11/18/2019 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes

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Board of Selectmen Minutes November 18, 2019 APPOINTMENTS & HEARINGS Presentations on Staffing Wastewater Treatment Facilities by Town Staff or Contract Operators; Case Studies of Falmouth and Chatham. Presenters: Dr. Robert Duncanson Chatham Director of Health and Natural Resources: (continued) For efficiency the facilities for water and sewer are managed through contract operations. The Town of Chatham uses Weston& Sampson Engineers. The knowledgeable staff has been retained for the past twenty-five years through the entire process of sewering. To gain qualified support there is a cost savings versus the use of town employees. DEP sets the staffing perimeters and details the licenses required to operate and maintain the facility. There is improved retention of service in the private sector if there is a vacancy or if temporary support is required. The cost is $500,000 per year on contract operations, and $500,000 per year for expenses. Although the carrousel treatment systems do not require a lot of maintenance,the collection systems require manpower in the fields to maintain the fourteen pumping stations. Daily inspections are required by DEP encompassing an estimated 1-1.5 hours per station. Dr. Duncanson indicated the Town of Chatham is not prepared to undertake an enterprise system at this time. Chatham has a separate water and sewer division, and is currently 12-13% sewered. The town has made the decision to support the plan in its entirety realizing the sewering would ultimately benefit all users who would therefore be required to pay for wastewater. The funds would be added to the tax rate as betterments cannot be deducted from income tax. The current tax rate is $5.85 per$1,000. The average home valuation is $900,000. It was noted the 0% SRF loan has added a 50-year payment option. Dr. Duncanson recommended that Mashpee consider the initial start-up using contractual operations. With a 3-5 year contractual agreement, the town would gain an understanding of the types of personnel required for operations if a town department was to be created. Mr. Jack agreed as it may be more difficult to transfer operations if the town initially sets up their own department. In considering operations it was stated that Cape Cod is a unique and a premier area that tends to entice qualified and competent individuals. This is a good field with regards to career choices. The Town of Falmouth has retained its staff members in this field, with a small turnover rate. The Town of Falmouth has not considered sewering the entire town to date. There is room for potential expansion and sewering in the high density areas south of Route 28, but it is believed that different technologies and multiple scenarios would be considered to achieve TMDL requirements. Regarding pre-planning for sewering Mr. Jack indicated the slope of the sewers must be determined. This would be achieved with full design. If the size of the piping has not been determined, there may be a need to install larger piping if the sewering was underbuilt. This is a significant problem in communities not asking all of the questions that are required to be determined.