Mashpee Environmental Oversight Committee
Minutes of Meeting
October 21, 2014 at 6:30 p.m.
Mashpee Town Hall, Waquoit Meeting Room
Present: Chairman George Petersen, Rick York, Mike Talbot, Drew McManus
Absent: Selectman John Cahalane, Ted Theis
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was opened by Chairman Petersen at 6:30 p.m. with a quorum.
APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES September 23, 2014
Mr. Talbot made a motion to approve the minutes of September 23. The Chair seconded the motion. 2 yes, 1 abstain
COMMUNICATIONS
The Chair suggested the possibility of emailing EOC members on the Friday, or day prior to the meeting, in order to acquire a roll call for meeting attendance.
NEW BUSINESS
New member Drew McManus was welcomed to the Committee. It was noted that additional paperwork in the Town Clerk’s office was needed showing the Board of Selectmen’s approval of his appointment. The Chair indicated that he would make mention of it at the upcoming meeting on November 3. Mr. Talbot will also contact Selectman Cahalane.
ACTION ITEMS UPDATE
Estuary Restoration/Shellfish Propagation
Mr. York reported that AmeriCorps had been working with him on the shellfish propogation program during the day planting quahogs on the Great River. Mr. York stated that the scallop season had been better than in previous years thanks to improved seed survival. The cooler summer may have been a contributing factor to their success. Mr. York also reported that comments received about the Comprehensive Watershed Nitrogen Management Plan were being considered.
Pond & Estuary Water Quality
Mr. Talbot indicated that he would follow up with George Reichenbacher regarding the results of pond sampling. Mr. McManus noted that there was some trouble accessing Moody Pond due to the gate, but that the gate could be opened by town personnel if given advanced notice of requested access. Mr. Talbot suggested the possibility that, if there was limited, monitoring may become unnecessary. Mr. York stated that Moody Pond was in good shape, but that he could work something out for next year’s sampling.
There was discussion regarding the recent yellow perch fish kill but Mr. McManus reported that it had been due not to water quality, but thought to be a result of a spawning related disease. Mr. York noted that it was a small portion of the population of yellow perch. Mr. York referenced the PALS and Mashpee Environmental Coalition summer sampling, noting that although Santuit was the most impacted, the algae bloom was half of what it was prior to the circulators. Mr. York indicated that all data had been received and that the other ponds had not changed greatly.
Nutrient Management & Fertilizer Regulations for Fresh Water Ponds & Estuaries
Mr. Talbot reported that the Cape Cod Times had printed a story about the bylaw passing in Mashpee. Mr. Talbot also reported that he had been contacted by Jonathan Idman regarding approval of the bylaw by the Cape Cod Commission. The next available date for consideration was November 13, which Mr. Talbot requested for the hearing. Mr. Talbot will attend the meeting but inquired who else should be in attendance, noting that Mashpee would be the first town bylaw to be approved under the DCPC guidelines. Mr. Talbot will reach out to Selectman Gottlieb regarding the hearing.
Mr. Talbot referenced implementation of the bylaw, which he recommended beginning March 1, and noted that he had been in contact with Falmouth regarding joint education for landscape professionals, suppliers and homeowners. There was a recommendation that the education program be rolled out beginning in January, possibly in the form of a notice to professionals and homeowners informing them about the bylaw along with basic performance standards. Information should be made available through the website. The Chair pointed out that the Committee did not have a budget so the BOS would need to be contacted. Mr. York indicated that the town website was an excellent resource for distributing information and recommended contacting the Town Manager’s office. The Chair stated that he would contact
Assistant Town Manager Tom Mayo. Mr. Talbot indicated that he would send an email regarding the Cape Cod Commission’s public hearing to the Town Manager’s office, as well as the Board of Selectmen. The Chair will also contact Commissioner Ernie Virgilio. Mr. York recommended concise information on the website to be accessed by the homeowners. Mr. Talbot will also draft text about the bylaw for the MEC newsletter once the bylaw was considered by the CCC.
OLD BUSINESS
Combine Water-Sewer
No update
Town-Wide Stormwater Management Plan
Mr. York indicated that stormwater management was part of the Comprehensive Plan and that the DPW continued to address stormwater issues. Additionally, DPW Director Catherine Laurent consistently provided updates and reports for the permits held by Mashpee. Mr. York stated that town projects to improve stormwater runoff began with the vegetated swale located at the Route 130 herring run, the capture area for Mashpee Neck Landing and the reconstruction of the Great River boat ramp. Mr. Talbot inquired about the outfall pipes in New Seabury and it was suggested that the Peninsula Council and Selectman Mike Richardson be contacted. Mr. York noted that all street drains had been mapped, totaling 2,000 storm drains.
Land Steward Program
Mr. McManus reported that there were currently 37 Land Stewards, both passive and active, many of whom walk their parcels approximately four times per year, submitting a parcel report to the Conservation Department. Information about the program was readily available on the website. Each year, three or four programs have been hosted by the Conservation Department for trail maintenance with help from both the Land Stewards and AmeriCorps. The Herring Monitoring Program takes place from late February to the end of June at three locations, and now features 27 volunteers. Numbers have shown that herring have been increasing.
Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant
No update
FEMA Flood Map
It was recommended that the item remain on the agenda.
CORRESPONDENCE
DISCUSSION
Mr. McManus announced that grant opportunities were being sought in order to restore the fish ladder at John’s Pond/Quashnet River. There was discussion regarding severe erosion at the site. Mr. Talbot inquired about the fish ladder at Santuit Pond and Mr. McManus indicated that it was not operating as anticipated and that issues were being assessed though there had been no mass fish die-off. To remedy the fish back up, the depth of each pool was being increased by stacking concrete bricks. Mr. McManus indicated that letters of support would be helpful as they sought grant funding and Mr. Talbot requested that a sample letter be forwarded to the Committee, Board of Selectmen, MEC and Planning Board.
Mr. McManus also recommended that the EOC consider incorporating a revised Harbor Management Plan as an action item, particularly as it related to areas of concern for the Conservation Commission.
MEETING ADJOURNMENT
The next meeting will be Tuesday, November 18 at 6:30 p.m.
Mr. York made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Talbot seconded the motion. All voted unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:43 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer M. Clifford
Board Secretary
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