Meetings Ahead
Most meetings in Eastham are in person, typically with an online-attendance option. Click on the meeting you want to attend on the calendar at eastham-ma.gov for a link to an agenda and details. All meetings are at Town Hall unless otherwise indicated.
Thursday, June 20
- School Committee, 5 p.m.
Saturday, June 22
- Climate Action Committee Residential Solar Clinic, 10 a.m., Council on Aging
Monday, June 24
- Visitors Tourism and Promotion Services Board, 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 25
- Conservation Commission on-site, 8:15 a.m.
- Conservation Commission, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, June 26
- Finance Committee, 4 p.m.
- Planning Board, 5 p.m.
Thursday, June 27
- Council on Aging Board of Directors, 9 a.m.
- Board of Health, 3 p.m.
Conversation Starter
Kicking the Paint Can
The select board declined to endorse a paint stewardship bill that would establish a statewide recycling program for latex and oil-based paints. Advocates of the bill say that the program would allow residents to properly recycle cans of paint, which often either languish in people’s homes or are improperly disposed of. Opponents balk at the tax that would be levied on new cans of paint if the bill were to pass. The money from the tax would go to a nonprofit called PaintCare, which specializes in recycling paint.
Sharon Byrne Kishida, a retired Mass DEP regional municipal waste reduction coordinator, appeared by video conference to ask the board to sign on as a supporter of the bill before the state legislative session ends at the end of July. The “eco-fee” on new paints would be less than $1, according to Kishida.
Board member Jamie Demetri said she worried about the pileup of small fees on working people and said she needed more time to talk to people around town before voting to endorse.
The other board members seemed to agree. No one moved to bring the matter to a vote.
After a brief discussion about whether to even consider it in a later session, the board decided to take the issue up again at its next meeting on July 8. Business owners who may be affected by this legislation, especially hardware store owners, were encouraged to attend the meeting.
Twelve states, five of which neighbor Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia have passed paint stewardship laws. The bill is currently before the Ways and Means Committee on Beacon Hill. —Jack Styler
