Meetings Ahead
Meetings are being conducted remotely. Go to eastham-ma.gov/calendar-by-event-type/16 and click on a particular meeting to read its agenda. That document will provide information about how to view and take part remotely.
Thursday, May 14
- Nauset Regional School Committee, 6 p.m.
Monday, May 18
- Eastham 400 Commemoration Committee, 10:30 a.m.
- Elementary School Committee, 5:30 p.m.
- Select Board, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 19
- T-Time Committee, 5 p.m.
Wednesday, May 20
- Planning Board, 5 p.m.
Conversation Starters
Historical Society Cancels Season
Based on “a concern for the health and safety of our volunteers and many seasonal visitors,” the Eastham Historical Society will not open its museums for the 2020 season. It has had to cancel its popular annual Plant and White Elephant Sale as well. Some events scheduled for this year may take place remotely; check easthamhistoricalsociety.org for updates.
Eastham Public Radio?
Select board chair Aimee Eckman and Supt. of Public Works and Natural Resources Silvio Genao had such fun hosting last week’s live vessel storage lottery that they’re thinking about a regular “radio” show about the town. “We’d love to broadcast from the library, just like Boston Public Radio,” Eckman told the library trustees at their meeting Saturday.
Teardowns on Planning Agenda
Three property owners will seek the planning board’s approval May 20 to tear down existing buildings and put up new homes.
Jeffrey and Mary McAleney want to raze three residential dwellings and a garage at 885 Doane Road Rear and build one new house and an accessory guest house/garage. Building Commissioner Thomas Wingard found that the project exceeds zoning limits as a site coverage expansion of more than 200 feet (from 4,283 square feet to 6,819 square feet).
At 35 and 45 Bay Shore Lane, Jesse and Claire Johnson plan to demolish a house at No. 45 and combine two buildable lots to put up a new home. Total site coverage for the combined lots would rise from 5,120 square feet to 7,941 square feet; review is required when lots of 20,000 square feet or more are proposed for site coverage greater than 3,000 square feet.
Elaine Bonoma seeks to tear down the house at 1 Nycoma Way and build a new dwelling and garage with an increase in site coverage that will trigger a planning board review as above.
A Wiley Approach to Parking
Dirt parking areas leading into lots at Wiley Park and Boat Meadow will be reserved for Eastham taxpayer or visitor beach sticker holders this summer, the select board decided last week. In a memo, Recreation Director Christine Mickle said out of town cars bring many dog-walkers to Wiley Park and pull-off parkers at Boat Meadow are would make it difficult for a fire truck to get by them in an emergency.” Town Administrator Jacqui Beebe noted the out-of-town parkers are “mostly from Orleans, not from Canada.”
Regional Planning for the New Normal
Town Administrator Jacqui Beebe serves on several regional groups that are coordinating how Cape communities will roll out services once the state of emergency is lifted. One was brought together by Cape Cod National Seashore Supt. Brian Carlstrom to talk about beaches. Another includes town administrators, town managers, and health agents from Provincetown to Brewster. A third group being formed at the invitation of the Truro Select Board would include three representatives — select board chairs, one other member, and town administrator/managers from Provincetown to Orleans and perhaps Brewster and Chatham.
Get Your June 23 Ballot Early
Polls will be open from noon to 6 p.m. at town hall for the June 23 annual town election, but please don’t plan to come by. If you do, social distancing will be maintained and there will be barriers to separate voters and workers, but your best option is voting early by mail.
Early voting applications to receive a ballot by mail will be sent to all registered voters in the next few weeks. If you can’t wait, the form is available on the town’s website.
If you’re not registered, the last day to do so before the June 23 election is June 12. Go to eastham-ma.gov/town-clerk for more information. —Ed Maroney
