Meetings are held remotely. Go to truro-ma.gov, click on the meeting you want to watch, and open its agenda for instructions on how to watch or take part online.
Thursday, March 18
- Climate Action Committee, 10:30 a.m.
Friday, March 19
- Library Trustees, 11:30 a.m.
- Commission on Disabilities, 3:30 p.m.
- Community Preservation Committee, 5 p.m.
Monday, March 22
- Zoning Board of Appeals, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 23
- Select Board, 5 p.m.
Wednesday, March 24
- Planning Board, 5 p.m.
Thursday, March 25
- Climate Action Committee, 10:30 a.m.
Conversation Starters
Covid-19 Update
As of March 11, Truro had two active cases of Covid-19, according to the town. The state reports that there have been 38 total cases and no deaths related to Covid-19.
Plethora of Petitions
The draft of the Truro town meeting warrant currently shows 64 articles, including nine new petitioned articles. Two of these would make the board of health and zoning board of appeals elected as opposed to appointed by the select board. (See story on page 1.)
The other petitions include one seeking $150,000 for grants of up to $7,500 a year per child to cover the costs of care for two- and three-year-olds of Truro residents and town employees. Four-year-olds get priority and are accommodated with free preschool at Truro Central School already. This voucher plan would fill the gap when the school program cannot accommodate all three-year-olds.
Two other articles aim to increase financial transparency. One would require town staff to produce quarterly public reports on town projects costing more than $75,000. The other asks town staff to explain at town meeting the tax impact on a $500,000 home of any town project costing over $50,000.
Another petition asks to change the zoning bylaw so that accessory dwelling units (cottages or apartments sharing a lot with another home) are allowed by right rather than going through a hearing before the planning board.
An article asks voters to create a year-round rental-housing trust similar to the one in Provincetown that financed the purchase of 28 market-rate units at Harbor Hill.
One petition asks voters to ban the use and sale of single-use water bottles by the town and on town property.
Another asks town meeting to create a “clean water fund” that would support the upgrade of cesspools and other noncompliant waste treatment systems in town. —K.C. Myers
