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Town Of Brewster
2198 Main Street
Brewster, Massachusetts 02631-1898
(508) 896-3701 ext. 133
FAX (508) 896-8089
Date Approved: August 24, 2009; All Aye
TOWN OF BREWSTER MINUTES OF
COMPREHENSIVE WATER PLANNING COMMITTEE
REGULAR MEETING
Monday June 29, 2009 at 4:30 P.M.
Brewster Town Office Building
Comprehensive Water
Planning Committee
Town Planner Susan Leven convened the Comprehensive Water Planning Committee meeting at 4:35 pm in the
Brewster Town OfFce Building with members Jane Evans, Dave Bennett, Dave Michniewicz, Amy Osowski,
Joanne Hughes, Pat Hughes and Elizabeth Taylor.
Also Present: Ed Lewis, Jim Gallagher, and Chris Miller.
Ms. Leven opened the meeting and noted that because Dave Bennett would not be in attendance until later she would
tike to defer the election of the officers. The committee agreed.
1. Review of Revised Draft Request for Proposals (RFP) for consultant services.
Leven: provided an overview of the revisions.
Michniewicz: thought the overall process should be as follows:
1. Evaluate the work
2. Identify the land use
3. Determine the problem areas
4. Address the solutions to the problems
Michniewicz: expressed concern over the potential fee for this work. He felt the total cost would be way over the Town's
requirements during the initial phase.
Leven: suggested the removal of section "C"
Evans: felt the RFP should focus on an analysis of the issues and a broad based direction on how to handle. The goal
would be to get an idea so that the committee could go to Town Meeting with some ideas.
Mr. Bennett arrived.
Bennett: Felt it was important to identify the problems. He mentioned that the Planning Board addressed a broad
based approach to protecting Brewster's water in the bylaw brought to Town meeting in Nov. 2008. The group working
on that bylaw recognized that storm water management was also an area that needed to be addressed. Further, Mr.
Bennett noted that computer models should be provided to back up any issue identified (i.e. 90% of this area has be
developed and the water quality for the area is X). The models would bring credibility to the report.
P. Hughes: During the initial phase, she wanted to make sure that the con6s~ltarl~wo~l~ ~~r sb~e alternative solutions
based on the information at hand.
Michniewicz: Noted that the answer to the problems should look at the whole picture and not jus a iece.
Evans: Outlined the phases of the process: 1. Research; 2. Identify solutions; 3 Implement
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Bennett: Felt some of the issues could be addressed through the Planning Board. For example, low impact
development and storm water management. Mr. Bennett felt that another step should be included in the process -that
would be prioritization of the issues.
Miller: Expressed concern that if you would require all the data/reports to be complete before you implemented then the
process could take a very long time.
Taylor: Wanted to know if the existing TMDL reports could be utilized?
Leven: They may but she didn't want to say they had to be used. The consultant would see what is currently available
and then provide recommendations on what additional information needed to be obtained.
Lewis: Would like to know when we could anticipate the end result. He would like to see a timeline that included a
schedule. In "x" time the plan would be complete and ready to execute. What would an acceptable timeframe be?
Michniewicz: Didn't feel a time frame could be established now. It would be determined based on the information
available. For example the Ponds Study is complete -the consultant may look at that and find the number of homes on
the pond and the current septic systems are affecting the ponds - a build out analysis may be needed.
Bennett: Felt it would be at least 2 years for the initial phase.
A lengthy discussion regarding the regional considerations and the presentation to the citizens of Brewster occurred. To
solve this water issue it could be a very expensive solution for the taxpayer and it would really need to be sold. It was
noted the importance of having an independent researcher involved in order to get an objective result.
Leven: Noted that this was an opportunity for a consultant to think outside of the box.
Bennett: A detailed review of the specific wording of the RFP occurred. Ms. Leven agreed to make the changes and
redistribute to the Committee.
Bennett: Due to another commitment, Mr. Bennett had to leave the meeting at 5:45pm.
2. Election of officers fora 1 year term
Evans nominated Dave Michniewicz as the Chairman. Seconded by J. Hughes. Discussion: Pat Hughes expressed
her desire to chair the committee. Michniewicz would support his nomination but would defer to P. Hughes.
J. Hughes motioned to nominate Pat Hughes as the Chair. Seconded by Evans. All Aye.
J. Hughes motioned to nominate Dave Michniewicz as the Vice Chairman. Seconded by Evans. All Aye
P. Hughes motioned to nominate Dave Bennett as the Clerk. Seconded by Evans. All Aye.
Pending Action Items:
PERSON Action Co
Leven Revise RFP
Leven Send out notification of the officers to
the Board of Selectmen and the Town
Clerk
nne ci/Administrati e
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