08/25/2025 SELECT BOARD Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Select Board August 25,2025 Minutes Roll Call Vote Selectwoman Wyman-Colombo-yes Selectman Weeden-yes Selectman Cotton-yes Selectwoman Kelley-Wilson-yes Selectman Richardson-yes Article 4 The Select Board held a comprehensive discussion on Article 4, which proposes a $25 million appropriation to fund the construction phase of a wastewater infrastructure project in the Mashpee-Wakeby Pond watershed. This initiative is part of a larger Capita I. Improvement Plan and leverages 0%financing through the State Revolving Fund (SRF). The appropriation would allow the Town to advance the project in Fiscal Year2026, ratherthan in a later phase, in orderto take advantage of favorable funding conditions and achieve Long-term environmentalgoals. Chair Wyman-Colombo provided background on the project, including past public presentations and the availability of location maps showing the lots north of Mashpee- Wakeby Pond. She emphasized that Town staff have made efforts to betransparent and that no attempt has been madeto mislead the public. She also explained that potential sites near Waquoit Baywere considered but ultimately ruled out due to increasingly strict EPA regulations and PFAS contamination. Additionally, locating a recharge site in the Waquoit Bay area would require the clearing of significant acreage, presenting a different set of environmental trade-offs. Wyman-Colombo stressed the need to make a balanced environmental decision, acknowledging that while the alum treatment currently being used to control nutrients is helpful, it is ultimately a temporary solution, and permanent infrastructure is needed to stop pollution at its source. Board members expressed a wide range of views. Selectman Weeden remarked on the difficulty of being placed in a situation where one must choose between protecting land and protecting water. He acknowledged that both sides had donetheir research and raised valid concerns. Selectman Richardson asked aboutthe possibilityof Sandwich participating in the project, to which Wyman-Colombo responded thatwhilethere had been conversations, there is no formal commitment yet. Communication with Sandwich's engineering company is expected to begin in the winter. Richardson added thatwhile he supports protecting land, he also recognizes thatwater quality is critical, and thatthis project requires the Town to 10