With over 45 people in attendance at the June 23 annual town meeting, Vinalhaven voted to keep Knox County sheriff’s deputies on the island. Debate began when two residents complained about the lack of response to the destruction of a stolen vehicle earlier this spring. “Cops seem to be totally disastrous, or incompetent at the very least,” said Harriet Chatfield, Vinalhaven resident. Many residents echoed this sentiment.
“Sounds like you want 24/7. You want your own police department. If that’s what Vinalhaven wants, you can have that,” responded Marjorie Stratton, the town manager. The town will be looking into taking steps to develop its own police department, but in the meantime voted to use Knox County police services.
The town also voted to repair sidewalks, raise funds to support continuing GIS work after departure of the island’s GIS Fellow, maintain an open position for an animal control officer, and give $2,500 to the Penobscot East Resource Center, a lobster hatchery in Stonington.
Ally Day is an Island Institute Fellow on Vinalhaven.