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HomeMy Public PortalAboutComprehensive Water Planning -- 2013-09-09 Minutes 00""1"1"000 0 a� ��i pUi � ��; ;�,,,?F Town of Brewster Comprehensive Water �lii; ''w�� 2198 Main Street Planning Committee 3 , , ., a= Brewster, Massachusetts O _i,iir�!±u_ N1 r _ _ •�'� 02631-1898 ,N . .o.00 `�° (508) 896-3701 x1233 � FEe n to oo� BREitiSTER TOWN LERK �,o/imgIIlliplUlllq�Q�\�\�� FAX (508) 896-8089 713 OC 291,06 1 Date Approved: 10-15-13 Vote: 7-0-2 Taylor, O'Reilly abstain TOWN OF BREWSTER MINUTES OF COMPREHENSIVE WATER PLANNING COMMITTEE (CWPC) Regular Meeting Monday, September 9, 2013 at 4:30 pm Brewster Town Office Building Vice Chairman Dave Bennett convened the CWPC meeting at 4:35 pm in the Brewster Town Office Building with members, Russell Schell, Dan Ryan, Paula Miller, Adam Curtis, and Bruce Evans present. Chairman Lem Skidmore joined the meeting at 4:50 pm. Absent: Elizabeth Taylor, John O'Reilly Also Present: Sue Leven, Jim Gallagher, Pat Hughes, Madhavi Venkatesan (FinComm Liaison), Mark Nelson from HWG. Recording or Taping Notification The Vice Chair read "As required by the Open Meeting Law we are informing you that the Town will be audio taping this public meeting. In addition, if anyone else intends to record this meeting he or she is required to inform the chair." AGENDA Supporting Documents: 1. Citizen Forum 2. Mark Nelson from HWG to discuss: 090913_A Project Schedule from HWG SMAST proposal and funding update 090913_B PowerPoint Presentation, HWG Funding request for fall town meeting Schoolhouse Pond 3. Review minutes of 8-12-13 4. Topics the Chair did not reasonably anticipate 1. C108411 Forum Leven introduced Madhavi Venkatesan who is the new liaison from the Finance Committee. 2. MarkNelson, HWG k 1) SMAST Proposal and funding update and 2) Funding request for fall town meeting Nelson referred to the memo dated 8/26/13, Scope of Work, Section D, Ponds for discussion. • Using SMAST for the Mill Ponds work, he has been back and forth with Ed Eichner on contract specifics • He noted he is ready to move forward with the committee's approval • It is a proposed management plan for the three ponds • SMAST will add field work, aquatic growth (key piece) and will help review watershed model to help with the watershed plan. $14,500 - Mill Ponds (HWG to SMAST) as subcontractor. They will play an advisor role with other projects. Nelson notes this is a good partnership. • Formal proposal coming from HWG. Will send to Leven. Numbers won't change. CWPC 9-9-13.docx Page 1 of 5 Miller, P stated the perception of the pond problems may vary by person. She referenced a lake report from the State. She suggested plugging in public input and issues with recommendations. Nelson noted it was a valid point. Town wide input is important. Answers/Action Plans/Implementation. Schell asked if it would be a good time to discuss if SMAST will cover Walker's Pond. (Phosphorus regeneration from soils in Walker's Pond). Nelson stated no specifics today. Venkatesan asked if there will be a baseline threshold in every pond. Nelson stated yes, a general sense of healthy vs. degraded. Nelson, the committee, Leven and Venkatesan discussed setting standards and goals for the ponds. Bennett stated they can't use one criteria for all the ponds and explained further to Venkatesan. Leven noted there are things people on ponds can do now to help their pond. Miller, P expressed concern for making it clear about impaired ponds to the citizens. i.e. encroaching vegetation would not trigger impairment. Bennett asked the committee if they were clear on SMAST, Section D. • Nelson explained $25k out of the $70k, 4 tasks. 70% Mill Ponds work • Find way to do outreach to pond shore residents to help ponds • Get input from public and build momentum beyond what the town can afford • Build input on regulatory issues Bennett stated the budget number is $125k. Nelson confirmed and will send breakdown to Leven. Skidmore and Nelson discussed getting others involved in ways to deal with ponds. Skidmore invited Elliot Carr to a meeting. Carr is interested and lives on Upper Mill Pond. Nelson stated it is important to get input from the town. • Discuss town wide regulations for phosphorus • Talk to residents about septic systems, lawns that extend to water's edge, storm water and work with Board of Health Skidmore and Leven will follow up with the Board of Health to work on developing a regulation. Leven reminded the committee that they approved the scope pending numbers for the SMAST portion. Nelson does not have today in writing. Skidmore confirmed that the SMAST numbers are in the fixed price. Nelson, yes. There was no vote needed. Miller, P expressed concern about the permeable reactive barrier being part of the vote. She has concerns about the feasibility of the technology. Nelson explained that it is feasible way of nitrogen remediation for the Pleasant Bay watershed. He has not priced out but wanted the committee to know he plans to investigate further. There may be an opportunity to partner with another town. Leven, Nelson, and Bennett discussed fall funding numbers. Leven suggested that for November - June dollars they need to be specific on costs and to determine it the total number may be less. Nelson reviewed what was left of Phase III after a question from Bennett. • Pleasant Bay alternative analysis complete • Compare by end of November and then rank • Take one or two environmental impact assessments, work out financing • Phase III, Schoolhouse Pond complete by end of September • Stormwater regulatory management - into the spring • Extend ponds work into May or June of 2014 CWPC 9-9-13.docx Page 2 of 5 • *He distributed a Gantt chart to the committee. (see documents) Bennett, Leven, Gallagher, Hughes, and Skidmore discussed the town hall rain garden project (319 grants) and the Kleinfelder/DPW stormwater work. Leven is waiting for an update from Kristen Ryan at Kleinfelder. The application has been sent for the 319 grant and there should be a decision soon. The rain garden project is not part of the CWPC mission. The Town would send out an RFP to do the work. Bennett would like to see the rain garden project done, even if there is no grant funding. The committee discussed landing projects (i.e. Walker's Pond) Gallagher explained that the BOS are in charge of the budget, not the CWPC or Town departments. Hughes asked about timeframe to receive money from 319 grants. She suggested the committee could make a recommendation to the BOS if it should be a priority in the budget. Bennett expressed concern regarding Kleinfelder's work. Leven explained that it falls under MS4 compliance and the DPW. Leven will get an update from Kleinfelder and DPW. Bennett requested an update from Bob Bersin regarding budget for fall town meeting. Should the CWPC allocate additional money? Skidmore suggested putting in money for two projects. Leven announced they are going to FinComm 10/2 and BOS 10/7 then back to the Finance Committee. They discussed the placeholder number for Town Meeting, Venkatesan expressed concern about not having an additional buffer for excess costs. She asked about a cost benefit analysis and possible financial gains for the Town, like tourism dollars, etc. Nelson explained that it is not directly connected. He added that the county is doing a 208 plan which will look at Cost benefit analysis including the cost of doing nothing. Venkatesan asked about ongoing costs to clean up. She added this is a consumer issue and the committee needs to sell the story. Bennett noted there are state standards to be met and they are not clear yet. Venkatesan wants to see buy in from the people. Leven shared an example regarding a toxic algae bloom and how that may affect a property on a pond that is a rental property if the pond quality decreases and people don't want to rent the property or the owner has to rent at a lower rate because the pond water quality i$ affected. Nelson stated that more specifics are coming. Miller commented on pond advocacy. State issues, great ponds? This requires more work. Leven will send documer t to all Miller asked about $100k for finalizing alternatives in the Pleasant Bay watershed and the ponds. Hughes asked about a timeframe for giving the Board of Health draft regulations about the ponds. She stressed this is important. Nelson stated fall into the winter timeframe. Skidmore stated that Nelson went to the Board of Health 6-18. Leven will get an update from the Board of Health. 3) SchOolhouse Pond Nelson explained that the goal is to look at land use and key parts for restoring the pond. They are looking at watershed and estimating total number of phosphorus in the sediments. He presented a PowerPoint presentation to the committee. (See documents). CWPC 9-9-13.docx Page 3 of 5 Committee Comments Miller commented regarding the phosphorus contribution slide - She thought it was important that septic systems are not listed as the biggest source. Miller asked about data on phosphorus concentration in septic tank effluent and whether there were any monitoring data linking septic systems to phosphorus levels in ground water flowing to ponds. Nelson stated there was no long term issue. Nelson discussed septic systems near ponds with the committee. Nelson explained he has been involved in the fertilizer DCPC, CCC work and manufacturers are stripping phosphorus from their fertilizer products with the exception of starter fertilizer products. There are now organic phosphorus-free fertilizers. Nelson asked how far the Schoolhouse Pond abutters would contribute to remediation. How much would the Town contribute? If they take on another pond they would take a sediment test or two. Schell asked for Nelson to distinguish between phosphorus inactivation and benthic barriers. Nelson stated phosphorus inactivation (chemical like Alum), benthic barriers (sand over phosphorus muck) Schell asked if it was similar to reverse layering and Nelson confirmed yes. Miller asked about the pond photos and degree of impairment. Nelson stated the pond is considered impaired, Category 4. The next few ponds, HWG will look to SMAST and Ed Eichner for their expertise. Bennett''agreed with Miller and noted her point was excellent. He was in favor of helping with the Town landings. Gallagher told the committee about Daisy Lane Conservation Commission application. He stated the permit exists and he thought they were going to try to get funding through the town administrator. 3. Revi+ wv minutes of 8-12-13 Bennett made a Motion to accept the minutes of 8-12-13 as amended, Ryan Second, All Aye, Vote 7-0. 14. Topi a the Chair did not reasonably anticipate I Schell asked about HWG Phase III scope - A10 - pilot planning, is the same as the reactive barrier? Nelson confirmed, yes. Schell asked for the planned scope. Nelson will evaluate further. He explained it could be a project working with the CCC and a neighboring town. Schell and Nelson discussed further. Nelson offered to discuss in more detail with Schell after the meeting, Bennett suggested a demonstration project across from the golf course. Nelson will look into it Bennett added that the Town monitors the Zone II areas through WQRC and it is a huge nitrogen load. (Organic source of high nitrogen) Bennett noted it is a unique area to evaluate. Also use of the irrigation well Miller asked about wells as reactive barriers. She asked for further clarification. Nelson explained they are used in contamination areas. They discussed further. Nelson added they are doing this in Falmouth with a trench instead of a well. The pilot project is more expensive than the implementation. Leven stated she has talked to Brian Wick from the Cranberry Growers Association. She stated that two growers near Elbow Pond use low phosphorus fertilizers. She informed the committee that the growers are not required to file a fertilizer plan. (A regulation is now in draft form) Wick is on board to get people together. He will help set up a meeting. The time frame is mid October. Schell asked about (D2) Mill Ponds Management Plan, SMAST. He asked if the sonde data is retrievable. He asked for Nelson to work with SMAST to save the data. Bennett asked if Leven had met with the town of Orleans. CWPC 9-9-13.dooc Page 4 of 5 Leven and Nelson met with George Meservey in Orleans. Regional support was discussed. They also met with Harwich. They discussed the permeable reactive barrier. Miller made a Motion to adjourn, Curtis Second, All Aye, Vote 7-0. The meeting ended at 6:30 pm. Next Meeting: Monday 9-23-13 © 4:30 pm Respectfully submitted, Ilk .0 4. J �/ , V m,o-a-t-‘___ Dave B;;;i't, 'ce Chair & Clerk Kelly Moore, Senio Dept. Assistant, Planning CWPC Action Items, Post 9-9-13 Meeting The action items were not reviewed during the 9-9-13 meeting. Consultant Action Items Meeting Comments Due Date Status /Member/Staff Date (estimate) HWG Phase II—10%design on storm 9-9-13 319 grant applications Mid- Ongoing water retro fit project,Town Hall submitted to fund October Rain Garden construction.Waiting to hear about grant money Phase Ill, HWG 9-9-13 Phase IIIB scope of work For 9-23- Ongoing approved, More detail 13 meeting coming from SMAST& HWG Leven Funding request for fall town 9-9-13 Placeholder of$100k Vote at 9- Ongoing meeting approved,discussion cont. 23-13 meeting HWG Phase III, Meeting with HWG and 3-25-13 CCC met with town officials, Ongoing CCC 208 plan update underway SMAST/', Mill Ponds Complex Project 6-24-13 Incorporated into Phase III Ongoing HWG (Pond Study) B. Awaiting final scope of Ed Eichner Technical Memo 1-16 work with SMAST Leven Collect and develop materials for 8-26-13 Leven Ongoing use by private pond owners Leven Update from BOH re:work on 9-9-13 Leven and Skidmore regulations coordinating meeting with Nelson and BOH Miscellaneous CWPC CWPC Briefing Paper for 4-8-13 Hughes, P and Leven Ongoing Committees and Boards working on paper CGA Communications with CGA 9-9-13 Leven working with CCCGA Ongoing to meet with Elbow Pond growers Kleinfelder MS 4 Compliance Update 9-9-13 Kleinfelder working on new Ongoing HWG contract with Brewster. DPW Daisy Lane drainage remediation 9-9-13 Work to be done to eliminate Fall 2013 Ongoing direct discharge to Schoolhouse Pond CWPC 9-9-13.dooc Page 5 of 5