Chilmark
Chilmark is a town of rolling hills and unmatched coastline. Not so long ago
uninhabited except for an occasional farm or fishing village, it now provides the
setting for many a summer home.
The stone fences of the sheep farms still ribbon the hills, while the old stone
animal pound stands on the South Road, a reminder of the days when a gate left open
resulted in a roaming flock and a fine for its owner.
The center of Chilmark boasts a lovely church. The unique pointed steeple was
added when the building was moved in 1915 from its original site on Middle Road.
All roads from the center at Beetlebung Corner lead to points of beauty. Middle
Road, perhaps the least improved of Island main roads, provides a lovely view of
a placid farm with the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop.
The Menemsha Crossroad joins North Road and takes one to the fishing village
once known as Menemsha Creek. Here the draggers still come in with their great nets
and the lobstermen land their catches. Seafood may be purchased on the spot. Lovely
private vessels lie along the docks while yachtsmen take on fresh water and supplies.
A safe public bathing beach is another attraction. Menemsha is also the home of
a Coast Guard station.
Before the days when the Coast Guard looked out for shipwrecked vessels, Vineyarders
took it upon themselves to form volunteer groups that provided assistance to sailors
in times of need. Open dories were launched into the stormy seas from Squibnocket
Landing, the only beach on the South Shore shallow enough for a boat to be launched
or landed in heavy weather. It is now a beach for year-round and summer Chilmark
residents.
TOWN GOVERNMENT
Fire – To report a fire: 911
Crossroad Station: 508.645.2550
North Road Station: 508.645.2207
Police – To report an emergency: 911
To report urgency, but no emergency: 311
Alternate Emergency Number: 508.696.5776
Station: 508.645.3310
Chilmark Town Hall
Beetlebung Corner
Chilmark 02535
508.645.2100
ELECTED TOWN OFFICERS
Board of Assessors – Clarissa Allen, chair; Leonard Jason Jr; Elizabeth Barrett Oliver. 508.645.2102
Board of Health – Janet Buhrman; Katherine Lees Carroll; Michael A. Renahan; 508.645.2105
Board of Selectmen – Frank Morison Fenner Jr.; Warren M. Doty; J.B. Riggs Parker; 508.645.2101
Cemetery Commissioners – John O. Flender; Stephen J. Gallas; Jane N. Slater
Constable – Daniel Bryant
Fence Viewers – David Flanders; Mitchell Posin; vacant seat
Finance Advisory Committee – Marshall E. Carroll III; Kathleen A. Cameron; William Randol; Ernest Douglas Sederholm; Sarah Mayhew Shipway; Katie Upsn; Frank Yeomans
Highway Department – 508.645.3073
Land Bank Commission Member – Pamela Goff
Library Trustees – J. Norman Freed ; Jacqueline M. Sexton; Jane N. Slater
Martha’s Vineyard Commission Member (Elected) – Doug Seiderholm
Moderator – Everett H. Poole
Planning Board – John O. Flender; Tim Lasker; William Jonen Meegan; Richard Osnoss; Mitchell Posin; Russell R. Walton; Janet Wiedner; 508.645.2104
Site Review Committee – Clarissa Allen
Surveyors of Wood, Lumber, and Bark – Keith Emin; James D. Morgan
Treasurer – Melanie Becker; 508.645.2106
Tree Warden – Keith L. Emin
Up-Island Reg. School Committee – Susan Parker
APPOINTED TOWN OFFICERS
Accountant – Tom Wilson; 508.645.2112.
Building Inspector – Leonard Jason Jr.; 508.645.2103
Collector of Taxes – Polly M. McDowell; 508.645.2108
Community Center Advisory Committee – Kathie L. Carroll; Frank M. Fenner,Jr.; Wilma Hancock; Carole E. Larsen; Jules S. Worthington
Community Preservation Committee – Andrew Goldman
Conservation Commission – Bruce Bartels; David Flanders; Pamela S. Goff; Raymond Kellman; Russell Maloney; Richard Steves, Virginia Dyer (alt.) 508.645.2114
Conservation Officer – Russell R. Walton
Council on Aging – Ann Detrich; Elmore Mayhew; Ethel Sherman; 508.693.2896
Director of Emergency Management – Daniel Bryant.
Dog Officer – Chris Murphy
Election Officers – Bette F. Carroll; Robert S. Carroll; Wilma G. Hancock; Susan Heilbron
Executive Secretary – Timothy R. Carroll
Fire Chief – David O. Norton
Forest Warden – David O. Norton
Gas Inspector – Mike Ciancio
Harbor Advisory Committee – Louis S. Larsen; Gregory Mayhew; Paul H. Mayhew; Scott McDowell; James D. Morgan; Alex Preston; Donald F. Poole
Harbormaster/Wharfinger – Dennis Jason. 508.645.2846
Highway Surveyor – Keith Emin
Historical Commission – Barbara Armstrong; Elizabeth F. Carroll; John Flender; Jane Slater
Housing Committee – Steven Schwab; Zelda Gamson; Jim Feiner; Andrew Goldman, William Randol; Tim Lasker; 508-645-2104
Inspector of Animals – Albert O. Fischer, Jr
Inspector of Plumbing – Michael Ciancio
Inspector of Wires – Lee Welch
Land Bank Advisory Committee – Clarissa Allen; Timothy R. Carroll; Warren Doty; David M. Flanders; Elizabeth L. Randall; Russell R. Walton.
Landfill – 508.645.3760
Legal Council for Town – Ronald H. Rappaport, Esq.
Library – 508.645.3360
Library Director – Ebba Hierta
Martha’s Vineyard Commission – Chris Murphy, Douglas E. Sederholm
Martha’s Vineyard Regional Transit Authority Appointee – Leonard Jason, Jr
Park & Recreation Committee – Timothy R. Carroll; Andrew A. Goldman; Alexander H. Preston; Jane Slater.
Personnel Board – Jane A. Greene, chair; Susan Heilbron; Max McCrerry; Lois Engel Norton; Richard Williams
Police Chief – Timothy S. Rich
Registrars – Susan Heilbron; Judy G.L. Mayhew; Carol Merry
School Advisory Council – Jill Bernstein; Spencer Booker; Carlos Colley; Jackie Guzalak; Mike Herbert; Elisha Knight; Patty Poole; Susan Puciul; Robin Smith.
Shellfish Constable – Stanley L. Larsen
Site Review Committee – Clarissa Allen; Katherine Carroll; Virginia Dyer; Leonard Jason Jr.; JB Riggs Parker; Michael Renahan; Russell Walton
Town Clerk – Margaret T. Orlando; 508.645.2107.
Up-Island Council On Aging – Joyce Bowker, dir.; Kathleen Brady, asst. dir.; Ellen Reynolds, outreach worker; Helen Brown, admin. asst.
Veterans’ Graves Officer – Steve Gallas
Zoning Board of Appeals – William Rossi (chair); Frank LoRusso; Rodney Bunker; Peter Knight; Chris Murphy; Wendy Weldon (alt.), Barbara Armstrong (alt.); 508.645.2114
