Julia Rappaport
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.
Faced with a near-certain fiscal crisis due to pressure from state officials and political maneuverings on Beacon Hill, Dukes County Sheriff Michael McCormack has quietly agreed to trade his independence for a state takeover of his department.
Two weeks ago, Sheriff McCormack joined with the sheriffs of Barnstable, Norfolk and Plymouth counties to back an amendment to Gov. Deval Patrick’s proposed 2009 budget that would place the four sheriffs and their employees under control of the commonwealth.
One is a wampum jewelry designer. The other is a fiber artist. They share many things — friends, a love of Martha’s Vineyard, a penchant for creating — and this week, they will add one more to the list.
Despite the small size of the crowd, the debate among Chilmark voters at their annual town meeting this week was passionate and at times heated.
On Monday night voters gathered at the Chilmark Community Center to take up a 27-article warrant. Moderator Everett H. Poole presided.
A total of 113 voters attended, well over the quorum requirement of 25.
It was a meeting which saw a rare moment when Mr. Poole laid aside his gavel for the third time in his 31-year career to speak from the floor.
Chilmark voters, known for their thrifty ways, will be put to the test at their annual town meeting next week when they are asked to spend extra money on a variety of projects from affordable housing to education.
The meeting begins on Monday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m., in the Chilmark Community Center. Moderator Everett H. Poole will preside.
The annual town election will be held on Wednesday; polls are open from noon to 8 p.m. at the community center.
When Warren Doty first moved the Vineyard in the late 1970s, the Menemsha harborfront was booming.
“Then there were five boats landing 10,000 pounds of sea scallops every three days,” he recalled. “There was a work force of ten shuckers in three different shucking shacks. That’s 30 Islanders working on the docks with about fifteen on boats. The season lasted from October to April every year. There were 45 to 50 jobs in Menemsha for six to eight months during the season.