Approved
Wellfleet Board of Health
Minutes of Meeting of March 14, 2012
Senior Center, Conference Room, 7:00 p.m.
Board of Health: Present:~Richard Willecke, Lezli Rowell, Alex Hay, John O’Hara, Ken Granlund, Agent Greenberg-Lemos and Christine Bates Committee Secretary
1. Title V Variances Requests
a) 119 Hamblen Farm Rd., Map 19, Parcel 13, septic upgrade. David Lajoie represented the applicant and gave an overview of the project. There are two dwellings and a cottage which they are considering subdividing. There was discussion regarding upland for fresh water versus salt marshes/wetlands. Lezli Rowell read Regulation 608 and they are allowed to have 8 bedrooms based on the bylaws. The applicants are requesting additional use. There will be larger leach areas in two places. Agent Greenberg-Lemos asked if the buildings will be demolished and rebuilt and Lajoie stated there are no plans at this time but wanted to
know if there could be additional use with expansion. The owners are considering two units with four bedrooms on the subdivided property. David Lajoie requested a continuation to April 11, 2012. Richard Willecke moved to continue to April 11, 2012; seconded by Alex Hay; passed 5-0.
b) 460 School House Hill Rd., Map 4, Parcel 34, septic upgrade. David Lajoie represented the applicant and stated this is a two bedroom house with a studio that has no water for the studio. The ground water is very high and in order to install the pump chamber, the pipes would be under water. Lajoie stated he will have to get state approval for the project. There was discussion regarding the issues with the ground water. Agent Greenberg-Lemos suggested using a tight tank system. David Lajoie requested a continuation to April 11, 2012. Agent Greenberg-Lemos read a letter from the National Seashore with their
concerns. Lezli Rowell moved to continue to April 11, 2012; seconded by John O’Hara; passed 5-0.
2. Business
a) Tobacco Hearing – Wellfleet Spirit Shoppe. Agent Greenberg-Lemos stated that on two occasions the store has sold tobacco without asking for identifications. A $100 citation was paid and the second fine would be $200 plus one week suspension. Mr. Scalley, owner, stated he couldn’t prove it didn’t happen, but on January 12, 2012, his son worked and did not fit the description provided on the citation. Chair Willecke stated because there is so much discrepancy in the description of the clerk and dates, wrong information may have been provided. Agent Greenberg-Lemos will send a letter to Barnstable County.
Richard Willecke moved to dismiss; seconded by Alex Hay; passed 5-0.
b) Fees: Agent Greenberg-Lemos stated it is still the same fee for temporary food service requests and would like to request an increase in fees if the request is only 48 hours prior to the deadline. The Board recommended a week deadline, with a fee penalty. A hearing will be scheduled.
c) Pay As You Throw workshop. John Morrissey of the Pay As You Throw committee requested people introduce themselves. Handouts were given to the audience. He stated a presentation was given to the Board of Selectmen and it was favorably received. He then proceeded to make a presentation to the Board and audience.
Mort Inger, a member of the PAYT committee, opposes the program stating the biggest financial burden will be on young families, there could be problems with health issues,a study stated there is a 19% increase in illegal dumping and there will be problems with compliance. There is no one at the transfer station to verify where the bags are going and what is in the bags. Ed Ebert. a member of the PAYT committee was negative on the project as well and stated Wellfleet is not the same size as the towns referenced and compared to. He doesn’t feel it is the way to go to put burdens on the people. Illegal dumping has become a rampant problem across MA and feels there will be
major issues during the summer season. The burden on the residents is the same amount of money, and having to do all the recycling. He stated the committee did not look at other options for the solution. He agrees recycling could be improved and increased, but would like to look at other options. He feels people will be paying more.
Lydia Vivante stated the town has been recycling for a long time and stated she puts stock in the studies that have been made. Another member stated the committee talked to other transfer stations and they did not see an increase in compliance issues with throwing things in the woods.
An owner of a commercial dump run business stated that the summer rental people will not be educated on PAYT program and it will take twice as long for him sort and does not know what he will charge for the additional work involved. The committee informed him bags would be available at stores for the public and stated this is a neutral revenue program. Morrissey stated the tipping fee will be going up in two years and everyone’s costs will be going up.
Eric Oliver of Nauset Disposal stated they offer services at Sandwich who utilize the PAYT program. He stated they have approximately 6,000 stops in the summer throughout the Cape. He stated he found the homeowners who rent their homes in the summer are not as interested in recycling as the tenants. Nauset Disposal recycles once or twice a week and their tipping costs are very low. They provide bins for the recycling items. They are single stream recycling.
A letter from Ben Zehnder was read into the record objecting to PAYT.
Mary Ellen Manning, from the audience, is against the PAYT program. She stated she lived in Plainville who instituted PAYT, and people started hording their garbage as well as garbage bags dumped on streets and in the woods. She stated Wellfleet has 4 years to make a decision on implementing a program and feels it is unfair to large families. She had a negative experience with PAYT in her old town.
Mrs. Chezny asked if the stores selling the bags would be making money by selling the bags, and the response was there is no profit for them. She stated there are large amounts of garbage bags being put into the cans at the beaches and marina on Sundays.
John Morrissey stated he feels people have to recycle more because the numbers aren’t showing it by tonnage by the 17% rate. He stated the smaller families are subsidizing the larger families and feels people should pay for their own trash.
Lezli Rowell stated she has concerns with the money it is going to cost people, and the Board has to take into consideration the health issues which might arise because people will hoard their garbage or throw it in the woods. Alex Hay stated we are all going toward the same goal and there has to be middle ground, comparing finances and what is right for the earth.
Lydia stated Sandwich has made an incentive to the town people by charging $10 for appliances, mattresses, etc. She stated large families could recycle more and save money. Morrissey stated there are 134 towns utilizing PAYT and the bags are priced at various levels and Wellfleet has the option of pricing their bags as they see fit.
Commercial people do not have to use the bags and will pay per tonnage. Agent Greenberg-Lemos questioned if the people at the transfer station will be able to tell who is commercial versus private. The Board thanked the PAYT committee for their presentation to them as well as the audience.
D) Warrant:
Warrant T:
Alex Hay gave a presentation on the proposed Baker Field/Mayo Beach bathhouse facilities. A sub-committee may be created to follow through with the building of the bathhouses if it gets approved at Town Meeting. Lezli Rowell moved to recommend Warrant T; seconded by Alex Hay; passed 5-0.
3. Licenses
Signed
4. Minutes
Chair Willecke moved to approve the 10/20/11 amended meeting minutes; seconded by Lezli Rowell, passed 3-0.
Chair Willecke moved to approve the 01/11/12 amended meeting minutes, seconded by Lezli Rowell, passed 4-0.
Chair Willecke moved to approve the 12/14/11 amended meeting minutes, seconded by Lezli Rowell, passed 5-0.
V. Correspondence
Chair Willecke reviewed the correspondence file.
Chair Willecke moved to adjourn at 8:55 pm; seconded by Ken Granlund; passed 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,~ Christine Bates, Committee Secretary
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