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As a result, the Finance Committee recommended that half of the cost be funded by fees, rates <br /> and charges and the other half be paid for byan override or debt exclusion but also encouraged <br /> cooperation with other communities to request an increase of wastewater funding from the state. <br /> Mr. Ciolek stated that he preferred reliance on the water district in order to shift fands over time <br /> based on the financial needs of the project, noting that fee revenue would not be available at the <br /> beginning of the project. Mr. Ciolek further noted that, 'if the-Barnstable Town Council pursued <br /> a request for betterments, the.Finance Committee recommended a cap of$10,000,but was <br /> advised that the betterment could not be.arbitrarily capped. Mr. Ciolek referenced the option of <br /> pursuing hone rule petition in order to mend the betterment lav or create a trust fund. Mr. <br /> Ciolek also noted that Chapter 59 Section 21N allowed, by vote of the town's legislative body, <br /> rate relief for rate payers by increasing property tax in order to shift from rate based to real estate <br /> based form of revenue. Mr. 1 arcelli questioned whether or not Mashpee, as a suburban <br /> community, would need to consider wastewater treatment plants in place of addressing the issue <br /> n site with the homeowners. Mr. Ciolek recommended that the Commission consider <br /> alternative technology, but stated that traditional wastewater treatment plants get the job done <br /> when well managed and designed, and meets state and federal standards. Mr. Ciolek noted that <br /> alternative technology was also expensive and that the Commnission would.need to ensure that it <br /> would function as originally intended. Mr. Ciolek recommended that, when-considering <br /> alternative technology, a good lawyer would be necessary to protect Ma.shpee's interests. <br /> Chairman Fudala requested that Mr. Ciolek outline a list of potential sources of funding for <br /> sewer operating and capital costs. Mr. Ciolek stated that usage fees charged to the customer, <br /> based on water usage, could be used for any purpose. Mr. Ciol k referenc&d Chatham and the <br /> emphasis on the real estate tax to fund the wastewater plan, but that most communities would <br /> require a proposition 2 1 override. Mr. Ciolek also noted that.Chatham vas in receipt of a rural <br /> community [JSDA grant. Mr. Ciolek reported that federal grants were eliminated in 1990 and <br /> that the state grants stopped in 2007. Mr. Ciolek confirmed that the meal and hotelmotel tax ; <br /> could be adopted and the funds dedicated specifically to the wastewater plan. Finally, Mr. <br /> Ciolek stated that betterments were also an option, but that he did not recommend there. <br /> Nor. O'Hara inquired about am table's water/Sewer Department. Mr. Ciolek responded that <br /> Barnstable had four independent water districts outside of the town govenunent and that the <br /> wastewater was an enterprise fund within the Department of Public works. Mr. Ciolek stated <br /> that the water Districts provide information about water usage to the wastewater Department <br /> and that the Town of Barnstable then billed the resident for wastewater charges, independent <br /> from water charges. Mr. Ciolek noted that Sever and 'mater were separate due to politics and <br /> also because of the water bistrict's connection to.the Fire Departments. fir. Ciolek <br /> recommended reviewing the possibility of a joint water/Sewer District. Mr. O'Hara inquired <br /> about previous conversations about regionalization. Mr. Ciolek suggested that conversations <br /> about regionalization may be a consequence of the CLIF lawsuit. Mr-. O'Hara noted that the CLF <br /> would most likely prefer to work with a single regional entity to accomplish its goals rather than <br /> 15 individual towns. Mr. O'Mara stag his belief that a regional effort would provide more <br /> strength but Mr. Ciolek did not think it would happen. Mr. Lyons suggested that there would be <br /> more strength in diversity because the CLF would be faced with negotiating with 15 towns. Mr. <br /> Lyons also stated that pumping effluent 10-15 miles would not make technical sense. fir. <br /> O'Hara referenced having a few treatment plants on Cape versus the number of plants already in <br /> place in Mashpee. Chairman Fudala sued that eight existing systems were already in place and <br /> capital costs have already been spent and VAII not be replaced with a large system. Mr. Ciolek <br />