An unrelenting theme of COVID-19 has been the necessity of strict adherence to safety precautions.
At the local level, no town board is more involved with the pandemic than the Board of Health.
Media coverage and minutes of the BOH December 2 meeting memorialize that the BOH tabled a request made in a letter dated November 16 from the Board of Selectmen asking them to consider a graduated fine structure for people not in compliance with wearing face masks in public.
Board of Health members Ken Dawicki and Russell Bailey, during the board’s December 2 meeting, agreed that fining people is not the way to handle non-compliance of Governor Baker’s updated executive orders, saying more education is needed instead. Emily Field and Amanda Stone, the two public health nurses, while understanding that being prepared with a fine structure was prudent, also thought education was the better way to handle transgressors.
Selectman Paul Silva reported that the request had been tabled by the BOH and, “Anyone who wants to know about their meetings can now attend, they are available.” He made that statement in the belief that the BOH meetings, much like other boards, aired via a remote public platform and recorded for posterity. Silva was surprised to learn that is not the case.
The town’s videographer and webmaster, Dan White, replied when asked why the meetings weren’t recorded. “They don’t like us recording their meetings.” He also said that since the meetings were being held in a room at the Council on Aging, his equipment could not record the remote meeting. White said he would, however, check with BOH Agent Kayla Davis to learn whether or not the meeting had been recorded on Zoom.
Silva remarked of the lack of taped coverage: “That’s a real shame.”
In a follow-up to the December 2 BOH meeting, Field wrote on December 8: “On behalf of the Board of Health, I commend the Board of Selectmen for their efforts to safeguard the Mattapoisett community from the pandemic. As a community, we all need to address this complex task of persuading naysayers that wearing a face-covering is in everyone’s best interest, especially the vulnerable population. The sad narrative of COVID-related illness and loss is affecting all of us. Listen to the state and local mandate: Wear a face covering and maintain physical distance when you are not in the privacy of your home. Please respect your neighbors and wear a mask.”
Town Administrator Mike Lorenco commented on Baker’s latest restrictions to roll back opening businesses and other public venues and return to Phase 3-1, saying, “These come with a lot of stipulations, but the public should be aware.” The restrictions will be implemented on Sunday, December 13.
In other related matters, the selectmen approved a 25-percent reduction in permit costs to some establishments, “inns and clubs,” and those serving only wine and malt products. Silva thanked businesses for their efforts in following the state’s COVID-19 guidelines, saying, “Maybe this will help them through these tough times.” Earlier in the meeting, the selectmen voted on all licenses and permits for the 2020-21 fiscal year.
Lorenco reported that the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has recognized the Mattapoisett River Valley Water District for its top water-quality compliance scores. In a letter received by Henri Renauld, superintendent of the Mattapoisett Water Department and also a member of the MRV committee, it was noted, “Your system has achieved one of the top compliance scores in the Consecutive System category of the 2020 Public Water System Awards Program.” The MRV Water District covers the towns of Marion, Mattapoisett, Fairhaven, and Rochester.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen is scheduled for December 22 at 6:30 pm.
Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen
By Marilou Newell