmen voted Monday to allow several old trees to be taken down and replaced with new specimens.

Aquinnah will cut operational spending by 10 per cent in next year’s budget, the board of selectmen voted Tuesday night, leaving open the question of eliminating cost of living adjustments for town employees as well.

Selectmen Jim Newman stressed, “We’re not cutting services ... You’re going to have the same number of police officers; you’re going to have the dump opened two days a week. I’m not asking them to cut down on what they’re doing.”

With Oak Bluffs facing a budget shortfall of $1.5 million next year, the town finance and advisory committee will host a public meeting next week to gather public comment and answer questions.

The meeting begins at 4 p.m. on Thursday at the Oak Bluffs Public Library on Pacific avenue.

After a specially appointed Mill Pond research committee clashed over the best plan to improve water quality in the pond — causing committee member Kent Healy to abruptly resign — the committee has been reorganized and expanded and will begin to meet again in the coming weeks.

Selectmen over the past two weeks appointed a pair of members to the committee, expanding it from three members to five. Last week the selectmen voted unanimously to appoint Anna Alley to the committee; this week they voted to add Rick Karney to the panel, again without dissent.

H1N1 Vaccine Clinics

Each town will be conducting H1N1 flu vaccination clinics to the general public per the following schedule for their residents. Please attend the clinic in the town where you are resident.

Oak Bluffs: Monday, Jan. 11 at the library from 2 to 6 p.m.

Tisbury: Wednesday, Jan. 13 at the American Legion Post from 3 to 6 p.m.

Edgartown: Friday, Jan. 15 at the Edgartown School from 3 to 7 p.m.

West Tisbury: Monday, Jan. 18 at the Public Safety Building from 9 a.m. to noon.