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Date Approved:4/14/14
Vote:7.0 E `E l�'ER TOO 1
TOWN OF BREWSTER MINUTES Ei::
COMPREHENSIVE WATER PLANNING COMMITTEE (CWPC)
Regular Meeting
Monday, March 10, 2014 at 4:30 pm
Brewster Town Office Building
Chairman Lem Skidmore convened the CWPC meeting at 4:34 pm in the Brewster Town Office Building with
members Dave Bennett, Adam Curtis, Russell Schell, Bruce Evans, and Elizabeth Taylor present.
Absent: Paula Miller, John O'Reilly, Dan Ryan
Also Present: Sue Leven, Jim Gallagher, Chris Miller, Nancy Ellis Ice, Hal Minis, Pat Hughes
Recording or Taping Notification
The 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."
Supporting Documents: AGENDA
031014_A rewster 1.Citizen Forum
Conservati n Day Flyer 2. Discuss the HWG alternatives analysis and status of the committee comments
031014_B esponse to 3. Review recommended pond assessments as outlined in the HWG scope change
Comments))on Wastewater 4. Discuss the 3-15-14 ponds meeting
Alternatives Report 5.Approval of minutes from 2-10-14
031014_C PB Nitrogen 6.Topics the Chair did not reasonably anticipate
Management Alternatives
Analysis Report,Brewster
031014_D Item#2,Shellfish Habitat(Oyster Reef) Restoration—submission by Russ Schell
I.Citizen Forum
Hal Minis presented an update regarding the planning for Brewster Conservation Day, July 12, 2014. He
distributed a flyer. Brewster Conservation Trust is working with the Historical Society and Mills and Gills to
plan a larger event. There will be a focus on ponds and septic systems. Skidmore suggested listing Brewster
Consery Lion Day on future agendas for discussion. Skidmore asked if anyone was aware of septic system
models tey could use at Brewster Conservation Day. He also asked the members to attend if possible.
Bennett stated it was important to identify stormwater direct discharges in the literature (flyers). It is
importat to find the direct discharges and work with DPW to rectify them. Bennett stated that the committee
is worki g with the DPW to get funds allocated for fixing storm water discharges to ponds from town
roadway . The Committee and Minis discussed ways to show this idea to the public. Show improvements
(Herring Run) possibly posters or slides. Breakwater Beach? Show what direct discharges look like. Schell
suggested a model like the one at Waqoit Bay Reserve in Falmouth. Leven will look into it.
Skidmore announced that he will not be accepting a nomination this spring to carry on as the Chairman. He
asked the committee members to consider becoming Chair.
Bennett, Minis, and Ice discussed a septic system model further. Perhaps George Heuefelder of Barnstable
County might have something they could use. Examples for educational purposes were discussed.
2. DIscus the HWG alternatives analysis and status of the committee comments
CWPC 3-10-14.docx Page 1 of 3
Leven sent an email to the committee with two attachments, a revised report and response to comments from
HWG.
Schell submitted a document regarding Section 2.10. Does the HWG response in Section 2.10 include
restoration of habitat, oyster reef, as well as oyster aquaculture? He suggested a strong case for inclusion of
shellfish habitat restoration. Leven will ask Nelson. Oyster reefs AND propagation was the question.
Bennett asked if this was the final draft with no recommendations. He referenced Section 5, page 35 -
recomme dations coming later after discussions with the Town. He discussed recommendations in the
original raft with Skidmore. They don't include hard solutions. Bennett referenced 208/DEP discussions-
flexible a alysis and adaptive management. The CCC is struggling with a definition of adaptive management
and proo alternatives are delivering results. (Permeable reactive barrier, oyster propagation, fertigation,
fertilizer t Captains Golf Course) Bennett suggested a contingency plan which has been recommended by the
CCC. Bennett stated the map was incorrect and discussed further with Miller-C who had a map on his laptop.
Bennett vas concerned about the following: HWG identified the Meeting House Village, 24 houses and
affordable housing on Huckleberry Lane (town owned), HWG has not looked at the front parcels of the
Industrial Park (is or is not in a Zone II?) Leven and Miller-C stated the "I" Zone was in a Zone H.
*Per Dav Bennett-4/14/14 meeting
Bennett re renced the CCC 208 work and discussions with the MA DEP on adaptive management concept wherein performance
documenta ion of nitrogen reduction will be required of some of the non-traditional strategies(oyster propagation,fertigation,PRB's,
constructs wetlands,floating gardens....)wherein contingencies for traditional wastewater treatment should be maintained. Based on
these reco mendations and position of the MA DEP on these non-conventional strategies, Bennett suggested that the HWG final report on
Alternative analysis frame this by showing traditional wastewater treatment such working with Orleans on centralized treatment or
decentralized wastewater treatment for utilization of excess capacity at Pleasant Bay Nursing or construction of a treatment plant at
Meeting House Village or Huckleberry Lane be shown as contingencies. Huckleberry Lane as a town owned multi-unit residential
development would be an excellent demonstration project. Bennett also noted in the HWG report, the Zone II delineation indicated that the
town owned property within the industrial park was outside the wellhead protection area and as such, represented additional town owned
land that could be utilized for sewage treatment if needed. Sue Levin noted that this area was in the Zone II and would contact HWG to
clarify.
*Anothe4 parcel on Huckleberry is Town owned, ideal demonstration project?
*Pleasant Bay Nursing Home? (Has anyone talked to the owner?)
*Cost sharing discussions with Orleans are important and should be done sooner than later.
Taylor asked why an oyster reef is better than aquaculture. Schell referenced Section 4, Recommended
Alternatives will be a combination of fertilizer reduction, adoption of town fertilizer by-law, recapture of
nitrogen at Captains by fertigation, and shellfish propagation. (Lowest cost combination to achieve goal of
reduction of nitrogen required by TMDL) Schell answered Taylor's question. Schell - Oyster reef over
propagation? 1) Twice as effective removing nitrogen 2) not dependent on the market demand for oysters 3)
doesn't make difference if oyster have dermo since they are not being harvested. Miller-C stated they are
twice as effective because when raising oyster's commercially there is not as much density and taking into
account the waste products put out by the oysters.
Evans suggested getting together with Orleans regarding Pleasant Bay. Could HWG make a recommendation
to the Board of Selectmen before going directly to Orleans? Leven stated that last week Nelson presented to
the Pleaaant Bay Alliance and they talked to the other three towns (Orleans, Chatham and Harwich). It was a
good conversation. Maybe the Town will work with people who have grants or get their own grants. Schell
expressed concern for the physical requirements of the siting. (Salinity per phytoplankton, temperature, water
velocity,:etc.) Leven will email Nelson the comments and follow up on 3/17/14.
3. Review recommended pond assessments as outlined in the HWG scope change
Leven informed the group that Nelson won't prioritize the list of ponds because he is doing all twenty ponds
under tl}e current budget. Mapping the watersheds will be done in rapid succession. Bennett asked if there
was a limit to the number of ponds they can do. Leven stated they are looking to do very rapid assessments of
each of the ponds. Bennett was concerned about exactly what the work includes. Schoolhouse Pond is an
example of this work. Lem noted the scope included up to twenty ponds. There might be some funding left
over from the Herring River work. This will require discussion with Harwich.
CWPC 3-1014.docx Page 2 of 3
Schell noted that identification of pond surface overflows is important. Ponds with intermittent overflows
during and after a storm contribute overflow water and any nutrients in the water to the downstream
channels;and ponds. Example- Schoolhouse Pond and intermittent overflow-under Rte. 6A, near Lower
Road finds its way into Freeman's Pond. Second example is Myrick's Pond- to black culvert near the beach.
Whether a pond has a surface overflow or not is significant. Identify intermittent overflows. (He asked for
inflows acid outflows)
Bennett asked Leven for an update regarding the SMAST discussion from the last meeting. Ed Eichner from
SMAST cbntacted Leven and told her the contract has been cleared by the Dean but was not ready to go out.
Leven asked the committee if they would like to wait or try to get someone else. Skidmore was in favor of
waiting. Bennett questioned waiting and the contract dollar amount. He asked to see the contract again.
Bennett*nd Skidmore discussed the details of the arrangement between HWG and SMAST. HWG has hired
SMAST tb do the work. Skidmore and Bennett disagreed over using Ed Eichner and SMAST. Skidmore stated
that it is;Nelson's decision. Hughes reminded the committee that they wanted the management plan for the
Mill Ponds. Nelson offered to work with SMAST to get the data analysis. SMAST charges a municipality one
rate and la private business another rate. She was in favor of Eichner finishing the job. The committee
continued to discuss the contract, SMAST, deadlines, data analysis, and scope of work. Taylor was concerned
that SMAST was taking too long. Leven noted that SMAST is aware the committee is discussing today. The
committee agreed to put this topic on the next agenda. Leven will get clarification from Nelson about the key
role of SMAST and Ed Eichner to this project. Note-The data belongs to the Town.
4. Discuss the 3.15-14 ponds meeting
Leven prpvided an update and told the committee that Nelson will do a brief presentation. After the
presentation they will break into groups starting with by pond and discuss water testing, working with pond
property!owners and how to organize. Lastly next steps will be discussed. Skidmore encouraged the members
to attend the meeting.
5.Approval of minutes from 2-10.14
Bennett tread and submitted edits.
Evans made a Motion to approve the minutes of 2-10-14 as amended, Taylor Second, All Aye, Vote 6-0.
8.Topics the Chair did not reasonably anticipate
Bennett tasked for the minutes from the recent Tri-Town Plant meetings. Leven will ask Sumner. Bennett
requested adding this topic as an agenda item. The agenda item will be status of Tri-town Plant. Bennett
asked if la representative from the CWPC should go to the meetings with Sumner. Schell questioned whether
the Board of Selectmen wants the CWPC to be involved. Brewster was represented last time by the Board of
Selectme Chair, two Selectmen and Sumner.
Sue Levi jn was going to contact the Town Administrator to inquire if the CWPC might have a role in the Tri-
Town m etings to advocate Brewster's interest in the continued operation of the plant and investigation of
plant upgrade to combined sewage/septic treatment facility for the benefit of all the towns as an existing
organization to discuss regional management of wastewater needs.
Taylor made a Motion to adjourn, Curtis Second, All Aye, Vote 6-0.
The meting ended at 5:47 pm.
Nest Meeting: Monday 3-24-14 @ 4:30 pm
Res.- ti'ully submitted,
wrivai hair & Clerk
Ke iy Moore, enior Dept.Assistant, Planning
CWPC 3-10-14.docx Page 3 of 3