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coronavirus

    currents

    This Week in Eastham

    By

    Meetings Ahead

    Meetings are held remotely. Go to eastham-ma.gov/calendar-by-event-type/16 and click on a particular meeting to read its agenda.  That document will provide information about how to view and take part remotely.

    Tuesday, Aug. 25

    • Conservation Commission, 6 p.m.

    Wednesday, Aug. 26

    • Open Space Committee workshop, 3 p.m.; meeting, 4 p.m.

    Conversation Starters

    Will It Go Round in Circles?

    The Route 6 Corridor Improvement Initiative study is moving forward past backups caused by Covid-19 and hopes to examine overlaps with Eastham’s Strategic Plan and the T-Time Initiative.

    “We’re starting to put together some alternatives. We want to have a public information session to kind of vet those alternatives,” Eastham Town Planner Paul Lagg told the select board at its Aug 17 meeting.

    Included in the alternatives are potential roundabouts at Massasoit Road and the T-Time property, raised medians with landscaped plantings, and protected left turns.

    A roundabout at the T-Time location would facilitate traffic in and out of that property as well as provide opportunities for vehicles to change direction on Route 6.

    “If we can work with a little bit of the T-Time property itself we don’t think we’ll really have to do any takings on the other side to get the siting for it,” he said.

    While the study did consider reducing the number of lanes, Lagg said that was a “nonstarter” with the Mass. Dept. of Transportation.

    “How does the state say that the traffic is different?” asked board member Arthur Autorino.

    “It’s OK to do it in Wellfleet but it’s not OK to do it in Eastham?”

    “If I had gotten a good answer to that I would share it with you, but we never did,” said Lagg. “It’s more of ‘This is the way it is’ and they’re not going to decrease the lanes. Why do we have to be a four-lane race strip only to slow down at the town line?”

    Board member Aimee Eckman noted that the number of curb cuts in Eastham is about 10 times that of Wellfleet over the same distance, contributing to traffic backups with even a three-lane approach with a center turning lane, as traffic turning right would create backups.

    The next phase will be to get public feedback. Lagg said a session for that purpose might take place in November or after the holidays.

    Town Meeting to Kick Off

    This year’s town meeting, postponed from its usual May 2020 scheduled date due to Covid-19, will be held outdoors at Nauset High School’s football field on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 10 a.m., with a rain date of Sunday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m.

    Saving Lives and Money

    Fire Chief Kent Farrenkopf delivered good news at Monday’s select board meeting, reporting that his department had received the American Heart Association Mission Lifeline EMS Gold-plus award for implementing quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks and strokes.

    “I want to thank my staff,” said Farrenkopf. “They’re highly professional and highly trained.” Eastham’s fire dept. has progressively received the bronze, silver, gold, and gold-plus Mission Lifeline awards over the last five years, he noted.

    “Kudos to my people and the professional level that they work at,” he said.

    The initiative provides tools and other resources to support heart attack care following protocols from the most recent evidence-based treatment guidelines, the chief noted.

    Eastham’s fire dept. has received the Assistance to Firefighters grant for $47,715 to replace an air compressor used to fill breathing air. Since the compressor’s installation at the fire station in 2001, the manufacturer has gone out of business. “We can’t get the computer boards,” said Farrenkopf. “The last time they fixed it I think they had to go on Ebay to get an old one to put into it.”

    The replacement compressor is expected to cost about $50,000, with the grant covering 95 percent of the cost. The town will be responsible for the remaining $2,400. 

    Do You Have an Appointment?

    The select board voted unanimously to appoint Stephen Wasby to the planning board to fill a spot left vacant by Lauren Barker’s resignation.

    Wasby’s appointment as a full member of the board was the subject of some discussion, as select board member Arthur Autorino at first asked whether the current alternate member, William Craig, should be advanced to full member status.

    “What we’re saying is that when Lauren leaves, Steve comes in as a full time and not as an alternate,” said Autorino. “We bypass and change what we normally do.” Autorino agreed that Wasby was more experienced than Craig.

    Board Chair Jamie Rivers supported appointing Wasby as a full member. “This board has a perfect opportunity to appoint someone who has a wealth of knowledge with regard to zoning, planning, the inner workings of the town of Eastham, and is very capable,” she said. “I think it would be a lost opportunity if we didn’t put Mr. Wasby on as a full-time member.”

    The board voted to approve Wasby’s appointment subject to his resignation from the zoning board of appeals.

    “My biggest concern was that we’re trying to have an administrative office at town hall that is welcoming and that people like to come to and don’t feel intimidated,” said Autorino “[Wasby] could in fact intimidate some of the applicants.”

    Contacted Tuesday morning after the select board’s discussion, Wasby said he would behave no differently on the planning board than he has on the zoning board of appeals. He said he would continue to help applicants as well as call out problems. “This isn’t a tea party,” said Wasby. “This is serious stuff.”

    The select board also appointed John Bumby to the historical commission by a unanimous vote. —Linda Culhane

    The Middle School Will Go Hybrid

    Principal Julie Kobold announced on Aug. 14 that she has changed her mind about bringing back all middle school students on Sept. 16.

    After many people expressed concern about returning to classrooms in person, Kobold said she has adopted a hybrid model for the fall, so that students will be in the building two days a week and at home for three.

    Kobold was able to bring everyone back with three feet between student seats, which is the minimum suggested by the state. But many people argued that six-foot distancing should be the standard to prevent Covid-19 infection, and with that standard, not all the students could come back to class at once.

    “We had estimated a need for 33 cohorts in the original three-foot distancing plan,” she stated in an email to parents. “By extending physical distancing to six feet the number of cohorts rose to 42. The middle school does not have the space for that many cohorts. As a result, we are moving to a hybrid option, where students will be in the building two days a week and learn remotely three days.”
    Students will attend on Mondays and Thursdays or on Tuesdays and Fridays. During in-school days, students will remain with their group and have four core subjects and two specials such as gym or the popular “Adventure Ed.” Wednesdays will be remote for all and “we will introduce a number of different academic opportunities on those days,” she stated. —K.C. Myers

     

    PANDEMIC WAVES

    Covid Infection Patterns Shift

    Cape Cod’s July cases look different from last spring’s

    By

    PROVINCETOWN — Look closely, and Barnstable County’s graphs of new Covid cases and deaths tell a story. There’s an upward swell of discovered cases that begins a couple weeks after July 4, continues throughout the second half of July, and then starts to fall off again in August. It’s not a huge wave compared to what happened here in the spring, but it’s real.

    The graph of deaths, thankfully, is scraping the bottom of the chart. As of Sunday, Aug. 9, there were no coronavirus patients being treated at Cape Cod Hospital or Falmouth Hospital — not just in intensive care units, but anywhere in either hospital. Hospitalization numbers have been very low while the July wave of cases was being identified.

    A tale of two graphs: new cases and new deaths on Cape Cod. (Source: barnstablecountyhealth.org)

    There are two stories to tell here — one about what’s happening now, in July and August, and one about what happened in March, April, and May, when case and death numbers looked very different.

    The July Wave

    According to Sean O’Brien, the health and environment director for Barnstable County, many of the cases discovered in July and August have been people who are of working age who were infected at social gatherings. “The Chatham house party, as they’re calling it, and the Falmouth lifeguards party are, in fact, pretty significant drivers for this bump in cases we’ve discovered,” said O’Brien.

    On Friday, Aug. 7, Gov. Charlie Baker reduced the limit for outdoor gatherings from 100 people to 50 and announced that police departments can enforce rules that had been previously assigned primarily to health departments. Provincetown had decided a month before, on July 2, to direct its police dept. to help manage the size of private gatherings.

    “Our contact tracing teams have demonstrated that parties that are held in people’s homes and back yards have contributed to community spread and new Covid clusters,” said Gov. Baker. “These parties are too big, too crowded, and people are simply not being responsible — 40 or 50 people in somebody’s back yard.”

    Meg Payne, the operations manager for the largest contact tracing effort in Barnstable County, said that both the Chatham and the Falmouth parties happened at specific residential addresses, although she didn’t know if they were indoors, outdoors, or both. “No one was wearing masks and maintaining social distancing at either party,” she added.

    “There have been some events that, not surprisingly, have caused the governor to put some new restrictions in,” said O’Brien. “But in the same breath, we have zero Covid patients in each hospital today. I think, in a lot of ways, people are doing the right thing — staying outside, using hand sanitizer, social distancing, wearing a mask. In the long run, this seems to be working.”

    The March-April-May Wave

    Comparing the present data to the spring wave of cases leads to one enormous difference between then and now: nursing homes.

    More than half of Cape Cod’s Covid casualties have been residents of just five nursing homes. Twenty-one residents died at Wingate in Harwich, 19 at Pleasant Bay of Brewster, 18 at Royal Cape Cod in Bourne, 17 at Cape Regency in Centerville, and 11 at South Dennis Healthcare Center. Another four nursing homes together account for 16 more casualties. These 102 deaths in nine facilities are 65 percent of Cape Cod’s total of 158 dead so far.

    That means two-thirds of Cape Cod’s deaths have come from just nine locations.

    Meanwhile, 11 nursing homes on Cape Cod reported zero deaths among residents from Covid. A close look at the numbers shows that in 17 out of 20 nursing homes, either no one died or a lot of people did.

    “We had situations where Covid was going rampant, just ripping through some of these facilities,” said O’Brien. The damage was done early on. Nearly all these deaths had already transpired when information on deaths-per-facility was released by the state in late May.

    Horrible as they are, these numbers are not at all unusual. According to the New York Times, in Massachusetts, 64 percent of deaths from Covid are linked to long-term care facilities. That number is 78 percent in Rhode Island, 74 percent in Connecticut, and 82 percent in New Hampshire.

    The story of declining death rates is, in part, the story of nursing homes shutting themselves off from the world. In these facilities, phase one never really ended, and near-lockdown conditions are heading into their sixth month. “If you think about the mental health issues with that — the isolation, the families on the outside, what this does to communities,” said O’Brien. “After we get through this, I think you’re going to see changes nationwide to how we take care of our seniors.”

    In the meantime, a look back at the graphs shows what hasn’t happened yet this summer. The virus hasn’t found its way back into densely housed populations where it can kill by the dozen — not just in nursing homes but in assisted living facilities, apartment complexes, firehouses, or the county jail. Connect the virus to those places, and a season of pretty good numbers could deteriorate into another season of bad ones.

    CURRENTS

    This Week in Provincetown

    By

    Meetings Ahead

    Meetings are held remotely. Go to provincetown-ma.gov and click on the meeting you want to watch.

    Thursday, Aug. 13

    • Board of Health, 4 p.m.
    • Planning Board, 6 p.m.

    Tuesday, Aug. 18

    • Conservation Commission, 6 p.m.

    Thursday, Aug. 20

    • Water & Sewer board, 2 p.m.

    Conversation Starters

    Covid-19 Update

    As of Aug. 11, Provincetown had zero active cases of Covid-19, 31 cases considered recovered, and one death.

    No Go for Nonresident Task Force

    At least a dozen part-time resident taxpayers called the select board on Aug. 10 in support of an idea proposed by board member Louise Venden to create a Resident/Nonresident Task Force. But when it came time for the board to vote, Venden did not even receive a second to her motion, and the idea died.

    There has been pressure for representation in recent years from members of the Part-Time Resident Taxpayers Association, who say that second-home owners pay over 80 percent of the property taxes in town but have no say in how the town operates.

    Venden said she wanted to find a way for them to have a voice without allowing them to vote at town meeting. And, she added, this is not just about wealthy property owners; it is about the nonresidents who are not U.S. citizens and yet work as essential employees, she said.

    Low-tide Seating for Sal’s

    Sal’s Place received a temporary license on Aug. 10 to expand its outdoor seating on the intertidal beach to help the owner comply with the social distancing restrictions imposed on restaurants during the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The select board voted 4-1 (with Chair David Abramson opposed) to grant the temporary license so that the historic West End restaurant can place 44 seats on the bayside beach behind the property, pending a drawing of the seating plan, which was not provided at the hearing. The seating exceeds the bounds of the property, said Acting Town Manager David Gardner.

    The select board granted the license after hearing from a long list of Sal’s supporters and wading through about 70 letters of support. The restaurant has been successful at leveraging community support when facing town regulatory boards.

    A few objected to extending the seating, notably Building Commissioner Anne Howard, who recommended against granting the license because Sal’s “has not demonstrated a desire to follow the Covid-19 guidelines,” she wrote. “This has been made evident on several visits,” where Howard noted “non-masking, serving of alcohol to non-dining patrons, use of private property for queuing of patrons without property owners’ consent, reduction of social distancing of tables in the interior dining area.” Howard concluded, “Granting this extraordinary use of flowed tidelands, although a restaurant is considered a facility of public accommodation according to Chap. 91, would, based on historic practice by this applicant, in my opinion, not realize a benefit outweighing any adverse issues.”

    Board member John Golden said if a restaurant can “convince people to sit where water is coming under the table, more power to you.”

    Interim Town Manager Begins

    The select board on Aug. 10 signed a contract hiring Charles Sumner as interim town manager for the next six months, or less if a town manager is hired before that.

    Sumner, the former town administrator of Brewster for 29 years, will earn $80 an hour for an average of 32 hours per week. Sumner will be in town hall from Monday through Thursday, according to the contract. He was to start on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

    He replaces Robin Craver, who resigned just before the end of her probationary six-month period. Sumner will work while the town begins another search process. —K.C. Myers

    currents

    This Week in Wellfleet

    By

    Meetings Ahead

    From wellfleet-ma.gov, hover your mouse 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. That document will provide information about how to view and take part remotely.

    Thursday, Aug. 13

    • Housing Authority and Housing Partnership, 10 a.m.
    • Nauset School Committee, 6:30 p.m.

    Friday, Aug. 14

    • High Toss View Development-Proprietors, 6 p.m.

    Monday, Aug. 17

    • Energy and Climate Action Committee, 7 p.m.

    Tuesday, Aug. 18

    Wednesday, Aug. 19

    • Conservation Commission, 4 p.m.

    Conversation Starters

    Covid-19 Update

    As of Aug. 9, Wellfleet had four active cases, seven cleared cases, and one death as a result of the coronavirus.

    Beach Crowd Control

    The select board extended the required date for beach stickers to Sept. 27 in a unanimous vote on Tuesday. “The intent is primarily to help control potential crowds,” said board member Ryan Curley, who first pitched the idea of extending the date at the Aug. 4 emergency management team meeting. Hurley said the rental agency We Need a Vacation told him they are seeing a 25-percent increase in fall rentals compared to last year. He added, “We know that September is one of the busiest months in terms of shark safety; in terms of public safety, it’s really beneficial to have lifeguards on beaches in the month of September.” Beach Administrator Suzanne Grout Thomas supported the idea, saying the extension is worth it just to keep lifeguards on the beach. She added that the move is unlikely to yield the town any additional revenue.

    New Committee in Town

    The Rights to Public Access Committee is Wellfleet’s newest regulatory committee. The select board voted unanimously to establish the group at Tuesday’s meeting. The task of the committee will be to maintain, establish, and improve public access to town landings. The group’s primary focus will be on re-opening access to shellfish tidelands, according to select board member Ryan Curley, who proposed the committee’s formation to the board. “We just need a dedicated body to take on this responsibility,” he said.

    Chair Mike DeVasto supported the idea, explaining that shellfishing is allowed on private tidal flats, but some can be accessed only by trespassing on private property. Former member Kathleen Bacon opposed the new committee. “We have committees in place to deal with these issues,” she said. “They may need more help or more members, but I’m kind of against forming another committee.” Shellfish Constable Nancy Civetta disagreed, saying, “A lot of committees work on this, but we need one committee working on this so it’s all in one place. My department cannot do it; we do not have the resources,” Civetta added.

    Play Structure Dismantled

    The wooden structure at the Wellfleet Elementary School playground has been deemed unsafe after a child was recently injured on it, according to select board member Ryan Curley. The Dept. of Public Works is in the process of dismantling the structure. Curley added that the cleared space will be used for outdoor learning when classes start again on Sept. 16.

    A Major Land Gift

    The Wellfleet Conservation Trust (WCT) received a gift on Aug. 5 of 18.5 acres overlooking the Herring River on the east side of Chequessett Neck Road. The land is the major portion of a 20-acre parcel purchased by the donor, Jacqualyn Fouse, from the Chequessett Yacht and Country Club Trust last week for $6.7 million.

    “We really love the land, and we are grateful to get it,” said Dennis O’Connell, president of the trust. It is the largest gift of land the WCT has ever received.

    The property had been part of the club’s plans to renovate its golf course, according to a statement from the trust. Most of the land could have been built on, said O’Connell.

    “WCT will keep the area in its natural state, preserving the habitat and natural functions of the land,” said the trust’s statement. “The Trust will create limited walking trails to scenic views across the Herring River valley.”

    Fouse owns a house adjacent to the new conservation land. She also donated 30,000 square feet of undeveloped land on Chequessett Neck Road, worth about $40,000, to the trust in 2015. She has been the CEO of Agios Pharmaceuticals, a Cambridge-based developer of anti-cancer drug therapies, since February 2019. —Devin Sean Martin

    currents

    This Week in Eastham

    By

    Meetings Ahead

    Meetings are held remotely. Go to eastham-ma.gov/calendar-by-event-type/16 and click on a particular meeting to read its agenda. That document will provide information about how to view and take part remotely.

    Monday, Aug. 17

    • Select Board, 5:30 p.m.
    • Eastham Elementary School Committee, 6 p.m.

    Tuesday, Aug. 18

    • Charter Review Committee, 5:30 p.m.

    Wednesday, Aug. 19

    • Planning Board, 5 p.m.

    Thursday, Aug. 20

    • T-Time Community Development Subcommittee, 5 p.m.

    Conversation Starters

    Covid-19 Update

    As of July 30, the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Eastham was 14. The number of cases increased from 12 reported on July 23, according to the town’s website.

    Bylaw Amendments

    The planning board will hold two public hearings on Wednesday, Aug. 19 starting at 5 p.m. on proposed zoning bylaw amendments and proposed re-codification of the zoning bylaw. Both will be voted on at the annual town meeting in September.

    Amendments are proposed for sections covering districts, administration, residential site plan approvals, wind facilities, and marijuana.

    The second hearing will allow public comments on the proposed re-codification of the zoning bylaw. A copy of the proposed amendments and the new bylaw, with a markup version of the current bylaw, is on the town website at eastham-ma.gov/planningboard/pages/proposed-zoning-bylaw-amendments-town-meeting-may-2020.

    Elementary Reopening Plan

    The Eastham Elementary School Committee will meet on Monday, Aug. 17 at 6 p.m. to discuss its school reopening plan.

    The Nauset regional school committee voted to approve an education plan for reopening at a meeting of all district school committees last week. But the Eastham Elementary School Committee opted to wait until its Monday meeting to vote on a plan for its school.

    Right now, the plan is to have elementary students either attend school five days a week or learn virtually five days a week based on parent choice.

    When Is Town Meeting?

    Annual town meeting is tentatively scheduled for Monday, Sept. 21 outdoors at the NRHS football field, but that could change. On Aug. 3, Town Administrator Jacqui Beebe and the select board discussed the best time and place to hold the meeting.

    The football field seems like the most viable venue in town to hold a socially distant town meeting. It would have enough space for participants. But Laurie Gillespie-Lee, administrative assistant at town hall, said she had reached out to the National Seashore about hosting town meeting at the amphitheater located at the Visitor Center, though she added that she had not yet heard back from Supt. Brian Carlstrom or Deputy Supt. Leslie Reynolds.

    Other issues that came up are accessibility, weather, and technology.

    Beebe said setting up the technology outside will be difficult.

    “I think that’s going to be the biggest challenge,” she said. “How do we get everything set up on a football field and then if we have rain, we have all of our technology hanging out there to dry, literally.”

    There won’t be any presentations at this year’s town meeting because a projector screen will not be set up as it usually is inside the high school gymnasium.

    Mike Caliri, video services coordinator for the town, said, “The one thing that’s been most concerning me is how we’re going to get the handicapped in and out of there and where they’re going to be,” he said.

    The walk from the high school parking lot to the football field could be troublesome for some people.

    “Any outdoor venue is going to have a huge amount of walking,” Beebe said.

    Special parking will most likely be designated in spots closest to the field and a designated seating area for people with disabilities may be made as well.

    The select board also discussed whether to hold the meeting on a Saturday or Sunday instead of Monday, Sept. 21, to possibly attract more people and begin the meeting earlier in the day.

    A vote on a firm date and a rain date is expected to be made soon.

    Town Hall Still Closed

    Town hall will remain closed until at least the week before Labor Day, according to Jacqui Beebe. She had considered reopening town hall this week but ultimately decided against it. —Ryan Fitzgerald

    PUBLIC HEALTH

    ‘Please Talk,’ Say Coronavirus Contact Tracers

    Key Covid containment measure works only if people cooperate

    By

    PROVINCETOWN — Massachusetts is ramping up efforts to find positive cases of coronavirus. Asymptomatic screening programs are being expanded around the state, and Provincetown recently announced it will begin a wastewater screening program as well.

    The point of finding those who test positive, however, is to follow their close contacts, find more cases, and get all of the relevant people to quarantine at home, so they can clear their infections without the virus spreading to others. Instead of shutting down the whole state, the plan is to shut down chains of transmission between individuals — a strategy that has proved to work in many countries.

    This entire model works only if people cooperate with contact tracers, however. And when the stakes seem high, and cooperation means identifying the closest people in your life to a public health nurse, there’s a temptation to stay quiet.

    “We’re getting a lot of pushback,” said Meg Payne, operations manager of the largest contact tracing effort on Cape Cod. “People are hesitant to give out names. We get hung up on a lot.”

    Payne works for the Visiting Nurses Association of Cape Cod, which manages contact tracing for 12 of the 15 Cape towns — all except Provincetown, Sandwich, and Barnstable. The VNA also does contact tracing for five towns in Plymouth County: Kingston, Carver, Plimpton, Halifax, and Marshfield.

    “Even with the ‘Answer the Call’ campaigns, people are still really skeptical,” Payne said. “There are some that are grateful, and happy that we’re reaching out. I’d say the majority are skeptical, particularly when it comes to their contacts. People get a little protective.”

    A CDC graphic that promotes contact tracing efforts.

    The reasons aren’t hard to understand. Identified people whom the public health nurses decide are “close contacts” have to self-quarantine for 14 days. A negative test result, even from a polymerise chain reaction (PCR) laboratory test, isn’t enough to end that 14-day quarantine.  That’s in accord with current CDC guidelines, and it’s been state policy since July 3, said Dr. Robert Duncanson, Chatham’s director of health and environment.

    A July 12 party in Chatham resulted in a cluster of at least 13 Covid cases, the Cape Cod Chronicle reported last week. Between 30 and 50 people attended the party, according to the report.

    “If the VNA calls someone up, and that person says they have no close contacts, because they don’t want to impact their family or friends, then none of us will have that information,” said Duncanson. “You can’t force them to do it. You’re really dependent on the honesty of the people you’re talking to. That’s the difficulty with contact tracing anywhere.”

    “Some of these people ought to be telling us about more people than they’re telling us about,” said Payne. “The ratio of active cases to identified contacts pretty clearly suggests that not everyone is cooperating with this program,” she added.

    Active cases, probable cases, and identified contacts are all logged into a statewide infectious disease tracking database called MAVEN, said Payne. To help describe how contact tracing is going, Payne did two similar searches in MAVEN, covering the dates July 1 through Aug. 3, and covering all 17 towns where the VNA-Cape Cod is contact tracing. There were 156 active and probable cases in those 17 towns in that time period, said Payne. There were 212 identified contacts in those towns.

    Some identified contacts may have gone on to be coded as active cases. Even so, “That’s not a lot of contacts” compared to the number of active cases, said Payne.

    Supportive Care

    Payne, Duncanson, and Provincetown Health Director Morgan Clark all said that resources exist to help people through their quarantines. Help with groceries, pet care, and other needs is available. Provincetown has contracted with the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod to help provide comprehensive care to people with coronavirus, and to people who are contacts and under quarantine, said Clark.

    Interestingly, the demand for help has been low.

    “We always ask, but the common answer is, ‘I have friends who can bring me food,’ ” said Payne.

    “We haven’t gotten any requests to assist,” said Duncanson.

    “We’re trying to make sure people know they have access to support,” said Clark.

    Public health nurse Deirdre Arvidson works for Barnstable County and is managing Provincetown’s contact tracing effort. “The standard we use for ‘close contact’ is 10 minutes or more of exposure, within six feet, without PPE,” said Arvidson.

    “Most of the people I’ve talked to, by the time we reach them, they’ve already talked to their employer,” she said. “They’re usually already aware” before she calls.

    “If I feel like they haven’t already told their employer, and I get the sense there’s a chance they might not, then I will call the employer myself,” added Arvidson. “I won’t use the person’s name. I’ll just say, ‘You have an employee who needs to quarantine.’ But 99 percent of people have already talked to their employer before I ever reach them.”

    This points to another aspect of contact tracing: many people are reaching out to their close contacts directly, and only then telling the contact tracer about them.

    It’s somewhat comforting to think that people who hang up on a contact tracer may still be notifying their social circle directly. But that can lead to its own temptations — like using a rapid test to “clear” yourself, when those tests have a high false negative rate. People may also be tempted to go back to work after getting a negative PCR test — even though public health authorities very clearly insist that known exposures must quarantine for a full two weeks to be sure they’re not contagious.

    “I really just want to emphasize — no one is getting in trouble here,” said Payne. “There’s no public health police. We’re just trying to prevent the spread. We don’t care about anything else.”

    PERSONAL HISTORY

    ‘Who Have I Doomed?’

    Timeline of a coronavirus scare

    By

    TRURO — As my close friend and neighbor calmly explained to me on the phone that he had a high fever and was showing potential coronavirus symptoms, my eyes drifted to the plate that I hadn’t yet cleared off the dining room table from the night before, and the crumbs clinging to the single fork we had used to share a slice of strawberry rhubarb pie.

    It was suddenly very hot — I couldn’t tell if that was a product of the blazing July sun on a perfect Sunday beach day or invisible virus particles that were already starting to take root.

    Mentioning his symptoms to my parents brought breakfast to a screeching halt. Both their heads snapped to attention. I was immediately sentenced to isolation in my bedroom while they tried to figure out how to get me tested as quickly as possible.

    Deep down I knew that it was already probably too late. I had seen my neighbor nearly every day for the last two weeks, so even if he was just showing symptoms now, it was possible I had been infected for a while.

    The line for testing at CareWell in Dennis starts forming at 5 a.m. Come prepared to stay a while: a folding chair, sunscreen, and supplies are de rigueur. (Photo Olivia Weeks)

    The difficulties of the week-long waiting period and mish-mash of testing that followed paled in comparison to my distress about the question lodged in my mind for the duration of my brief — and ultimately false — coronavirus scare.

    “Who have I doomed?”

    The teen experience with a potential coronavirus infection has its own unique burdens. Fear of the illness itself is minimal: since day one of the pandemic we’ve been drilled on how we’re not as at risk as the older people around us. Even with limited testing, Harvard Medical School reports that “symptoms of the disease were generally less severe in children and teens compared with adults.”

    On the first day of my in-room quarantine, I ran through every interaction I’d had in the past two weeks, the incubation period during which I could have unknowingly been a plague rat shedding virus onto my closest connections. Every time I gathered a thread for contact tracing, another seemed to slide into place. My best friend, and her parents, two days earlier. My aunt and her four-year-old daughter, four days earlier. The man I had interviewed for the newspaper the day before. My parents, the cashier at Chequessett Chocolate, my dad’s friends who got a little too close on the beach.

    And, for the big finale, my grandparents. I tried to do the mental math: could I have been carrying the virus the last time I saw them? Did I touch anything while I was in the kitchen? Why did I hug them?

    There was a seemingly simple solution that could ease my fears, and save me from my room: getting tested and seeing that increasingly likely negative result.

    After several days and hundreds of thermometer checks, no one in my house or my neighbor’s house had a temperature. Still, it was possible that I was asymptomatic and had, in typical teen fashion, just not interacted with my parents enough to have infected them.

    But getting tested turned out to be a laborious process. Over the course of a week, my neighbor would have a nose swab and I would take a rapid test and then the molecular saliva test.

    Molecular tests rely on the collection of the virus’s genetic material from the nose or throat. In my case, all I would need to do was spit in a jar while a doctor watched over Zoom to confirm that I properly sealed and sanitized it. While the kit was being shipped to me, my neighbor got his nose swabbed at Outer Cape Health Services in Wellfleet: another form of molecular testing. Molecular tests are highly accurate when diagnosing active coronavirus infections, but they can’t tell you if you had the virus in the past.

    The online kit route was appealing because of the speed of diagnosis: as opposed to waiting five to nine days as my neighbor had to do for his nose swab test results, my mailed-in saliva sample would take only four or five days total to process at a different lab.

    We decided I should also take the antigen test, or rapid diagnostic test. My mom did some internet research and found a place that promised test results in only 15 minutes. I arrived at CareWell Urgent Care in Dennis while we waited for the molecular test to arrive on our porch.

    The antigen test in Dennis, in the form of a nose swab, does in fact take only 15 minutes to process. But the line to get registered for testing wrapped around the CareWell building and spilled into the parking lot of the nearby grocery store.

    I waited, masked and in direct sunlight, for about three hours. Although everyone in line stayed six feet apart, there’s something disconcerting about being among so many people who have reason to believe they’re infected. I couldn’t help but wonder if the rapid test was really worth it: would a negative really matter if I picked something up from the man with a cough, three spots ahead of me, on my way out?

    Another problem with rapid antigen tests is the tradeoff of accuracy for speed. When it comes to antigen tests, the FDA says, “Positive results are usually highly accurate, but negative results may need to be confirmed with a molecular test.”

    Fifteen seconds with a swab up my nose through the car window, and a phone call 20 minutes later, told me I was negative. I shouldn’t have been disappointed by that news, but all it really meant was that I was back to waiting. Because probably negative just isn’t good enough.

    My neighbor and I both waited in our rooms to see if his nose swab results would beat my mailed-in saliva back from the lab. Every now and then, my parents would FaceTime me from their bedroom right above mine to check on me.

    Exactly a week after the whole ordeal started, we got our second negative. Outer Cape Health Services called my neighbor with results. The day after that we got our third negative when my molecular mail-in test confirmed there was no coronavirus in my system.

    I hadn’t doomed anyone. But a week of imagining everyone you’ve come into contact with, and everyone they’ve come into contact with, slowly getting sick by your hand doesn’t fade easily.

    I stayed indoors for a few more days. And I’m still not hugging my family.

    Independent journalism fellow Sabina Lum is a rising senior at George C. Marshall High School in Falls Church, Va.

    CURRENTS

    This Week in Provincetown

    By

    Meetings Ahead

    Meetings are held remotely. Go to provincetown-ma.gov and click on the meeting you want to watch.

    Thursday, Aug. 6

    • Board of Assessors, 9 a.m.
    • Public Pier Corp., 11 a.m.
    • Zoning Board of Appeals, 6 p.m.

    Friday, Aug. 7

    • Local Comprehensive Planning Committee, 10 a.m.

    Conversation Starters

    Covid-19 Update

    As of July 30, Provincetown had one active case of Covid-19, 30 cases considered recovered, and one death.

    Sumner Gets the Job

    The Provincetown Select Board last week hired Charlie Sumner to be the interim town manager for the next six months or until a permanent town manager can be found.

    Sumner worked as Brewster town administrator for 29 years before retiring in 2015. He is now president of the board of directors of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod and is chair of the Cape Cod Regional Technical High School Building Committee. He’s on the board of the Brewster Conservation Trust and Cape Cod Conservation District.

    On his resume, Sumner described himself as “a good communicator, who values open government and democratic processes. A team-oriented manager, with a passion for leadership and public service. A results-oriented problem solver, who welcomes challenges.”

    The select board is working on a contract and salary, which may be finalized by Aug. 10, according to Elizabeth Paine, the select board’s secretary.

    ‘Don’t Stop Hazard Pay’

    State Rep. Sarah Peake has written a letter urging Stop & Shop to reinstate hazard pay for its frontline workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Stop & Shop instituted a 10-percent pay increase for its employees in March. This was to compensate workers for the additional risks they have taken during the pandemic. Stop & Shop discontinued the extra pay on July 4, according to a statement from Peake.

    A total of 82 legislators, including state Sen. Julian Cyr of Truro, signed on to Rep. Peake’s letter to Stop & Shop CEO Gordon Reid.

    No Blanket Mask Policy
    The select board has ruled out requiring masks to be worn all over town 24 hours a day regardless of your ability to stay six feet from others.

    On Monday, Dr. Susan Troyan of the town board of health recommended against a suggested expansion of the mandatory mask zone. Troyan said passing someone on the streets presents little risk of transmission of Covid-19. Exercising, on the other hand, is really important and yet difficult when your nose and mouth are covered. The small risk doesn’t outweigh the great benefit of comfortably exercising outdoors, she said.

    Based on her advice, the mandatory mask zone will remain the town’s central district, on Commercial Street from Bangs to Franklin streets, on Bradford Street between Gosnold and Standish streets, and out to Lopes Square and MacMillan Pier. —K.C. Myers

    currents

    This Week in Wellfleet

    By

    Meetings Ahead

    From wellfleet-ma.gov, hover your mouse 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. That document will provide information about how to view and take part remotely.

    Thursday, Aug. 6

    • Housing Authority and Local Housing Partnership, 10 a.m.
    • Nauset Regional School Committee, 6:30 p.m.

    Tuesday, Aug. 11

    • Elementary School Committee, 9 a.m.
    • Select Board, 7 p.m.

    Thursday, Aug. 13

    • Zoning Board of Appeals, 7 p.m.

    Conversation Starters

    Covid-19 Update

    As of Aug. 2, Wellfleet had two active cases, seven cleared cases, and one death as a result of the coronavirus.

    Ten Days Out of Work

    The woman in charge of Wellfleet’s town beaches and the senior center was out of work until Aug. 4, having waited 10 days for the results of a Covid-19 test.

    Suzanne Grout Thomas, director of community services, said she developed a fever and headache on July 23 and got tested at Outer Cape Health Services on July 24. Ten days later, on Aug. 3, she got a negative test result. She returned to work Aug. 4, grateful for her full-time, salaried job, but also worried for others.

    “It makes me wonder if people will have to go back to work before they get a test result, and what if they test positive,” she said. “That’s a long time that you are out of work. Some people cannot do that.”

    Restaurant Noncompliance

    Health Agent Hillary Greenberg-Lemos asks residents to contact her at [email protected] if they observe restaurants failing to comply with Covid-19 regulations like social distancing and mask-wearing. Wellfleet is dealing with one “outstanding” issue with a restaurant failing to comply, and it’s important that the department is made aware of violations to help keep the community safe, she said on Tuesday. She did not reveal the business’s name.

    Assessors Complete Revaluation

    The Wellfleet Board of Assessors has completed the revaluation of all real and personal property for fiscal year 2021, and the Mass. Dept. of Revenue Bureau of Local Assessment has granted preliminary certification and authorized public disclosure of proposed values, according to Assessor Nancy Vail.

    “The new assessed values, which represent full and fair cash value as of Jan. 1, 2020, comply with the Dept. of Revenue’s statistical standards and reflect 2018 and 2019 real estate sales,” wrote Vail in a press release. “Value changes ranged from -4 percent to +4 percent, with most values staying the same as last fiscal year.”

    The new assessed values are on display on the town’s website: wellfleet-ma.gov.

    To ask questions, review, discuss corrections, or request changes in the proposed assessments, taxpayers are urged to contact the assessors during the disclosure period, Wednesday, Aug. 5 through Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, by telephone at 508-349-0304 or email at [email protected]. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. —Devin Sean Martin

    currents

    This Week in Eastham

    By

    Meetings Ahead

    Meetings are held remotely. Go to eastham-ma.gov/calendar-by-event-type/16 and click on a particular meeting to read its agenda. That document will provide information about how to view and take part remotely.

    Tuesday, Aug. 11

    • Conservation Commission, 6 p.m.

    Wednesday, Aug. 12

    • Finance Committee, 5 p.m.

    Covid-19 Update

    As of July 30, the number of confirmed cases in Eastham was 14. The number of cases increased from 12 last week, according to the town’s website.

    Willy’s Protest

    A protest outside Willy’s Gym is planned to begin at 8 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 7. Anne Sigsbee has organized the protest for the one-year anniversary of the death of Joe Abbott, a longtime tennis instructor at the gym.

    “It will be a year since Joe died and many of us are very aware that his family has not been paid what he was owed when he died,” Sigsbee told the Independent.

    The Independent reported in March that Francine Abbott of South Dennis, Joe Abbott’s widow, claims that Willy’s owner Barbara Niggel owed him more than $20,000 in unpaid wages and loans when he died last year. Niggel has denied this and has hired a lawyer to represent her in the dispute.

    “We felt to honor him and his family we would speak up,” Sigsbee said. “Some of us feel strongly and will not use the facilities until we learn that they’ve been paid what they’re owed.”

    The protest will be an all-day event with most people showing up around midday, Sigsbee said. She expects 20 or more people to attend, including Abbott’s family, and participants will be wearing masks and remain socially distanced.

    “Joe’s family is very supportive and will be there,” she said.

    Anyone planning to attend should wear a mask; signs are welcome.

    Nauset Schools to Reveal Opening Plan Aug. 6

    Nauset Regional School Supt. Tom Conrad will announce the district’s reopening plans for the fall at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6.

    So far all that has been announced to parents is that the Nauset district, which spans Wellfleet to Brewster, will most likely open late, on Sept. 16, to give teachers time for training and to be ready for a school year guaranteed to include distance learning for families needing that option and a lot of hand sanitizer.

    Other than that, Conrad’s message will lay out details on whether all students go back to a brick-and-mortar school, continue “distant learning,” or a combination of both.

    To get on the Zoom call, follow these instructions: Go to nausetschools.org. Scroll down the Quick Links and select “Event Calendar” and then click on the event listed on Aug. 6. Click next on the “Description, 8-6-2020.” This will take you, finally, to the agenda and Zoom meeting link.

    Rock Harbor Open Again

    The Rock Harbor boat ramp is open again, according to Town Administrator Jacqui Beebe. She gave an update to the select board on Aug. 3 on the completion of the project to repave and replace the boat ramp in the area.

    Beebe said Harbormaster Scott Richards will be at the harbor assisting boats in and out of the area. The town waited to see what the weather was like earlier this week but planned on opening the boat ramp after Wednesday.

    “Our docks and floats are in the water and we have everything set up to receive boats at this point,” Beebe said. “The ramp portion is complete; the parking lot was repaved two days ago and is ready to be driven on.”

    The line markers for parking spaces will be drawn either this week or next week.

    Register to Vote

    The last day to register to vote in Eastham for the state primary election, to be held on Sept. 1, is Saturday, Aug. 22 at the police station. The deadline to request a mail-in AV or EV ballot is Wednesday, Aug. 26 at 5 p.m. and to request an AV or EV in person is Monday, Aug. 31 until noon.

    Early voting for the primary will be held at town hall on Saturday, Aug. 22 and Sunday, Aug. 23 from 9 to 11 a.m. and on Monday, Aug. 24 through Friday, Aug. 28 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

    The last day to register to vote at the annual town meeting, to be held on Sept. 21, is Tuesday, Sept. 1 until 5 p.m.

    Kerry Steps Down from Strategic Planning

    In a letter to the select board, Scott Kerry announced he will be stepping down from the strategic planning committee but said he would still provide input as a resident.

    “I would like to offer my services and experiences as a business owner, father of an elementary school student, and long-time resident if needed and/or desired,” Kerry wrote. “I will plan to make future meetings when my schedule permits.”

    Kerry is the new town moderator and chair of the T-Time Development Committee. —Ryan Fitzgerald

    CURRENTS

    This Week in Provincetown

    By

    Meetings Ahead

    Meetings are held remotely. Go to provincetown-ma.gov and click on the meeting you want to watch.

    Wednesday, Aug. 5

    • Historic District Commission, 4 p.m.

    Thursday, Aug. 6

    • Board of Assessors, 9 a.m.
    • Zoning Board of Appeals, 6 p.m.

    Conversation Starters

    Covid-19 Update

    As of July 28, Provincetown had one active case of the coronavirus, 29 cases considered recovered, and one death.

    Salary Bump for Superintendent

    Suzanne Scallion was hired as superintendent of the Provincetown Schools in May 2019 to work three days a week for $60,000 from July 1 to Dec. 31, 2019, and then $60,000 for all 12 months of 2020.

    But the school committee agreed in March to pay her an additional $512.82 for every extra day she worked so that she could help the schools adjust to the online learning and other challenges presented by the pandemic.

    So far, she has worked 21 extra days for a total of $10,769, which can be covered by CARES Act funds, said Scallion this week.

    Scallion said the job was already nonstop but the pandemic has amped up the challenges for school leaders.

    Wait Times for Test Results Too Long

    Board of health chair Steven Katsurinis told the select board Monday that the plans for keeping the town safe during a pandemic relied on quicker test results than are currently available, as the medical labs are overwhelmed.

    “We did not expect to wait for seven days for a test return,” Katsurinis said. “Quest Diagnostics is inundated and so we are trying to do something to improve that.”

    On the other hand, he said, the town had made it more than 20 days past a busy July 4th weekend without any apparent outbreak.

    “But we should not let our guard down,” Katsurinis said. “As long as there is a pandemic, we are at risk. So we need to wear masks and keep six-foot distancing.”

    Rapid tests, available at Carewell Urgent Care in Dennis, are not as accurate as the molecular tests, which are now taking a week or more to get results, said Morgan Clark, director of the health department.

    Paradigm Associates Not Rehired

    Community Paradigm Associates of Plymouth, the consulting firm used to help the select board hire Robin Craver as town manager, was not picked to be part of the hiring process this time around.

    Craver resigned after six months at the end of her probationary period on July 10 following a closed select board meeting. The reasons for her abrupt resignation were not made public.

    The select board Monday chose four “headhunter” organizations to pick from and Paradigm was not one of them. The executive search firms invited to submit bids are Municipal Resources Inc., the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management, Groux-White Consulting, and Isaacson Miller.

    The board members agreed not to rush this decision and will hire an interim manager for the next six months while they look for a new permanent town manager —K.C. Myers

     

     

     

    currents

    This Week in Wellfleet

    By

    Meetings Ahead

    From wellfleet-ma.gov, hover your mouse 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. That document will provide information about how to view and take part remotely.

    Thursday, July 30

    • 95 Lawrence Road Rental Housing Task Force, 10 a.m.
    • Comprehensive Wastewater Management Planning Committee, 11 a.m.

    Wednesday, Aug. 5

    • Conservation Commission, 4 p.m.

    Thursday, Aug. 6

    • Housing Authority and Local Housing Partnership, 10 a.m.

    Conversation Starters

    Covid-19 Update

    As of July 28, Wellfleet had zero active cases, seven cleared cases, and one death as a result of the coronavirus.

    Voter Registration Deadline

    The deadline to register to vote at the annual town meeting on Sept. 12 is Friday, Aug. 21, at 8 p.m.

    Pop-Up Testing Clinic in Harwich

    The Wellfleet Health Dept., along with the towns of Harwich, Brewster, and Dennis, is holding a pop-up Covid-19 testing clinic at the Harwich Community Center on Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 10 a.m. The clinic is specifically for restaurant workers who have been in contact with someone with the virus. If you believe you are eligible, contact Health Agent Hillary Greenberg-Lemos at [email protected].

    Town Meeting Quorum Reduced

    The quorum for this year’s annual town meeting has been reduced from 6 percent of the town’s registered voters to 100 registered voters. The change was made in case the meeting sees lower attendance because of Covid-19. The select board approved the decision unanimously at their July 28 meeting, two weeks after approving an official plan for town meeting, which will take place outdoors on Sept. 12.

    August Budget Approved

    The select board approved the town’s $2,645,689 operating budget for the month of August. The town will use month-to-month budgets until a fiscal 2021 budget is voted on at town meeting in September.

    New Town Administrator Coming Aboard

    Dan Hoort’s last day as Wellfleet town administrator is July 31. Incoming Town Administrator Maria Broadbent will take over Aug. 3. —Devin Sean Martin

     

    currents

    This Week in Eastham

    By

    Meetings Ahead

    Meetings are held remotely. Go to eastham-ma.gov/calendar-by-event-type/16 and click on a particular meeting to read its agenda. That document will provide information about how to view and take part remotely.

    Monday, Aug. 3

    • Select board, 5:30 p.m.

    Wednesday, Aug. 5

    • Board of Assessors, 11 a.m.
    • Community Preservation Committee, 5:30 p.m.

    Thursday, Aug. 6

    • Zoning Board of Appeals, 5 p.m.

    Conversation Starters

    Covid-19 Update

    As of July 23, the number of confirmed cases in Eastham was 12. The number increased from 10 for the first time since June 4, according to the town’s website.

    New Bedford Man Arrested

    Ricardo Velez-Gonzalez, a 33-year-old New Bedford man, was arrested at the Village at Nauset Green in Eastham on July 23 and later charged with manslaughter in connection with the July 17 shooting of Keven Rocha on Margin Street in New Bedford, according to a press release from the Eastham Police Dept.

    On July 21, police and prosecutors were granted an arrest warrant for Velez-Gonzalez from New Bedford District Court. On July 22, investigators received information that the suspect was staying at a friend’s apartment at the newly constructed Nauset Green affordable housing complex.

    After performing surveillance, investigators confirmed Velez-Gonzalez was inside and took him into custody without incident.

    He was arrested by members of Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III’s Mass. State Police Unit, Eastham police, Mass. State Police STOP Team, the state police’s Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section, and the state police’s D-Troop CAT Team.

    Velez-Gonzalez was arraigned in New Bedford District Court and ordered held without bail pending the results of dangerousness and bail revocation hearings scheduled for July 30.

    Transfer Station Policy

    Effective July 28, the transfer station will dedicate the first hour of operation (between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m.) to adults 60 years or older only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

    Face coverings will continue to be required, even during that first hour of operation. The rest of the previously implemented safety protocols will continue to be in place as well, including maintaining six-foot separation, no picking, no gathering, no visiting if you feel ill, using the glass disposal areas one person at a time, and waiting your turn before approaching a disposal location.

    Mask and Crowd Concerns

    Town Administrator Jacqui Beebe said she’s received the most complaints from citizens about people not wearing masks on the bike trail and not abiding by social distancing guidelines on the beaches.

    But the two ocean beaches, Nauset Light and Nauset Coast Guard, and a major part of the bike trail are located in the National Seashore.

    “That’s tough for us because it’s not even in our jurisdiction,” Beebe said of the bike trail.

    She said people have also complained that the beaches are too crowded.

    “But honestly, I think that people are doing their distancing in groups,” Beebe said.

    “I don’t even know what we could possibly do about that, either,” select board member Jared Collins said.

    In light of the news of a large party held in Chatham, select board chair Jamie Rivers advised citizens to call the police non-emergency line if they see lots of cars at a residence or 20 or more people gathered at a residence.

    Election Is Coming

    The state primary election on Sept. 1 is fast approaching. To avoid face-to-face encounters at the polls, one option available is to vote by mail. Earlier this month, registered voters were mailed a vote-by-mail application. Applications are also available on the town clerk’s webpage at eastham-ma.gov/town-clerk. The clerk’s office is accepting and processing applications now.

    The last day to register to vote for this election is Saturday, Aug. 22. Registration forms will be available at the police dept. from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m.

    Committee Resignation

    The select board accepted Glenn Olson’s resignation as Eastham’s representative to the Cape Cod Regional Technical School Committee. —Ryan Fitzgerald

     

    CURRENTS

    This Week in Provincetown

    By

    Meetings Ahead

    Meetings are held remotely. Go to provincetown-ma.gov and click on the meeting you want to watch.

    Thursday, July 23

    • Visitor Services Board, 10 a.m.
    • Public Pier Corp., 3 p.m.
    • Planning Board, 6 p.m.

    Monday, July 27

    • Visitor Services Board, 6 p.m.

    Conversation Starters

    Covid 19 Update

    As of July 20, 2020, Provincetown had one confirmed active case of coronavirus, one death, and 28 additional cases considered recovered.

    Colton or Sumner to Be Interim Manager

    Two finalists have been selected to vie for the job of interim town manager following the resignation of Robin Craver on July 10.

    Craver lasted six months as town manager and resigned following a closed meeting with the select board. The reasons for her resignation may never be made public, since the matter was discussed in executive session. The Independent will make a formal public records request for the minutes of the session under the state’s Open Meeting Law.

    On Monday former Easton Town Administrator David Colton, who now lives in Provincetown, and Charles Sumner, a Brewster resident and former administrator of that town for 29 years, were selected to be interviewed for the interim position, which should last six months or perhaps longer, depending on how quickly a new town manager search is launched.

    Lise King, the select board member in charge of finding candidates, said she got seven recommendations and that Colton and Sumner rose to the top because they could begin soon and potentially stay for an extended time period. Other qualifications for the temporary post are experience in town management and familiarity with Provincetown, King said.

    “They are highly recommended and both really great candidates,” she said.

    Sumner was “called ‘beloved’ by some townspeople in Brewster,” King said.

    Colton was administrator of Easton from 2006 to 2018, according to his resume. But the Easton Journal reported that he left the job in 2017 after the select board fired the town clerk. Colton’s failure to supervise the clerk, Jeremy Gillis, properly was the reason he was let go, according to the Journal. The newspaper reported that Easton paid $600,000 in salary and benefits to terminate Colton’s contract early.

    In fact, said Colton, the actual cash payout was $345,000, based on a year and a half of his salary, plus $75,000 in cash. The rest represented other benefits.

    The episode began when the select board changed and wanted change, he said.

    “They made some really big mistakes and violated my civil rights,” Colton said. “Their insurance company recommended this settlement,” he said, adding, “It was not a good time in my life.”

    He technically was under contract until 2018, and that’s why he described his tenure in Easton as such on his resume.

    King said she did not know about these events in Easton.

    The meeting to interview the finalists, which will be public, is tentatively set for Wednesday, July 29, at 6:30 p.m., King said.

    Statements Limited to 3 Minutes

    The select board members voted Monday to put a three-minute cap on their own public statements. The vote was 3-2, with Lise King and David Abramson opposed.

    They did not, however, put a cap on other public statements, which was also on the table. The vote on reducing the time slot for such statements from a one hour to 30 minutes was zero in favor and 5 opposed. —K.C. Myers

    currents

    This Week in Wellfleet

    By

    Meetings Ahead

    Meetings are held remotely. Go to wellfleet-ma.gov and click on the meeting you are interested in for instructions on how to participate.

    Thursday, July 23

    • Natural Resources Advisory Board, 8:30 a.m.

    Tuesday, July 28

    • Select Board, 7 p.m.

    Conversation Starters

    Covid 19 Update

    As of July 20, Wellfleet had zero active cases, seven cleared cases, and one death as a result of the coronavirus.

    Listening Ear Up and Running

    Wellfleet has established a mental health “warm line” for residents who are experiencing challenges with their mental health and need someone to talk to. The phone number for the line is 508-514-1633. It is not staffed by professionals but rather by volunteers from the community who can serve as a listening ear for anyone who is struggling and needs a neighbor to talk to. Wellfleet Police Chief Mike Hurley, who helped set up the line along with Dennis Cunningham and other residents, said, “There is always year-round concern about mental health, but since Covid hit, it has really spiked.

    “This summer, our department has been overwhelmed with these [mental health calls],” Hurley added.

    New Covid Educator-Enforcer

    The health dept. has taken on a new “Covid education and enforcement” agent. The new employee will visit ponds, beaches, and town recreation areas a few days a week to distribute masks and enforce social distancing and mask-wearing regulations if necessary, according to Health Agent Hillary Greenberg-Lemos. —Devin Sean Martin

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