08/12/2019 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes

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4 Board of Selectmen Minutes August 12, 2019 NEW BUSINESS Discussion of Existing Nitrogen Management Plan: Sewer Commissioner; GHD Representative: (cont'd) It was noted there are eleven wastewater treatment plants in the Town of Mashpee. This includes plants at Southport,the Mashpee High School, Mashpee Village, South Cape Village, Windchime Point, Mashpee Commons,the Wampanoag Tribal facility, Cotuit Meadows, Stratford Ponds, Willowbend and New Seabury. Private treatment plants are a part of the Plan as many do not use to their capacity. The Plan considers connection as well as possible take-over and operation by the Town. Mr. Gregg outlined the implementation schedule in Phases II through V. Phase II includes JBCC and the Mashpee Commons sewer extension. If the shellfish component of the Plan is not advancing to the anticipated levels, the Site 4 facility expansion is proposed along with improvements to the Willowbend facility and upgrade to Stratford Pond, South Cape Village and Windchime Point. The Town may never get past Phase II. It was recommended the Town focus on what can be spent on Phase I to begin the process with the aquaculture component. Phase III outlines Popponesset Bay with the Mashpee River, Shoestring Bay and Ockway Bay as the focus. Phase IV represents Hamblin and Jehu Ponds including Popponesset Bay extensions and Phase IV would address the remainder of TMDL compliance issues based on monitoring. Shellfish Commissioner Fudala indicated the Town has not regularly supported the funding for the shellfish component of the project. The aquaculture program is proposed to reduce sewering costs by $1.3 million. There is a need to grow and to monitor the nitrogen removal by the shellfish approach. Discussion of Joint Base Cape Cod Proposal: The use of Joint Base Cape Cod as a regional wastewater facility was highly regarded. However, costs associated to construction requirements, operation and maintenance has not been determined. There is available land to build a new facility, but effluent recharge is a factor. Discussions have been ongoing with the four Upper Cape towns, and the Town of Barnstable has expressed an interest in utilizing the regional approach. The JBCC is characterized as an end of life facility, and would need to be upgraded and re-built. Mr. Gregg indicated the evaluation of JBCC was not a part of the analysis of the Plan. And, there are no specifics regarding the current JBCC that is in need of an upgrade and rebuild. It was agreed it may be prudent to obtain further analysis from GHD based on the Wright Pierce values to obtain cost projections in the short and long term for operation and maintenance. Also to be considered are the number of pumping stations required at an additional expense to the Town.