Recent news from the Little Compton Town Council:

Agricultural Conservancy Trust

Anya Rader Wallack and Stephen E. Souza will fill vacancies on the AgTrust board after trustees Bill Richmond and David Wechsler, who have served for 19 years and 17 years respectively, opted not to seek reappointment.

In a letter relating to his decision to step down, Wechsler advised the town council to “not permit any periodic small minded ludites to mess with the AgTrust…Most recently, a few individuals have blamed the AgTrust for increases in property values and the nationwide shortage of affordable housing. The irony? When you research the 1985 beginning of the AgTrust, the loudest arguments against it were that it would force land and home values down!”

Referendum proposal defeated

Earlier this month, councilor Gary Mataronas presented a motion recommending that a non-binding referendum be included on the November 5 ballot, asking voters if the Little Compton Agricultural ConservancyTrust’s mission should be expanded to include housing. The motion was defeated by a 3-2 vote, with councilors Paul Golembeske, Andrew Iriarte-Moore and Patrick McHugh opposed and council president Bob Mushen and Mataronas casting the affirmative votes.

Director of Public Works vacancy

Following a recommendation by Town Administrator Tony Teixeira to not renew public works director George Duarte’s contract, which expired at the end of June, councilors authorized Teixeira to advertise for the position. The application period runs ends today (Friday, July 26) and interviews will be held next week. Teixeira is expected to recommend a new hire at the August 8 council meeting.

Harbor Master/Assistant Harbor Master

By unanimous vote, the council approved the reappointment of Michael Massa as the town’s Harbor Master and Commissioner of Wrecks and Chris Brady as Assistant Harbor Master for the coming year.