Town of Chatham, MA - Selectmen's Meeting Minutes 8/21/07

Mr. Redfield said that the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) now fully supports the proposed revisions to the “Towns of Chatham Rules and Regulations of the Sewer Department,” published in the Cape Cod Chronicle on February 1, 2007, and that the Rules and Regulations are now ready to be submitted for inclusion on a Town Meeting Warrant.

Debbie Connors said she endorsed the CAC suggestion that the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) together with Stearns and Wheler develop a worksheet to help CityplaceChatham property owners estimate the cost of connecting to the sewer.

Bill Hinchey stated that to insure the estimate’s worksheet is accurate to today’s costs; the TAG is developing a worksheet using the costs to connect the properties directed by the Board of Health to connect to the sewer.

Mr. Redfield said that water revenues for FY 2007 were down from the previous year but the Water Department did meet its revenue commitment for FY2007 of $2,279,549 when the other revenue sources are included in total year end revenues that equaled $2,424,817.54.

Mr. Redfield explained that Earth Tech was awarded the contract to design the replacement of water mains along addressStreetPleasant Street from addressStreetDeep Hole Road to the end of addressStreetPleasant Street, CityWadsworth Road, Forest Beach Road Extension, and addressStreetMill Creek Road. Construction bids were opened on July 19, 2007, and Earth Tech recommends that Bortolotti Construction, Inc. be awarded the contract at their low bid price of $658,958.95. Construction is anticipated to start after September 3, 2007. Prior to the start of construction Earth Tech will send a customer notice to all the water users in the construction area informing them of the project.

Mr. Redfield reminded the selectmen that the US Department of Agriculture awarded the Town a $213,000 grant and a $500,000 loan from USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service, Part 1780, Water and Waste Loan and Grant Program for the water mains’ and services’ replacements on the above referenced streets.

Earth Tech is preparing an application to submit to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection requesting permission to conduct two prolong pump tests at two of the proposed Mill Pond well sites. An area 150’ back from the pond was chosen as the possible well sites because wells located this distance from a pond would not draw water from the pond and affect the pond’s surface water levels and would not require filtration. However the area 150’ back from the pond will only support multiple smaller wells since the sites do not have deep aquifers at there locations.

Fall River Electrical Associate was awarded the contract for the installation of an emergency generator at the water storage tanks at their low bid price of $34,300. Fall River Electrical is in the process of ordering the equipment they propose to install. This generator will allow the Water and Sewer Departments’ telemetry controls to function during power outages.

Bob Duncanson informed the selectmen that the Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CWMP) draft has been completed. It is currently being reviewed by the CAC. In September revisions will be made to the CWMP before it is submitted to MEPA on October first.. Dr. Duncanson handed out a preliminary summary of the CWMP to the selectmen and stated that the preliminary summary was available on the Town’s website.

Dr. Duncanson stated that a value engineering process was being performed on the preliminary design of the wastewater treatment facility. Lewis and Zimmerman, a third party engineering firm, was brought in to review the plans and process and to look for more efficient ways to get the same results or reduce the costs. The value engineering team will be doing their work the week of August 27, 2007.

Dr. Duncanson said the timeframe would depend upon the findings of the value engineering study. If there are not a lot of changes to be made to Stearns and Wheler’s preliminary design, the town could go out for Request For Proposal the first of the year, and by March or April have a consultant. It is possible that a completed detail design including DEP approval could be available in 12 to 15 months.

Ron Bergstrom asked why there was no nitrogen removal in area adjacent to the wastewater treatment plant on the watershed delineation maps. Mr. Bergstrom wanted to know if the critical list of areas to be sewered represented areas that were priorities.

Dr. Duncanson responded that no additional nitrogen removal was needed in the watershed adjacent to the wastewater treatment facility based on a study of Cockle Cove Creek’s marsh. The study determined that this salt water marsh was capable of receiving the treated wastewater provided the nitrogen in the treatment facility’s discharge is maintained at 3 milligram per liter or less total nitrogen. At this concentration the area will not need to remove anymore nitrogen from that watershed’s onsite wastewater disposal systems. However, that does not mean that this area will not be sewered.

Dr. Duncanson said the sewer priority list is based on where it is needed most. The implementation of the town’s sewer’s expansions has been divided into two phases, Phase I; will install sewers where they are needed to meet the TMDL. Phase I is the priority area and represents about two thirds of the town. Phase II, represents where sewering is needed for other reasons.

John Payson asked the selectmen to release information on the flows going to the sewer treatment facility from each property within each sewer shed by September 5. Mr. Payson stated that he original addressed the selectmen on March 27, 2007 requesting this information be supplied to him by Stearns and Wheler.

Dr. Duncanson said he did have water use records for each property in town within the watershed area. The properties that use the Chatham Water Department’s water had water use records available and properties that were not using town water were estimated by using similar properties that are on the town’s water supply system..

David Whitcomb said that Sean Summers has served as the Town’s representative to the Wastewater Collaborative well this past year, however, his schedule is full and the board needs to find a replacement for Mr. Summers.

Debbie Connors made a motion to appoint Bob Duncanson as the Town’s representative to the Wastewater Collaborative. Douglas Bohman seconded the motion. The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to appoint Bob Duncanson as the Town’s representative to the Wastewater Collaborative.

The selectmen reviewed the Minutes of their meeting on August 7, 2007. Douglas Bohman made a motion that the Minutes be approved. Ron Bergstrom seconded the motion. The selectmen approved the Minutes of August 7, 2007 in a vote of four to one, Debbie Connors abstaining as she was not at part of the meeting on that date.

Dr. Burns of West Chatham addressed the selectmen protesting tonight’s agenda item of “placeWest Chatham – Planning Meeting”. He said that he had only heard about tonight’s agenda item on Friday afternoon, and that he and his neighbors in West Chatham had not been informed and were not prepared to discuss the concept of a West Chatham development plan at this time. He voiced concerns t that the selectmen had not met with the residents of placeWest Chatham to learn about their needs or desires and that this was a town wide issue. Dr. Burns requested that tonight’s agenda item “placeWest Chatham – Planning Meeting” be postponed.

David Whitcomb said that he would not postpone tonight’s agenda item and that nothing would be voted on or decided tonight, tonight’s meeting was going to be one of many meetings held to decide what was eventually going to be done in West Chatham and that there would be ample time for residents to express their opinions.

Ted Keon, Coastal Resources, addressed the selectmen in a Public Hearing requesting that “No Parking” signs be placed on addressStreetCow Yard Lane from the end of the lane westerly, forty feet on both sides.

Debbie Connors took umbrage with the request saying every week, more parking is removed especially near the water, she asked where are people in town who do not live near the water suppose to park. She asked if the Waterways Committee had been consulted and said she would like to hear their input.

Ron Bergstrom said that to remove parking to allow a turn around and removing 40 feet which is about 6 parking spaces did not make sense, he does not support the no parking signage.

David Whitcomb realizing that a motion to grant the signage would not pass asked if anyone would like to make a motion. No motion was made.

Ms. Seldin and John Lipman from the Cape Cod Commission addressed the selectmen and provided them with a six month progress report from the Cape Cod Commission regarding implementation of the 21^st Century Task Force report.

Cam Koblish, the Town of placeCityChatham representative to the Cape Light Compact, gave a Powerpoint presentation. Mr. Koblish‘s informative presentation on the Cape Light Compact covered topics, such as, what is the Cape Light Compact. How it works, How we benefit, and What are the challenges ahead.

Terry Whalen, Town Planner, gave a Powerpoint presentation on the placeWest Chatham area where redevelopment is in the planning stage. He highlighted the areas where most of the work has currently been targeted, between addressStreetBarn Hill Road and addressStreetGeorge Ryder Road on Route 28.

Sean Summers had several concerns and ask what the thoughts were of the Planning Board, were they in agreement, are there zoning issues, what about residential density, streetscaping, and the problems or strengths of the road areas.

David Whitcomb had questions on the three lane section and how it was going to be used, and what the revitalization of the Souwester and High Tide properties would mean to the area.

Ron Bergstom questioned are we trying to develop an area that is no longer viable, and that trends and life styles have changed that the area may no longer support, and if we are going to build to a greater density, how will we know when we’re there, we need to definite the area. He said decisions should be based on traffic not on development, look at the traffic, streetscape, and people currently using the area.

Dr. Burns addressed the selectmen suggesting that future meetings be advertised well in advance to insure that residents in the area are aware of what is going on and have a chance to voice their concerns. He felt that safety is the biggest issue in getting in and out of addressStreetBarn Hill Road and addressStreetGeorge Ryder Road and curbs, sidewalks, and safety issues need to be addressed.

Bill Hinchey stated that at the Annual Town Meeting has authorized funds for a design concept and that Public Hearings will be on-going on the subject. The State has said if we do the design they will do the work when they come through and redo the road area. This is a chance to weigh in and say what direction you want to go.

Sean Summers said he would like to see this on the Planning Board’s agenda, he said he felt the debates should happen there and should have their approval.

Ron Bergstrom said he thought the Planning Board had enough on their schedule at the present time and things could be done just as quickly at the present level.

Douglas Bohman made a motion to adjourn today’s meeting. Ron Bergstrom seconded the motion. The selectmen ended their meeting at 6:52 p.m.