The West Tisbury police department is preparing for the departure of its longest-serving officer, Lieut. Jeffrey Manter, who is reaching retirement age.
Universally known as Skipper, Mr. Manter also serves on the West Tisbury select board and multiple Island school committees. He will retire at the end of July after nearly five decades on the force.
“I am working on completing my 47th year,” Mr. Manter said at Wednesday’s select board meeting, held online.
Massachusetts requires mandatory retirement of police officers at age 65.
Sgt. Matthew Gebo has been qualified for promotion to lieutenant effective August 1, according to a letter to the board from police chief Matthew Mincone.
Mr. Gebo passed both a written test and a panel interview with police chiefs from the Island and mainland, Mr. Mincone wrote.
The department is now seeking to hire two patrol officers, Mr. Mincone’s letter continued, one to replace Mr. Gebo and a second to fill a new, full-time post at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport.
Among other business Wednesday, the select board approved town administrator Jennifer Rand’s request for an $8,000 fund transfer to cover legal expenses that have exceeded the annual $45,000 legal budget.
“It’s been a weird year. There’s been a lot of random stuff,” Ms. Rand said, naming personnel and animal control among the areas with unexpected legal expenses.
The board also agreed to permanently shift the gavel time for town meeting to 6 p.m., after this year’s early start was praised by voters.
“We had many compliments,” board chair Cynthia Mitchell said.
The select board holds its next meeting May 11.
