Meetings Ahead
Meetings are held 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.
Monday, July 20
- Eastham Elementary School Committee, 6 p.m.
Thursday, July 23
- Harbor Planning Committee, 4 p.m.
Conversation Starters
Covid-19 Update
As of July 9, the number of confirmed cases in Eastham was 10. The number of cases has remained at 10 since June 4, according to the town’s website.
Warrant Is Open
The annual town meeting warrant is open. Petitioned articles that were on the original warrant in May will appear on the September warrant and any new petitioned articles will require 200 signatures. The warrant officially closes Monday, July 27.
Town Seal to Stay
After the select board received a letter from a resident inquiring about the origins of the town seal, the board provided historical records at its July 13 meeting that showed the story behind the emblem.
Those records show that for the first 253 years of its existence the town had done without a seal, but it did adopt one in 1897 that still stands today. The seal is the head of the brave Aspinet, Sachem — and elected leader — of the Nauset Indians, who led 40 of his men against Capt. Myles Standish and his 17 “discoverers” from the Mayflower, in their “first encounter” on Dec. 8, 1620.
The site is marked by a bronze plaque on a large boulder at First Encounter Beach, and a large boulder in front of town hall with a similar plaque marks the historic event.
“I think this story is important to Eastham,” Select Board Chair Jamie Rivers said. “It would be nice to have something here that told that story.”
Mike Caliri, video services coordinator for the town, said that a historical penny that predates U.S. currency actually includes Eastham’s town seal on the coin. Caliri said he has the coin and would bring in it for the select board to see.
Committee Updates
The select board appointed Molly Chapman to the recycling committee, Alexandra Davis to the recreation commission, and Cindy Nicholson as the senior level designee to the State Ethics Commission.
New Town Moderator Scott Kerry discussed coming up with a plan to get more people to fill committee vacancies that currently exist. Select board member Aimee Eckman said there are currently 24 vacancies on the 30 different town committees.
The select board said they would meet with the search committee to develop a better recruitment and advertising plan to fill those vacancies.
At last week’s select board meeting, Steve Wasby, member of the zoning board of appeals, took issue with the fact that Kerry has become moderator while also serving as the chair of the T-Time Development Committee.
The T-Time committee discussed Kerry’s new role as town moderator at its meeting last week as well. The committee agreed that they’d like Kerry to continue, at least until any recommendation from the group was brought before town meeting and an actual conflict of interest emerges.
The topic was discussed again at the select board’s July 13 meeting, when the board considered making new policies like requiring a new chair of a committee to be voted in when the current chair’s term expires.
Antique Show a Go
The select board voted to approve transient vendor permits for the Eastham Historical Society’s 43rd Annual Antique Show on July 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The show will be held on the grounds of the historical society, located on Schoolhouse Road across from the National Seashore Visitor Center.
Wingard Retires
Town Administrator Jacqui Beebe said that the town’s longtime Building Inspector Tom Wingard has retired. She said the town has conducted interviews with applicants and has narrowed the field to two finalists.
“Both of them are exceptional; we really can’t make a bad decision on this one,” Beebe said. —Ryan Fitzgerald
