Provincetown will continue remote access to meetings, even though many meetings are now being held in person. Go to provincetown-ma.gov and click on the meeting you want to watch for further instructions.
Tuesday, July 6
- Conservation Commission, Town Hall, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, July 7
- Historic District Commission, Town Hall, 4 p.m.
Thursday, July 8
- Planning Board, 6 p.m.
Conversation Starters
Select Board Sees Red
The select board called a special meeting on June 16 to discuss installations placed in Provincetown by the Cape Cod Blue Economy Foundation. The installations are part of Expedition Blue Waypoints, an interactive exhibit trail throughout Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard. Designed to educate the public about the importance of water to the region’s identity, the exhibits address topics from commercial fishing to aquaculture to marine technology and science.
There are several of these installations going up in Provincetown, but the one at the West End Parking Lot wasn’t there for long before the select board voted to remove it, based on their own objections and comments from the community.
Select board members voiced concerns about the installation blocking the view and about its durability. Board chair David Abramson objected to the design, as well, saying the installations “look like big hunks of crap ruining our view.”
The issue of longevity was addressed by Wendy Northcross, CEO of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. The installation formerly at the West End Parking Lot has a 50-year lifespan, she said, and the materials were specifically chosen with the waterfront location in mind.
Central to the discussion was the size of the various installations, and whether they block views of the water. While it’s important that the design remains consistent with the other 30-some installations on the Cape and Islands, there is some flexibility with parts and size, said Bert Jackson, director of community engagement for the Blue Economy Foundation. The foundation and the Provincetown Harbor Committee worked together to select elements that were the least intrusive.
These installations are the culmination of a two-year process. The funding came from a state grant, Northcross said.
The select board had previously agreed to participate in the initiative per a recommendation by the harbor committee, although the board did not consider or approve specific designs.
The meeting concluded when the select board voted to have town staff remove the West End installation. The board tasked the harbor committee with determining a new location, which it will bring to the select board for final approval. —Sophie Hills