Approved by rule of necessity
Wellfleet Board of Health
Minutes of Meeting of March 28, 2012
Senior Center, Conference Room, 7:00 p.m.
Board of Health: Present:~Richard Willecke, Alex Hay, John O’Hara, Ken Granlund, Agent Greenberg-Lemos and Christine Bates Committee Secretary
Regrets: Lezli Rowell
1. Title V Variances Requests
a) Mayo Beach / Gut: reduce sampling frequency
Agent Greenberg-Lemos stated it is not a Title 5 variance request but a beach variance request. She explained water sampling will take place once a month instead of once a week. Ken Grandlund moved to approve the variance by decreasing the frequency of sampling; seconded by Alex Hay; passed 3-0.
2. Business
a) Joint Meeting with Comprehensive Waste Water Planning Committee:
Mayo and Baker Field Bath Houses
Curt Felix and Ned Hitchcock, members of the Comprehensive Wastewater Planning Committee came to the table. Curt Felix stated there was an extensive study performed on Mayo Beach and Baker Field regarding wastewater issues. The Baker Trust requested a bathhouse be placed at the beach which was approved at Town Meeting several years ago. He gave an overview of the cost comparisons, how the Marina facilities are overused, and of the water quality degradation in the area. It was determined a composting system was the most economical as well as environmentally friendly to the area. A seasonal bathhouse will be located at Mayo Beach and a year round facility at Bakers Field, which will utilize a shared leach area. There will be no emissions from the
systems, they will be self contained, and there will be hand washing facilities as well as a cold shower. An information sheet was distributed to the audience. Ned Hitchcock stated there is the possibility of a 2% interest loan rate. The town has to come into compliance with the Baker Trust and this will off-load the marina facilities. Alex Hay stated this system will meet the needs of zero nitrogen levels going into the harbor and beach. Felix stated this works hand in hand with the Mayo Creek restoration project. There will be annual maintenance costs and the life expectancy of the system is 30 years. There is adequate separation between ground water and the building/system. The leach field has room for expansion for the marina and beach sticker office should they elect to go with a composting system. Chair Willecke congratulated the Committee for their hard work.
b) Transfer Station – other options. Chair Willecke stated the Board would like to look at other options for the Town Transfer station. Agent Greenberg-Lemos stated Paul Sieloff wanted to be a part of the discussion and requested this topic be brought up at the next Board of Health meeting. She stated the other possible options are:
Individual contracting with haulers
Town doing contract with rubbish hauling iin-house
Closure of transfer station
Keep as is with slight modifications
PAYT
Single stream/double stream recycling.
The PAYT committee members present stated if PAYT were the option chosen, they would start the process in the winter months. Alex Hay stated it does force people to change by the laws of capitalism, making people look at the choices of products that does not have as much packaging. Chair Willecke stated it would be a good idea to have cost comparisons for the public to look at and cost is the main concern for the town. John Morrissey recommended contacting the DPW Director in Sandwich because they had done a cost comparison as well. Hay stated it is important to get demographics similar to Wellfleet for comparisons and not use a large town or city. Chair Willecke reported the Board of Selectmen in Brewster initiated the Save As You Throw program, without involving the
Board of Health, etc.
Richard Willecke, Hillary Greenberg-Lemos and Mark Vincent will meet the second week in May to discuss transfer station fees.
3. Other Business:
Peter Stewart announced he had officially submitted a petitioned article for Town Meeting regarding pesticides. He stated it regulates the synthetic chemicals as well as regulating chemicals to be used which would be approved by the Board of Health. This would only be for town property. He has presented this to Agent Greenberg-Lemos, the Conservation Commission and the Board of Selectmen, and is looking for support at Town Meeting. He stated another document has been submitted through the Board of Selectmen which included training. Alex Hay questioned him why he is still going forward since the town has already adopted a stricter policy. Agent Greenberg-Lemos informed Stewart she met with Paul Sieloff and Tim King, and told them it doesn’t have to come before the
Board of Health because it is only for town land. This would be a policy, not a bylaw or regulation and the only Departments involved would be conservation, health and the DPW. She stated the two are different documents and there is confusion to the public. Stewart stated he had not gone before the bylaw committee. Stewart feels bylaws have more force/enforcement as far as regulations. Agent Greenberg-Lemos stated this only applies to town owned land and she likes the wording provided by Green Cape because it includes all the chemicals and includes training and should not be under Board of Health regulations. She feels the policy will be kept in place. The garden area at the senior center is on town owned land.
4. Licenses
Licenses signed
5. Minutes
Meeting minutes will be reviewed at the next meeting.
6. Correspondence
Agent Greenberg-Lemos reported a letter was sent to Robert Larson at 2207 State Highway ordering the septic be upgraded on the property immediately.
Chair Willecke moved to adjourn at 8:00 pm; seconded by Alex Hay; passed 4-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Christine Bates, Committee Secretary
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