WATER MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
June 9 2009 Minutes
Members present: Sandy Bayne, chair; Karl Weiss, vice-chair, water; Marcel Boelitz; Don Nuendel; Bill Nugent; Dan Schwebach; Stephen Wasby, Clerk; Muriel Lightfoot, Alternate
Others present: Selectman Martin McDonald; Town Administrator Sheila Vanderhoef (in part);
Tom Johnson
Absent: Meint Olthof, vice-chair, wastewater; Jane Crowley, Health Agent
The meeting started at 2:00pm and ended at 3:10pm.
The minutes of the April 14 2009 meeting were approved as distributed.
Sandy Bayne thanked people for help in getting the water proposal approved. Discussion began about the committee’s role in execution of the water program; Karl Weiss and Martin McDonald talked about the next steps, including getting Environmental Partners (EP) started; then it could be determined where WMC would fit in, with not much for WMC to do until then.
Town Administrator Sheila Vanderhoef then came, and reported that EP will bring its work plan to the June 15 Board of Selectmen meeting. The BoS sent a letter to Orleans on June 5 asking for specifics of their water proposal. Marcel Boelitz questioned the volumes for which the wells were to be permitted. Vanderhoef explained that the Water Resources Advisory Board will be continued because of Charter requirements; that all WMC members are in Term 1; and that
members will be carried over by reappointment without regard to past terms served.
There was brief discussion of next steps as to wastewater, but it was decided to wait until Meint Olthof could be present.
Bayne spoke about possibilities concerning the ponds, including Olthof’s suggestions. Selectman McDonald said education will have to come from WMC, and that bylaws about run-off should be considered, possibly for the 2010 Town Meeting. He said principal responsibility would rest with ConsCom, with prodding from WMC. Instead of undertaking Eichner’s recommendations as to all ponds, which involved much money, only representative ponds should be studied further. He also spoke of having pond associations and advocates.
Bayne will ask Jane Crowley to report on Board of Health activities at our next meeting.
Bill Nugent said there should be an education campaign for abutters of the ponds.
Bayne will come to WMC with a proposal; she will meet with ConsCom on July 14. She spoke of scheduling difficulties with the previous Pond Study meeting. She also reported
some past meetings and events (NPR presentation; Waquoit Bay seminar; pond presentation) and indicated events to come (meeting on Orleans comprehensive wastewater plan; Windmill weekend); Dan Schwebach is working on his demonstration of water cycle.
Wasby said that policy on participation by non-members at meetings should be carried over to the next meeting, because Meint Olthof wished to participate in the discussion.
Respectfully submitted,
Stephen L. Wasby, Clerk
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