Health Officials Set to Tighten Restrictions on Construction and Job Sites Islandwide

Martha’s Vineyard public health officials were planning to reintroduce Islandwide restrictions on the construction and building industry Thursday.

Martha’s Vineyard public health officials are planning to reintroduce Islandwide restrictions on the construction and building industry at a Zoom forum Thursday evening, aiming for strict enforcement as coronavirus cases surge across the Island.

The restrictions were discussed at a meeting Wednesday morning that took place between Island town administrators and health agents. The new restrictions would mirror phase two of the construction moratorium that was instituted during the pandemic’s initial statewide spike in April, according to Tisbury health agent Maura Valley.

Phase two limits job sites to 10 workers and requires all workers to fill out daily wellness checks and maintain social distance. Violations can result in a maximum $1,000 daily fine and can be enforced by health agents, building inspectors, police or other authorized town officials. Enforcement agents also have the authority to suspend work on a job site.

The renewed restrictions come as health officials report that a large number of the recent cases on the Island have been traced back to the building and construction trades.

On Wednesday, the town of Tisbury — which has seen the largest spike in cases in recent weeks and was recently designated a high-risk community for Covid-19 spread by the state — issued a release saying the town would crack down on construction violations with increased enforcement as well.

Tisbury town officials said that while the majority of the recent cases come from the town, there has also been a surge Islandwide, prompting the need for increased restrictions and enforcement from health agents.

The Martha’s Vineyard Builders’ Association, an advocacy group representing more than 120 independent Island contractors or tradespeople, has said it supports the renewed restrictions and enforcement, and planned to hold a Zoom meeting Thursday with contractors and health agents.

“We will hear from Island boards of health and building inspectors on the state of the spread and what can be done on the job site and at home to keep your community and your job safe,” the builders’ association said in a release that went out by email to its members and others on Wednesday. “We will have materials to help establish company policy, support workplace conversations and enforce best practices . . . Join us and together we can hold back the tide, and protect our families, friends, neighbors, and our jobs.”

The construction industry, booming since the summer, was almost entirely shut down in April at the outset of the pandemic. Health officials and town selectmen were concerned about contractors traveling on ferries to the Island, among other things.

An Islandwide construction moratorium, modeled after a similar order on Nantucket, was instituted for two weeks that essentially limited job sites to a pair of workers. Larger job sites were slowly reintroduced through phases over the next two months in the spring.

By midsummer summer the construction trades were in full swing again, in tandem with a booming real estate market that has continued all fall.

 

Comments

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 11/19/2020 - 11:25

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R Scott Patterson Edgartown

It's about time, I am at a fair amount of construction sites and there are always workers not wearing masks. ALWAYS!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 11/19/2020 - 12:36

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Lil Dove Tisbury

There's a difference between health agents and health officials. Reporting on legal agencies, such as the local Boards of Health, should not be done on hearsay and without research. The Island's health officials consist of six Boards, one from each Town. Each town has it's own elected Board of Health officials - these individuals are the Island's health officials, not the health agents. Whoever is pushing for another work ban does not necessarily represent all six BOH's, and a second work ban is not a decision that was discussed and voted upon by the six Boards of Health. Decisions are made Town by Town and no health official has legal authority outside their town's jurisdiction. Another work ban may be a desired outcome for some health agents, who refer to themselves as Island health officials; they're not, though. The MVBOH for example, is just a logo, not a legal agency at all. Please fact check before printing stories that allege decisions made by "all-Island health officials". The decision on whether or not to shut down contractors and construction workers will be made Town by Town by elected BOH officials. Town residents can voice their position by calling or emailing their elected Health officials. Elected officials are supposed to listen to their constituents before making sweeping decisions. What do residents think about another work ban? Why is there not also a wedding ban, and a grocery store ban? Or are some health agents just targeting the working class?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 11/19/2020 - 13:19

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Cement Truck Driver Edgartown used to be Vineyard Haven

I am at a quite a few construction sites and most of the workers never wear masks.
I'd say about 90 percent of them. I know it is a hassle but this needs to be enforced. Our Island will be like a incubator for Covid 19 if it is'nt. It probably already is.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 11/19/2020 - 20:24

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Island Builder Tisbury

Yes, a mask mandate should be enforced, but the other restrictions on building sites far exceed precautions required for other businesses. We have daily log book entries, signatures of those working each day, sinks in homes without typically running water, multible signage everywhere including in the porta potty, risk of $1000 fines per day, etc. All the stores on Main Street don't keep track of the hundreds of shoppers each day? It seems we have a much higher standard for construction sites.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 11/20/2020 - 07:20

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John Gault Oak Bluffs

The Martha’s Vineyard Builders’ Association, an advocacy group claiming to representing more than 120 independent Island contractors or tradespeople, has said it supports the renewed restrictions and enforcement. This Association should provide the complete list of contractors they claim to represent and do it immediately. Then everyone can make an informed opinion on the validity of their Association. Just my opinion that the public has a right to know and so do fellow contractors and builders.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 11/20/2020 - 18:29

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Concerned resident! Vineyard Haven

Off island workers going on and off the ferry every day. Testing/quarantine?
We are encouraged not to go off for Thanksgiving.
They are just going back and forth.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 11/21/2020 - 07:06

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Lee Bruni Vineyard Vista’s Construction LLC Vineyard Haven

As one of the men in this photo, I’m glad to see the image chosen to lead this story was of a compliant crew wearing masks!
Thank you Vineyard Gazette for a little integrity.

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