12/14/2016 ENVIRONMENTAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE Minutes

Home Browse Search

The Conservation Agent recently submitted a grant to the State of Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife on the bog adjacent to Santuit Pond to restore this area back to waterfowl habitat. There was a discussion on the poor condition of the fish ladders at John's Pond. Diann Lund Memorial at John's Pond Park: Proposal Approved by BOS on 818116 and Update APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: July 13,2016 Motion: Andrew Gottlieb moved to approve the Minutes of July 13,2016, seconded by Mr. York, Vote unanimous 5-0 COMMUNICATIONS & CORRESPONDENCE: The Chair noted he has been in touch with the group called the Cape Environmental Action and they have been focusing on getting the plastic bag by-law passed and up to ten towns on the Cape have passed the by-law. They have been talking about focusing on banning styrofoam next. NEW BUSINESS Fertilizer Bylaw and MDAR Plant Nutrient Regulations; Discussion of Bylaw Revisions to Enhance Enforcement and to Include Phosphorus in Turf Fertilizers The Chair stated since March of 2015 he has made several attempts to meet with the Board of Health on the enforcement of the fertilizer by-law with no success. He suggested making a change to the by-law by adding more enforcement people to the by-law i.e. Conservation and Natural Resources. There was a discussion to remove the Board of Health from the by-law and add Conservation and the Department of Natural Resources as the enforcement agents which would have to be approved at town meeting. The Chair noted a number of towns are incorporating a phospeirous portion to their by-law and suggested adopting the State standards. He will consult with town counsel and report back to the members. ACTION ITEMS UPDATE Single Use Plastic Bag Ban Bylaw: Implications of bylaw change in bag thickness The Chair stated he sent an email to the members from Don Mallinson and didn't receive any feedback. Don suggests a 1.5 mil bag limit is too thin to be effective. The Chair asked the members if they wanted to attempt to amend Mashpee's Plastic Bag Bylaw to change the thickness. Following a discussion, it was agreed to let the by-law stand as is for now. Mashpee CWMP: Estuary Restoration/Shellfish Propagation; Update Rick York reported they have gone thru a successful year of implementation of shellfish. They had 2480 bags of oyster spat that went into the Mashpee River and are hoping to get one million oysters. With the tribes EPA grant,they created an acre of oyster reef in Shoestring Bay with 7