Barnstable Wastewater Treatment Alternatives: We're all in this together

I'd like to thank Rob Anderson for presenting his Alternative Wastewater Plan for the Town of Barnstable yesterday. We enjoyed remarkably high readership and received some excellent comments.

In my humble opinion, this proposal is the most viable and sensible option on the table. If you have not had an opportunity to review this proposal, please click here.

The basic premise of this plan is that we're all in this together.

Water is a public resource and we all need to accept responsibility for how we use it, what we put in it and how we dispose of it. This means that we have to meter water usage town-wide and develop a fee structure for wastewater disposal which accurately reflects the cost of your waste on our aquifer.

For more on this, see Is Wastewater Billing Fair?

Another important point is that centralized wastewater treatment is not the only or most cost effective alternative.

We already have made significant investments in our existing Title V wastewater infrastructure. If we pool our resources and share responsibility for these decentralized resources, we can preserve the character of our town and enhance our water treatment capabilities at considerably less cost.

This would require all residents to join a wastewater district by deed giving the town access to and responsibility for the property’s wastewater system. Adoption of the wastewater district will be by popular vote after each resident has been properly notified of their rights and responsibilities.

All property owners in the town would be charged a one time $6,000 connection fee which will be assessed over three years to be reimbursed by a state tax credit. Some adjustment could be made for those who have already paid betterments to the town. Assuming that 25,000 - 27,000 properties are appropriately charged, as much as $162,000,000 could be raised to seed the district infrastructure.

In exchange for this payment, the town assumes responsibility for all wastewater treatment, testing, inspections, systems design and maintenance.

The town agrees to regulate chemical fertilizers so as to ease the burden on residents to comply with nutrient loading standards of the Mass Estuaries report. They will fund an aggressive storm-water runoff treatment program and they agree to implement alternative technologies when shown to be more cost effective. A series of pilot programs will be initiated to fully test and to encourage development of these resources.

Water users will be billed for wastewater disposal by the enterprise account whether or not they are connected to a centralized system.

Amounts will vary based on usage. It is expected that residential fees will be approximately $300 per year. Commercial accounts will be higher based on usage. This will raise approximately $9,000,000 to operate the system annually. These monies could also be available to finance the issuance of revenue bonds fund system build-outs as required.

There are various plans floating around town calling for a Proposition 2 1/2 override and/or a Water Authority to fund the creation of a monlithic centralized sewer processing system. None of those plans give you anything for the $300 a year you will be asked to pay toward this system.

This plan offers you a comprehensive wastwater treatment solution based on your water usage.

Whether or not you are connected to town sewer, your wastewater and your plant and equipment will be professionally managed. And, your neighbors won't be thrown out on the street because they can't afford the 100% betterment program favored by our town leaders.

Alternative Wastewater Plan for the Town of Barnstable

The following is a summary of Rob Anderson's proposal for a wastewater district to fund Barnstable's wastewater infrastructure.

Executive Summary

1. All residents agree to join a wastewater district by recording it onto their deed, giving the town access to and responsibility for the property’s wastewater system. Similar to a conservation restriction, this would be a free gift of land assets to the town.

2. All water accounts immediately begin to be billed wastewater rates by the enterprise account whether or not they are connected to the centralized system. This will raise approximately $9,000,000 to operate the system annually. Usage rates are based upon water consumption or by metered effluent pumps.

3. Zoning laws remain in effect in decentralized system areas.

4. Properties with private wells will be metered.

5. A one time $6,000 connection fee will be assessed over three years to be reimbursed by a state tax credit. This will raise $162,000,000 to seed the district infrastructure.

6. The town assumes responsibility for all wastewater treatment, testing, inspections and systems design and maintenance.

7. Homeowners who report failed systems to the town will have their system repaired, remediated, replaced, or, as a last resort, a centralized sewer connection will be provided as available at the expense of the district.

8. The town will maintain a centralized database with a complete inventory of system components, connections, flow rates, nutrient loads, costs, maintenance schedules and geographic features.

9. Data from this database will allow actual nutrient loading calculations for wastewater systems and should be integrated into the Mass Estuaries report with regards to setting standards for overall nutrient management.

10. Commercial accounts will be evaluated for waste strength and primary treatment options to enable compliance with waste strength standards will be the responsibility of the business owner.

11. New sewer accounts will be equipped by the developing party under the town’s guidance and then deeded over to the town to join the district.

12. Adoption of the wastewater district(s) will be by popular vote after each resident has had the opportunity to seek council and been informed of their rights and responsibilities. Property owners who do not respond within 180 days of being given certified notice will automatically be enrolled into the district.

13. The town will regulate chemical fertilizers so as to ease the burden on residents to comply with nutrient loading standards of the Mass Estuaries report.

14. The town will also fund an aggressive storm-water runoff treatment program and implement as roads are serviced. If utilities are added to the roads, all available services will be considered including but not limited to electric, gas, cable, internet, phone, fiber optic, potable water, irrigation only water, etc.

15. The town agrees to implement alternative technologies when shown to be more cost effective and to begin pilot programs to fully test and to encourage development of these resources.

Authored by: Rob Anderson
rw_anderson@comcast.net
Phone: 508-332-8134

Last laugh

We have a recount

It looks like our new Charter will give us one more laugh before a long, cold winter sets in.

"Former" transportation planner Jeffrey Wilkinson was able to collect the required signatures for a recount. I'm not sure how he managed this without a drivers license. I imagine that Greg Milne had to drive him around town.

The two reportedly met in a bar. Jeff has never read the charter, but Greg was able to convince him that it was really important for whatever reason.

Challenge this!

Linda Hutchinrider has invited an army of observers to the recount scheduled for Tuesday. There will be 20 ballot readers, two observers per reader, a panel of judges, a police officer, and another town clerk. When asked if she was partial to either charter, Linda reportedly said that it "makes absolutely no difference to her."

Beaty is BACK

Ron Beaty has taken to carrying Greg Milne's bags. In another letter to the editor, he wrote in part: "First, I would like to emphatically state that I am fully supportive of any and all transparently legitimate efforts to bring financial relief to the residents of the Hyannis Stewart’s Creek area regarding the potential 100 percent sewer betterments that they may be facing. On my own, I have also been working to try and mitigate this problem as well. However, as a student of public policy, I am also a stickler for accuracy when it comes to matters of civic and constitutional significance. There have been recent erroneous accusations which I personally feel need to be clarified and corrected regarding allegations of wrongdoing...blah, blah, blah."

Rob Sennott packs his bags

The publisher of the Barnstable Patriot, Rob Sennott, will be retiring at the end of the year. To his credit, he won't be moving to Georgia (and, may enter local politics).

Got sewage?

According to Ms. Barton, "we had better start taking our responsibilities to our sole source aquifer seriously and develop specific, regionalized, comprehensive wastewater plans, starting with the Town of Barnstable."

Ms. Barton goes on to say that "the simple fact is that sooner or later (even if you live in less populated areas of the town) everyone will need to be hooked up to a sewer system."

Gee, I thought there was no plan for town-wide sewer?

How would you like to get this letter in the mail?

I got involved in local politics a few years back when the Barnstable Town Council voted to strip the Hyannis Water Ratepayers of $10 million dollars worth of land for "the good of the town." I've seen my water rates go up 140% since that acquisition and I'm still waiting for all that goodness we were promised.

The sewer deal is going down the same way. This so-called sewer betterment is being shoved down the throats of innocent by-standers for "the good of the town.".

Read this letter, because if you live in West Hyannis, you are next. (Click on image to enlarge)

These idiots in Town Hall are shameless.

According to the "sewer blog" Denise Geoffrin is telling residents that if they don't sign this "irrevocable" permission they will have their road taken by eminent domain and it will cost them MORE money.

Denise said that she is having no difficulty getting folks to sign. No surprise there. She might was well be holding a gun to their heads.

Isn't that how business is done in that part of Hyannis?

Denise did say that the Board of Health may issue waivers/deferments for people who apply, depending on their circumstances. And, she confirmed that one home on Sea Street received a waiver for ten years before hooking up to sewer years ago.

Let me remind you that when the town proposed the DCPC for Craigville Beach, there were more lawyers than homeowners at Town Council. Do not sign this letter without legal advice.

This isn't a betterment notice. This is larceny

Arlington East on Cape Cod - October 14, 2006

The Cape Codders for Peace and Justice, Code Pink, and the Veterans for Peace installed the first Arlington East on Coast Guard Beach on the Cape Cod National Seashore in Eastham, MA a couple of years back.

See: http://www.massvfp.org

Veterans from the WW II. Korea, Viet Nam, Afghanistan, and Iraq wars came from all over the country to help us build this memorial for those who have died in the Iraq war.

Today, let us also remember peace.

What happens now?

The "sewer blog" is reporting that residents of Stewart's Creek have received notices in the mail from the Barnstable DPW asking for "irrevocable permission" to start construction of an unwanted and under financed sewer system.

Haven't they put the cart before the horse?

Up Stewart's Creek Without a Paddle said:

Surely, I can’t be the only one who received the letter dated 11/03, telling me to sign the enclosed “Request For The Construction Of A Sewer Main & Water” postcard, which “constitutes my irrevocable permission for the Department to enter upon said way for the purposes set forth” and return it within 7 days?

They don't waste much time sticking in the knife - now do they?

Scooby Doo said...

Well, I would not sign that paper for the sewer installation. It might better to just wait for a few weeks to see what transpires in town hall…

Rob Anderson has offered to present his plan to lower installation costs by 50% to area residents.

Rob Anderson said...

If I could offer a suggestion...

What needs to happen is a meeting of the affected residents. I would be more than happy to present a plan to save all of the homeowners at least 50% of their total cost and enable those who need to connect various options on doing so.

The Sewer "Queen" recommends that everyone in the affected area attend Greg Mline's coffer hour.

barnstablesewers said...

Mr. Milne has invited you to call him at 774-836-0960 or e-mail him at: milnecoffeehour@comcast.net.

Milne now claims that he wants “your input”. When Shirley Holmes of Woodbury Ave called him this summer he told her that his living room is not “information central”.

I agree that you shouldn't sign anything. Go to the meetings, listen and learn. You won't see a ground swell of homeowners who want to write the town a check for $22,500.

A neighbor of mine told me a story the other day about a resident on Sea Street who held off the DPW for nine years. He didn't connect to town sewer until his septic failed. When he did connect, the town waived all fines.

We'll have to ask Milton how he feels about this plan for "hardship" waivers.

What about a Barnstable Water Authority?

When I meet with Milton Berglund last Monday at the Paddock he told me that he supported the new Barnstable Charter. I thought he was daft. I never ever expected that Charter to pass.

Much to my surprise (and, everyone else's), we will have at-large representation on the Barnstable Town Council in just a few years. You see, folks like Berglund, who moved here from Pennsylvania, aren't village idiots. They are not especially enamored of the Klimm-mystic and they like to get the job done - and done right.

Isn't it funny how things change when you least expect them.

At our meeting Berglund pitched me on the idea for a cape-wide water authority. I explained to him that a cape-wide initiative would necessarily come into conflict with the Cape Cod Water Protection Collaborative and the Cape Cod Commission.

There are many, many problems with these "entities". For starters, the County Charter has never been ratified. This will necessarily impact their ability to issue any kind of debt. I also feel that the Cape Cod Commission is on probation with the voters in a half dozen communities. If they get too big for their britches, four or five communities (including Barnstable) could choose to withdraw.

I suggested that Mr. Berglund focus his proposal on Barnstable and invite other communities to join as they were able. On this point, we seem to have agreed.

Mr. Berglund has proposed a Barnstable Water Authority and I'd like to lend my support to his suggestion.


Here is a video clip of Berglund presenting his proposal courtesy of capaecog.com.

Berglund is proposing $10 to $15 million a year in "start-up" funding with 30-40% betterments to sewer the coastal areas of Barnstable.

Gary Lopez supports a $1 override to finance the "start-up" of the Barnstable Water Authority. A home valued at $300,000 with the residential exemption would pay approximately $200 per year for 35-40 years to finance a town sewer program at this rate.

I have found that community support for a sewer override is somewhat less than a dollar. I think that 35-45 cents is all folks will support. So, I would like to see spending cuts in Town Hall supplement this override. I'd like to see cuts in Growth Management, the Legal Department, and the schools to offset some of $1 override proposed by Lopez.

And, I'd like to add one additional "feature" to this program.

To build support for this program among in-land home owners, I'd like to suggest that the Barnstable Water Authority offer taxpayers "catastrophic" Title V insurance. With this offering homeowners who experience septic failure would receive a 60-70% reimbursement for the cost upgrading and/or replacing an existing septic. Paying $200 a year for this sort of insurance is a good deal.

If the Town Council proposed a mixture of spending cuts, replacement insurance for in-land septic systems with a request for an override to finance a Barnstable Sewer Authority, I think it would pass.

I hope you will support this proposal by Mr. Berglund.

Why do we need the Cape Cod Water Protection Collaborative?

BIG SEWER is wasting no time. With citizen groups in Chatham, Orleans, Falmouth and Barnstable on their heels, the Cape Cod Times presses forward with an editorial in support of the Cape Cod Water Protection Collaborative.

The Cape Cod Times wrote in part today:

Over the past year, some Cape towns have lost their bearing when it comes to focusing on the single-most important issue facing the region today: water protection.

And the greatest threat facing our drinking water, fresh water ponds, bays and coastal estuaries is excess nutrients from inadequately treated wastewater.

Most of our south-facing estuaries are already polluted with algae mats caused by nutrients from septic systems. Many of our ponds are similarly stressed.

And while the Conservation Law Foundation considers filing suit against the EPA for failing to enforce the Clean Water Act in Barnstable County, some Cape towns are dithering over unimportant issues that only serve to distract from the overall goal of protecting our water.

In Orleans, a group of residents are questioning the science compiled by the Massachusetts Estuaries Project, a program of the University of Massachusetts that has carefully collected unimpeachable water quality data for years.

In Falmouth, some citizens are promoting alternative on-site septic systems that are neither proven nor entirely effective.

In Barnstable, divisive debates over developing a fair way to pay for the cost of sewering neighborhoods around Lake Wequaquet and Stewarts Creek have set back water protection efforts in the Cape's largest town.

Taken together, these developments have detracted from the Cape Cod Water Protection Collaborative's efforts to promote a regional, watershed-based approach to protecting our water.

Every citizen, every finance committee member, every selectman needs to understand that if the Cape does not solve its wastewater problems as a region, if towns continue to erect parochial walls, fail to recognize that ground water knows no boundaries, and begin to take action soon, the EPA will soon be under court order to force the Cape to do what none of us wants: Build an overly large, extensive and expensive solution similar to what happened in Greater Boston.

The reality of the situation is that the Cape Cod Water Protection Collaborative has no more money than the citizens it wishes to tax to advance it's agenda for regional colaboration.

I have to tell you that I'm disgusted with the mediocrity of the debate offered by Paul Niedzwiecki.

To say that "ground water knows no boundaries" is absurd. We all know this. We also know that taxes have very specific boundaries and those boundaries do not include the County.

The Cape Cod Commission doesn't have the authority to levy taxes.

The stated goal of the Cape Cod Water Protection Collaborative was to attract State and Federal money "of a Biblical proportion."

See: A tin cup of biblical proportions

Unfortunately for Mr. Niedzwiecki his world wide search for suitable funding sources uncovered only one local candidate - your home. If this is the only source of funding which Mr. Niedzwiecki has available to him, perhaps his organization isn't suited to sewer my home.

Niedzwiecki doesn't operate a processing plant. Niedzwiecki doesn't have the land needed to build one. Niedzwiecki doesn't have an engineering department. Niedzwiecki doesn't even own a backhoe. And, he doesn't have the money to buy one.

What makes him think he is qualified to build a sewer system?

If we need to build sewers, let's start by settling on a plan to pay for them. The Cape Cod Water Protection Collaborative has failed to secure the funding they promised. So, I suggest that they step aside and let us sort it out.

If we need to borrow Niedzwiecki's backhoe, we'll give him a call.