10/19/2015 Annual Town Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Article 5 To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and transfer from available funds $250,000 to the Shellfish Propagation Account to purchase quahog and oyster seed and cultch for initial phase of implementation of the shellfish component of the Mashpee Comprehensive Wastewater and Nitrogen Management Plan, or take any other action relating thereto. Submitted by the Board of Selectmen Explanation: These funds are for the purchase of 4,000,000 quahog seed (1 inch size), 4,000 bags of oyster seed set on shell, and shell cultch for the 2016 beginning of implementation of the shellfish component of the Mashpee Comprehensive Wastewater and Nitrogen Management Plan. The Board of Selectmen recommends approval by a vote of 5-0 The Finance Committee recommends approval by a vote of 5-0 (1 abstention, 1 absent) Motion made by Selectman Andrew Gottlieb. Motion: I move the Town vote to appropriate and transfer from available funds $250,000 to the Shellfish Propagation Expense Account to purchase quahog and oyster seed and cultch for initial phase of implementation of the shellfish component of the Mashpee Comprehensive Wastewater and Nitrogen Management Plan. Motion passes unanimously at 7:22 PM. Article 6 To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and transfer from available funds the amount of $32,500 to the Department of Natural Resources to fund a monitoring contract with the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth for monitoring water quality associated with Shellfish Aquaculture in Popponesset Bay and Waquoit Bay and its effectiveness in reducing watercolumn nutrient concentrations, or take any other action thereto. Submitted by the Board of Selectmen Explanation: The Town's wastewater program relies heavily on aquaculture to reduce nitrogen in its bays. While the Town has an excellent understanding of the nitrogen reductions from each clam or oyster, it is less clear what nitrogen reductions occur in sediments beneath healthy shellfish populations. This study will quantify the additional nitrogen reductions that are a distinct benefit from the aquaculture program. The results of the study will enable the Town to understand the additional incremental reductions in nitrogen that it can take credit for with state and federal regulatory agencies and, therefore, offset and avoid additional and more expensive means of nitrogen management. This is the first year of a three year analysis. The Board of Selectmen recommends approval by a vote of 5-0 4