Wellfleet’s meetings are still being held remotely. From wellfleet-ma.gov, hover over a date on the calendar on the right of the screen and click on the meeting you’re interested in to open its agenda and find out how to view and take part remotely.
Thursday, July 15
- Herring River Executive Council, 3 p.m.
- Shellfish Advisory Board with Rights to Public Access Committee, 4 p.m.
- Wellfleet Select Board with Finance Committee Joint Meeting, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, July 20
- Open Space Committee, 4 p.m.
Conversation Starters
Some Opening Hours
At its July 13 meeting, the select board approved Wellfleet Health Agent Hillary Greenberg-Lemos’s reopening plan for the town. The plan details “public hours” — designated times during which citizens can walk into public offices without an appointment.
Since early in the pandemic, town offices have been open to the public only by appointment. The public hours were to go into effect July 14 and are very limited.
Town hall and the health, conservation, and building depts. will be open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The DPW will be open the same two days of the week from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The police and fire stations continue to be open 24 hours a day. The shellfish and recreation depts. are open “dependent upon time” and “dependent upon activities occurring,” respectively. The Adult Community Center — formerly known as the Senior Center — which has in the past been a vital resource for elders without home air conditioning on hot summer days, will be open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to noon.
Greenberg-Lemos said that the plan will need “a lot of flexibility as things go with Covid.” She said that Wellfleet was “in a lull” when it came to cases, but noted a recent uptick in Provincetown. She also cited unvaccinated town employees as one of the factors in the plan.
The opening plan highly encourages mask wearing and social distancing inside Wellfleet’s public buildings. Plexiglass and working with doors closed between separate offices will be in effect “at least through Labor Day.”
Chairs, tables, and children’s toys at the library will be held in storage, according to Greenberg-Lemos. —Paul Sullivan
Reorganization
Ryan Curley was elected chair of the select board on July 13 after Michael DeVasto lost a bid to continue as chair, with John Wolf, Helen Miranda Wilson, and Curley voting no. The vote was part of the board’s annual reorganization.
Curley was nominated by the board’s new member, Wolf, who said Curley “would be a positive change at a time when we need to change things up.”
Wilson brought up her desire for “a rotating chair,” an idea rejected by other members of the board.
Janet Reinhart brought up rumors “and even conspiracy theories” that “a takeover is happening by shellfish people. I just want to know if some kind of collusion is happening,” she said.
All members denied allegations of “collusion” or “voting blocs.”
DeVasto was elected vice chair and John Wolf will serve as clerk.
DeVasto ended the conversation by saying he “hopes things will be easier on the next chair.” —Paul Sullivan
