Residents grill Chilmark council over tennis dispute

Tensions reached a boiling point at the Chilmark Community Center on Sunday as residents gathered to discuss the upcoming town meeting vote on who will manage the town’s tennis courts. The issue, which may seem trivial to some, has divided the community into opposing sides, with accusations and finger-pointing running rampant.

If Article 32 is approved at the town meeting, a public town tennis committee will take over the management of the courts year-round, stripping the Chilmark Town Affairs Council (CTAC) of its summer management duties. The proposal, put forth by the Friends and Associates of Chilmark Tennis (FACT), has sparked controversy and heated debate.

The focus of much of the criticism at the meeting was on Eddie Stahl, the long-serving tennis pro in Chilmark. Many attendees expressed support for Stahl, accusing CTAC leadership of orchestrating a campaign to remove him from his position at the community tennis court where he has worked for 25 years.

The meeting also addressed a controversial video posted by Kyle Williams, which some felt used vague allegations of racism to sway voters away from FACT’s proposal. The video has since been taken down, but the accusations have left a sour taste in the mouths of many residents.

Amidst the turmoil, CTAC leadership faced scrutiny over a series of resignations from board members and accusations of exclusion and lack of transparency. The community center’s executive director, Susan Pimental Andrien, spoke out against FACT’s proposal, citing financial concerns and offering alternative solutions to address community needs.

As the town meeting approaches, the community remains divided, with emotions running high and tensions escalating. The future of the town’s tennis courts hangs in the balance, as residents grapple with the fallout from a seemingly innocuous issue that has spiraled into a full-blown controversy.