The Nantucket County Board of Health voted Oct. 27 to grant a three-year variance to Nantucket Island Surf School from portions of the recreational camp code related to plumbing and running water at Cisco Beach, with the condition that health department staff provide periodic updates after summer inspections.

Board members heard from a representative of the surf school who said lessons are typically one hour and occur in the ocean, that campers and families often bring water, and that the program uses porta-potties and hand sanitizer on site. Health department inspector Will reported that inspections of the camps this year “went very well” and that staff received no complaints. Will told the board the department has previously granted the same variances to surf camps and urged members to weigh risks to health, safety and sanitary conditions for minors when deciding on variances.

Board discussion focused on whether to continue annual variance reviews or extend approvals to reduce last-minute operational disruption. Several members said earlier scheduling helped operators prepare for the season and that annual check-ins had improved communication and compliance. A motion to grant a three-year variance as presented in the meeting packet, with periodic check-ins by staff after inspections, passed by voice vote.

The board did not require additional infrastructure at Cisco Beach in the motion, but members noted portable handwashing stations and hand sanitizer as mitigations and asked staff to flag any complaints or safety issues that would prompt reconsideration of the variance. The variance covers the specific items presented on the agenda packet for this operator and runs for three years unless the board is notified of material changes or problems.