Tisbury public meetings in 2022
20 substantive meetings from 2022, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Planning Board
The Planning Board conducted a work session to review proposed changes to the zoning bylaws. Members discussed and made recommendations regarding business scale, noise, and parking in residential areas. No formal votes on bylaw changes were taken during this session.
- Recommended limiting employees on premises to the owner and one continuous person
- Recommended requiring screening for outside storage of materials
- Recommended establishing specific time frames and restrictive language for noise
- Recommended limiting the number and size of vehicles and requiring parking on property
- Recommended updating definitions for trade and artisan businesses
Planning Board
The Planning Board approved a letter to the Vineyard Gazette regarding the Leland Ave project and approved bills payable totaling $6,697.87. Several special permit hearings were continued to future dates. The Board also discussed Master Plan updates and wastewater management guidance.
- Approved minutes from November 2, 2022 (5-0)
- Continued Patrick Lyons special permit hearing to January 18, 2023 (5-0)
- Closed Geoff Rose public hearing and continued deliberations to January 4, 2023 (5-0)
- Continued Thomas L. and Patricia S. Bransford special permit hearing to January 18, 2023 (5-0)
- Approved letter to the Vineyard Gazette regarding Leland Ave project (5-0)
- Approved bills payable totaling $6,697.87 (5-0)
- Scheduled bylaw review work session for December 29, 2022
Select Board
The Select Board voted to raise the residential tax exemption to 22% and decided against executing a commercial shift for Fiscal Year 2023. The board also amended alcohol regulations to remove the requirement that beverages be consumed with meals.
- Increased residential tax exemption to 22% (2-0)
- Took no action to execute a commercial shift (2-0)
- Approved amendment to All-Alcohol Regulations removing the 'consumed with meals only' requirement (2-0)
- Approved common victualler, lodging house, all-alcohol, wine and malt, auto rental, and class II license renewals (2-0)
- Approved EMS agreement with Fire Chief dated December 21, 2022 (2-0)
- Approved amended Patient Centric agreement (2-0)
- Approved cemetery plots at 21C Coconut Ave and 19 & 21 Poplar Ave (2-0)
- Tabled Cable Agreement
Planning Board
The Board approved an Approval Not Required (ANR) for the Tisbury Marine Terminal and requested research assistance from the Martha's Vineyard Commission for an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) program. The Board also approved printing expenses for a Master Plan survey and various bills payable.
- Approved Approval Not Required (ANR) for Tisbury Marine Terminal 190 Beach Rd. (3-0)
- Approved request for Martha's Vineyard Commission research assistance for ADU program (3-0)
- Approved $365.00 printing expense for Master Plan survey mailing (3-0)
- Approved bills payable totaling $1,794.13 (3-0)
Planning Board
The Tisbury Planning Board participated in a joint meeting to discuss a study on short-term rentals and fractional ownership models. The board held a straw poll and expressed majority support for establishing a working group to collaborate with the Martha’s Vineyard Commission on the project's scope and a request for quotation.
- Majority straw poll in favor of setting up a working group to work with L. Silber on next steps
Select Board
The Select Board approved the warrant for a special town election on January 24, 2023, and granted Eversource permission to install underground conduits on Spring Street. The board also voted to support a new skilled nursing center and referred the Tisbury Waterways Regulations back to the Waterways Committee for further review.
- Approved special town election warrant for January 24, 2023 (2-0)
- Approved employment agreement for Fire Chief's oversight of EMS department (2-0)
- Approved letter of support for Navigator Homes of Martha’s Vineyard (2-0)
- Approved letter to Eversource requesting mowing instead of herbicides (2-0)
- Continued tax rate classification public hearing to December 21, 2022 (2-0)
- Approved Eversource request to install underground cables and conduits on Spring Street (2-0)
- Referred proposed Waterways Regulations amendments back to Waterways Committee (2-0)
- Approved three amendments to the Housing Bank Act for submission to the State (2-0)
Board of Health
The Board of Health met to review the FY24 Budget and nitrogen regulations. The Health Agent reported the approval of two disposal works applications, while one application for Flowerwood LLC was presented for Board approval.
- Approved disposal works application 4405 (Manny DeOliveira/15 Lantern Ln)
- Approved disposal works application 4406 (Merle Lincoln/42 Daggett Avenue)
Personnel Board
The Board approved a new pay scale for Management and Professional roles with specific title and grade adjustments. A public hearing for a revised vacation policy was scheduled for January 20, 2023.
- Approved new Management and Professional pay scale with specified changes
- Changed EMS Director title to EMS Coordinator and moved grade to M5 or M2
- Corrected IT Director title back to IT Administrator
- Placed Council on Aging Director on new scale grade 2 or M5 of current scale
- Scheduled public hearing on new vacation policy for January 20
- Approved October 21, 2022, minutes with corrections
- Approved November 19, 2022, minutes
Planning Board
The Board approved a special permit for Main Street Medicinals and voted to seek a warrant article to reclassify the Planning Board Administrative Assistant to an Administrator position. A special permit application for 484 Main St. was continued after the applicant declined to withdraw, and an ANR for the Tisbury Marine Terminal was referred with a non-concurrence.
- Approved special permit for Main Street Medicinals (4-0)
- Approved warrant article to reclassify Administrative Assistant to Administrator at Grade 7, Step 3 (5-0)
- Approved Approval Not Required (ANR) for 61 Beach Rd (5-0)
- Referred ANR for Tisbury Marine Terminal and advised not to concur (5-0)
- Approved translation services for Master Plan outreach (5-0)
- Approved bills payable totaling $19,590.34 (5-0)
- Continued public hearing for 484 Main St. to December 21, 2022 (5-0)
- Approved minutes for October 5, October 19, and November 9, 2022 (5-0)
Select Board
The Select Board appointed Greg Martino to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission and Samantha Gitschier as a traffic officer. A public hearing regarding the Fiscal Year 2023 tax rate and property classifications was continued to a later date.
- Appointed Greg Martino as Select Board representative to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission (2-0)
- Appointed Samantha Gitschier as a traffic officer (2-0)
- Continued public hearing on FY2023 tax rate and property classes to December 14, 2022 (2-0)
Select Board
The Select Board approved a cooperative agreement with the Town of Edgartown for dredging the Lake Tashmoo channel. The project has a total cost not to exceed $140,000.
- Approved cooperative agreement for Lake Tashmoo channel dredging (2-0)
Planning Board
The Board held a work session to review proposed zoning bylaw changes and discussed funding translation services for the Master Plan. No formal votes were taken on these items; the Board will determine a budget cap for translations at a future meeting.
- Tabled vote on Master Plan translation budget to next agenda
- Proposed referring zoning bylaw language updates to Town Counsel
- Decided not to respond to correspondence from Leland Ave residents
Planning Board
The Tisbury and West Tisbury Planning Boards held a joint meeting to discuss traffic, drainage, and access issues regarding special ways, Red Coat Hill, and Schubael Weeks Road. No formal votes were taken; the boards established next steps for data gathering and public input.
- Proposed scheduling a meeting for public comment
- Proposed scheduling a session to hear solutions from homeowners and residents
- Proposed coordinating with the Martha’s Vineyard Commission for maps and traffic data
- Proposed initiating discussions with the Land Bank to review easements
Personnel Board
The Board approved the Personnel Board town report for submittal. Members reviewed a Management and Professional (M&P) study and decided to forward the market data and a proposed scale to the Finance Committee and department heads.
- Approved Personnel Board town report for submittal
- Decided to send HRS FY23 market data report and adjusted scale to Fincom
- Decided to send proposed Jon Snyder scale to department heads for review
- Proposed $14,000 for Professional Services in the Personnel Budget
Board of Health
The Board of Health met to receive reports from the Health Agent and Assistant Health Agent. The Health Agent approved four disposal works applications. Two additional disposal works applications were presented for Board approval.
- Health Agent approved disposal works application for 4399 Flowerwood LLC/17 DeBettencourt Way
- Health Agent approved disposal works application for 4400 Robert & Louise Gilpin/Golf Club Road
- Health Agent approved disposal works application for 4401 Jamie & John Atkins/26 Daggett Avenue
- Health Agent approved disposal works application for 4402 Flowerwood LLC/317 State Road
- Presented for Board approval: disposal works application 4403 105 Hines Point LLC/105 Hines Point
- Presented for Board approval: disposal works application 4404 Manny DeOliveira/131 Summer Street
Affordable Housing Committee
The Committee voted unanimously to support two Island Housing Trust (IHT) applications for Community Preservation Committee funding. Members also discussed a proposed $40,000 budget and the creation of a staff coordinator position to be put before Town Meeting.
- Approved unanimous motion to support IHT's $300,000 CPC application for Cat Hollow project
- Approved unanimous motion to support IHT's $150,000 CPC application for Leland Avenue project
- Voted to continue using Zoom for meetings (3-1, 1 abstention)
Select Board
The Select Board voted to classify two dogs, Junebug and Chicopee, as dangerous and acknowledged a plan to relocate them. The board also opted out of vote-by-mail for a special town election and approved several licenses and project invoices.
- Opted out of vote by mail for special town election on January 24, 2023 (2-0)
- Designated dog 'Junebug' as a dangerous dog (2-0)
- Designated dog 'Chicopee' as a dangerous dog (2-0)
- Approved requirements for restraint and relocation of the Marlin dogs (2-0)
- Continued Tisbury Waterways Regulations hearing to December 14, 2022 (2-0)
- Approved Common Victualler License renewal for Nat’s Nook (2-0)
- Approved special event and one-day alcohol license for Martha’s Vineyard Museum (2-0)
- Authorized negotiations with union for a paramedic supervisor position (2-0)
Select Board
The Select Board reviewed four letters of interest for the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Building Committee. The Board voted to appoint two individuals to the committee.
- Appointed Geoghan Coogan to the High School Building Committee (2-0-0)
- Appointed Sally Rizzo to the High School Building Committee (2-0-0)
Select Board
The Select Board recommended a 6.9% cost-of-living adjustment for general union and Management & Professional employees. The board also approved the 2022 scallop season dates and various administrative appointments.
- Recommended 6.9% cost-of-living adjustment (2-0)
- Approved 2022 scallop season dates for Harbor, Lake Tashmoo, and Lagoon Pond (2-0)
- Appointed William Straw to Eversource Working Group (2-0)
- Appointed Heather Maciel as Animal Control Officer (2-0)
- Approved $725.80 transfer from shellfish trust fund for equipment (2-0)
- Approved Waterways Committee agenda management guidelines (2-0)
- Accepted $200 donation for Animal Control Office (2-0)
- Approved Tisbury School invoices and bills payable (2-0)
Personnel Board
The Personnel Board voted 2-1 to adopt a 6.9% cost-of-living adjustment for FY24 using the CPI formula, and also voted 2-1 to extend the same COLA to part-time and seasonal employees. The board approved retroactive compensation for James Cleary as acting Water Superintendent at $51.85 per hour. The meeting included discussion of financial sustainability and alternative one-time payment options, but no other substantive decisions were made.
- Approved FY24 COLA of 6.9% using CPI formula (2-1)
- Approved 6.9% COLA for part-time and seasonal employees (2-1)
- Approved retroactive compensation for James Cleary as acting Water Superintendent at M7 step 6 ($51.85/hour) effective July 6, 2022 (unanimous)
- Approved minutes of September 23, 2022 meeting (unanimous)