Meetings Ahead
Most meetings are being held in person, but some are still remote or virtual. Go to eastham-ma.gov and click on the meeting you are interested in to learn about meeting locations and any remote options that may be offered.
Thursday, Jan. 19
- Cultural Council, 6 p.m., Public Library
Monday, Jan. 23
- Search Committee, 10 a.m., Town Hall
- Select Board, 5:30 p.m., Town Hall
Tuesday, Jan. 24
- Conservation Commission, 8:15 a.m., Town Hall
- Conservation Commission, 6 p.m., Town Hall
Thursday, Jan. 26
- Council on Aging Board of Directors, 9:30 a.m., Town Hall
- Board of Health workshop, 2 p.m., Town Hall
- Board of Health, 3 p.m.
Conversation Starter
The Present Is Female
Eastham’s fire dept. has hired five new people in the last six months, including three women.
Three other women have been with the department for years. With a total of six women in the station, Chief Dan Keane believes he has more women firefighters than any other department on the Cape.
Keane said he did not specifically recruit women, he just picked the best candidates. Katie Kerrigan, Adrianna Burrell, and Kate Denneen were sworn in on Jan. 11 along with the other two new hires, Firefighters Alex Heikkila and Chase King.
The new hires fill all but one open position. There has been high turnover since the pandemic, with one retirement, two medical leaves, and a resignation that sent the department on a quest to replace staff amid a paramedic shortage that is Cape-wide. The Barnstable County Retirement Board is still finalizing the retirement of an employee out on long-term disability and then that position will be able to be filled, too, said Keane.
Keane also added two day-shift positions to the roster to boost people power in case of more illnesses or resignations and to reduce overtime costs.
There is one more new addition to the squad — Chaplain Bob Davidson, who is volunteering his spiritual guidance and counseling to victims, family members, and staff, Keane said. Davidson shows up at the station on Mondays to talk to the crew about whatever they may wish to discuss. And he is available for end-of-life counseling for families and for people affected by fires, accidents, and other traumatic events.
“He has already been so helpful to us,” Keane said. —K.C. Myers
