Approved Minutes of WRAB/WWMPC Meeting - June 10, 2008
Attending: Karl Weiss, Chair; Sandy Bayne, Muriel Lightfoot, Bill Nugent, Meint Olthof, Joan Sullivan, Stephen Wasby; Jane Crowley; Health Agent.
Absent: Marcel Boelitz, Daniel Schwebach.
Also in attendance: Paul Higgins.
The meeting began at 2:00pm.
The minutes of the April 8 2008 meeting were unanimously approved as corrected.
There was a discussion of obtaining the “full complement” of members for both committees; Paul Higgins has applied for the WWMPC and will soon be interviewed by the Board of
Selectmen.
Meint Olthof was unanimously selected to be chair of WWMPC; he and Karl Weiss will serve as co-chairs of the two committees.
Karl Weiss has pursued with Town Administrator Sheila Vanderhoef the appointment of Dan Schwebach to WRAB and Sandy Bayne to WWMPC, as well as the matter of the relations between the two committees (to increase overlap).
An examination of the WWMPC charge showed that there must be designated members from particular town bodies, and this matter will be taken up with the Board of Selectmen and the Search Committee.
Under “updates,” there was mention or discussion of drugs in the water supply; workshops relevant to Eastham; and water needs of Village Center project and Purcell property.
MEP Studies: Meint Olthof reported on its status with respect to Rock Harbor and on Orleans’ decision to proceed with a wastewater plan and noted that Orleans should be asked to save capacity for some Eastham wastewater. Jane Crowley reported on a meeting in which reactions to the Rock Harbor scientific and technical report were transmitted, and she indicated the next steps. No regulatory limit has yet been set by DEP. There was further discussion of whether Rock Harbor is a true “estuary” and whether that should be pursued and our concerns rearticulated. Jane Crowley indicated that the consultant has reiterated our concern and mentioned ways in which Orleans and Eastham are talking about these matters. Olthof suggested that Eastham should meet with Orleans; a meeting will be set up by Jane Crowley. No
further comments will be submitted about the MEP study, as they are thought to have been adequately covered.
As to the Town-wide Wastewater Management Planning Study, Olthof spoke of the need for data, both as to nitrates and as to ponds, so the study can go forward on July 1. He also expressed the concern that the funds for the wastewater study be preserved only for the study and not be used to contest the Rock Harbor MEP report.
After Sandy Bayne stated some principles she has learned about dealing with various bodies, there was discussion initiated by Stephen Wasby about our not having received the Pond Study and of the need to involve the Board of Selectmen and the Town Administrator in making clear that we should be provided with the study. Olthof agreed to talk with the Board of Selectmen and Sheila Vanderhoef about our failure so far to get the completed pond study.
WRAB/WWMPC - Minutes - June 10 2008 - p. 2
Jane Crowley will be able to provide information on septic pumping, and she distributed a draft postcard to be used next year in place of the letters now being sent; she welcomed comments on the text of the postcard. She also noted some information items.
The last item discussed was what should be done for 2009 concerning water supply. Karl Weiss said that the townspeople won’t buy the entire package, so we must break it down. He talked about well-testing (for capacity) and also talked about water for the Town Center and Purcell property. Wasby asked that, in discussing these items, we try to keep various items separate. It was agreed that we should do something for 2009 and not let the matter of the water system go over another year.
At the moment, we have two possible matters to pursue for 2009:
(1) well testing (pumping rates)
(2) water for Town Center
If anyone has any other projects to propose and add to this list, they are to bring them to the next meeting, when it will be high on the agenda.
The meeting concluded at 4:10pm.
Respectfully submitted.
Stephen L. Wasby
Clerk, pro tem
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