Eastham Water Resources Advisory Board-Waste Water Management Planning Committee
Minutes of 10/17/05 Meeting
Present were Chair Weiss, Co-chair Whitmore, Sandler, Sullivan, Williams, Lightfoot, Bayne and Holt (retired member).
The minutes of 9/19 were approved unanimously.
Weiss made several announcements, some accompanied by handouts:
The WWMP RFP has been put on hold by Town Administrator Vanderhoef.
John Masterson of the USGS and John Portnoy, Seashore biologist, have produced a new report on outer Cape groundwater which shows the interaction of the lenses and the effect of human activity on them. (handout; website: http.//pubs.water.usgs.gov/gip13)
A new group called Cape Keepers has been created to educate Cape Codders about wastewater impact on estuaries and bays. (handout; website: www.capekeepers.org).
A presentation to the BOS was made on 10/3 by Weiss, Whitmore, Crowley, and Environmental Partners re the limited well proposal. It appeared to Weiss to be well received. (copy of slides and Environmental Partners memo outlining next steps for water planning.)
The Eastham Forum annual meeting will present a panel on the limited municipal well proposal on Oct. 18 at 7 pm. at the Methodist Church.
Whitmore and Weiss reported their satisfaction with the work done by Environmental Partners.
Whitmore distributed a Cape Cod Times article reporting that sewering of the entire town of Chatham may cost $215 million.
Bayne presented the draft scope of work for CCC interpretation of pond data. Several issues arise in relation to this agreement:
The CCC staff can supply detailed interpretation of data for only 5 or 6 of the 9 sampled ponds under this agreement. (All will be reviewed as to their trophic status.).
The Town will be allowed to use about $2000 of the $25,000 to have the Seashore lab analyze 2005 samples, but the Seashore cannot accept payment for work done for the Towns. It can accept donations or supplies.
May 2005 Town Meeting allocated $20,000 in a line item for pond data interpretation.
The Town Administrator had hoped to find a grant to cover the additional ponds so that the $20,000 needn’t be spent.
Although the Seashore has again donated some equipment to the pond samplers, a GPS is still needed in order to relocate missing and dislocated buoys.
The board voted unanimously to request the Town Administrator:
Find a way to transfer already allocated Assembly of Delegate funds to the Seashore in lieu of payment for data analysis in 2005, whether by a donation or by purchase of supplies for the Seashore lab. (c. $2000.)
Consider whether funds are available for continuation of interpretation (for the 3-4 ponds not covered in the initial grant) in the next fiscal year, researching a grant if they are not.
Purchase a GPS for the purpose of resetting dislocated and missing buoys. (This GPS to be the eventual property of the Assessors.)
In preparation for a recommendation to Town Meeting next spring, Weiss reviewed the list of questions on the limited municipal well which was developed by Holt, and the list of factors in support of a municipal water supply system developed by him, Whitmore and Crowley. The group recognized there are many unanswered questions at this time. Holt urged the group to determine these answers as quickly and thoroughly as possible.
In relation to the cost issue, Whitmore requested that all board members ask their homeowners insurance provider what effect the provision of hydrants would have on their rates. He understands that the rates would be considerably lower.
The next meeting will be on Nov. 14.
Submitted by Sandy Bayne, clerk
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