1997-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commission sent out over 1000 informational packets tect land, wildlife habitat and water resources will be to citizens living on waterways leading to Popponesset severely compromised. and Waquoit Bay. These packets contained informa- tion on ways to minimize impacts which lead to poor It appears that a growing economy will continue water quality. We would especially like to thank with a resurgence of real estate transactions and home- Commissioner John Johansen for his spearheading and building. While benefiting some, more development organizing this effort. means greater threats to our water-quality and wildlife habitat. The failure to pass a Land Bank Bill will hurt. Commissioner Chuck Green serves as the The Commission strongly endorses another effort. Commission's representative to the Watershed Large segments of the Real Estate community Management Committee. We applaud them for their opposed the Land Bank because of alleged flaws in the work and for their role in bringing forth the study by funding mechanism. It is incumbent upon all parties, Dr. Brian Howes which began identifying the causes including those who financially benefit from develop- of deteriorating water quality and excessive algae ment, to work together to compose an equitably fund- growth in the Mashpee River. Much more work ed Land Bank bill that can pass. It has worked else- remains to be done.There is no time to waste,as nitro- where (for example, Martha's Vineyard and gen loads (causing the problems) are still worsening. Nantucket); it must be made to work here or the Even higher levels of nitrate are in groundwater that Mashpee we know and love will become only a mem- will (inevitably) enter the bay in future years. Hard ory! decisions will have to be made, some perhaps politi- cally difficult,if we eventually wish to halt the decline Finally, there are many to thank for their support of the Mashpee River and upper Popponesset Bay. and help. Virtually all departments in Town Hall have (The same holds true for Waquoit Bay!) We thank been of great help to us. It is unfortunate that few Chuck Green for his unwavering advocacy on behalf know how well Mashpee's Departments work togeth- !� of the River! er; it is not always so in other towns.To thank the var- ious Department Heads and staff would take up too The Commission was pleased this year to con- much space(and,undoubtedly,we'd forget a few).We tribute $35,000 toward the purchase of two new would, however, like to thank Steve Buss for all the parcels of Conservation Land, the Lopez property patience and expertise he's shown as all Town (15.2 acres on Meetinghouse Road) and the Besse- Department's have upgraded computer equipment and Ruff property (5.8 acres at the intersection of Route programs, as well as become networked. 130 and So. Sandwich Road).The Town also acquired a 47.1 acre parcel in the Bufflehead Bay area, an Finally, with unprecedented threats to our natural important part of the Mashpee National Wildlife resources and with Mashpee's development still ongo- refuge. Again, we would like to thank Selectman ing at an increased pace, the Commission can use all behalf on the Refuge in the help it'can get. If you have ideas, commitment, George Costa for his efforts on g general and the Bufflehead bay parcel in particular. energy,expertise and/or time,we can use your help for We would also like to thank Joseph Breen for his special projects or, when vacancies occur, as an pointed member. We invite you to attend a meeting donation of a 14.4 acre parcel(as open-space within a ap cluster subdivision) between Rt. 28 and the Quashnet and tell us of your interest! i River. It should be noted that significant portions of the IL money that the Conservation Commis-sion uses Report of the !I toward land purchases (and for improvement on exist- Council on Aging ing Conservation Lands) are derived from our Cranberry Bogs (part of the Johns Pond Park Conservation Lands). Revenues in future years should To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and be in excess of $100,000 annually. However, due to the Citizens of the Town of Mashpee: the EDB contamination emanating from the Mass Military reservation and surfacing within our The Council on Aging is pleased to submit their Quashnet Bogs, the berries are unmarketable. Though 1997 Annual Report. Congress appropriated monies to reimburse the town f t for the 1997 crop, as of this writing,we have no assur- The Council on Aging is the organized commitment ance of similar compensation for the 1998 crop. the people of Mashpee to coordinate and to carry Without future years compensation, as it looks like a by p P p long-term problem, the Commission's ability to pro- out Health, Welfare, Educational, Social and Recreational services and programs designed and j� 148