09/16/2019 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes

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3 Board of Selectmen Minutes September 16, 2019 Sandwich Town Manager George"Bud" Dunham: Presentation on the Town of Sandwich's Experience Dealing with Developing a Plan for Wastewater management and Finance: (continued) Approximately 8 years ago a Town-owned site was located on Jan Sebastian Drive and approved by a vote of Town Meeting for wastewater treatment and disposal. The site is outside of Zone II areas, is comprised of eight different parcels and planned to treat 2 million gallons per day. Mr. Dunham indicated the town reviewed the needs for wastewater for the environment and to assist development. The town needed a wastewater solution for businesses and for increased development. The town in developing their CWRMP, created an Interim Wastewater Solution Plan which validated the use of the Jan Sebastian Drive site. Depending of the outcome on JBCC,this could be the first major wastewater construction effort for the Town of Sandwich with regional opportunities. Jan Sebastian Drive is ideally situated with enough capacity in terms of disposal to be an effective option for the Town of Mashpee. Mr. Dunham stated the Town of Sandwich is open to the shared use of the facility projected to cost$30 million. With the completed CWRMP and approvals from the Cape Cod Commission and Department of Environmental Protection the Town of Sandwich has the ability to move forward with an Intermunicipal Agreement with the Town of Mashpee and the Town of Barnstable to provide the framework for the Popponesset embayment. It was noted that Phase I of the CWRMP requires $83 million in today's dollars to address the needs of Sandwich. In discussing finances Mr. Dunham indicated the Town of Sandwich has made several infrastructure improvements over the last five years. This includes a new Fire Station, a Community building and future plans for the Senior Center and additions to the schools as well as public safety and road upgrades. Through a debt exclusion, the increase to an average valued home; $412,000 with a tax rate of$14.32 the cost is projected as an additional $250 per year per homeowner. A Water Infrastructure Investment Fund(WIIF)was approved by a vote of Town Meeting and the Town Election ballot. The WIIF was modeled from the CPA Act to be used solely for water and wastewater infrastructure needs. The WIIF was formed with a 1% surcharge and with a reduction of 1% in the Community Preservation Act(CPA)to bring forth a net 2% WIIF fund and a net 2% CPA fiend. The net increase to the taxpayer is 1%. The Town of Sandwich is the first town in the state to adopt the WIIF. It is anticipated that $58-$63 per year would be provided from each taxpayer to address water and wastewater issues. hnitially a 3% surcharge was considered for the WIIF, but the revenue would exceed what is required for the first 25 years of the wastewater program. It was also determined that although CPA projects are not needed as fully as in previous years,the CPA is worthy and its projects benefit the town substantially. On their website,the Town of Sandwich has additional information regarding the WIIF and wastewater. The 2% WIIF will commence on July 1, 2020 with the 1% reduction in CPA. Mr. Dunham in support of Jan Sebastian Drive indicated that all three schools have received notice from DEP regarding failing wastewater systems. Each plant is projected to cost an average of$30 million. For the same price,the Town could develop the Jan Sebastian Drive site. Many of the homes in Sandwich, an estimated 40% use private wells. In Phase I of the CWRMP,the $83 million would fund the extension of public water lines, repair the schools, be safer for the environment and increase economic development. At Town Meeting,the$83 million passed by a vote of 58%to 42%. The cost is less expensive than any debt the Town could have issued. In the Town of Sandwich wastewater is more important than capital projects. It is estimated the Jan Sebastian site could be completed in the short term; 5-10 years for design, permitting and construction. The Jan Sebastian site would have capacity to service parts of Mashpee and Barnstable. It may take 5-10 years to know if JBCC is a viable option.