EASTHAM WATER RESOURCES ADVISORY COMMITTEE (WRAB)
EASTHAM WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT PLANNING
COMMITTEE (WWMPC)
Minutes of 5/4/05 Meeting
WRAB Members attending: Chair Karl Weiss, Bruce Whitmore, Muriel Lightfoot, Stan Holt, Marcel Boelitz
WMPC Members attending: Chair Bruce Whitmore, Judy Williams, Meint Olthof, Chris Wickson
Attending for the Town of Eastham: Health Agent Jane Crowley, Americorp Volunteer Michele Palmer
(1) The Minutes of the joint WRAB/WMPC Meeting of 3/2/05 were approved unanimously.
(2) It was agreed that the next meeting would be held the 1st Monday of June (June 6th) at 3:00 pm at the Police Station Conference Room; and that subsequent meetings would be held on the 2nd Monday of the month, also at the Police Station. The WRAB and WWMPC will continue to meet jointly under the respective chairs of Bruce Whitmore (for the WWMPC) and Karl Weiss (for the WRAB), until the two groups can be combined pursuant to Town and State approvals. The attending members voted unanimously to appoint Karl Weiss and Bruce Whitmore to be chairs of their respective committees.
(3) Because the ZBA did not require it, the Roach property development will not include a nitrate reducing septage system. No further action contemplated.
(4) The public water supply and septage disposal system planned for the Brackett Road development have not been approved yet, but Jane Crowley stated that she assumed that both would be adequately regulated by the state. No further action contemplated.
(5) The proposal to site an ocean beach in undeveloped Town District H is raising issues among the public of environmental impact (damage to habitat, coastal bank, groundwater) and cost (the rate of erosion of the coastal bank is approximately 6ft a year on average, and the facility will need to be rebuilt or repaired frequently). Although the portion of the parcel being developed for the ocean beach is not a potential large-scale water supply area, the development compromises any future attempt to trade this undeveloped parcel for large-scale water rights on the National Seashore. No further action contemplated at this time.
(6) With the Eastham Forum’s permission, the WRAB/WWMCP will again host an exhibit during the Windmill Weekend featuring the results of testing surface waters and groundwater, wastewater issues and the promotion of native plants. Karl Weiss, Bruce Whitmore, Meint Olthof and Chris Wickson volunteered to organize the event.
(7) The desirability of a pesticide ban in Eastham was discussed. It was concluded that this matter is currently regulated elsewhere. No further action contemplated.
(8) It was learned that Chatham limits lawns for new building projects under bylaws that limit nitrate loading of the aquifer. Chris Wickson agreed to make the pertinent guidelines available to Karl Weiss, who will submit them to the WRAB/WWMPC members for consideration.
(9) Moneys to continue pond testing in Eastham from various County and Town sources are now available. In addition, both Town and National Park personnel have assisted in maintaining some of the pond testing equipment. All WRAB/WWMPC members were grateful for this support.
(10) WWMPC members were concerned that the RFP to develop a water supply system to serve the Elementary School and the homes impacted by the landfill plume did not include the project to develop a long-term wastewater management plan for the town as originally agreed. Karl Weiss will invite the Town to Administrator our next joint meeting (June 6th) to explain why the two projects are being handled separately, and the prognosis for the long range wastewater management plan.
(11) Results of groundwater testing were presented by Michele Palmer. The results are excellent. It was agreed that the level of participation and measures to improve it would be discussed in the fall when full returns and results are available.
Submitted by Marcel Boelitz
| 
