Voters to Decide Fate of West Tisbury Dump – The Vineyard Gazette – Martha’s Vineyard News

West Tisbury voters will be asked next year whether they want to spend a significant sum on the towns local dropoff for garbage and recycling, or close the facility after upgrades are completed at the regional refuse district in Edgartown.

Board of health member Erik Lowe made the suggestion to close the dropoff, telling selectmen at their Wednesday meeting that it needs $110,000 in repairs to a retaining wall and faces other costly work to meet state environmental standards.

Weve invested, as a member of the refuse district, in a facility that can handle, more effectively, the peoples trash, Mr. Lowe told the board. Why keep the local dropoff operating when its just another thing well have to maintain in the future?

Town health agent Omar Johnson added that an injury was reported at the dropoff this summer.

An individual stepped into one of the gaps between the wall and a trash receptacle, Mr. Johnson said.

Selectmen gave tepid responses to Mr. Lowes proposal.

The biggest questions probably going to be, whats going to happen to the Dumptique? asked board chairman Skipper Manter, referring to the popular free shop located at the dropoff and run by volunteers.

I think that the town should move the gate back beyond the Dumptique and give them some kind of lease and let them operate, Mr. Lowe responded.

Selectmen Kent Healy and Cynthia Mitchell, both cool to the idea of shuttering the dropoff, backed Mr. Manters suggestion to let voters choose the future of their local facility.

People have an attachment to it, Mrs. Mitchell said.

Town administrator Jen Rand said she would work with the board of health to craft a warrant item that would present a clear choice to voters by specifying the dollar amount of capital needed to make the local dropoff safe and compliant with environmental rules.

Were either going to invest in this, or were not going to invest in it, but if were keeping it were going to invest in it, Ms. Rand said. Were not going to part-do this fix.

Mr. Lowe agreed. Lets bring it to the town and see what peoples consensus is, he said.

Also Wednesday, selectmen approved a weekly indoor produce market at Howes House in January and February, run by Island Grown Initiative as an extension of its seasonal outdoor mobile market.

A lot of our elder customers have said they would like to be inside, said Olivia Rabbitt of Island Grown.

The senior centers central West Tisbury location, adjacent to the library, makes it a convenient stop for up-Island residents, who also can sign up there for food assistance, Ms. Rabbitt said.

Mr. Manter asked if there would be traffic problems caused by the weekly market. Island Growns Sophie Abrams Mazza said the mobile market, which sells produce and eggs from Island farms at below-retail prices, generally attracts 15 to 26 people an hour.

Well have to monitor it, Mr. Manter said.

The produce market will set up in the Howes House community room Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in January and February.

Ms. Mazza Abrams said the market, which travels around the Island several days a week, will resume in July and run through February, 2021.

As selectmen began their annual budget review process, emergency manager Russ Hartenstine asked for and received permission to increase the budget for his part-time department from $18,207 in fiscal year 2020 to $26,000.

Im doing more than my stipend allots, said Mr. Hartenstine, who gave a series of talks on emergency preparedness earlier this year.

He said he is being asked to join town committees, write grants, start a community emergency training program and train with the police department as an emergency public information officer.

Its basically what the town wants me to do, Mr. Hartenstine said. Id really like to put more time into the job to do what the town needs.

Mr. Johnson added that he needs Mr. Hartenstines assistance as well to make sure the town health department is ready for emergencies.

Selectmen backed the request, which must also pass muster with the towns financial committee.

Emergencies are going to be more ever-present, Mrs. Mitchell said. Public awareness is high at the moment, and I think youd get a lot of support for the increase.

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Voters to Decide Fate of West Tisbury Dump - The Vineyard Gazette - Martha's Vineyard News