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BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes of the Meeting of 15 March 2011. The meeting took place in the Public Safety Facility Training Room, 4 Fairgrounds Road, Nantucket, MA 02554. Members of the Board present were Rick Atherton, Michael Kopko, Patricia Roggeveen, and Whiting Willauer. Absent was Mr. DeCosta. Chairman Atherton called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM. I. University of Massachusetts Dartmouth SMAST (School of Marine Science and Technology) Madaket and Long Pond Estuaries Report Presentation. Richard Ray, Board of Health Director, and Dave Fronzuto, Harbormaster, introduced the SMAST Team Leader, Brain Howes. Mr. Howes stated this meeting is sort of a “cliff notes” version of the public meeting to be held at 6:00 PM. Madaket Harbor/Long Pond falls under the MA Estuaries Project which is a partnership between DEP/EOEA, SMAST, SEMASS Municipalities, etc. and it purpose is to develop nitrogen thresholds and target wads for embayment of southeastern Massachusetts. Regulatory framework falls under the Federal Clean Water Act. The Town was an early partner with MA Estuaries Project and the following have been completed: Nantucket Harbor, Sesachacha, Madaket Harbor and Long Pond. Hummock Pond is pending. There has been over fertilization resulting in declining health in Madaket and Long Pond. Mr. Howes stated that SMAST has reviewed the embayment modeling approach used for MEP, the Madaket/Long Pond Estuaries System, the nutrient related water quality monitoring 2002-2004, and the watershed nutrient loading into estuary and the sources of nitrogen, wastewater, fertilizers, agriculture, impermeable surfaces, landfill, natural area, atmosphere. Mr. Howes stated that nitrogen loading gets higher in Hither Creek, Madaket ditch, North Long Pond, and Long Pond. Madaket does have healthy environments. The outer harbor is in good shape, good eel grass and good oxygen. Hither Creek does not have as many healthy environments. There is an extensive loss of eel grass causing low oxygen and animals living there are heavily impacted. There is a low number of species. Madaket Harbor has no impairment and is a high quality environment. Hither Creek is significantly impaired no matter which criterial you look at with loss of eel grass and low number of animals. Long Pond is not significantly impaired, it is high productive with animals living there. The landfill represents 2/3 of watershed load to Long Pond. We need to worry about wastewater in Hither Creek and the main Madaket area. The good news is most areas do not require any improvements for septic. Mr. Howes answered questions from the Board regarding tight tanks and septic. Dave from DEP also answered questions regarding regulatory issues. Mr. Atherton stated the need to develop a comprehensive plan to get this done in terms of fixing issues with wastewater/septic to reduce existing total watershed load. Madaket residents are nervous about the price tag of wastewater plant in Madaket. A discussion was held. Mr. Howes stated the next step is to start talking to wastewater engineers to find best, cheapest route to move forward regarding area to bring sewer in. 6:03 PM Mr. Kopko left the meeting. Mr. Howes stated the long term plan for landfill should close off. Mr. Howes answered questions from the Board. The meeting was adjourned at 6:09 PM. Approved the 8th day of March, 2017.
BOARD OF SELECTMEN MARCH 15 2011 – 5:00 PM PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY COMMUNITY ROOM 4 FAIRGROUNDS ROAD, NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS List of documents used at the meeting: None.