Town of Mashpee
Environmental Oversight Committee
Minutes of Meeting
September 10, 2009
Present: Chairman Don Myers, Ed Baker, Mary Waygan
Also Present: Catherine Laurent-Department of Public Works, Beverly Kane
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order with a quorum at 7:03 p.m. by Chairman Myers.
APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES
Motion made by Mr. Baker to approve the minutes of August 13, 2009. Motion seconded by Ms. Waygan. All voted unanimously.
COMMUNICATIONS
There was no public comment at this time.
MASHPEE BLUE BOOK
Beverly Kane reported that the Blue Book information has been converted from a PDF document into a Word document using free conversion software. The disc purchased for $150 was not usable and instead, the information was downloaded from the website. Ms. Kane and Mr. Baker have been working together, along with input from the Mashpee Environmental Coalition, to edit and re-work 8 of the original 14 sections. Drafts are not yet ready to be reviewed by the Environmental Oversight Committee. Among the chapters being reviewed:
Introductory Draft-Under review
Chapter 1-Mr. Baker is re-working the content
Chapter 2 & 3-No need for changes
Chapter 4-Requires re-working
Chapter 5 & 6-No need for changes
Chapter 7-Re-titled “Spare that Shrub!”
Chapter 8-Requires re-working
Chapter 9, 10 & 11-No need for changes
Chapter 12-A first draft has been created with plans to include Mashpee’s oyster propagation program
Ms. Kane and Evelyn Bushenfeld, from the Mashpee Environmental Coalition, will be meeting with the Technical School to discuss cost estimates for the project. It has been proposed that the front cover of the book depict a photo of the Mashpee River while the back cover features a collage of ponds located in Mashpee. The existing graphics will be deleted and artwork from school students will be incorporated. Mr. Baker described the timely process by which the graphics and images would need to be deleted and re-created. The artwork provided by the school will need to be a size that will allow them to be reduced or enlarged as needed. It was noted that contributing student artists will be credited in the book. Ms. Kane added that some of the existing graphics will remain.
Ms. Kane is waiting to hear if there are limits to the changes that can be made to the book since three groups must approve the document prior to its publication. The Chair will follow up with the School Committee to identify the contact for the Environmental Oversight Committee. The Chair will also follow up with Mr. Theis regarding the Chamber of Commerce’s interest in naming the book.
NEW BUSINESS
No new business at this time.
OLD BUSINESS
Catherine Laurent, Department of Public Works
1) Storm Water NPDES Permit-Ms. Laurent reported that Mashpee is in its seventh year of the original five year EPA/DEP issued Small MS 4 General Permit because the permit has not yet been updated. Information regarding the update is expected this fall. The permit has required that Mashpee report the ways in which the Town has been implementing particular programs, such as education and outreach. The Year 6 Annual Report has been filed by the Town. Ms. Laurent will email the report and more details about the program to members of the Committee. Interest was expressed in holding public hearings once the Town initiates the new application process.
2) Fertilization-Changes have been made to the Town’s fertilization practice by using a different product that requires application two times each year instead of four times at Heritage Park. The Town found that the organic product used previously was not cost effective and that the new synthetic product would be slow release and applied in the spring and the fall. Soil tests have been conducted to determine Mashpee town property fertilization needs. Ms. Laurent will provide members of the Committee with the data sheet for the fertilizer. The Chair questioned practices being utilized for school property and in consideration of state regulations. Ms. Laurent noted the specific requirements for pesticide application, adding that Town workers will be certified with pesticide
licenses. The Town wishes to limit the amount of pesticide usage, consider other options and ensure that when pesticide is used, it is applied properly. Regarding fertilizer, Ms. Laurent stated that the Town is required to post a notification when fertilization has occurred and efforts have been made to apply fertilizer when no activities are scheduled. The Department of Public Works will be meeting with the Town’s contractor to consider a similar fertilization program for the schools that is planned for Heritage Park.
3) Subdivision Regulations-Ms. Laurent indicated that she last met with the Planning Board 1 ½ years ago and had been working and had been in agreement with their consultant regarding the Road Specifications document. Charles Rowley forwarded street design diagrams to Ms. Laurent which requires her review and she has requested the most recent draft of the Subdivision Regulations. Ms. Laurent will review the information and attend the Planning Board meeting in late October. Ms. Laurent noted that the town’s Road Specifications would be the same as what appears in the Subdivision Regulations, but that they had not yet been finalized and approved because the Planning Board was reviewing the entire Subdivision Regulations. It was recommended that the two aspects related to the
Department of Public Works, Road Specifications and Storm Water Management, be adopted prior to waiting for the entire Subdivision Regulations to be completed since the information is not currently available as a document. It was discussed that the Board of Selectmen could adopt a policy for the Road Specifications and Storm Water Management instead of waiting for the Planning Board to complete their Regulations. It was agreed that Ms. Laurent will meet with the Planning Board, review the Specifications and then both the Planning Board and Ms. Laurent would make a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen to accept the Specifications as policy. Mr. Baker expressed his desire that the Town have jurisdiction over Road Specifications and Storm Water Management. Ms. Laurent added that the DPW would utilize the Planning Board’s document, making some adjustments so that it specifies town roads to create the policy. Ms. Laurent also noted the challenges
of roads and meeting the requirements of other Boards such as Zoning and Conservation. Committee members requested that they have an opportunity to review the document before it is presented to the Board of Selectmen.
4) Bio Retention Areas for Quinaquisset Avenue-(See attached maps) Ms. Laurent reported that the original reconstruction of Quinaquisset Avenue included three areas, but upon review of the sites with Conservation Agent Andrew McManus, it was determined that modifications could be made to the original plan. Bio-Retention Area 1, near Shoestring Bay, was originally proposed to be a drainage swale requiring extensive removal of vegetation. The site has since been redesigned with a longer, narrower swale, with the same storm water capacity, but without the extensive removal of vegetation. The swale will be re-vegetated with a mix of seed to allow for some filtering. The project is expected to be completed by the end of September.
Bio-Retention Area 2 has been eliminated because the land is flat. Bio-Retention Area 3 currently has three existing paved waterways located under the guard rails. The original proposal involved the removal of vegetation to create a Bio-Retention area. However, the paved waterways have created significant erosion and it has been proposed that three areas on the slope be covered with rip rap and the base of the slope be reinforced with additional vegetation. Mr. Baker expressed concern that one of the waterways may carry a greater percentage of the water and asked that the DPW consider reconfiguring the rip rap in order to diffuse road sand that may run off from the road.
5) Lantern Lane-There has been no petition filed requesting to become a town road.
6) Recycling-Ms. Laurent stated that her goal has been to make recycling easy for Mashpee residents. Additionally, Ms. Laurent has been researching the best price for co-mingling since more facilities have been opened that are providing an automated separation process. Ms. Laurent noted that the recyclable market is improving.
Santuit Pond Update
No Monthly Report was submitted by AECOM Environment. Members of the Friends of Santuit Pond requested updates about the project. The Chair stated that he would forward AECOM’s reports to them at allen.waxman@gmail.com. The Chair reported that AECOM would continue to conduct their own testing in response to concerns expressed about using similar testing that may be conducted by DEP. The Committee discussed the January completion date for issuing the report. Mr. Baker indicated that Mr. York had not
yet delivered his data to AECOM.
Mashpee River Update
The Chair spoke with Waterways Commission Chair Ken Bates and reported that the Commission has been focusing on the receipt of RFPs, which have been processed, and plan to make a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen. The Chair will be seeking clarification about the RFP’s focus on the mouth of the river and will inquire about plans for the rest of the river. Mr. Baker expressed his concern about the blending proposal that would be included with the Commission’s recommendation.
Action Items
Environmental Education-No change
Mashpee River Restoration-No change until Waterways Commission presents to the Board of Selectmen
Combine Water-Sewer-Article for Fall Town Meeting to increase membership to 7
Natural Fertilizers-No change
Grant Applications-No response received regarding Textron Funds
Town-Wide Storm Water Management Plan-Discussed previously
Santuit Pond-The study is progressing.
Land Steward Program-Conservation Agent Andrew McManus will be invited to attend the next meeting. Mr. Baker requested that the Agent provide the Committee with a summary of reports from 2009 to include the number of reports received, the number of favorable and/or unfavorable reports and the action taken in response to the reports.
Recycling-The Recycling Committee will be meeting on September 21.
Mashpee’s Ponds Water Quality-Mr. Baker reported that water samples for six ponds had been submitted to Cape Cod Commission, to then be delivered to SMaST. The program will be completed in October with results available in May.
AGENDA ITEMS FOR OCTOBER 8, 2009
Mashpee Blue Book
Update from Beverly Kane
Meeting with Andrew McManus, Conservation Department
Land Steward Program
Santuit Pond Update
Mashpee River Update
Action Items
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Ms. Waygan announced that Mashpee Commons has submitted a Notice of Intent to proceed with a development agreement to the Cape Cod Commission. The Cape Cod Commission has voted that there was enough potential for the project for a development agreement. The agreement will be 3-way between Mashpee, Cape Cod Commission and Mashpee Commons LC. More information will follow. The Chair questioned whether or not the project would be related to the Environmental Oversight Committee to which Ms. Waygan responded that the impact on Trout Pond and Mashpee River would be a consideration. Ms. Waygan discussed the Cape Cod Commission’s Regional Policy Plan (RPP), a regulation that requires open space and involves mitigation from the developers. Ms. Waygan also discussed the development of Land
Use Vision Maps being used in each Cape town and its relationship to the RPP and how it will affect mitigation.
MEETING ADJOURNMENT
Motion made by Mr. Baker to adjourn the meeting at 8:48 p.m. Motion seconded by Ms. Waygan. All voted unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer M. Clifford
Board Secretary
Attachments
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