All meetings in Truro are remote only. Go to truro-ma.gov and click on the meeting you want to watch. The agenda includes instructions on how to join.
Thursday, Sept. 9
- Truro Housing Authority, 4:15 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 10
- Community Preservation Committee, 5 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 13
- Conservation Commission, 5 p.m.
- Bike and Walkways Committee, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 14
- Historical Commission, 5 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 15
- Energy Committee, 4:30 p.m.
- Planning Board, 5 p.m.
Conversation Starters
Crunches & Lunches
This week, the Truro Council on Aging’s strength training classes will shift from Zoom to in-person meetups, as the COA eases back from months of virtual gatherings. Coached by a physical therapist, participants take on core exercises and work on their balance. “It’s a dedicated group of 15 or so attendees that expands in the summer,” said Mary-Elizabeth Briscoe, the COA’s director. “The classes make a difference in helping them do day-to-day activities, like walking.”
October also holds the promise of in-person art classes, where seniors can learn about the intricacies of the “Provincetown Print,” dating back to 1915. The technique starts with carving grooves into a block of wood, which eventually appears in vibrant designs as delicate white lines.
The COA’s community lunches will continue on the second and fourth Fridays of every month, and seniors can choose between pick-up and delivery. The next lunch will take place at noon on Sept. 10, featuring ham and cheese frittatas and fruit salad. Seniors should call in advance to reserve a spot for pick-up.
“These lunches are a big part of helping seniors meet their social and nutritional needs,” said Briscoe. Some elderly residents may not be physically able to cook; others may not have a stove or oven for cooking, she said.
School Decisions Questioned
On Aug. 26, the Truro School Committee acknowledged the receipt of two complaints filed by Truro Central School parents Beth Dietz and Christine Markowski. The first was sent to the Mass. Attorney General’s office, concerning a possible Open Meeting Law violation. The second was sent to the Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education over alleged discriminatory hiring practices stemming from the board’s superintendent search, which was limited to a single internal candidate.
The complaints “point out a few blind spots,” said Kolby Blehm, the committee chair. “I believe as a committee we can be doing more in terms of community outreach.” He stressed the importance of ensuring families find out how to participate in committee discussions.
Following the public meeting, the board moved into a closed session to discuss how to respond to the legal complaints. But before they migrated, Dietz questioned how the decision-making in the executive session would be documented.
Dietz and Markowski alleged that the committee violated the Open Meeting Law by hiring Stephanie Costigan, the new superintendent, without an explicit mention of hiring votes on the agenda for January 21. The agenda stated only that the committee would “discuss its next steps in its search.”
The attorney general’s office did not provide a determination when the Independent inquired about this claim but offered background information on the law. “The list of topics must include sufficient specificity to reasonably advise the public of the issues to be discussed,” it said in an email. “However, there is no requirement to specifically state that a vote will be taken.” —Jasmine Lu