The Chilmark Community Center was buzzing with tension as residents gathered for the Annual Town Meeting to vote on a controversial issue regarding the management of the town-owned tennis courts. The room was packed with eager voters, ready to make their voices heard.
After much debate and deliberation, a compromise was reached. Instead of completely stripping authority from the existing management group, a new committee will be formed to oversee the Chilmark Town Affairs Council (CTAC). This decision came after months of simmering tensions and intense discussions leading up to the meeting.
The motion for the compromise was made by Jay Grossman, a co-founder of the Friends and Associates of Chilmark Tennis (FACT) group. Grossman and his group had originally proposed a new management system that would take control away from CTAC. However, he acknowledged flaws in the original proposal and agreed that a different approach was needed to address the larger issue at hand.
Voters ultimately approved Grossman’s motion, with some modifications. The new committee will have oversight over CTAC but will not have as much power as initially proposed. Changes at the community center will still require a majority vote of the review committee, ensuring that decisions are made collaboratively.
The outcome of the vote reflects a desire to find a solution that balances the needs of the community with the concerns of various stakeholders. As the new committee begins its work, residents are hopeful that it will help restore harmony and cooperation within the CTAC and the community center.