COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2013
AGENDA
Convene Meeting: 6:00 p.m. – Mashpee Town Hall; Waquoit Meeting Room
MINUTES
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
APPOINTMENTS AND HEARINGS
- Public Comment – Review of Solar Bees
- CPA Application – Shellfish Propagation/Estuary Restoration Project
Applicant: Shellfish Constable
- Review of Plans for Proposed Community Park Re-Development Project
COMMUNICATIONS & CORRESPONDENCE
OLD BUSINESS
- Approval and Ratification of Invoice(s) for Payment:
Mashpee Housing Authority – Housing Assistance Program $25,000
NEW BUSINESS
- Deliberations – CPA Shellfish Project to be recommended to May 2013 Town Meeting
LIAISION ASSIGNMENTS
- Liaison Assignments Update
Community Preservation Committee
Minutes
February 20, 2013
Present: Richard Halpern, Tom O’Hara, Ralph Shaw, Mary Waygan, Burt Kaplan
Absent: Diane Rommelmeyer, Ed Larkin, Evelyn Buschenfeldt, Frank Lord
Meeting Called to Order by Chairman Halpern at 6:00 p.m.
Waquoit Meeting Room
MINUTES:
Tuesday, January 15, 2013:
Motion made by Mr. Kaplan to approve the minutes of Tuesday, January 15, 2013 as presented.
Motion seconded by Mr. Shaw.
VOTE: Unanimous. 4-0-1.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Halpern, yes Mr. O’Hara, abstained
Mr. Shaw, yes Ms. Waygan, yes
Mr. Kaplan, yes Opposed, none
APPOINTMENTS & HEARINGS:
Review of Plans for Proposed Community Park Re-Development Project:
Catherine Laurent, Director of Public Works was before the Community Preservation Committee to give an update on the Community Park
Re-development project proposed for funding at the May 2013 Town Meeting.
The preliminary conceptual plan for the Community Park which includes the adjacent Veterans Garden as prepared by the project architects, VHB of Watertown, MA was reviewed in detail. An updated budget was included in the informational package for additional review and consideration.
It was noted that a walking path consisting of a hardened chip-seal surface meanders around the perimeter of the property. The pavilion or bandstand structure is located in the lower corner of the property. An accessible ramp is included in the pavilion design as is electrical power and lighting. In reviewing the plan, it was suggested the two existing trees closest to the bandstand be removed or transplanted to further open the pavilion area for spectators.
Enclosure: Conceptual Plan & Revised Budget.
Community Preservation Committee
Minutes
February 20, 2013
APPOINTMENTS & HEARINGS:
Review of Plans for Proposed Community Park Re-Development Project: (continued)
The historic water trough is planned to be relocated and situated on the property in the area of the One Room Schoolhouse. A Native American garden and interpretive signage would be added in the schoolhouse area to enhance the educational experience for the intended visitors.
The architectural design opens the area to make the Veterans Garden a more visible connection to the Community Park. Benches and LED lighting will be incorporated into the design where appropriate.
To conform to the recommendation of the CPC Committee, public restroom facilities will be constructed. It was noted that a new 1500 gallon septic system was recently installed at the Archives building, and would accommodate the added restroom facilities.
With the construction of the Community Park, it was recommended the enforced curfew be lifted to allow for additional use of the park. With approval of the project at the May 2013 Special Town Meeting, construction is anticipated to begin at the end of the summer. The Community Park project is anticipated to be ready for use in 2014.
The total CPA funding request for the May 2013 Special Town Meeting is $235,000. The additional funding request is $115,000. It was agreed that Phase II of the project would be considered by the Committee in April for funding at the October 2013 Town Meeting.
Community Preservation Committee
Minutes
February 20, 2013
Public Comment – Review of Solar Bees:
Richard York, Mashpee’s Shellfish Constable was in attendance to give an update on the Solar Bees, a CPA project approved at the May 2012 Special Town Meeting for the remediation and restoration of Santuit Pond by using artificial aeration and circulation. The goal of the project is to restore Santuit Pond through an improvement in water quality and to minimize algae blooms. Six Solar Bees, solar powered circulation units were purchased and installed at the 170-acre Great Pond with CPA funding.
Mr. York indicated the Solar Bees have been a great success. The benefits of circulation at the pond are readily apparent. Prior to their installation, the pond had very little clarity, it was odorous and there was an abundance of noxious aquatic plants. Now, the entire ecology of the pond has changed. There is no appearance of floating algae growth and the visibility of the pond is at least 3’ to the bottom. Mr. York noted that water sampling is conducted weekly by Town with the involvement of the Friends of Santuit Pond and the Mashpee Environmental Coalition. In addition the State Department of Public Health also conducts monitoring and sampling. There is a lot of data, more than any other Solar Bee installation, and the same successful results are expected
next year. The DPW is responsible for the oversight and monitoring of the units, and to date there has not been any complaints or maintenance issues with the circulators in the pond.
CPA Application – Shellfish Propagation/Estuary Restoration Project:
The Shellfish Constable was before the CPC Committee to request funding for the Shellfish Propagation/Estuary Restoration Project proposal. Applicants for the project include the Town of Mashpee, the Mashpee Police Department and the Mashpee Shellfish Constable. The total funding request is $95,140.
Mr. York indicated the goal of the project is to restore shellfish populations, and reduce eutrophication in the estuaries. Specific to this application, 2,000 remote set oyster seed would be stocked in the Mashpee River and 6 million quahog seed would be stocked in Great River. After the recreational harvest of 70 tons of oysters and 275 tons of quahogs, 0.25 tons of nitrogen would be removed from the Mashpee River and 1 ton of nitrogen would be removed from Great River.
This equates to restoring 10% of the nitrogen reduction required to restore water quality in the Mashpee River and 100% of the nitrogen reduction required to restore water quality in Great River, Little River, Hamblin Pond, Jehu Pond and Ockway Bay.
Community Preservation Committee
Minutes
February 20, 2013
CPA Application – Shellfish Propagation/Estuary Restoration Project: (continued)
Mr. York indicated that in October of this year, the DEP and EPA have agreed to allow the use of shellfish for nitrogen reduction in the State’s Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CWMP) providing there is a conventional plan for back-up.
Mr. York explained there is community support to expand the oyster propagation/eutrophication mitigation project in the Mashpee River and quahog propagation in Great River. Additional funding support would be obtained from the Town of Mashpee Shellfish Propagation Account which derives from Shellfish Permit fees. In the FY14 budget, $20,000 is earmarked for the project. The Barnstable County Cooperative Extension Service also provides funding for the purchase of 200 bags of remote set oyster seed. It was noted the AmeriCorps volunteer organization provides assistance to construct the oyster trays.
The project would provide opportunities for recreational shellfishing and preserve surface water bodies by reducing eutrophication. Mr. York indicated the program would also restore the fisheries for the public good. The goals of the project are also consistent with the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.
With CPA funding, the project is anticipated to begin in July of 2013. Harvest would start in November 2014 and continue through March 2015. Mr. York noted that fast growing seed could be harvested in the fall of 2014. However, the shellfish would most likely be harvested in 2015.
To continue the program, seed would need to be purchased on a yearly basis. The approximate cost is $50,000 per year.
Motion made by Mr. O’Hara to approve and recommend to the May 2013 Special Town Meeting, the Shellfish Propagation/Estuary Restoration Project in the amount of $95,140. The sum of $41,000 would derive from the 10% Open Space Reserves, and the remainder $54,140 would be funded through the CPA Budgeted Reserve.
Motion seconded by Ms. Waygan.
VOTE: Unanimous. 5-0.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Halpern, yes Mr. O’Hara, yes
Mr. Shaw, yes Ms. Waygan, yes
Mr. Kaplan, yes Opposed, none
Community Preservation Committee
Minutes
February 20, 2013
OLD BUSINESS:
Approval and Ratification of Invoices(s) for Payment:
Mashpee Housing Authority – Housing Assistance Program $25,000:
Motion made by Mr. Kaplan to approve and ratify the invoice from the Mashpee Housing Authority dated January 16, 2013 for the Housing Assistance Program in the amount of $25,000.
Motion seconded by Ms. Waygan.
VOTE: Unanimous. 5-0.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Halpern, yes Mr. O’Hara, yes
Mr. Shaw, yes Ms. Waygan, yes
Mr. Kaplan, yes Opposed, none
NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING:
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
6:00 p.m.
Waquoit Meeting Room #1
Adjournment:
Motion made by Ms. Waygan to adjourn at 7:20 p.m.
Motion seconded by Mr. Shaw.
VOTE: Unanimous. 5-0.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Halpern, yes Mr. O’Hara, yes
Mr. Shaw, yes Ms. Waygan, yes
Mr. Kaplan, yes Opposed, none
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen M. Soares
CPC Committee Secretary
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