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Home My Public Portal AboutComprehensive Water Planning -- 2014-03-24 Minutes 4 \\\\��oe`a'E"w°s% Town of Brewster Comprehensive Water \��0*,of.I D`R,.4.9�i 2198 Main Street Planning Committee ': ,iii; a`:1' Brewster, Massachusetts 02631-1898 - T I. it} x' '-'7q1' iril i ., (508)896-3701x1233 -- brewpian @town.brewster.ma.us ////��mggllllllllllll\\\\\\0�� s Date Approved:4/28/14 Vote:8-0 TOWN OF BREWSTER MINUTES COMPREHENSIVE WATER PLANNING COMMITTEE (CWPC) Regular Meeting 5 Monday, March 24, 2014 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 Adam Curtis, Russell Schell, John O'Reilly, Bruce Evans, Dan Ryan, and Elizabeth Taylor present. Absent: Paula Miller, Lem Skidmore s Also Prrepent: Sue Leven, Jim Gallagher, Chris Miller, Bob Bersin, Hal Minis, Pat Hughes, Peter Johnson 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 1.Citizen Forum i Supporting Documents: 2. Review the IWRMP,Phase III Progress Report for February 3—March 2,2014 032414A HWG Progress Rpt. 3. Discuss the HWG alternatives analysis and status of the committee comments 032414_ Email from Schell 4. Review recommended pond assessments(role of SMAST)as outlined in the HWG scope change S.Discuss the 3.15-14 ponds meeting 6. Discuss Brewster Conservation Day,7-12-14 7.Discuss Tri Town Plant 8.Approval of minutes from 2-24-14 9.Tonics the Chair did not reasonably anticipate t 4 1 I. Citizen Forum None 2. Revier`the IWRMP,Phase III Progress Report for February 3-March 2, 2014 O'Reilly asked if the field work is the Mill Ponds data. Leven explained that the SMAST contract is signed and they are doing the analysis. s 3. Discuss the HWG alternatives analysis and status of the committee comments The changes will be part of the draft implementation plan. Late summer delivery. 4. Review recommended pond assessments(role of SMAST)as outlined in the HWG scope change The contract has been signed and the scope will change. Leven read an email from Nelson regarding the changes and updating the scope of work. There is no change in the cost. Schell asked about the reference to UMass as the cause of the SMAST delays. Leven explained there were delays on both sides but it has been CWPC 3-24-14.docx Page 1 of 3 resolved, Bennett asked if the Phase III report includes the ponds assessments. Leven clarified that the recent comments are for the alternatives analysis. 1 S. Discuss the 3-15-14 ponds meeting The meeting was well attended. (Approximately 80 people total) There is real interest and enthusiasm to create a ponds umbrella group. Twenty people have expressed interest in a steering committee. There will be a follow up meeting. There have been 40 likes on the FaceBook page. There were three breakout sessions: 1) Funding- Elbow Pond, public vs. private, other opportunities for funding (bank community service, town) 2) Pond Associations - How to start? 501(c)3 information, information sharing vs. participation, working together 3) Pond Sampling-Testing, data, future meeting topic, field trip?Working at a pond, town funding, pond issues, awareness, fund? Taylor, Bennett, Leven, Moore, Skidmore, C. Miller, and Gallagher attended the meeting. Bennett',and Miller-C discussed pond stewards, volunteers, pond sampling, (costs and SMAST). Bennett was in favor of coordinating efforts with the pond groups. He believes there is a need for more volunteers and training, The public looks to the town to be a liaison. Bennett stated that CWPC should be the facilitator. The group discussed funding and assessing the demand. Leven and Miller-C discussed publishing a list via FaceBook to attract volunteers. Schell commented on the pond testing process. He explained it includes the following: 1) Secchi Disk, 2) Vertical profile temperature and oxygen, 3) water samples in bottles. The Secchi Disks are simple and provide a lot of information. He suggested weekly over the summer. If there is interest then consider a quantity purchase of Secchi Disks. Bennett was in favor of empowering the ponds group by facilitating this group through Natural Resources. This initiative involves expensive equipment. Curtis offered borrowing equipment from Chatham and inquired if the Water Department in Brewster would be interested. Resources seem to be an issue, so probably not. Minis inquired about grant requests. Bennett noted that it is possible to lend equipment but the equipment needs to be calibrated. Bennett suggested that they take advantage of the pond interest. He asked Leven and Miller-C to work together with Minis to share the 2009 Ponds Report data. Minis asked about outreach in the summer. The group decided to keep this topic on future agendas. They discussed Canoe Pond and expressed interest in hearing,about their work. Leven suggested doing an email blast regarding the current ponds data and assessments. They could remind people on the email list that CWPC has an upcoming meeting. 6. Discus Brewster Conservation Day,7.12.14 There was no discussion. 7.Discuss Tri Town Plant Recently the committee has received and reviewed minutes from the Tri Town Plant meetings. Bennett was interested in discussing the future of the plant and Brewster representation. Bennett was in favor of CWPC involvement in the Tri Town meetings. Leven will ask Sumner. Schell agreed with Bennett and expressed interest in learning more about the Tri Town Plant and issues surrounding the nitrogen mitigation of the marsh with Brewster and Orleans. He questioned fresh water on the upper marsh and the cause for overgrowth. Evans stated that the committee has discussed this topic in the past and it was stated then that Namskaket can take large amounts of nitrogen. He reminded the committee that Namskaket is in Brewster. Bennett asked about ongoing regional discussions. Leven and Nelson have been involved in discussions with Orleans. Leven explained that Dawson Farber is retiring from Orleans. Leven and Nelson spoke to Brian Dudley last week. There is a lot still under discussion. The committee discussed the possibility of a $100,000 temporary update for the plant or the cost of plant demolition. Hughes explained that there is an alternative CWPC 3-24-14.docx Page 2 of 3 analysis to continue with the onsite system. They need to determine if there is a need for a septage manager: ent facility on Cape or should they leave it to the market to determine. Bennett, Hughes, and O'Reilly discussed the topic further. They acknowledged that time is critical for the existing plant. O'Reilly suggested caution in becoming more involved as the plant's plans are contingent on the Town of Orleans' plans. Bersin noted it takes at least five years before we will see plans and permits for a new plant. Will the 208 plan solve the problem? They all agreed politics are involved but that something needs to go forward. Hughes explained that Orleans is doing another study in the spring. It is to be determined if Orleans can commit to the tri town plan future plans. Sumner and Foley represent Brewster at the Tri Town meetings. Leven will ask Sumner if he wants representation from the CWPC at the meetings. The committee continued to discuss the $100,000 investment or demolition. Schell noted the demolition would be at least five times the $100,000 investment. How is it an either/or scenario? It was explained that the money would go towards future investment. It could be considered a down payment on demolition. The committee discussed demolition and the expiration (2015?) of the Tri Town agreement. 8.Approval of minutes from 2-24-14 Gallagher submitted a few minor edits. Taylor made a Motion to approve the minutes of 2-24-14 as amended, Curtis Second, 4 Aye, Vote 4-0-3. Evans, Ryan, and O'Reilly abstain. 9.TopicS the Chair did not reasonably anticipate 1) Leven read an email about committee comments from Nelson to the committee. Nelson answered questions about oysters, and inflows and outflows not being part of the pond study. 2) Schell submitted information to the committee regarding a CCC document. The document is for municipalities and is available online. Leven will send a link to the committee. Taylor made a Motion to adjourn, O'Reilly Second, All Aye, Vote 7-0. The meeting ended at 5:45 pm. Next Meeting: Monday 4-14-14 @ 4:30 pm R _ •ectfull bmitted, °kap ;AP Dav:` � ret . 0air 85 Clerk Kelly Moore, Senior Dept.Assistant,Planning 0"k k CWPC 3-24-14.docx Page 3 of 3