HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-06-14
II
BOARD OF HEALTH/BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
The Minutes of the Meeting of Wednesday June 14, 1989 at 7:30 PM. The meeting
took place in the Selectmen's Hearing Room, Town & County Building, Nantucket,
MA 02554. All members of the Board were present. Chairman Sevrens called
the meeting to order at 7:31 PM.
Sewer Policy: DPW Superintendent Jeff Willett and Sewer Project Advisor Norman
Lanman recommended that the policy decision be deferred for one week to allow
the Town the opportunity to meet with the State to continue to clarify ambigui-
ties. He said that a meeting had tentatively been scheduled for Monday. Execu-
tive Secretary Lee Bourgoin said that copies of the DEQE order had been given
to the public. Richard Glidden asked who was meeting with the DEQE. Mr.
Bourgoin said that Town officials were conducting the negotiations which were
not public. Kevin Dale expressed concern about the fair allocation of permits
for whatever limited capacity may be available. He suggested that Mr. Lanman
and Supt. Willett focus on the problems of individual lot owners and affordable
housing. Bruce Poor asked if concerned citizens could meet with Supt. Willett
and Mr. Lanman before the meeting with the DEQE. He suggested that temporary
septic systems be allowed until sewer hook-ups are permitted. It was announced
that a meeting of the interested public with Mr. Lanman and Supt. Willett
would be held the next day at 2:00 PM in the Selectmen's Hearing Room.
Chairman Sevrens said that Town Counsel had some questions about the consent
order. Mr. Lanman said that the prospective meeting with DEQE had not been
confirmed. Mr. Viera said he was concerned about the economic effect on Nantucket
if building is stopped completely. He moved to defer the policy statement;
seconded by Ms. Coombs. So voted.
Announcement: Change of Operating Procedure at the DPW Landfill: Supt. Willett
said that the packer had been taken out of service because it was unsafe.
He said this was causing inconvenience to users of the landfill and a heavy
burden on the DPW. He said that he would have to meet with the Finance Committee
to solve the problem. Mr. Ramos said that people should obey the DPW instruc-
tions not to use the packer. Ms. Coombs moved directing Supt. Willett and
the Finance Committee to meet and come up with a solution to the problem; seconded
by Mr. Viera. So voted.
Supt. Willett said that there was a drainage problem on Pleasant Street and
the property owner was reluctant to grant an easement. He said that if the
Town invested $20,000 for drainage improvement without the easement, the owner
could ask to have the improvements removed. He said that alternatives would
!be more expensive. Chairman Sevrens suggested that Supt. Willett explore
,the various alternatives and report back to the Selectmen.
~r. Ramos left the meeting at 7:57 PM, explaining that he was doing so to
lavoid possible conflict of interest in the following discussion and pointing
~ut that he had abstained from voting when the subject was discussed the previous
eek and would not speak on the subject.
Discussion was opened of Cobblestone Village. Mr. Viera read a letter from
Neil Murphy. Mr. Murphy explained the history of the problem and said that
Ithe owners were not in agreement with Health Inspector Richard Ray's recommend-
lation. He said the project would include 15 bedrooms with an anticipated flow
lof 1,640 gallons per day. He said that the Planning Board had approved an
ilincrease in flow to 1,765 gpd and that this was in accord with title 5. He
said that no growth was planned until a sewer tie-in became available. He
isaid the nitrate concentration would be insignificant and said that Planner
iBrian Wiese had concurred in this conclusion. He asked the Board to reconsider
iMr. Ray's recommendation with regard to item B, suggesting instead that 1)
Ithe trenches should stay the same; 2) rather than dig out septic, concrete
lup boxes; and 3) the clay layer will do nothing to retard nitrates.
IMr. Ray said that that the original plan for 2,700 gpd had been scaled down.
IHe said that with the new figures, additional gallonage could not be added
until sewer service becomes available. He said he was comfortable with the
clay layer. He agreed that the nitrate loading would be inconsequential and
'said that Weston & Sampson also agreed. He said that agreement had been reached
and that the Board of Health would not be compromising its standards by agreeing
to the proposal. Mr. Viera asked how shallow the trenches should be.
I'
Minutes of the Meeting of June 14, 1989 at 7:30 PM.
Page II.
Mr. Ray said they would be 8 feet below grade, rather than 4 feet. Mr. Viera
asked about additional space. Mr. Ray said that Cobblestone Village could
not expand without coming before the Board of Health. Mr. Murphy explained
the plan for Cobblestone Village, saying that no restaurants or laundromats
would be allowed until the sewer connection was approved. Mr. Ray said he
,would not want to see automatic photo service. Mr. Murphy said that the clay
layer would retard pathogens, not nitrates. Mr. Ray said Weston & Sampson
has confirmed that there would be no problem to the groundwater. Linda Holland
asked what size the lots would be. Mr. Murphy said 84,000 square feet. Ms.
Holland said that a recent study by Perkins-Jordan had recommended only one
dwelling per 50,000 square feet. She said that the situation needed more analysis.
Mr. Ray said that representatives from Weston & Sampson would be on Nantucket
at the end of the week for consultation. Mr. Viera moved tabling the questions
raised by Cobblestone Village for one week; seconded by Mr. McLaughlin. So
voted.
Stephen Bender said that First Winthrop would be renting space to large cruise
vessels again this year and asked what plans had been made to deal with effluent
Mr. Ramos rejoined the meeting at 8:20 PM.
Mr. Ray said that he had pursued the question of large vessel effluent with
the DEQE Division of Water Pollution Control. He said the DWPC had said no
enforcement was anticipated and the initiative rested with the local Board
of Health. He said dumping of effluent was locally prohibited but that there
was no enforcement. He said that money for a boat in which to patrol the harbor
had been turned down and there was a lack of sufficient manpower to maintain
a 24 hour per day presence. Mr. Viera asked if the marina paid a licensing
fee. Mr. Ramos said he thought not. Mr. Viera suggested that a licensing
fee could be used to fund the needed manpower. Mr. Ray said that fining of
individuals would be enforceable. Ms. Coombs asked whether Mr. LaHaye could
provide some enforcement assistance. Mr. Ray said that it could be discussed
with Mr. LaHaye but that his powers might be limited to state regulations which
are not as strict as the local regulations. Ms. Coombs asked if the Marine
Department wardens could patrol the harbor. Mr. Ray said that the Town only
owns one boat. He said an education program was also necessary. He said that
there was a project underway to provide pump-out facilities at the Town Pier.
Town Clerk Joanne Holdgate suggested having Mr. Bassett come in and discuss
boat basin priorities with the Board. Mr. Viera read a letter from Mr. Bassett
offering pump-out service if town employees are available to help with staffing.
The letter said that the service would cost $12 per pump-out if Mr. Bassett
provided the staff. Mr. Ray said that the pump station staff could gather
useful information for the Board of Health. He said that there was no money
in his department's budget for such personnel. He said that it would cost
about $7,000 for a summer employee to work 5 days a week. Mr. Ray said that
more people would participate if the service were free than if it were $12.
Ms. Coombs said that such money would be well spent, but that this did not
address the question of rented moorings. She said the Board needed to know
whether First Winthrop's sewer permit was for sufficient capacity to cover
their mooring customers. Mr. Bourgoin said there was no source for funds for
such staff. He said that it would be unusual for town employees to assist
a private sector business. He said a better option might be for the Town to
pay half the cost. Mr. Viera said that the issue was important and that it
was not appropriate for the Town to provide employees to a private business.
He said that it would be more appropriate for a licensing fee to be charged.
Mr. Bender asked about the capacity of the large cruise ships and whether the
present pump-out facilities were sufficient. Mr. Ray said that he had conducted
research through the winter with Mr. Bassett and owners of large boats.
Mr. Viera moved to direct Executive Secretary Lee Bourgoin to gather and compile
information on the boat basin and sewage disposal plans; seconded by Mr. Ramos.
So voted by 3 to 0 with Mr. McLaughlin abstaining.
There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned
at 8:55 PM to reopen as the Board of Selectmen.
Submitted for approval the \r~day of
it"
Approved the/;l day of July 1989.
Ju~_ 19
~ioUr-gOin
Executive Sec
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