Meetings Ahead
Meetings are held remotely. Go to provincetown-ma.gov and click on the meeting you want to watch.
Thursday, Oct. 8
- Scholarship & Trust Administration Committee, 3 p.m.
- Public Pier Corp., 2 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 13
- Select Board, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 14
- Harbor Committee, 5 p.m.
Conversation Starters
Covid-19 Update
As of Oct. 6, Provincetown had zero active cases of Covid-19, 32 cases considered recovered, and one death.
Wee Care Money May Become Vouchers
In 2018, town meeting raised $300,000 to run free infant, toddler, and preschool programs for residents and town employees. In 2020, the so-called Wee Care program closed when the pandemic struck. Now, even though in-person school has started, Wee Care’s infant and toddler programs remain closed indefinitely due to staff resignations and retirements.
Town officials on Oct. 5 suggested using the money to offer child-care vouchers instead, so that parents could buy into other child-care programs or hire sitters.
Acting Town Manager Charlie Sumner told the select board there might be money available for that. But, he added, the finance and school directors need to look into it further.
Select board member Louise Venden urged him to make it snappy.
“We already made a decision to use this, so my hope is we get more aggressive in using the funds that are already in the budget,” she said.
Sumner replied, “I’ll get to work on this.”
Wellfleet and Chatham offer vouchers to residents of preschool-age children, Sumner said, and a similar family support system passed at the Eastham town meeting on Sept. 26.
Provincetown’s program was unique in the state, as it also paid for infant and young toddler care.
Town Clerk Leaves After 3 Months
Philip Gaudet became the town clerk in June and resigned three months later, on Sept. 25. Charles Sumner, the acting town manager, said Gaudet was well liked by staff, and did a good job.
“He’s a nice gentleman,” Sumner said. “He said it was for personal reasons and he felt very badly. But he left it at that.”
The assistant town clerk, Ana Ruiz, has been appointed acting clerk once again. The last time, 71 people applied for the job awarded to Gaudet. Before a new person is selected, Ruiz will have to get the town through the presidential election on Nov. 3.
“Ana did a good job running a local election this spring,” Sumner said. “We are looking internally to get help … to help run the presidential election.”
The November ballots will be available by Oct. 9 from the state, Sumner said.
The Sewer System’s Got Cash
The sewer system must be expanded, and until recently only half of the $6 million job had been financed, with a $3 million low-interest loan from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. That amount is paying for a new peak-flow storage tank. Last week, the U.S.D.A awarded a second $3 million loan to Provincetown to finish expansion of the treatment plant, Sumner said on Oct. 5. This will ultimately allow further business growth in the downtown area.
—K.C. Myers
