Embattled Dukes County manager E. Winn Davis formally resigned his post on Wednesday.

Following a tense county commission meeting that included a nearly two-hour executive session, the county manager, who has come under fire in recent weeks for a failed gambit to use federal disaster funds to repair the breach at Norton Point beach, read a brief letter announcing his resignation effective Sept. 14.

Vineyard, Nantucket, SSA Managers Turn Out to Oppose State House Bill

By MIKE SECCOMBE

BOSTON - Opponents of a union-backed move to water down the independence of the Steamship Authority and decrease control by the two Islands turned out in force on Boston on Thursday to fight it before the state Joint Committee on Transportation.

In a small island community known for its largely dissent-free brand of government, the Gosnold annual town meeting Monday promises to be more of the same.

Gosnold town officials this week said this year's town meeting warrant has no real hot-button issues. All 11 articles on the warrant appear to be largely pedestrian at first reading, which seems to be the norm in this town that includes the six Elizabeth Islands and is the seventh town in Dukes County.

High School Budget in Limbo as Special Meeting Plans Stall

By IAN FEIN

In a political maneuver intended to draw the attention of the state, selectmen in three Island towns this week indicated they may intentionally leave the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School without a budget for the coming fiscal year.

The unusual tactic comes as part of an ongoing controversy over how towns divide their regional school district costs.

Commission Begins Its Review of Middle Line Housing Plan

By IAN FEIN

Chilmark selectmen told members of the Martha's Vineyard Commission last week about their desire to provide town residents with affordable homes in the Middle Line Road housing project.

"This has been a dream of ours for quite a few years," said selectman and board chairman Warren Doty. "And it is starting to look like a dream that is about to come true."

Towns Seek to Chart a Better Course for Regional Trash Disposal Methods

By IAN FEIN

The Vineyard is taking a fresh look at how it handles its trash.

Selectmen from Tisbury and Oak Bluffs on Monday will take up the possibility of hiring the Martha's Vineyard Refuse Disposal and Resource Recovery District to manage their municipal solid waste, which, if it happened, would mark the first time in roughly 15 years that all six towns on the Island are working together under a unified trash disposal system.