08/10/2020 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Agenda Packet

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*DRAFT#2 OCTOBER 19, 2020 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING* Article-9 11 To see if Mashpee will join towns across Cape Cod in an effort to respond to a shared sense of climate emergency, based on data and warning from the scientific community. Across Cape Cod, 'many acknowledge that climate change is a dire,threat to our well-being that demands immediate attention. Passage of the article will indicate that the residents and government of Mashpee are committed to expeditiously reducing net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by further reducing energy consumption as well as by supporting and instituting efforts to wisely manage our land, biodiversity, and natural resources to reduce the town's vulnerability to climate change, or take any other action thereto. Submitted by the Board of Selectmen Explanation: Because of threats to our health, safety, and economic security, Mashpee's communities., service organizations,, government representatives, officers, and departments have already taken many leading steps toward mitigating the environmental conditions that cause decreasing biodiversity, global warming, melting ice sheets, rising sea levels,acidifying oceans,damaging storms, intensifying heat waves, and raging fires, but CO2 levels in Earth's atmosphere have already risen above the acceptable 350 ppm to 415 ppm. As a member of 350 Cape Cod, this petitioner urges Mashp,ee's residents, communities, elected representatives, and town employees to join-in spirit and action with the residents of other Cape Cod towns to prudently facilitate this article's objectives. The Board of Selectmen recommends approval of Article by a vote of The Finance Committee recommends approval of Article by a vote of Article-10 To see if the Town will vote to adopt the following in the Town of Mashpee Bylaws: The purchase by the Town of Mashpee of either water or any other beverage in single-use plastic bottles of any size is prohibited and the sale of water or any beverage in single-use plastic containers is prohibited on town property. Any Town department when engaged in public health and safety operations shall be exempt from this Bylaw. Effective date:As soon as practicable, as but no later than July 1,, 2021. (Proposed date) In the event of a declaration (by Emergency Management Director, or other duly-authorized Town, Commonwealth, or United States official) of an emergency affecting the availability and/or quality of drinking water for Mashpee residents the Town shall be exempt from this Bylaw until seven (7) calendar days after such declaration has ended. Submitted by the Board of Selectmen Explanation: Plastic bottles are a by-product of the fossil fuel industry; they do not biodegrade and can last forever. Their production emits toxic waste into the air, and chemicals from plastic can leach into our beverages. After plastics are discarded, they pollute the air via incineration, contaminate groundwater through landfills, as well as harm to our oceans, beaches, roadways, and wildlife. Recycling is of little help and does not eliminate or reduce our dependence on plastic.The hazardous effects of plastics are far more costly than indicated by price. They affect our immediate and long-term well-being. 4