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<br />I move the Town vote to approve Article 21 as printed in the warrant with the exception of the phrase, “or <br />take any other action relating thereto.” <br />Motion postponed indefinitely at 6:57 PM <br />Article 22 <br /> <br />To see if the Town will vote to adopt the following as a general by-law and to insert it into the Code of the Town of <br />Mashpee, Massachusetts. <br /> <br />Section 1. Sale of Single-use Plastic Water Bottles <br />Effective on September 30, 2022, it shall be unlawful to sell non-carbonated, unflavored drinking water in single-use <br />plastic bottles of less than one gallon in the Town of Mashpee. Enforcement of this regulation will begin September <br />30, 2022. <br /> <br />Section 2. Definitions <br />A single-use plastic bottle is a beverage container made from any type of plastic resin. <br /> <br />Section 3. Exemptions <br />Sales or distribution of non-carbonated, unflavored drinking water in single-use plastic bottles occurring subsequent <br />to a declaration of emergency (by the Emergency Management Director or other duly authorized Town, County, <br />Commonwealth or Federal official) affecting the availability and/or quality of drinking water to residents of the Town <br />shall be exempt from this bylaw until seven days after the declaration has ended. <br />Section 4. Enforcement <br />Enforcement of this article shall be the responsibility of the Town Manager or his/her designee. The Town Manager <br />shall determine the inspection process to be followed, incorporating the process into other Town duties as appropriate. <br />Any establishment conducting sales in violation of this article shall be subject to a non-criminal disposition fine as <br />specified in G. L. Chapter 40 § 21D. The following penalties apply: <br /> <br /> First violation: Written warning <br /> Second violation: $150 fine <br /> Third and subsequent violations: $300 fine <br /> <br />Each day a violation continues constitutes a separate violation, incurring additional fines. Any such fines <br />collected shall be payable to the Town of Mashpee. <br />All businesses will be routinely inspected until the Town Manager deems the inspection to no longer be required, or <br />take any other action relating thereto. <br /> <br />Submitted by Petition <br /> <br />Explanation: Single-use plastic bottles impact environmental health, and the health and longevity of other species, <br />who may ingest plastic as food. Ultimately, plastic re-enters the human food chain where the adverse consequences <br />are both known and emerging. Plastics pollute and impact our environment across their lifecycle from production to <br />use to disposal. <br /> <br />Over 1,500 single-use plastic water bottles are used and discarded in the U.S. per second. Elimination of the use of <br />single-use plastic water bottles will have a significant impact on future plastic-based pollution including the nation’s <br />greenhouse gas footprint and is consistent with protection of the natural environment in Mashpee, Barnstable County, <br />our nation and our earth, which we have a common responsibility to protect and steward, or take any other action <br />relating thereto. <br /> <br />The Board of Selectmen recommends approval of Article 22 by a vote of 3-2 <br />The Finance Committee does not recommend approval of Article 22 by a vote of 4-2 <br /> <br /> <br />