HomeMy Public PortalAboutMarch 2019Watertown Stormwater Advisory Committee (SAC) minutes
March 21, 2019 4:00 PM @ Watertown DPW conference room
In attendance: David Stokes (SAC Chair), Matt Shuman, David Jay, Janet Buck
Absent: Steve Magoon
Visiting: Kevin Duffy, Project Engineer, Watertown DPW
I. Welcome and Introduction of Visitors
II. Brief Reports/ Status Updates
A. Committee membership — Efforts to fill Conservation agent and Community
member positions: No movement on this item. David Stokes suggested that the
Committee might consider including a Watertown High School student (most
likely from either the Environmental Club or the AP Environmental Science class)
on the Committee, even though the student might be different every year. The
Committee thought that David Stokes should discuss with Ms. Jen MacDonald,
the AP Environmental Science teacher and Environmental Club sponsor about
such an opportunity.
B. MS4 Permit — SWMP status and review of current permit year Outreach and
Education efforts: Matt reported again that the NOI has not been posted to the
EPA website, and that no comments on the NOI have been received to date. The
Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) public hearing will be at the Committee's
April meeting, which will require a change of venue in order to accommodate
the potentially larger audience than a typical Committee meeting. There was a
question about getting Watertown Cable Access to videotape the event; David
Stokes said he'd request as soon as Matt secured the venue.
Related to the MS4 permit topic, Matt reported that a deicer brochure was being
drafted for residential and commercial entities in Town, and that a planting strip
brochure was planned. The Committee also discussed the need, as required by
the permit, to have targeted messages for industrial entities as well.
C. Make Your Own Rain Barrel workshop — Finalization of planning
Date and venue still to be determined, with new venues under consideration.
David Stokes has had trouble getting CRWA to answer some important
questions. Funding amounts and sources still need to be identified.
Minutes, Stormwater Advisory Committee meeting, 03/21/2019 Page 1 of 2
III. Discussions / Actions
A. Approval of Meeting Minutes
This topic was tabled until the next meeting.
B. Mapping out our future Outreach and Education efforts
In summary, under the new MS4 permit, we need to provide 2 educational
"messages" for each of four audiences: Residents, Developers, Businesses and
Commercial Facilities, and Industrial Facilities.
i. "Stormwater Management in Watertown" Walk — with Live Well
Watertown (May)
The current plan continues to be to do this walk in May. David Stokes will
continue to coordinate logistics and advertising with Stephanie Venizelos.
No additional updates were available.
ii. 7th Grade Future Cities project (June?)
David Stokes mentioned that he had reached out to the Watertown Middle
School Cluster 4 teachers with whom we had worked on this project over the
last 2 years, in order to gauge whether they would want our participation
again this year — and to what extent. He did not expect to hear back from
them until after April vacation, when they might begin planning for those last
few weeks of school after Memorial Day.
iii. Faire on the Square (September)
David Stokes reminded the Committee about the need to begin planning
efforts for this event, especially since it seems to sneak up on us each year.
Also, he noted that if the Committee wishes to provide ducks again or make
any improvements to the table, especially if expenditure of funds are
required, that those decisions should be made before July, so that we have
enough time to purchase desired items as soon as Fiscal Year 2020 begins.
iv. Further discussion about possible new opportunities
No additional discussion on this topic occurred.
IV. New Business / Future Agenda Items / Stormwater Improvement Opportunities
David Stokes mentioned the Town's "Arbor Day of Service" celebration
presented by the Tree Warden that will take place at Arsenal Park, across from
the Commander's Mansion. He noted that the Committee will have a table at
the event.
V. Announcements
Next Meeting was announced for: Thursday, April 25, 2019 @ 7:00 PM.
Venue to be determined and advertised in advance.
Minutes, Stormwater Advisory Committee meeting, 03/21/2019 Page 2 of 2