Town of Chatham, MA - Selectmen's Meeting Minutes 11/20/07

Bill Redfield discussed the recent problems experienced at the wastewater facilities as a result of the storm on November 3. The wastewater treatment facility was without power from Saturday at 6 pm. to Monday at 10 pm., and had to rely on its back up generator due to problems getting Nstar to replace the two transmission poles on the road to the facility that had been knocked down. There was also a power outage at the Queen Anne and PlaceNameplaceStage PlaceTypeHarbor pump stations from Saturday at 3:30 pm to Sunday at 6 pm.. The placePlaceNameStage PlaceTypeHarbor generator failed in September and was not reinstalled before the storm’s power outage and pumping trucks had to be used.

Mr. Redfield said that there had been one applications approved under the Sewer Bank, a residential application for addressStreet29 Collins Lane for the addition of one bedroom (110 gpd).

Mr. Redfield said that water consumed and dollar amounted billed for FY2008 are above the amount consumed and billed for FY2007 during the same time periods (July 1 through October 31). However, the actual cash receipts received as of September 30, 2007, were below last years due the Town changing its accounting software resulting in bills being issued late. It is anticipated that the billing cycle will be back on schedule by the end of the calendar year.

Mr. Redfield said that Bortolotti had replaced the water mains along addressStreetPleasant Street from Longs Lane to the end of addressStreetPleasant Street, CityWadsworth Road, Forest Beach Extension, and addressStreetMill Creek Road. In November they will begin replacing the water mains and services along addressStreetPhoebe Lane. All piping should be installed and temporary road patching completed by the middle of December, permanent road repairs will be performed in the spring of 2007 by the Highway Department and funded by the Water Department.

Mr. Redfield said that Earth Tech has submitted an application to DEP requesting permission to perform two prolong pumping tests at two of the proposed Mill Pond well sites. DEP toured the sited on November 2, 2007, and is reviewing the application.

Mr. Redfield said that during October there were three water samples taken from the system that tested positive for total coliform. Chlorine was added to the system and subsequent water samples did not test positive for total coliform and the system’s water remained in compliance with the total Coliform Rule. A small amount of chlorine will still be added to the system until the water mains’ and water services’ replacements are complete.

Douglas Bohman did ask what type of emergency program the Town had in the event of a boil water order to inform the public; she sighted the recent events in CityplaceBarnstable and their need to inform the public of e-coli in the water.

Mr. Redfield stated the DEP has an emergency response program that even includes how notices must be written. The Water Department has an emergency program that includes newspaper releases, radio and television notice if needed. There is also a list of water consumers to call when chlorine is added to the distribution system. This is a list of people with health concerns that chlorine could effect.

Mr. Redfield informed the selectmen and the public that between November 26-30, the water main from approximately 2900 Main Street to Morton Road will be shut down to make repairs to a fault valve at the South Chatham well site. He said that some of the side streets may also be affected. Notices will be delivered the areas affected by the shut off 36 hours in advance of the shut off.

Bob Duncanson informed the selectmen that a preliminary draft of the Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan has been reviewed by the CAC and that they have met twice and are still discussing their comments and Stearns and Wheler’s answer to their comments, their next meeting is scheduled for November 28.

Dr. Duncanson said there were still questions within the CAC regarding the Massachusetts Estuary Study and the State’s TMDL figures, revised TMDL’s are currently being reviewed. After the first of the year the State will release the document and the Town has can request a formal hearing.

The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) has reviewed the value engineering recommendation on Stearns and Wheler’s preliminary design of the wastewater treatment facility. If there are not a lot of changes to be made to Stearns and Wheler’s preliminary design request for construction design proposals could be ready the first of the year.

Dr. Duncanson said that the CAC discussions are televised on channel 18 and information is available on the Town’s website. There is the possibility of workshops and a brochure to be mailed to every household. The CAC sees educating the public as to the problem and what is the solution as their role.

Ron Bergstrom asked if the goal going forward was to sewer every household and what was being done to notify people buying houses in Chatham to inform them of the cost of connection to the sewer.

Dr. Duncanson responded that it was the goal to sewer every household within 30 years and gave examples of how the public was being informed.

Valerie Foster, Chatham Housing Authority, addressed the selectmen stating that she would like the public to know that there was a house for sale within the low income/first time buyer program at the housing authority. The house is on addressStreetNonantum Lane, applications are available at the housing authority, and information is available on the website. She said she would not be able to stay for the part of today’s agenda on goal setting, but she hoped the selectmen would keep affordable housing on the top of their goal setting list.

Shirley Smith, formerly of Truro Housing Authority, now living in CityplaceChatham, expressed her wishes that affordable housing remain a top priority in the goal setting for the town.

Frank Facchetti, expressed his concerns for safety and security and the town’s failure to maintain street lighting or see that the correct department or company replaced overhead street light fixtures that needed replacing. He stated that on a recent walk from the rotary to the lighthouse that twelve street lights were out and that one third of the street lights on addressStreetCrowell Road were out. He said that he had contacted the police and was told to contact the Highway Department, which in turn told him to contact Nstar. Nstar told him they needed the pole numbers to do the replacement.

Bill Hinchey responded that the Town has a contract for the maintenance of the street lights, and that the correct protocol was to contact the Highway Department, which would have contacted Republic Electric, who has the contract, to replace the lights.

Sue Winkfield addressed the selectmen requesting permission to place a sign in front of the community center to promote this weekend’s Holiday Fair at the community center.

Debbie Connors made a motion to grant the sign request. Douglas Bohman seconded the motion. The board voted unanimously to approve the use of a sign in front of the community center to promote this weekend’s Holiday Fair.

David Whitcomb addressed the public and said that the purpose of today’s request for public input on goal setting was to inform the board prior to their meeting as to what the concerns were for the public and help the selectmen address those concerns in setting the town’s goals.

Dr. Joan Maloney addressed the selectmen and asked that they consider the need for an elderly day care or caregiver program. She said that currently there were only two such programs on the lower cape, placeCityOrleans and Eastham. She offered the suggestion that building an addition on the COA building would be an excellent location to provide these services since the building already had a kitchen and handicapped bathrooms.

Sean Summers asked if CPA funding could be used for this purpose, and that socialization was a very important form of recreation, especially for this age group.

Alvin Stern said that busing to the current daycare locations in placeCityOrleans and Eastham was a safety problem since one person can only manage a small number of people at a time.

Debbie Connors presented the selectmen with a letter from Coleman Yeaw, who was unable to attend today meeting. Mr. Yeaw’s letter asked that the board arrive at an agreement as to what were short term vs long term goals. He suggested that the board encourage more public participation in setting these goals, and made some suggestions relative to planning and employee valuations.

Debbie Connors made a motion to adjourn today’s meeting. Ron Bergstrom and Douglas Bohman seconded the motion. The board unanimously voted to adjourn. The selectmen ended their meeting at 5:12 p.m.