Eastham Water Resources Advisory Board-Waste Water
Management Planning Committee
Minutes of Joint Meeting Nov. 14, 2005
3 pm., Eastham police station
Present were Chair Weiss, Co-Chair Whitmore, members Sandler, Nugent, Lightfoot, Olthof, and Bayne, Assistant Health Agent Lem Skidmore, and Dianne Ashley, Women’s International League of Peace and Freedom Water Study Group representative.
The minutes of 10/17/05 were approved as amended.
Members agreed the next meeting should be scheduled for 12/19, as Jane Crowley is unable to attend on the second Monday of the month because our meeting conflicts with the WIC meeting. At that meeting, members will choose a new regular meeting schedule.
Skidmore presented a brief report on the most recent (beginning Sept.14) nitrate readings in the water quality monitoring program. Weiss distributed his report on 2003-2005 data. In comparing the two, it seemed apparent that the current 2005 results, based on a 30% return rate, indicate a considerable increase in the 5 to 10 ppm and the 10 ppm categories. As this data is based on County lab work only, Skidmore will attempt to gather data from private testing companies as well. (Reports on file.)
Bayne reported that at the11/2 AOD hearing the Finance Committee and Natural Resources Committee voted unanimously in favor of the Outer Cape Water Management Project at the reduced amount of $55,000. The NR Committee chair, John Hodgkinson of Orleans, revealed that Orleans may be determined to be a viable a source of water for Eastham, and that his wife is a member of the Orleans Water Board.
Eastham was well represented by Crowley, Whitlock, Burt, Milt Levy, and Bayne. Although no one from Wellfleet appeared to be in attendance, Jean Schaefer, a member of the newly constituted Wellfleet Water Board, introduced herself to Bayne after the hearing and indicated a wish to work with us. The Water and Wastewater boards agreed to invite that board soon to a meeting. (Weiss distributed copies of the scope of work and his letter of support for this project for the file.)
Whitmore reported that the process of selecting a consultant for the Waste Water Management Planning project is still on hold, waiting for Vanderhoef to have enough time to further review the three committee recommended finalists.
Whitmore also reported that the limited public well project is on hold as well, as Vanderhoef reviews the possibilities for further work.
The group discussed their concern that the project is being slowed down so much that there may not be time for adequate preparation for a May Town Meeting. Several factors requiring further study were discussed, and an attempt was made to prioritize them. It was agreed that one vital issue is a more detailed specification of costs and how they will be distributed among the taxpayers. It was also generally agreed that some issues of funding and cost spreading need to be reviewed by Town Counsel as they have legal ramifications with which counsel would be familiar based on experience in other towns.
Some members felt a town is a community which bears a tacit responsibility to help the few, and that this well development project will eventually benefit the whole as water quality issues arise throughout Town. Others questioned whether citizens will reject the proposal that the Town should assume development costs for a well which benefits only a small number of homes. They felt that, as there are currently very few affected wells in the Moll’s Pond study area, the project is likely to be a hard sell with the public.
All agreed that there is a great need for thorough public education. Apart from the usual presentations to town groups such as the Part Time Resident Taxpayers’ Assoc., The Forum, and The League of Women Voters, the boards will prepare a concise support paper which can be distributed to newspapers, especially The Cape Codder, and perhaps mailed to all citizens. Time is of the essence here, as the press is already exhibiting interest in the project. However, these outreach efforts cannot be carried out until some basic issues, particularly the project’s economic factors, are resolved
To summarize the principal points, all of which are of high priority and need to be in place before Town Meeting:
1. Continue engineering activities to detail water supply issues, both local and regional. particularly the simultaneous evaluation of the two supply sites identified by Environmental Partners.
2. Establish an economic plan that will fit both the limited water supply and a future Town wide system.
3. Establish a firm grant commitment so the capital costs are clear.
4. Maximize the capital costs, which will maximize grant dollars.
5. Establish hook-up policy and costs.
6. Establish a fully detailed outreach program.
7. Identify home owner insurance savings for the municipal water supply.
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The group agreed to encourage leadership on the issue by asking Joy Brookshire to assume this role. Bayne will discuss this with her. If Brookshire agrees, Weiss, Whitmore and she would go to Vanderhoef to request she set an agenda and timetable for action.
Submitted by Sandy Bayne, clerk
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