Town of Chatham, MA - Selectmen's Meeting Minutes 11/6/07

Ms. Connors moved the Board of Selectmen vote to approve the Board of Selectmen’s minutes of October 30, 2007. Mr. Bergstrom seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted four in favor one abstention (Mrs. Bohman did not attend).

Ms. Susan Rohrbach from Senator O’Leary’s office attended this meeting. Ms. Rohrbach announced the Senate now has a bill number (#2418) for the wastewater funding initiative. The Senator is also involved in meetings to discuss the FAIR Plan homeowner’s insurance.

Ms. Sheila Marx, representing the First Night Chatham group, attended this meeting to seek the approval of the Board of Selectmen for the activities which will be occurring around Town on public property and the downtown area where outside sales are prohibited without the Selectmen’s approval.

She told the Board of Selectmen, after consulting with the Police Chief, the portion of Main Street from Cross Street to Seaview Avenue will be closed until11:30PM. There will be a bonfire at the Oyster Pond after the noise parade.

Mrs. Bohman noted last year one of the vendors had parked in the handicapped spaces and had to be moved. Also there was considerable litter in the Town Hall parking lot. Ms. Marx said the Committee is aware and will make provisions to have the lot cleaned at the end of the night.

Mrs. Bohman noted that each of these appointments will be until work completed unless revoked. It was moved by Mrs. Bohman and seconded by Mr. Bergstrom that the Board of Selectmen appoint the following persons be appointed to the Charter Review Committee: Robert Walsh; the Board of Selectmen voted four in favor and one opposed (Ms. Connors did not believe employees should be on the Committee). Deborah Aikman; the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor. Andrew Sifflard; the Board voted unanimously in favor. Charles Rader; the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor. William Litchfield; the Board voted unanimously in favor. Robert Hamblet; the Board voted unanimously in favor. Ray Braz; the Board voted unanimously in favor.

Mr. Whitcomb noted Charter Section 8-2 in charging the Committee: “At least once in every seven years a special committee shall be appointed by the Board of Selectmen for the purpose of reviewing the provisions of the charter and to make a report concerning any proposed amendments or revisions which such committee deems necessary.”

Conservation Agent Kristen Andres attended this meeting to inform the Board of Selectmen Town staff has formed a group with members of the community and organized a workgroup for the purpose of improving the Town of Chatham’s recycling efforts. She reviewed the groups progress to date, future goals, and asked the Board of Selectmen to support and sign a Resolution for the “Mass Recycles Paper” campaign.

Ms. Andres introduced other members of the Chatham Recycles work group: Paul Lagg, Judy Georgio, Judie Kent, Paulette Fehlig, Jeff Bremner, George Cooper, Shannen Cook, and David Quinn. Another member, Bob Staake, could not attend this meeting.

Ms. Connors Moved the Board of Selectmen vote to support and sign the resolution for the “Mass Recycles Paper” campaign. Mrs. Bohman seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Health Agent Judith Georgio attended this meeting to explain that, in an effort to reduce the access of cigarettes to youth, the Chatham Board of Health and the Barnstable County Tobacco Control Project has proposed some changes to the Board of Health Smoking Regulations.

The Board of Health will be changing the name of the regulations to Tobacco Control Regulations. Another proposed change to the Regulations will be to require offenders who have been cited for selling cigarettes to minors in a second offense, take an educational class offered by Barnstable County.

Ms. Georgio reviewed other proposed changes and announced the Board of Health will be holding a public hearing on the changes on December 17 in the downstairs meeting room at the Town Hall on Main Street.

Director of Health and Environment Dr. Robert Duncanson attended this meeting to respond to questions previously raised concerning the use of chemicals on Town-owned or private properties within the Town.

Dr. Duncanson said there has been some concern about lawn care products. He told the Board new regulations require commercial applicators to post flags on treated properties which brings the public attention to treated areas. Dr. Duncanson also said circumstances do not always allow prohibition of treatment because of certain pests. He said its is better to have products applied by certified applicators who are trained to know what applications are needed. The town does not use pesticides or fertilizers unless it is absolutely necessary. There is a new initiative to turn Town lands into low maintenance, natural landscaping with native species that require minimal upkeep and minimal use of chemicals, although some park like settings will be maintained with lawns and need pest management. Dr. Duncanson said Town staff has specialized training in the use of chemicals and apply proper safeguards. He is hopeful that guidelines can be adopted for Town lands that may be gifted to conform to intelligent landscaping.

Mr. Bergstrom asked if the Town has a program to detect trace chemicals in fresh water. Dr. Duncanson explained that tests are not specific to each chemical, in other words, the Town does test for certain substances. If the Town were to try to test for each specific chemical, it would be very expensive and time consuming. He also said the content of pesticides and fertilizers is controlled by the Department of Food and Agriculture.

Mr. Whitcomb said his understanding is that the causes of nitrogen from fertilizers is small. He questioned if the Town should try to reduce nitrogen impact through regulations and education. Dr. Duncanson said the sandy soil on Cape Cod requires fertilizers if a manicured lawn is desired. He also told the Board of Selectmen the Pleasant Bay Alliance received a grant to look at fertilizer issues in the Pleasant Bay watershed. This information can be used town-wide after it is analyzed. He said since the regulations would be difficult to enforce it is more important to develop a public education campaign.

Mr. Summers asked how the type of nitrogen is determined in a watershed. Dr. Duncanson explained that there are formulas to determine concentrations and how they are measured. He said analysts take average use of septic systems and make conclusions from studies that have been performed imitating residential use. He also said research is done for fertilizer evaluations which includes measuring leaching. That research sets models to create educated assumptions. Storm water also has a certain load percentage and estimates for that are also assumed based on models.

Nate Weeks, a consultant from Sterns and Wheeler, addressed the Board of Selectmen to review the draft Waste Water Management Plan. The review echoed the Plan that has been reviewed over the past several months by the Board of Selectmen/Water Sewer Commissioners.

Mr. Weeks explained that the consultants use various scenarios in making the best guess estimates for future provisions. Engineers use certain factors and best engineering practices to develop very conservative numbers in their projections.

Mr. Hinchey reminded the gallery that the environmental concerns will be addressed in phase one and then decisions about the expansion of the waste water treatment will come later - possibly in fifteen years after the initial construction, but the plan will allow for future needs. Mr. Hinchey also said Chatham’s planning is much further along in the process of planning for wastewater treatment than surrounding communities which makes regional planning a challenge. However, there may be an opportunity for surrounding communities to use our plant while they develop plans, and before we need the expansion.

Mr. Summers asked why the design process has not progressed at a faster rate. Mr. Hinchey explained the design is being worked on while the Plan is being finalized, but the process is very technical. He explained the Town hired a value engineering team which made eighteen recommendations which now have to be assessed by Stearns and Wheeler, the CAC and the TAG. The project will be ready for bidding after all reviews are done and the Plan is approved.

Mrs. Bohman moved the Board of Selectmen vote to appoint William F. VonBrauchitsch to the Chatham Railroad Museum group until his work is completed, unless sooner revoked. Mr. Bergstrom seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Mrs. Bohman moved to appoint Robert Oliver the Chatham Historical Commission representative to the Community Preservation Committee until June 30, 2010 unless sooner revoked or until his successor is appointed. Mr. Bergstrom seconded the motion and the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Mr. Hinchey reported to the Board of Selectmen that the recent storm management showed that the Town is prepared for emergencies and he commended the Police Department, Fire Department, the Harbormaster, Highway Department and Parks & Recreations for their hard work during hurricane Noel.