03/03/2022 BOARD OF HEALTH Minutes

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follow up with COVID guidance, if warranted., The contact tracing requirements have not changed. We will send out the guidance again if it is warranted. NEW BUSINESS 1® Review and Approval of Meeting Minutes—July 15, 2021, Regular Session The minutes for the July 15, 2022 meeting was unanimously approved with Kripani Patel making the motion to accept the minutes as provided with Brian Baumgaertal seconding. Roll Call Vote: Kripani Patel (yes), Brian Baumgaertel (yes)VOTE: unanimous (2-0) 2® Review and Approval of Expense Warrants No warrants for approval 3. Discussion of Comprehensive Nutrient Management Strategy and Proposed Regulation Considering all that residents have endured over the past two years and everything we are working collectively to accomplish as a Town, it is difficult to understand why you would want to impose such a costly home repair/upgrade with such a broad stroke, and without a certified funding mechanism and process in place to assist those who cannot afford it. This regulation, as proposed,will create yet another obstacle to young and middle-to-low income families who are struggling to meet the rising costs of living and homeownership on Cape Cod. What is even more concerning is the urgency with which you appear to want to effect this drastic change that will impact thousands of residents, without fully vetting and disseminating this information. It is imperative that the public have adequate time and opportunity to ask questions and comment on this, and to fully understand its broad implications, prior to any deliberation or vote by the Board. It is easy for those of us who are comfortable or well-off to defend a regulation like this based on its broader environmental benefits, but it is not so easy for the fragile population of elderly and working- class citizens,whose budgets are already stretched. Access to loans is not going to help residents who are unable to pay those loans back. This will leave a portion of homeowners with a debt they cannot afford, forcing some to relocate and others to foreclose. The USDA 504 Program AND the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act have the same eligibility criterla, which is an income below 50% of the area median income. For Barnstable County and Mashipee, that means that a four-member household with an adjusted annual income of$48,600 may qualify for loans and/or grants. Households where a member meets the age requirement of 62+ are eligible for grants. We should be asking ourselves what family of four, with an income of$50K, $60K or even $70K, is making it on Cape Cod to the extent that they can afford this additional expense. Property values are currently very high, but the market will eventually stabilize and, if values plummet, many residents who paid top dollar for their homes will be underwater, while others will have to foot the bill for an I/A system out of their meager proceeds when they sell. Furthermore, this is a one-two punch to residents in Phases 3-5, who will shoulder part of the cost of sewer, in addition to the cost of upgrading to an I/A system, Residents in Phases 1 & 2 will benefit from sewer that is partially paid for by residents who, may never benefit, but who will be saddled with the immediate and ongoing cost of an l/A system. The comprehensive plan should include the allocation of funds to cover costs associated with the installation of I/A systems in Phases 3-5, the same as funds are being allocated for the sewer portion of the plan. Anything less would be unfair and unbalanced. Not everyone in Mashpee is environmentally conscious, not everyone came to Town Meeting to support sewers, and not everyone understands I/A systems or believes in the efficacy of those technologies. Some residents are busy trying to make ends meet; but like you, those people call Mashpee their home, and it