Edgartown police chief Paul V. Condlin announced his retirement to the selectmen at their meeting Monday afternoon.

“I will forever be grateful for having the opportunity to serve the town of Edgartown as a police officer for the past 33 years,” Mr. Condlin wrote in a letter to the selectmen.

The retirement will be effective August 7.

“It’s been an incredibly good experience for me and for the town of Edgartown to work with you all these years,” selectman Arthur Smadbeck told Mr. Condlin, who attended the meeting with his wife, Linda.

Selectmen announced that Lieut. Tony Bettencourt will be appointed chief this summer, subject to contract negotiations; the internal promotion means the board will not advertise for the position. “I think with Tony it’s a good time for a transition,” said selectman and board chairman Michael J. Donaroma. “Hopefully you’ve groomed him as well for this job as you’ve been,” added Mr. Smadbeck.

“Enjoy your retirement, you’ve earned it,” selectman Margaret Serpa told Chief Condlin.

In an interview later, Mr. Condlin, who has been chief for 15 years, said he started in the department in 1975 at the age of 19, directing traffic in front of the old A& P.

“It was a miserable job,” he said with a laugh. “I didn’t come back the next summer.”

But he did return the following year as a special officer to fill an opening on the force. “I was like, oh I’ll take it. I never expected to stay.”

But he did stay. He married a few years later and with his wife settled into life on the Vineyard to raise two children. In 1995, he became chief. He will retire on his 54th birthday.

“It’s time to go. I need a change, even though I have nothing imminent that I’m moving on to,” he said. “I think also that the department needs a change. We have an experienced police department and several officers with 20 years of experience have worked the same shift over the years. Some have even been stuck on midnight shifts for over 10 years. I think of that too. The change is good, and it’s necessary.”

He’s also confident that he will leave his force in good hands with Lieutenant Bettencourt; he said the transition began last summer. “In August I transferred pretty much all of my responsibilities over to him internally, within the police department, although I’m still the final authority on making decisions,” said Chief Condlin. “So when I leave, there’s not a void. My role right now is pretty much as a mentor.”

He is a fourth generation police officer; his great-grandfather became an officer in Boston after serving in the Civil War. His grandfather was also a Boston officer, and his father and uncle were police lieutenant and police chief in Randolph. About a year after Paul was born, his father and uncle bought summer cottages on Pinehurst Road in Edgartown, and the family started spending summer vacations on the Island.

“I’m ready,” he concluded this week. “It’s time to move on.”

In other business Monday, the selectmen agreed to allow the town byways committee to consult town counsel about researching the legal rights regarding two Edgartown roads: Henry’s Path, which has seen continuous public use for more than 60 years, and the ancient way Old Meshacket Road. Both are located in Island Grove.

Committee member Dudley Levick said a gate has been built at the north end of Henry’s Way barring passage by the public. The latch post of the gate is located in the middle of Old Meshacket, blocking that road as well. In another area nearby, he said a stone wall has been built across Old Meshacket, further blocking the road. “We would like to know the nature of the town’s interest in that situation,” said Mr. Levick. “Our view is that this is a public right of way.”

Town administrator Pamela Dolby asked the committee to provide the selectmen with any documentation they have gathered about the roads so far; the information can be passed along to town counsel.

The board also acknowledged an anonymous petition submitted to the town clerk requesting that an article be placed on the annual town meeting warrant to change the town shellfish constable’s job from an appointed to an elected position.

“According to our bylaw, it came too late [for the warrant],” said Mrs. Dolby. She also said the change would be impossible without a change in legislation.

The selectmen voted to appoint Mark Hess to the town affordable housing committee for a three-year term, and approved a wire transfer of four payments of $55,000 from the Cow Bay association to the town dredge department to purchase sand from the town for private beach replenishment.