A tense conference call between Island town leaders and the head of the hospital over relaxing the construction ban split the Island along geographic lines.
An impassioned plea from hospital chief Denise Schepici to ban construction for two more weeks got a sharply divided reaction Wednesday from town leaders, earning support up-Island but facing resistance from down-Island towns over the challenge of enforcing it.
The debate occurred during a civil, but tense ninety-minute teleconference held at the request of Ms. Schepici and including five town administrators, dozens of town health agents, building inspectors and other public officials, as well as state Sen. Julian Cyr.
Three Island towns — Chilmark, Tisbury and Oak Bluffs — met Tuesday to consider guidelines that would allow one and two-man construction crews to get back April 22. But the towns tabled their votes on the guidelines after receiving an 11th-hour email from Ms. Schepici seeking a meeting and calling the re-introduction of any kind of construction work a “dire mistake.”
During the summit Wednesday, Ms. Schepici reiterated her claim that April 22 was too early to relax the towns’ strict construction ban, saying epidemiologists expect a surge of cases in Boston on April 20. She asked officials to instead to delay lifting the ban until April 28th
“I’m really begging you guys to think about a one-week extension,” she said. “Social distancing will let us buy another week so we can get information, and together we can make the right decisions about what dials to turn up on — and not do this now.”
But officials in Oak Bluffs and Edgartown argued that it is becoming increasingly difficult to monitor and enforce compliance with a total bar on construction activity.
“It is about to get a lot more unsafe unless we show some leadership and provide direction to make it safer,” said Oak Bluffs selectman Brian Packish, advocating for the 22nd. “I think we’re at a point where we do need a slight pressure release. We do need a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Despite requests for unity from both Ms. Schepici and Sen. Cyr, the towns could not agree on a date.
“Unfortunately, I think we’ve come to no agreement,” said West Tisbury town administrator Jen Rand, who served as the meeting moderator, at the meeting’s close. “You all can go forward and take the votes you are going to take.”
Five of the six Island towns instituted strict construction moratoriums as part of their stay-at-home orders that block nearly all building and landscape work on construction sites. The bans initially ran to April 7 and were extended last week to April 21, with the intention for a “working group” composed of public officials and members of the construction industry to come up with guidelines that would slowly phase in limited construction thereafter.
The guidelines, presented and circulated to town officials on Tuesday, are subject to votes from the town boards of health and have to then be enacted in a vote by town selectmen. They outline social distancing, hygiene and safety protocols for one and two-man work crews, and state that travel to the site must occur via foot, bike or a single-occupancy vehicle.
As of Wednesday, only the Tisbury and Chilmark boards of health have taken votes approving the guidelines.
But discussion on Wednesday centered around the timeline to institute the guidelines, rather than the substance of the guidelines themselves. And the question of when to institute them led to broad debate, as officials weighed the economic impact of a continued work stoppage on the Island with the no-holds-barred effort to combat the virus.
Towns are set to vote on the guidelines at meetings next week.
Edgartown building inspector Reade Milne said that the purpose of the guidelines was to gradually and sensibly phase back construction, and that putting off approving them would lead to a burst of activity when stay-at-home orders were lifted.
“If we delay it, then it’s full on. And we’re opening the floodgates entirely,” Ms. Milne said.
“We’re at the point where in Edgartown we might lose control,” Edgartown town administrator James Hagerty added.
But up-Island officials would not budge, backing Ms. Schepici’s request to delay the reintroduction of work one week.
“I can’t believe that we’re debating public health needs with work needs at this time,” West Tisbury health agent Omar Johson said, adding “If we make the wrong decision here, we cannot reverse it.”
When Chilmark selectman James Malkin asked Ms. Schepici if she felt okay with sites being limited to one worker, she remained steadfast that any construction was too much.
“I think we are kidding ourselves to think even one worker is safe,” she said.
Speaking forcefully before everyone signed off, Ms. Schepici offered even stronger parting words for the town officials unable to come to terms.
“Shame on us, though, if we cannot all stick together for one more week,” she said. “This disease does not care about regulation. It is not complying with anything.”
Comments
It could make a huge
Louise TisburyIt could make a huge difference to wait one more week. Of course we should wait until after the peak. We should wait until there have been a few consecutive days of diminishing case numbers. We may be very sorry if we don't get behind Ms. Schepici's recommendation. This disease is out of control, and the only effective tool we have right now is distancing. We don't have testing, a cure, or a vaccine. I am wondering why you think you can't enforce the order. A hefty fine being levied a couple of times will send a signal loud and clear. Let's not rush in where angels fear to tread. We here on the Vineyard have somehow dodged a bullet with just a small number of cases. let's keep it that way.
World Health Organization's
Louise TisburyWorld Health Organization's recommendations for lifting restrictions:
Any government that wants to start lifting restrictions, said Tedros of WHO, must first meet six conditions:
1. Disease transmission is under control
2. Health systems are able to "detect, test, isolate and treat every case and trace every contact"
3. Hot spot risks are minimized in vulnerable places, such as nursing homes
4. Schools, workplaces and other essential places have established preventive measures
5. The risk of importing new cases "can be managed"
6. Communities are fully educated, engaged and empowered to live under a new normal
If it wasn’t for this “CEO”
Vineyard Haven Strong Vineyard HavenIf it wasn’t for this “CEO” at the hospital we could all go back to work! She should have to forfeit 5-6 weeks of her salary like we have had to. To condemn one-man crews like this is somehow dangerous is shameful. And to close the meeting by trying to shame our elected tax funded officials into compliance is BEYOND shameful.
Unless you’re paid under the
BS OB Oak BluffsUnless you’re paid under the table, you qualify for unemployment and don’t have to forgo your salary. Independent contractors, self-employed are all able to collect. Business owners can too and can also apply for the SBA loans.
No, independent contractors
Nvh VHNo, independent contractors and small businesses can’t collect unemployment right now. If you check Mass.gov they are building a platform so that we may start applying on April 30. Meanwhile, rent is due and we need food on the table. The idea that a one-man crew is risky is absolutely ridiculous, especially considering it may be outdoor work and also on empty houses here. There’s a hundred times more risk going to the grocery store.
What is with the "CEO" in
Bulkington EdgartownWhat is with the "CEO" in quotation marks? Enlighten us all. What experience do you have in medicine or healthcare? A virus is contagious. Just like misinformation, it can debilitate, maim, and kill. Some do survive, yes, but their brains remain scrambled like eggs. Is that what you really want? Heaven Forefend you should ever have to be in need of MVH. If you do, though, I'll bet they would not judge you the way you have judged them.
It’s completely absurd to ban
Paul West TisburyIt’s completely absurd to ban a one man worker.
Did they look at the
BS Oak BluffsDid they look at the communities off island that haven't banned construction and analyzed whether or not there are proportionally more cases due to construction there?
I've spent the last few days
Kindur Oak BluffsI've spent the last few days off island in western mass(still self isolated). Driving around everyone is working. Schools, restaurants and retail are the only things closed. I watched 10 roofers eat lunch huddled together in a circle. Pavers, landscapers and painters all working with no social distancing. It's incredibly frustrating when half the population is suffering for the greater good and the other half just does what it pleases. What's the point? It's all or nothing or it doesn't work. I understand our micro environment needs to be protected because of the lack of medical facilities but I'm starting to loose patience and am willing to take my chances. Let's open construction up for Islanders but NO off island subs/workers.
Interesting that Nantucket’s
ACK FanInteresting that Nantucket’s Hospital CEO wants to phase in landscaping and construction immediately. Seems like he wants to give his fellow islanders and people who work in the trades the benefit of the doubt they will do the right thing...imagine that. They also have less beds and no ICU. https://www.ack.net/news/20200415/select-board-looking-to-phase-in-cons…
I think there are two
COH EdgartownI think there are two problems here: are we certain it will be one more week? Realistically, the threat of Covid 19 will last until there is a vaccine, which could be many months. There is also the fact that Ms. Schepici does not acknowledge or factor in that all along there has been a certain amount of "cheating" vis a vis the stay at home rules and this is a fluid thing, while the towns' officers voice the real challenge of enforcement. The ferries are still bringing day trippers/weekenders/residents, which again dilutes the effect of the stay at home rule; as someone commented before, as the weather gets nicer this will complicate any attempt to ease regulations. The people who have been complying deserve credit...they have practiced safe distancing and interaction when out...should they not be given a chance to slowly and safely return to work? It seems we are punishing the people who have been good, who have learned, who have been patient and who are the least likely to put others at risk. Do we really not know or trust each other enough to know the difference? It is ironic that the towns stood up to the governor when closing down construction, and evaluated what was best for the island vs for the rest of the state. Now they are being told they should not even discuss steps to lift the ban, not based on conditions unique to the island, but based on conditions in Boston and the rest of the state. Everyone involved has a valuable, special insight as well as a competing self-interest that makes the decision complicated. Whatever the decision, give it a full and healthy discussion giving consideration to everyone and their interests and expertise. Listen to each other and weigh what you hear before making a decision. Gradually restrictions will have to ease, and it will be a risk and an experiment whenever it happens, a week from now or a month from now, because the threat of the virus will still be here.
Funny how all the people
Mike OBFunny how all the people telling us we can’t work have jobs...
Government employees non and essential workers working from home etc.... no finger pointing. Lets all wake up, before it’s to late, because we will not be able to have roofs over our heads food on our tables and provide for our families.
We can no longer believe the numbers.. 30k in my country have died but how many of those poor folks were ill or died of other complications??
We really want to do this? For what again? I am from a military family and also served. I am disgusted and outraged with our leadership. From our crying governor at press conferences to our local leaders...
Please let’s put this behind us.
This will go down as the biggest fear mongering over reaction in my lifetime....
Let’s ALL get back to work..
SOS
"This will go down as the
Bulkington Edgartown"This will go down as the biggest fear mongering over reaction in my lifetime..." 32,186 deaths are worthy of fear. (Most did not have comorbidities.) Some people on this Island have jobs trying to keep you alive. They are not there to die for you. This is not something we can put behind. Neither is it something, as the president claims, "we need to forget."
They’re dead because of a
DownislanderThey’re dead because of a pandemic virus that could kill millions more unless we do the stupid thing and start congregating too soon. Everyone is suffering. Restaurant workers, yoga instructors, massage therapists, dentists, hair dressers. Why should we make an exception for contractors and landscapers? Is cutting the grass really that damn important? I don’t trust any of you to do the right thing. WHY? Because I was walking in Katama today and saw an entire crew of electricians, carpenters and other tradesmen working at a property with no physical distancing, no masks, nothing. Cheaters who are putting this whole island at risk. And The numbers are actually much higher than reported since our ignorant and incompetent *president is unwilling to use the resources of the federal government to manufacture the tens of millions of tests that are required to ensure that people can safely return to work. So you can just quit your cry baby whining and do what’s right for this community. Stay home.
Mike, you’d have a way
Deb T Oak BluffsMike, you’d have a way different opinion if you had lost a loved one to this. And if your ignorance about this didn’t have the potential to kill others you may or may not know, I’d say “go for it and may the odds be ever in your favor.” But such is not the case. If you go back to work you’ll end up infecting others whose immune systems aren’t up to the challenge Covid-19 presents. This is a HEALTH CRISIS! Listen to the health managers on the Island and extend your enforced “vacation” one more week. Otherwise, you endanger more than your livelihood!
More stellar leadership from
Brian Bannon Oak BluffsMore stellar leadership from Brian Packish. Always comforting to hear a landscaper claim to know more about management of a public health pandemic than a health care professional with over three decades of experience and a masters degree in public health.
Agree. He’s caving to
BS OB Oak BluffsAgree. He’s caving to pressure from a few who don’t care about the rest of the community and put their pocketbooks above Our health and welfare.
Also, why are construction workers more important than retail or hospitality workers? Selfish.
If it were not for our
Economist - Summer Resident OBIf it were not for our "pocketbooks", we would have neither health nor welfare... Our economic blessings afford us the opportunities to live without housing and food insecurities, healthcare, and liberties that unfortunately don't exist throughout the world. Understanding the relationship between our productivity and the lifestyle so many take for granted is not selfish... it is grounded in economic reality - these policies are not sustainable. Shifting the focus to our freedoms. Individuals willingness to sacrifice their basic freedoms during these times is alarming. Summoning the intellect of Benjamin Franklin, I will refer you his belief that "those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety"
The construction ban was a
David JohnThe construction ban was a reckless and harmful decision from day one and the term is misleading. It’s carpenters, plumbers, electricians, HVAC installers, landscapers, painters, house cleaners etc. What that amounts to is hundreds of additional people going in and out of the grocery stores, liquor stores, and pharmacies every day. If you’re going to catch anything those are the three most likely locations. Let’s work to reduce that number. Worker or workers on an isolated jobsite, practicing common sense safety measures, is infinitely safer for the island as a whole. Workers coming over on the boat is a totally separate issue. And should be handled separately. We shouldn’t be punishing people that work on the island who also chose to live here. Domestic violence is on the rise. Sexual abuse is on the rise. Child abuse is on the rise. The stay-at-home rally cry is certainly a benefit to some, but to others it’s a nightmare with no end in sight. Let’s try to inject some common sense and compassion into the next round of decisions.
Please end this...Please, I
Tom EdgartownPlease end this...Please, I need to go to work to provide for my family and elderly parent.
The “science” and the numbers just don’t add up. Don’t do this for our kids and there kids.
Thank you
Why do you put "science" in
T Bone OBWhy do you put "science" in quotes? This "science" will develop tests and vaccines. Think before you ignore "science".
Peoples bushes need to be
Right Whale Hooter BuoyPeoples bushes need to be manicured in edgartown ? Are you kidding me ? There are over 28000 cases in Massachusetts and climbing, 153 people died yesterday. Is that what you want on the island ? If you open up and cause an epicenter on this island the blood will be on your hands. Think about what you are doing people, your decisions could have dire consequences. Stay home, stay safe, stop the spread.
I'm sure that all of those in
Bob OBI'm sure that all of those in charge and in positions of influence have the best intentions and are doing the best they can in a difficult situation, but the idea that even one worker is unsafe is just silly. The original proposed new plan and timeline sound reasonable.
I guess many fill they are
frank vineyard havenI guess many fill they are willing to relax the stay at home order at the of expense of older citizen. For they are the ones that will greatly
suffer the most if the order is relaxed too much or stoped altogether. But I guess its ok to make that decision. After all the many
are more important then the few. So what does it matter if a number of older citizen have to suffer the most or perhaps die.
Im am 73 and lived here on the Island all my life. I am sorry if this sounds harsh but I am very concerned. Thank You.
Please listen to the experts.
Philip Cordelka OBPlease listen to the experts. Extend the construction ban until April 28th.
I am trying to understand
Henry Vineyard HavenI am trying to understand this "discussion"...our Island is confronted with a public health crisis which involves life or death, for young and old. The landscapers and carpenters know better about our plan of action than our resident public health experts?
Why does my family and my
Tom VHWhy does my family and my life have to be put at risk, I wish that the hospital administration would be listened to its difficult to have some public officials with monetary gain to be had making these life and death decisions for us. And it does not matter which town because guess what we live on an island.
If you don’t make smart rules
Up island elder West tisburyIf you don’t make smart rules the construction and landscaper industry here will simply rebel and start working. They already are. This new MV Builders group seems to only represent the elite high end builders and is not a true representative. Be fair or a serious rebellion will occur. Two person crews are not dangerous.
The issue that no one is
Yitzhak West TisburyThe issue that no one is mentioning is the numbers of construction workers who arrive on the ferry every morning from off island. That is our most significant danger. Let construction continue with mask wearing and social distancing as much as possible but bam off island workers.
The idea that if 1 or 2
jay sonia west tisburyThe idea that if 1 or 2 people are on a job site will lead to a pandemic on the island is an exaggeration. I have been working by myself for 2 years now. I can haul fill from one town to another and meet no-one all day. I don't share trucks and machines with anyone else.
I no longer buy lunch. I fuel from my own pumps. There are many small one or two man crews (electricians, plumbers....) on this island that are like me.
I am, as well as most others, aware of how we can become infected. Hand washing, masks, distancing have become a way of life. All this reduces the chances of catching and spreading covid. We can not hide forever. We can reduce our risks. We have to get this island and country up and running by a balance of both.
Am I reckless - I dont think so. I wont go to the grocery store - as far as I'm concerned a breeding ground for germs. (I send my wife). I wont go into a store unless absolutely needed and masked and wash my hands and everything I've touched.
With all due respect, the hospital will not be over-run with cases. We don't have a high concentration of cases. We live somewhat isolated from each other. We have ways to transport patients to off island sites. Nobody will be in the parking lot dying for lack of care.
My hat is off to the people working the grocery stores. They are dealing with hundreds of people a day, while construction workers are not allowed to work with one other person in a 4,000 square ft house, or outside!
"I think we are kidding
Islander Too"I think we are kidding ourselves to think even one worker is safe,” she said."
What????
This is blinkered.
One person on a job site can "cost lives"? Gimme a break.
That person might not be "safe" at home. His wife might not be "safe." His kids might not be "safe," like, if they are hungry, or if there is domestic abuse, or depression.
There are a lot of different kinds of "safe."
This is getting absurd.
IMO the only thing ms. Scepici should be emphasizing and demanding is universal use of masks.
The science on that is pretty solid.
Remember the Y2K scare? The
Rich Vineyard HavenRemember the Y2K scare? The world economy was going to crash because computers were not equipped to roll over to the new century. Bank accounts would freeze, and grocery stores would stop receiving food because of disruptions to the supply chain. It was going to be an unprecedented catastrophe, unlike anything mankind has ever seen before. As a result, computer programmers worked 12 hour days and consultants fell over each other hawking their cures. Seems we are seeing the same scaremongering accompanied by utterly ridiculous precautions by those who are financially incented by the looming catastrophe.
Why is there no mention of
Steve Auerbach Oak BluffsWhy is there no mention of testing?
Couldn't the hospital, in conjunction with the Steamship Authority, set up a facility by the docking site, to test workers and visitors, before they can mingle with people who live here?
Or do we not have testing available in sufficient quantities?
God forbid Americans should be compelled to do anything, but in this case it seems about the only way to protect the people of the Island while enabling our economic life to resume.
We are all overlooking the
Dean Rosenthal EdgartownWe are all overlooking the main feature here: why would the CEO of the hospital, charged with keeping us healthy and even preventing life or death situations, as her JOB, not only as a fellow Islander, EVER even consider that there is some kind of trade off to made between public health for the ENTIRE island of Martha’s Vineyard and the work of construction crews. People, it is literally her job to make decisions to avoid not only the worst possible situation for this island, healthwise, but to do the VERY BEST. There will be safety once more. This is a no brainer in terms of her position. You know what? We’ve followed her advice so far and it’s been working out a bit. That doesn’t mean we should ignore it, right when surges are expected. It’s not a mystery that cases could explode even from 1 or 2 more positive tests. This virus is wildfire is some situations. The contact tracing has made an extraordinary difference as well. We don’t have answers, we have advisories and guidelines. We get out of this by continuing to do what we’re doing, in my opinion.
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