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HomeMy Public PortalAboutComprehensive Water Planning -- 2013-12-09 Minutes 00101000/ pp!dgi ilaaw�?. Town of Brewster Comprehensive Water ii/i 2198 Main Street Planning Committee >= Brewster, Massachusetts = 02631-1898 �r/tea R►O*A90 .s r4-ir i:4.._t (508) 896-3701 x1233 ' } i��emilumo1a111�"` FAX (508) 896-8089 BREETER YN C1ERI(: Date Approved: 1-13-14 Vote: 6-0-1 Ryan abstains TOWN OF BREWSTER MINUTES OF COMPREHENSIVE WATER PLANNING COMMITTEE (CWPC) Regular Meeting Monday, December 9, 2013 at 4:30 pm Brewster Town Office Building Chairman Lem Skidmore convened the CWPC meeting at 4:35 pm in the Brewster Town Office Building with member Russell Schell, Elizabeth Taylor, Paula Miller, John O'Reilly, Adam Curtis, and Dave Bennett present. Absent: Dan Ryan, Elizabeth Taylor, Bruce Evans Also Pre*ent: Sue Leven, Jim Gallagher, Chris Miller, Bob Bersin, Nancy Ellis Ice, Pat Hughes, Joanne Hughes, Peter Johnson Recording or Taping Notification The Chai�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 None 2. Discuss Tri Town Plant with Town Administrator, Charles Sumner 3. Discuss upcoming Pond meeting,January 2014 4. Discuss a presentation by Mark Nelson for the Finance Committee and Board of Selectmen 5. Approval of minutes from 11-25-13 6. Topics the Chair did not reasonably anticipate 1. Citizen Forum None Skidmore reminded the committee that the CWPC is appointed by the Board of Selectmen to make recommendations to the town. It is important that the CWPC speaks as one unit. He reminded the committee that any communication should go through Leven or Skidmore or someone designated by the committee. Schell did not agree and expressed concern about an email from Skidmore. He was concerned about silencing the committee with parallel efforts. He added that some members are members of other committees and are comfortable in their role as far as discussing topics of concern with other committees. Skidmore understands that others participate in meetings, etc. Schell was upset about the email. Schell and Skidmore decided to discuss further after the meeting. Leven stated that it can be confusing for other groups when several people are representing the committee. Skidmore agreed that one voice is important. f 2. Discuss Tri Town Plant with Town Administrator, Charles Sumner Sumner was on a conference call and was not available at 4:45 pm to join the group. The committee continued with the rest of the agenda. CWPC 12-9-13.docx Page 1 of 4 3. Discy s upcoming Pond meeting, 3anuary 11, 2014 Leven gave an update to the committee. The Assessor's office is running a list and will provide it to Planning alphabetically so Planning can remove duplicates. Planning will mail a postcard and distribute a flyer. Samples were distributed to the committee. The meeting is on a Saturday and will be live on Channel 18 and streamed via the web site. Anyone can email questions to the host during the meeting. Planning will also send an email to the water planning list in approximately one week. Leven added that Conrad Schultz is interested in setting up a Brewster Ponds Coalition. Leven will have a signup sheet available at the Pond meeting. Miller-P asked if betterments and pond associations would be discussed at the meeting. L ven explained it is the first pond meeting and it is an opportunity to get people together. She vV as not sure if the betterments and pond associations would be discussed. 4 -DiscL ps a presentation by Mark Nelson for the Finance Committee and Board of Selectmen Leven explained that the committee needs to start looking at the IWRMP project as part of the capital outlay plan. She is working with Nelson and Sumner to find a date to meet with both the Finance Committee and the Board of Selectmen. Both boards need an update regarding alternatives, etc. There is no timeframe for the meeting yet, perhaps in January. Any comments regarding the topics covered under alternatives can be sent to Leven. Skidmore and Leven will determine if another meeting is required before 1-13-14. The Pleasant Bay Watershed Workgroup will have a meeting 1-29-13 regarding shellfish propagation. Miller-P Tasked about the magnitude of the capital overlay regarding the soft solutions. Too early? The Finance Committee is asking about it. Hughes-jP suggested the committee talk about the avoided costs at the golf course as an asset. She stated that DEP will accept the nitrogen credit and that it is significant. Hughes ) stated the golf course is looking for a new golf course superintendent. This is a good time to make a Statement about fertilizer management. 5. Approval of minutes from 11-25.13 Bennett made a Motion to approve the minutes from 11-25-13 as amended, O'Reilly Second, All Aye, Vote 6-b. 6. Topics the Chair did not reasonably anticipate Bennett asked about CWPC representative for the WQRC. It will be on the next agenda. Miller-P(commented on the Farber emails received recently. She stated it was hard to figure out what is going oh. Skidmore agreed they are confusing. Bennett and Leven discussed the recent 208 Plan meetings by the Cape Cod Commission. Bennett stated he was impressed with how the 208 Plan meetings are paralleling what the CWPC was doing. Leven and Bennett continued to discuss the topic further. Alternatives outlined at the 208 meetings will be discussed by the Commission with DEP. They discussed the triple bottom line. (Political, social and environmental) A link to the 208 information has been sent to the committee for more information. They discussed the MVP. Multi variant program that shows the impact of the use of various alternatives on the number of homes requiring sewering within an impacted watershed. 2. Disciss Tri Town Plant with Charlie Sumner Sumner joined the meeting. He is on the Board of Managers for the Tri Town Plant. Sumner shared the following information about the plant: • Old technology treatment plant (treatment capabilities) • They have been getting extensions on licenses from the DEP • infrastructure is in a sad state; great group of employees, plant operator - Jay Burgess CWPC 12-9-13.docx Page 2 of 4 • No public support to maintain the plant • Fees from pumping pay for maintenance and operation (not successful) • Land owned by Orleans - Orleans wants to terminate IMA (intermunicipal agreement). Date moved out to May of 2015. • Orleans' request for a new facility has failed twice at town meeting • Brewster is defining needs • Brewster is responsible for 1/3 of the cost of any demolition • Massive facility - $500,000 cost for Brewster's share of the demolition costs. The plant would have to be closed in the fall of 2014 to start demolition process. • The Selectmen from the three towns (Brewster, Orleans, and Eastham) have met and recognized the timetable is unachievable. DEP permits extended to 2016 or 2017 • Tri town plant handles 10 million gallons a year • They will continue to run the plant as long as the state permits allows it • Haulers have attended meetings, not a lot of capacity on Cape, if closed it would force them to transfer off Cape and would increase the costs of pumping for homeowners • Brewster might have an interest in another plant at the same location • One problem for the plant- no flow control, haulers go wherever the best value is (can't regulate) • Brewster might have to subsidize the cost of the plant with taxpayer dollars. • Some regulations for the frequency of pumping septic tanks are a good idea Curtis asked about pumping fees at Tri Town. (.10 or .11 cents per gallon) Schell asked about avoiding increased costs to homeowners. What type of alternatives do you see? $umner explained if no facility is in a convenient location then people will hire a hauler to pump and take it off Cape so it would cost people more money. Sumner explained that we should have eln economic interest in a new plant in Orleans. Schell a ked about 1.5M + an undefined amount? How will it be factored into the planning? umner stated we might be able to re-use some of the infrastructure to re-build. onversations have just begun. Bennett noted there is much more dialogue between Chatham, Harwich, and Brewster. We are thinking about alternative analysis. He expressed interest in cost/dollars per pound nitrogen removed. Infrastructure improvements? Sharing costs for a plant is a good solution to consider. Is Tri Town thinking about a combined plant? $umner replied no. The Board of Selectmen from the three towns has another meeting in January. Bennett sees benefits of a shared plant. asked Sumner to comment on the Farber emails. umner stated he does not get the emails. It is an Orleans issue. Schell c mmented on Dave's statement regarding alternative analysis. On basis of preliminary information and what we have learned at the 208 meetings it may not be the least expensive route. Schell's opinion: Least a*pensive = 1) fertilizer at golf courses, 2) fertilizer reduction at individual homes, intercept nitrogen from storm water and 3) 3.5 acres of oyster propagation + harvesting. Skidmore stated they are focused on Pleasant Bay and they have a greater interest in Tri town plant. Miller-P asked Sumner if it would be helpful for the contractors to project septage flows under the management system we are thinking about. Sumner agreed. $umner asked what was reasonable regarding frequency of pumping. He agreed with Miller-P. Skidmore and Leven will bring to Nelson's attention. O'Reilly asked about input from Eastham. $umner stated Eastham has an interest in the present location. asked Sumner if there is a plan C. She expressed concern if people have higher costs for pumping. They may do it less often. Sumner stated they are looking into other ideas. Bennett stated they should stay focused on wastewater solutions. He expressed concern that the five alternatives chosen so far are too good to be true. He expressed concern about meeting standards. He was supportive but expressed interest in an agreement between towns. (Share costs, regional plan) Sumner stated they are catching up and talking to other towns. CWPC 12-9-13.docx Page 3 of 4 Hughes, p stated we have other areas in town where there are issues. She stated we have an interest in looking across the town. She noted Dave's point is important. (More to do than just Pleasant Bay) Schell shared same reservations with Bennett regarding receiving credit from DEP. Re: oyster propagation - DEP/CCC will recognize 250kg for these 3.5 acres a year. The committee thanked Sumner for coming to the meeting. More information about the CCC 208 plan is available online. http://Watersheds.capecodcommission.org/index.php/208-plan/208-plan-section O'Reilly made a Motion to adjourn, Curtis Second, All Aye, Vote 6-0. The meeting ended at 5:35 pm. Next Meeting: Monday 1-13-14 © 4:30 pm Respectfully submitted, Ski p wr et', Vice Chair & Clerk Kelly Moore, Senior Dept. Assistant, Planning fi { CWPC 12-9-13.docx Page 4 of 4