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Town of Mashpee Sewer Commission <br /> t <br /> 16 Great Neck Road North <br /> Mashpee, MA 02649 <br /> CHAIR REPORT <br /> Nothing new to discuss. <br /> WASTEWATER SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE <br /> Wastewater Superintendent's Report—Jared Meader <br /> The Wastewater Superintendent began his update by addressing billing.The first billing cycle, initially <br /> planned for October, will now be postponed until January. He explained that the delay is due to <br /> technical challenges coordinating between Munis and the third-party vendors responsible for printing <br /> and processing bills. Rather than risk errors, abatements, and corrections, he felt it was better to ensure <br /> the process works correctly before issuing bills. <br /> He emphasized that residents who are already connected will not receive retroactive bills.The first <br /> statement issued will cover only one quarter, even for households that may have already had six months <br /> of service. Billing will be on a quarterly basis, not monthly.The Superintendent added that, because the <br /> operating costs are fully subsidized by the town, delaying billing has no negative financial effect. After <br /> consulting with the Finance Director, it was agreed that accuracy and reliability outweigh the rush to <br /> meet the October timeline. <br /> He also introduced the topic of connection policy for Phase Two. During Phase One, a 90-day connection <br /> policy was necessary to start up the plant quickly. However, Phase Two will involve a much larger <br /> number of households, and enforcing the same short timeline would create significant bottlenecks. <br /> Since Phase One flows will already be sufficient to operate the plant,there is no technical need to <br /> impose a strict 90-day deadline for Phase Two.The superintendent proposed drafting a baseline policy <br /> with his recommendations, which the Commissioners could then review and adjust. <br /> Discussion on the 90-Day Connection Policy <br /> The Board discussed the application of the 90-day sewer connection policy. It was emphasized that the <br /> policy should remain in place but not be strictly enforced, since its original purpose was to ensure that <br /> the treatment plant became functional. Now that the plant is operational,the focus is on good faith <br /> efforts by homeowners rather than rigid deadlines. Concerns were raised that enforcing the rule in <br /> Phase 2 would create unrealistic expectations and foster inequities among residents. Maintaining the <br /> written policy while applying it flexibly was seen as the fairest approach, preventing disputes over <br /> differing treatment among homeowners. <br /> Communication and Enforcement Practices <br /> It was confirmed that no Phase One homeowners were penalized for failing to connect within 90 days. <br /> Warning letters were issued instead, requiring homeowners to communicate progress. Moving forward, <br /> communication and compliance will remain the focus, with enforcement revisited only if necessary. <br /> Board members agreed this approach balances fairness with operational efficiency. <br /> Treatment of New and Existing Septic Systems <br /> Attention turned to how to manage homeowners who recently installed septic systems, including Title V <br /> and IA(Innovative/Alternative) systems.The Board of Health had allowed flexibility in cases where <br /> systems were near failure and sewer expansion was imminent. Exceptions had also been made for <br /> homeowners seeking to build where sewer service would soon arrive. Mr. Meader strongly <br /> recommended that homeowners who invested heavily in IA systems be permitted to operate them for <br /> their expected lifespan, provided they maintain permits and O&M agreements and do not sell their <br />