The Martha’s Vineyard Commission voted 10-6 to approve the regional high school athletic field project at a dramatic meeting Thursday night, capping a long-running and often acrimonious debate over synthetic turf fields.
The new cap on spending commits the school to only use the remaining balance of this year's legal budget on the turf appeal.
After an executive session Monday, high school committee chair Robert Lionette said the committee directed its attorney to reach out to the Oak Bluffs planning board to resolve the ongoing lawsuit.
Kimberly Kirk's plan to continue serving on the regional high school committee has ruffled some feathers, but Ms. Kirk said the regional school agreement dictates that members serve until May 31.
Following in West Tisbury’s footsteps, Chilmark amended its share of the regional high school budget from $1.06 million to zero.
The fate of an artificial turf field at the regional high has been in limbo since the school sued the Oak Bluffs planning board last year.
The West Tisbury town meeting kicked off on a fiery note Tuesday with residents voting down the town’s portion of the regional high school operating budget in protest of the school’s ongoing legal battle over plans for an artificial turf field.
