VINALHAVEN — The Town of Vinalhaven will hold a special town meeting in accordance with COVID-19 safety protocols Wednesday, Aug. 26 at 6 p.m. at Vinalhaven School. 

The Registrar of Voters will hold office hours at the Vinalhaven School from 6 p.m., Aug. 26, until adjournment of the special town meeting for the purpose of correcting the list of voters.

There are three articles on the special town meeting warrant: 

Article 1. To elect a moderator to preside at said meeting and to fix compensation.

Article 2. To see what sum the Town will vote to raise and appropriate ­­­­­for Law Enforcement Services from taxation.

Article 3. To see if the Town will vote to approve the Vinalhaven Harbor Ordinance amendments. (Click here to view the harbor ordinance amendments.)

At the annual town meeting July 22, the warrant article to pay $121,335 for police protection was the only article on the 48 question warrant not approved.

“For many years now, Vinalhaven has had an annual contract with the Knox County Sheriff's Office (KSO) for police coverage,” said a July news release from town officials. “The community’s decision to vote down the warrant article was based on the fact that many citizens feel the amount paid is too high for the services received.”

Residents of the island reportedly, per the news release, do not believe the Sheriff’s Office is holding up its end of the bargain. 

“Those present at town meeting said that there are expectations of KSO that are not being met, including the expectation that the deputy live on the island, better quality service, fewer gaps in coverage, and better communication from KSO about requests for service and the nature of those incidents,” the release continued.