1/30/2020 SEWER COMMISSION Minutes

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Annual Report: -Vote to approve and submit the Commission's 2019 Annual Report Mr. Dunn moved to forward the Commission's 2019 Annual Report to the Selectmen,Mr. Pittsley seconded. All in favor. Voucher approvals N/A Status of other tasks: - Shellfish Rick York could not be present,but sent an email: The update on implementation of the Shellfish Component of the CWNMP is that we are seeing more improvement in the water quality data(total nitrogen) in Great River, Little River, and Hamblin Pond as a result of the quahog population increase from our seeding. This is from the 2017 and 2018 data. We do not have the 2019 data yet. We seeded 4.6 million quahogs there last year and have ordered 11 million for this year. Oysters in the Mashpee River are also helping water quality with no fish kills last year. The harvest is going well. We have ordered 1,000 bags of oyster seed for this year again, and an additional 460,000 single oyster seed. Other items: - JBCC shared facility proposal: October 2019 Town Meeting approved$250,000 towards study. No further information. - Selectmen supported 4 wastewater articles for May Town Meeting, including the Commission's 2 proposed funding articles. - FY2021 Commission budget. Any news regarding existing or potential private WWTPs N/A Other items not reasonably anticipated by the Chair A role call vote to add 2 items to the agenda, from Joe Lyons and Mike Rapacz. All in favor. Joe Lyons spoke about the pollution at Santuit Pond. The Town needs to address this. There are a few hundred houses whose nitrogen is adding to the problem. This is the Sewer Commission's responsibility. He proposed we have GHD include it as a design factor for collection so we know what the cost will be when the ultimate question comes up-we'll have an answer. Tom Fudala argued that phosphorous is the issue, not nitrogen. He also stated that Phase 1 has already been approved and in order to change it we'd have to go back and get money and ask for them to rewrite the plan. He suggests at the end of Phase 1, when review of what's going on, we take a look at those houses on Santuit Pond. Joe Lyons said that's 5 years from now, Santuit Pond won't be there by then. Tom Fudala restated it's the phosphorous, not nitrogen causing the problem. Joe insisted nitrogen is a problem and that this needs to be addressed in Phase 1. He thinks we should answer the political question and take out part in addressing the pollution of Santuit Pond. Anne Malone said she would like to leave Phase 1 alone, as it's already been approved. She asked if it's possible for GDH to give an estimate of the cost of sewering those houses. Joe reiterated he wants to know how much it would cost.