Wellfleet Board of Health
Minutes of Meeting of May 15, 2008
Senior Center, Long Pond Room, 7:00 p.m.
Present: Chair Richard Willecke, Lezli Rowell, Alex Hay, Ken Granlund, John O’Hara, Assistant Agent Andrew Petty and Christine Bates, Committee Secretary
Chair Willecke called the meeting to order at timeMinute5Hour197:05 pm.
I. Title V Variances Requests
1. Zelman, 115 Atlantic Ave., Map 36, Parcel 33, new well and water line. The applicant requested a continuation to June 5, 2008.
2. Schiffrin, 174 Samoset Ave, Map 28, Parcel 89, Septic Upgrade. Judy Bersin of Ryder & Wilcox, represented the applicant. She stated that the property supports two 3 bedroom dwellings. The system does not comply with Wellfleet regulations for groundwater separation. The applicant proposes to install the new system in the same location and will utilize an I/A denitrifying system under ‘Remedial Use’ approval. The whole parcel is in the flood plain, and the project has been approved by the Conservation Commission. An abutter expressed her concerns regarding a brush pile on the property.
Variances form standard perc testing, with sieve analysis in lieu, were explained to another abutter. Rowell moved to approved the revised plan dated 5/4/08 and grant the three variances requested in the letter of 05/07/08 for the upgrade of a septic system to serve 6 bedrooms, in two structures, as grandfathered and nonconforming dwellings under the Nitriogen Loading Limitation, using Singulair denitrification technology, under the Remedial Use approval category, subject to the following conditions:
a) Design flow to be limited to 689 gpd to serve 6 bedrooms
b) No increase in habitable area without Board of Health review.
c) There is to be no conversion of use without Board of Health review
d) The well water shall be tested and found potable, with results copied to the Health Department, prior to issuance of the Disposal Works Permit.
e) Any restriction in design flow and all conditions shall be recorded against the deed for the property at the Registry in Barnstable, and proof of deed recording shall be submitted to the Health Department prior to the issuance of the Disposal Works Permit.
f) A copy of a 3 year operation and maintenance contract with a certified wastewater operator shall be submitted to the Health Department prior to issuance of the Disposal Works Permit. Monitoring shall include testing the effluent for the following parameters: temperature, pH, nitrate, ammonia and TKN. The influent shall be sampled for these parameters once annually. The schedule for monitoring shall be quarterly for the first 2 years of operation, semi-annually for the next 2 years, and 1 sample annually from then on. Upon transfer of deed this schedule shall be restarted. All results copied to the Health Department and the
Barnstable County Department of Health and the Environment, with data provided in what format is acceptable to those agents. Any other sampling per DEP approval.
Seconded by Alex Hay, passed 5-0.
3. Glaze, 625 Old Wharf Rd., Map 35, Parcels 13 & 14, Septic Upgrade
Eric Mitchell represented the applicant and gave an overview of the. The system has failed and will be upgraded using an Advantax I/A technology to reduce nitrogen. There was discussion regarding Advantex performance data and older installations, and doing a survey of units installed several years ago versus units installed recently. Mitchell stated the older units can be retrofitted with improved media, under the ‘Operation and Maintenance’ contracts. There was a question of whether the abutting property would be affected by the proposed upgrade and Mitchell stated it is under the same ownership. Greenberg made a recommendation that the applicant consider using a tight tank, as the revised Title 5 code allows for with seasonal use properties in highly sensitive areas.
Mitchell didn’t think the owners would agree after having designed an upgrade to comply with the Boards’ orders to upgrade. Mitchell stated that the design could incorporate a UV disinfection of the effluent stream to address the Health Agent’s concerns regarding the proximity to shellfished areas. He noted that the area is flushed with a 10 foot tide twice daily. Mitchell stated the system will be monitored under the standards of approval for an I/A system. Rowell moved the J.C. Ellis plan dated 2/05/08 and grant the six variances requested in the letter of 4/21/08 for the upgrade of a septic system to serve a 2 bedroom structure, using Orenco denitrification technology, under the Remedial Use approval category, with the following conditions:
a) Design flow to be limited to 222 gpd, to serve 2 bedrooms.
b) No increase in habitable area without Board of Health review
c) Any restriction in design flow and all conditions shall be recorded against the deed for the property at the Registry in Barnstable, and proof of deed recording shall be submitted to the Health Department prior to the issuance of the Disposal Works Permit
d) Deed or legal instrument preserving the drinking water well access from Map 35, Parcel 9 to be submitted to the Health Department upon application for the construction of Disposal Works Permit.
e) Due to the extreme environmental fragility of this lot, sampling requirements shall be effluent for the following parameters: temperature, pH, nitrate, ammonia, BOD, TSS and TKN, and total nitrogen. The influent shall be sampled biannually for the above parameters. If sampling data results exceed maximum effluent discharge limits, a system modification will be required. The Board of Health will evaluate limits that are exceeded twice in a years time.
f) The system is to be equipped with a modem and auto dialer programmed to automatically call the maintenance company if alarm conditions occur and application of UV prior to discharge to the SAS.
seconded by John; passed 5-0.
II. Business
The Board requested Petty put together guidelines on how the alternative systems work, how various products perform, and help people understand how I/A systems will work to their benefit. Petty will also provide guidelines and pamphlets as an introductory training for people on the Board and also provide information to applicants and homeowners.
Petty reported that the Bookstore is going to the Water Commissioners meeting. Petty stated that they claim to have dropped their water usage by half and should be commended, using less than 4,000 gpd. Willecke stated we should ask them what they are doing so we can pass that information on to others.
Petty read a letter from the US Dept of Interior regarding prescribed burns.
Ken Granlund moved to authorize the Board of Health to oversee the septic system and all health department approval components of the Fire Dept; seconded by Lezli Rowell, passed 5-0.
Richard Willecke reported he has been in contact with the DPW Director to discuss a paper bag refuse system for the Town, and Mark Vincent told him he is against it in Wellfleet because it would not be effective due to staff levels. Willecke and Hay still want to sit down and talk to him.
III. Licenses
Arthur Joseph, Pinnacle Site Contractors, LLC, Sol, Wellfleet Historical Society, Massasoit Hills Trailer Park.
IV Minutes
Lezli Rowell moved to approve the 3/20/08 meeting minutes with amendments; seconded by Alex Hay; passed 4-0.
Lezli Rowell moved to approve the 4/3/08 meeting minutes with amendments; seconded by Alex Hay; passed 5-0.
Lezli Rowell moved to approve the 4/17/08 meeting minutes with amendments; seconded by Alex Hay; passed 5-0.
Rowell moved to approve 4/22/08 meeting minutes; seconded by Alex Hay ;passed 3-0.
V. Correspondence
No correspondence to review.
Alex Hay moved to adjourn at 8:20 pm; seconded by Willecke; passed 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Christine A. Bates
Committee Secretary
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