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Comprehensive Wastewater Management Planning Committee
May 8, 2012
Town Hall Meeting Room
2:30pm
Members Present: Alex Hay, Lezli Rowell, Ned Hitchcock, Curt Felix, Patrick Winslow, Bob Larson and Christine Bates, Committee Secretary
Paul Millett from EPG in attendance.
Alex Hay called the meeting to order at 2:35 pm.
· Town Meeting Recap
The committee felt that the public was not educated or received misinformation regarding the bathhouses at Mayo Beach and Baker’s Field. A public forum or article in the newspaper would have helped, as well as telling the public all the options which were reviewed. After speaking with all the authority groups in Town, we were not given good direction. Curt Felix recommended turning the project over to a new group, which would include a member or members from the Finance Committee, Planning Boardk Waste Water Committee, Board of Health and Buildings and Needs Committee, which would be formed by the Selectmen. This ad hoc committee would breakdown all the costs and processes involved in constructing the bathhouse(s. Millett also stated there
may be merit if only one bathhouse were voted on, or the design could be reduced in size. It was agreed the price needs to be reduced. To release the money set aside from the 2002 meeting would require going before Town Meeting ($17,000). Curt Felix moved to forward the project to recommend the Board of Selectmen appoint an ad hoc committee including a member from the Finance Committee, Planning Board, Board of Hhealth, Recreation, Building Needs, Waste Water Committee, and one at large to determine what the next step will be; seconded by Lezli Rowell; passed 6-0.
· Budget / Grants
Alex reported we received money from USDA Community Restoration Grant for a specific scope of activities which includes mediation for Mayo Creek opening, oyster cultch, site monitoring, population estimates, and P-Town Coastal Studies for shellfish population surveys. ($70,000 total and must be used by end of September 2012). A memorandum of understanding will be given to the town. $5,000 from SPAT and $2,000 from MA Oyster Project for additional cultch was also received. Curt Felix and Hillary Greenberg-Lemos will coordinate the deliverables. Alex Hay recommended informing DEP of the grants as well as getting an article in the newspaper. There was discussion regarding EPA’s jurisdiction over the clean water act and the current lawsuit. The committee thanked Curt Felix for his work on the grants. He reported water quality testing will continue. Curt Felix stated the EPA RFP is still open as well as NOA grant money. Alex Hay recommended determining an operating cost
for the oyster project.
Ned Hitchcock stated energy needs to be put into our charge.
· Interim Report
Paul Millett stated we are within the budget and Paul Gabriel is finishing up the report which will be complete next week. Task 5 will be reviewed after the report is complete identifying the nitrogen levels at various locations within town. EPG will come up with a plan for the town. Task 6 will be the permitting of the preferred solutions. He stated there will be public outreach. There is an amendment identifying future studies. Felix stated if the Mayo Creek restoration and Herring River restoration projects go forward, the nitrogen numbers would change due to flushing, but those two projects may not happen for several years. We would not want to be told to install septic systems prior to the results of the projects. There needs to be mediation with the trailer park
because they object to the Mayo Creek project. The water quality would be greatly impacted with the Mayo Creek restoration. We have not heard from MEP with their numbers. Blackfish Creek and the Harbor is identified as a hot spot based on the data EPG has. Information will be ranked for problem areas and compared with MEP data and DEP data. Millett stated one possibility will be to expand town water. There was discussion regarding the various locations in town regarding denitrification. Felix stated he and Andy Koch did a survey in the Blackfish Creek area and feel there could be more oyster propagation. Millett will bring the draft report at the next meeting and finalize it after discussion. After receiving MEP data a comparison can be made.
Ned Hitchcock recommended soliciting another member to the committee.
Response to Cape Cod Commission: Paul Niedzwiecki, exec director, discussed the suit and informed the audience they have developed new software which identifies wastewater issues for the Cape, but not water quality. Felix stated it was not a useful meeting. They will go out to the 15 communities and tell towns they need a regional water system. Ned Hitchock stated he doesn’t feel the Outer Cape should be included in the entire Cape numbers because of population and diversity of the land.
Ned Hitchock reported there will be a workshop on May 10 for sustainable and affordable solutions for waste water at Dennis Pines Golf Course.
Ned Hitchock reported there will be a Smart Cape Summit #2 on May 14 and 15
Curt Felix moved to approve the amended 03/27/12 and 4/10/12 meeting minutes; seconded by Alex Hay; passed 6-0.
Water Quality Report and Oyster Project Plan - review next meeting.
It was reported the DPW will have a public location at the transfer station for recycling shellfish. Interns will pick up from the restaurants.
Alex Hay moved to adjourn at 4:05 pm; seconded by Lezli Rowell; passed 6-0.
Respectfully submitted, Christine Bates, Committee Secretary
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