Eastham Water Resources Advisory Board
Minutes meeting of Jan. 10, 2005
Present were Chair Weiss, members Lightfoot, Nugent, Boelitz, Whitmore and Bayne; Selectman Whitlock, Health Agent Crowley and Assemby Delegate Fenlon.
Minutes of 12/6/04 were approved as written.
So that member Stan Holt may continue on the Board, members agreed to move meeting dates Feb.-May 2005 to the first Wed.: 2/2, 3/2, 4/6, 5/4.
Weiss distributed the 2004 annual report.
Crowley reported that the new BOH computer abilities even allow her to generate reminder postcards for well sampling program, to integrate the data from all reported well samplings no matter the source, and to export the data into Excel. Michelle will map all locations of nitrogen findings over10 ppm. The Board congratulated her and expressed its satisfaction with this work! At this point, the fiscal 2004-05 return on well sampling for south Eastham is 65%.
Weiss reported on the 1/3/05 presentation to the BOS made by Mike Giggey of Whitman-Pierce on the waste water planning guide he produced for the County, and by Commissioners Doherty and Bernardo on the proposed Waste Water Compact.
Weiss reported on the 1/5/05 meeting with Vanderhoef which he and Whitmore, and Taylor and Olthof of WWMPC, attended in order to present the RFP for a WWMP for the town. Vanderhoef stated that the RFP, if the dollar value stays below c. $30,000, can be awarded without an open bidding process; she will investigate the possibilities and get back to the two boards. As part of the process, a town staff contact will need to be determined; although Planner Whalen is a likely choice, the Town is considering hiring a Town Engineer because of the increasing number of technical proposals before it, and that person could act as the liaison as well.
Fred Fenlon, Eastham’s Assembly Delegate, presented the concept of the Barnstable County Waste Waster Collaborative (WWC). Among many important points, he explained that the Towns would be equally represented. He is particularly concerned that the changing demographics of the Cape will include large numbers of people retiring to their current second homes on the Cape, which will mean a substantial influx of full time residents, with all the waste water implications that will have. Fenlon emphasized the importance of planning for these retirees and for educating them about waste water issues. He distributed copies of the draft ordinance for the formation of the WWC, and asked that comments about it be forwarded to the BOS by a deadline as yet uncertain. Weiss asked that Board comments be made to him by
1/21.
Fenlon reported that this year’s Assembly budget surplus is $385,000, funded by Barnstable County Registry of Deeds fees.
Last, Fenlon urged the Board to locate a site which would need communal or advanced treatment for which he could apply for funding through the WWC if the Collaborative is approved.
The Board discussed the implications of the WRAB/WWMPC merger. This proposal will be presented to the BOS on 1/19; before that date, Vanderhoef will send Weiss a copy of a draft mission statement.
Members agreed that:
The combined board should initially include all current members of both boards.
The number of members should, over time, reduce by natural attrition to nine.
Both chairs should work together initially to combine the cultures of the two committees.
Work will proceed generally by use of subcommittees which meet regularly, and which report to the full committee at infrequent intervals, such as quarterly.
Bayne presented a draft budget proposal for pond sampling which she expects to present to the BOS on 1/19. Members discussed it, and several felt the water analysis budget should be separated from the equipment budget, because the equipment repair and purchase must be funded for any work to continue. She will do that.
She also presented a letter which she plans to submit to the BOS at the meeting on 1/19; in it she lays out her argument for the retention of surplus 2004 funds by the County: Eastham has a good chance to derive $29,000 worth of assistance from the County.
Crowley mentioned that she has requested a full time assistant as her work has increased dramatically because of the waste water and water planning issues which have arisen, because of the expanded rabies threat on the Cape, and because of the bioterrorism planning which is now required. She doesn’t know whether the BOS will approve both an engineer and a Health assistant; she feels both are needed. Members pointed out that an engineer or various engineers can be retained for use as needed.
Bayne mentioned that the Assembly will consider the Ordinances proposed for surplus funds on 2/16 at 3:15; among them will be the Ordinance for PALS funding which will benefit Eastham.
Sandy Bayne, clerk
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