AT ITS MEETING TONIGHT, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 12, THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN WILL:
• Handle annual license renewals for liquor sales, common victualers, entertainment, vehicle rentals, flower and produce vendors, vehicle sales and mobile food units.

• Hear a request for execution of easements for 39 and 43 Eel Point Road. • Hear a review of Department of Public Works roadway surfacing. • Review FY09 general fund budget recommendations. • Hear a departmental overview of the police department.

• Have a discussion about upcoming strategic planning for the island. The intent is to involve public input to add to or enhance considerations already devised by the board that reflect its seven 2007-2008 goals. Questions are far-ranging, including topics such as whether to have some boards appointed or elected; if the town should pursue one large override or annual overrides; development of alternative energy sources; paving country district roads; an in-town parking garage; if Madaket should have a wastewater treatment plant; if the deer population should be reduced; issues about housing; and defining what growth management actually means. Board Chairman Whitey Willauer recently said the selectmen have been focusing on one or two topics at a time rather than the "big picture."

AT ITS MEETINGWED., DEC. 5 THE SELECTMEN:

(Brian Chadwick absent) • Unanimously approved a Land Bank request for a vote to pledge the town's full faith and credit relating to the Land Bank's issuance of its 2007 Series Abonds.

• Unanimously approved a Land Council request for approval of a conservation restriction at 12 North Liberty St.

• Heard a request for a change of manager on the liquor license for the Starlight Cafe. The new manager is also new owner Mark Watson. Since the selectmen approved the manager's change a week ago no further action was necessary.

• Heard a presentation of recommendations from the Cemetery Commission Workgroup. The commission will ask 2008 Town Meeting voters to appropriate up to $30,000 to address vandalism in the town cemeteries. In addition, the commission would like to establish a cemetery department and Board of Cemetery Commissioners, investigate building an island crematory and set aside land for a new municipal burial ground.

• Unanimously approved a town administrator's request for action on a new procurement alternative relating to the construction manager for the 2 Fairgrounds Road public safety facility. Projects Manager Diane O'Neil and Deputy Police Chief Charles Gibson two weeks ago attended a meeting on the new state process at the Attorney General's Office and view it as lowering costs and decreasing change orders by placing the burden on a project's construction manager to choose sub-bidders who will provide a quality product and have a solid outline of work entailed before projects begin.

• Unanimously approved placing two non-binding questions on the annual 2008 town elections ballot. The questions, submitted by Town Clerk Catherine Stover acting as a private citizen, regard the beach nourishment proposed for 'Sconset and construction of a municipal parking garage. "All this is, is an informational tool," said Stover in response to some reluctance by board members as to whether the public has sufficient knowledge of the questions at hand. "This is for the people to let their feelings be known."

• Discussed the outlook for the general fund FY09 budget not including figures relating to the schools. Town Administrator Libby Gibson said she sees the upcoming expenditures as including services vital to the community, such as roadway management costs, and not "Pie in the sky" projections. Town operating increases include $2.3 million for expenses and $4.2 million for payroll. The projected FY09 expenditures total $74.1 million, an increase of just under $2 million from FY08. Capital projects requests are at $33 million including about $28 million for buildings (primarily the new public safety complex) and approximately $1.2 million in road improvements.

- Compiled by Mary Lancaster