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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 with modifications: January 11, 2010; Vote: 5-0-1
TOWN OF BREWSTER MINUTES OF
COMPREHENSIVE WATER PLANNING COMMITTEE
REGULAR MEETING
Monday, December 14, 2009 at 4:30 P.M.
Brewster Town Office Building
Comprehensive Water
Planning Committee
Pat Hughes convened the Comprehensive Water Planning Committee meeting at 4:35 pm in the
Brewster Town Office Building with members Amy Usowski, Joanne Hughes, Elizabeth Taylor and
Dave Bennett. Jane Johnson arrived at 5:15pm.
Also Present: Sue Leven, Ed Lewis, Peter Johnson, Jim Gallagher and Chris Miller
1. Update on consultant contract.
Leven: Provided an overview of the contract process. At this point the attorneys for the Town and the
consultant are talking directly and Ms. Leven hopes that by the end of the month it will be signed and
the committee can move forward.
P. Hughes: Looked at the calendar and noted two dates of the 4th or the 11th. Ms. Leven felt it would
be wiser to target the 11th to ensure that the contract was signed and the consultant would be
available. J. Hughes noted she would not be available on the 11th
Leven: A kick-off meeting on the 11th is anticipated. Ms. Leven will confirm date with Mr. Young.
2. Update on regional outreach letter.
P. Hughes: Provided an overview of the outreach letter. She noted that the letter was reviewed by
Ms. Leven and J. Johnson. Comments/changes were made and Pat signed the letter which would be
sent out to the neighboring towns.
P. Hughes: Asked if the local Planners got together and had any outreach discussions.
Leven: Noted there was a group and they do meet periodically.
Bennett: Noted that the contract with the consultant was a 7 month contract and should therefore be
ending in the summer.
Leven: Noted that a spreadsheet had been prepared that detailed who all the appropriate water
management people are from neighboring towns. A request was made that the spreadsheet be
forwarded to CWPC members, and Ed Lewis.
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The committee emphasized the importance of open communications with the neighboring towns and
their water management people to learn their concerns.
Other Business:
1. Namskaket Letter from BOS: follow-up on the letter sent
Leven: She had not heard anything directly on the Namskaket letter but had a discussion with Orleans
regarding the Ponds report.
2. Ponds Report: Miller: Provided an overview of the Ponds report and possible next steps.
a. Determine from the state what the TMDLs should be at the ponds.
b. Do additional studies that could cost approximately $200,000. According to Mr. Sumner,
the CWPC is the appropriate group to handle this issue.
P. Hughes: Thought a 319 Grant application may be the way to move forwarded. She wasn't sure of
the time frame but she would look into the process and check with the Cape Cod Commission. This
may be an area that the consultant would help the committee with.
Bennett: The consultant would go back and review the Pond Study but was there any specific areas
that we really need to focus on especially in relation to stormwater runoff?
Miller: Noted the landing at Walker's Pond as an area of concern but he hasn't really been focusing on
the ponds. He has been spending more of his time on the bay.
Taylor: Thought that the conservation land we just bought was going to allow us to close off the
lookout area and help with the stormwater runoff.
P. Johnson: the Orleans Coalition has been effective and it may be appropriate here in Brewster.
There was a recent article addressing the wells in Chatham/Orleans and the Monomoy Lens in
Pleasant Bay. Apparently levels were noted but Mrs. Hughes wanted to know what the established
levels should be. It was agreed to check with Cape Cod Commission for this information.
P. Johnson: We have more of the Monomoy Lens under our Town -what can we do with that?
Provincetown has been taking water from Truro and he would love to know what the ramifications of
the use are and what has happened to their aquifer. It was mentioned that the information should be
available if you went to the web site: Mass Water resources.
A discussion occurred regarding discharging onto golf courses and the benefit of using reclaimed
water.
A summer non-resident tax payer group is in existence. The committee agreed it would be a good
group to outreach to as well. Doreen would have the name of the person to notify. The outreach letter
could be modified and sent out to the non-resident group as well as the associations of homeowners
on ponds.
Lewis: the Ponds group got started because of some concerns with the ponds -was Sheep Ponds
one of the concerned ponds? 30 years ago that pond was shut down because the fisheries wanted to
stock the ponds -All the ponds are in rough shape (mercury levels, etc)... Sheep's pond is actually just
slightly behind on their mercury levels because of the restocking.
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ACTION ITEMS:
Pat will check into the 319 Schedule and Sue will email a few items.
Bennett: Motioned to adjourn. Seconded by J. Hughes. All Aye.
J n e ci/Administrative Clerk
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