2026-09-30 - Board of Regional Commissioners Mashpee Meeting

01:59And uh we are excited to be here today. With me

02:06Alliance. She's in traffic. She's coming here

02:12Uh but she did send us a text message and

02:20uh, I'm going to do that with a call

02:23uh, uh, uh, Commissioner Bergstrom and I, uh,

02:30I'm going to, we have a quorum of the MASHP board.

02:35uh, to, uh, invite them to call this to order for

02:41agenda. Follow after that will be a introductions

02:47I'm going to turn it over to the chairman. Just

02:52mastery to our order. And we have a we also have

03:01so now I'd like to ask everyone here

03:07pledge allegiance. United States of America.

03:17indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

03:25The next item on our agenda is uh I'm going to ask

03:34uh to reflect on the the bravery and the

03:39lives on the line and continue to put their

03:58Thank you. The next item on our agenda is

04:07uh we're excited to be here in Nashville

04:10for public comments. If there's anybody in the

04:17and make a statement, make an observation, make an

04:24Well, that was pretty easy. Um, I don't see

04:29comments? Okay, just to be clear, um, what I'd

04:37the agenda is I'd like to just make sure that, uh,

04:43I'd like everybody from the uh, the county,

04:48I'd like the county folks to raise their hands

04:53we have Robin Young, uh, the county clerk over

05:02Paul,

05:06Brian,

05:10Jerry.

05:23That's great. Christie, Aaron,

05:32that's great. Thank you all for being here.

05:37if there are folks here from the town of Ashby

05:42Um, I'm John Cotton. I'm the chair of the

05:48Rodney Collins. Um, and actually you can introduce

05:56vice chair, MASHB select board. Michaela Wyman,

06:02here. And we have a delegate. And we also have

06:13Why are you wearing two hats?

06:21Um, that's great. We've also got the town planner

06:26here and the wastewater superintendent

06:39Wayne

06:43school.

06:49Oh, we do have some public schools. Really?

06:57Thank you for being here. And and

07:03the Conservation Commission

07:14That's great. Thank you all and uh thanks to um

07:21everybody here has been incredibly supportive

07:26us today. Um the county commissioners have

07:33select boards and management from all the Cape

07:40We're working on the other half now. And uh the

07:45They really have. We've been getting a lot

07:50the services that um some towns would like to

07:57uh the work that we do is um obviously very

08:03services to the towns. Some of our departments

08:07we're doing that are not that well known. So this

08:13directly on the kind how we're doing and where we

08:21in our meetings, we've had a number of topics

08:28into this conversation with the MASHBY select

08:34uh go through the list of topics that we would

08:39after we go through these these topics and get

08:45um feel free to put you know, it's it's wide open.

08:51uh is is fair game and open for discussion.

08:58Thank you. Uh and I will take it from here

09:06uh that I'm going to have to find. Um, I will uh

09:14uh uh basically a list of county services. Um

09:23you'll be happy to know I'm not going to go over

09:30uh want to highlight a number of areas where where

09:37helpful. And I don't think this is going

09:42but I I do think uh it's worth uh going over

09:48uh know uh what kind of services the county

09:55Cod region. So I will get myself on your on your

10:18going to get there shortly. While I'm

10:25um that you notice uh of particular interest

10:31um and you want more information about

10:35Um easily easily found um uh off of the um

10:45uh or to uh email me or message me and

10:56Apologies. It's giving me a whole different kind

11:05County, as you know, been providing regional

11:10since 1685. I'm not going to go back to 1685 to

11:17since 1685 we expanded the number of towns. That's

11:23four or five towns. Now we've obviously got 15

11:30you obviously a basic introduction. I'm Michael

11:34on board for uh just short of two years now. Um,

11:40me as as I hope this session is going to be for

11:46outline the county services as I mentioned that

11:51to the region. Uh, I want to cherrypick items off

11:58I'm going to talk a little bit about the work that

12:03our finance department and our finance director

12:09lottery and and what that lottery translates to in

12:16just a brief update on the upcoming elected

12:23then obviously uh any questions and answers

12:28uh or deflect them as the case may be. Um so

12:35charter is here to provide the services and the

12:42effectively handled on a regional basis uh and

12:48a per town basis. That's really our core mission.

12:55know the Barnstable County dredge department. I

13:01than we've spent almost anywhere. Uh but it was

13:08helps us uh helps us obviously on the financial

13:14uh the town um you know both from a na navigable

13:22environmental uh reasons as well. So, our our

13:27really focused on navigable waterways and we do we

13:33most uh of the the state and federal funding comes

13:39we do. Um over the last couple of years, we've

13:45um not only are we looking at navigable waterways,

13:52We're looking at habitat restoration uh as well

13:58the the and for those that don't know, almost

14:04of of our dredge program get reused. They get

14:09uh turned into dune systems um and and there's uh

14:17uh and more intense storms. So so the dredge um

14:23services that we offer uh to the towns. 14 of the

14:31are hoping to expand that um expand that service

14:39the extent that that's needed. We're looking

14:42to do smaller uh jobs more effectively without

14:50uh associated with our larger dredges. Um, I want

14:58going to take two two of the um divisions uh away

15:04about them separately. Uh the county water lab is

15:10we do all kinds of uh testing for your public

15:16if not all of the public water supplies on the

15:23towns obviously and the water districts want to

15:27tap is as clean as possible and so we do a lot

15:34year to make sure the public water supplies uh

15:40people don't know is we also provide services uh

15:47are are curious to know what's in their water

15:53on their property and up into into their tab. So

16:02We also provide uh services PAS testing services

16:09a half or so uh we have ramped that up. So people

16:15in particular um we do uh we do test for that

16:24uh who are private homeowners. Um, but not only

16:30a water specific lab. So, so, um, somebody a

16:36any blood testing. Um, we don't do it on purpose.

16:44uh, test water quality, your beach water quality.

16:50uh, when when the beaches get closed down, it's

16:56because there's something in that water that

17:00One of the things we uh improved this year is our

17:06turnaround to retest. So when we retest those uh

17:13and you can open up those those beaches uh much

17:19Um and then finally, uh I believe we test just

17:28and uh that involves uh regular testing uh through

17:37want to make sure that the leech that's coming off

17:44are not uh affecting the drinking water uh in

17:53so I I'll talk a little bit about the clean water

17:58health and environment. Uh clean water center

18:07something like that. Um well, you're talking about

18:12Center. I was getting to that. Exactly. That's

18:17Exactly. The clean water center we just kicked

18:23expanding a whole array of clean water services

18:29to be led by Brian Bombgard, a familiar face

18:36the board of health. I bet you do. We're not going

18:47uh the mass test center uh mass TC uh was uh has

18:56year we we um sort of named that site and the and

19:04the clean water center which reflects really the

19:09make sure that we can do as much as we can to uh

19:17nitrogen, you know, the standard uh things

19:22uh phosphorus reduction, um and and now now

19:28plastics and and so forth. So, uh Brian's shop uh

19:35successful in terms of uh getting grant funding to

19:42studying. Uh most recently a case foundation grant

19:52um that um that can be used not only in uh in

19:59countries uh but but here at home as well. So

20:05uh that Brian's work uh Brian shop is uh is doing

20:13Um, and as as uh you probably know, uh there's a

20:22require special technologies. They require special

20:28So Brian's uh Brian's shop is is really working on

20:36those uh services uh so that uh so that people

20:42septic systems uh can be assured that they

20:48uh appropriately. Uh so the Cape Cod Aqua Fund

20:54It's essentially a regional uh replacement for

21:00the old title 5 uh septic loan program. The uh

21:09residents in order to tie into sewer systems. Uh

21:16septic systems. uh and those loan pro programs

21:23of the towns I think most of the towns are looking

21:31upgrades or or implementation of sewer systems. So

21:37residents uh all over the Cape uh right now. Um

21:45u tracking um as well. Human services um we

21:54uh funnels behavioral health funding, housing and

22:01and abuse funding, substance abuse and prevention

22:08throughout the Cape. So, so we're a centralized

22:14state funds and we funnel those funds uh out

22:21uh throughout the Cape. I do want to point out one

22:28that are run out of human services. One is the

22:34MASHB participates. Um I think back uh several

22:40under re recognized that there really wasn't a

22:51uh on 40B projects specifically but just regional

22:56needs. And so, uh, they stood up a program,

23:02uh, using some ARPA funding to see to test to

23:07uh, needed and and could use. And so, I'm happy to

23:14towns on the Cape participating in that program.

23:20that the towns couldn't otherwise provide at

23:27uh to the towns. And so that's been particularly

23:33we've received uh throughout uh throughout the

23:39also the Shine program. Shine program is uh a

23:48program that that advises uh most mostly Medicare

23:57uh under the Medicare program but also under just

24:04is our human services um our natural resource uh

24:13our cooperative extension. It it's effectively

24:18county. Uh all of the household hazardous waste uh

24:25through your local DPWs, uh are really um funded

24:35uh participates in that. Carrie's in the audience

24:40that and uh and other and many other things as

24:48shellfish propagation programs that that are of

24:53Americanore program. I think you've heard quite a

24:5918 to 20 um younger folks. They don't have to

25:05uh and they provide uh a lot of services both

25:12they help with h our hazardous waste uh program.

25:19um uh chores. Um so they're they're really

25:28uh have and Mash is a participant in this

25:34because you are a participant in that program and

25:40uh your residents uh the ones that require flood

25:48premiums on their their flood insurance programs.

25:54also uh have a food access program. In fact, um,

26:03all of the most of the food access organizations

26:09uh, the commissioners have decided to, uh, stand

26:15October 26, which is a Monday, um, bringing

26:24organizations as well as county staff in in order

26:30those organizations can better work together. Um

26:36is to bring organizations together to see if there

26:42um can provide uh sort of value added in terms of

26:49um or or other grant funding um that that may help

26:56those organizations do on the Cape. Um we offer

27:05do that program uh for Barnstable County. Um and

27:12which I know uh this board probably knows a fair

27:16of years to try to get um stand up a a composting

27:26now uh working with the military to finalize

27:33property on on the base. Um we are doing this

27:40process going on with mass development on on the

27:48take the composting initiative out of that master

27:55can accelerate uh the composting initiative

28:03process that mass development is doing right now.

28:12um health and environment. Uh Jay's department,

28:18health and safety. So, a lot of your DPWs use our

28:26um which uh which flows through uh the county. We

28:34through COVID on the Cape knows uh what kind of

28:40important that is to the region. Um and we also

28:46um which is the a group of 12 of the 15 towns um

28:54grant which the focus of which is to really uh

29:00do things on a regional basis which make sense

29:05health. Um, and finally, um, happy to announce

29:12uh, who has hit the ground running. Uh, so we will

29:18uh, data as it pertains to the county, whether

29:25and so forth. So, uh, developing a lot of data

29:31about how the county can be most effective,

29:36resolve and and help in some of those areas. Um,

29:45that was established back in 1979 to better, uh,

29:52to the member towns, the 15 towns on the Cape. Uh

29:57and services. Uh and for county departments, it's

30:05with a procure any procurement system has, you

30:10time. You can't just go out and go down the street

30:15you need. Uh but sometimes you can. Um but it the

30:24towns and uh we do a number of of group uh

30:32uh things that you would uh that you would have to

30:40uh you know chemical purchases, golf course uh

30:47but but also uh road repairs, sidewalk creation,

30:54uh of uh the pre the procurement department at

31:02we've won the excellence in procurement, which is

31:10Um it just shows the level of expertise that we've

31:16Um we have also sponsored uh inspector general

31:25agents which has been quite effective. And

31:30uh an energy purchasing program uh which brings on

31:38uh bid timing and and bid specs uh for our energy

31:46or anybody that gets gas knows that right now um

31:53um that that I think it's really appropriate for

31:59know uh we can be assured that we're getting uh

32:08So just to recap, um we obviously provide a wide

32:15sides of this piece of paper, and I apologize

32:21make it many pages uh because our purchasing

32:27Um but we are always always willing to discuss

32:34out earlier uh one of the things that we've heard

32:41need for uh purchasing help. Um, we've heard the

32:50um uh for for seasonal um under the seasonal

32:58different sort of one-off issues that that our

33:03so I think as as we move forward through

33:09uh we'll continue to hear hopefully from you

33:14uh towns need help. Um and we're happy to have

33:20are always willing to to have a discussion about

33:25Michael, for for just a moment. Um,

33:29we've been spending a lot of time and energy on

33:33that we've been getting is that it's been

33:38uh the issues that always come up and sort of trip

33:44that we didn't talk about is is that we have been

33:50role in helping municipalities get through the

33:58very engaging. Every year we do a dredging summit

34:03if there are ways to streamline the permitting

34:09summit coming up. Have we picked a date yet for

34:14yeah, in which not only do we bring the regulatory

34:21elected officials. We invite the cape legislators

34:26times we need their help in expediting permits.

34:33for the dredge department and I know in almost

34:38are in charge of dredging. So let's just talk

34:44uh when we were in Yarmouth we were actually asked

34:49material which we hadn't heard about before. So,

34:54on a pilot project to use dredge material as part

35:00working on. So, um yeah, I know we've been very

35:06but feel free to tell us whether or not you

35:10the potential to expand or grow. And if you see um

35:19heard reports that there's going to be a need in

35:24dredging that might need to be done as part of a

35:32uh we did not have really issues uh relative to

35:40uh regarding scheduling and availability

35:45get the job done. Um to my knowledge that has

35:54then I'm usually hearing about it and because

35:58everything is going smooth. Good. So, I think

36:05one of the areas where we've done a lot of work is

36:10regulators, as as chair points out, trying to get

36:15can have very open and free flowing conversation.

36:21know that there are constraints uh mostly around

36:28and the state level and so that affects the timing

36:35regulators understand that that there's a really

36:42start the process and make sure it continues. um

36:48desk and just you know people throw their hands

36:55masters you know in in a maybe a secudous way

37:01is has been very helpful um and and we've heard

37:08as well as uh as well as the the I think the

37:14recently and um I certainly would not blame the

37:23one of the things that we've been talking about,

37:27conversation. We've been talking about do we need

37:35like a permit ombbudzman because right now as

37:42he works like 24/7 and so he he's the one taking

37:49the taking the lead on coordinating the moving

37:53helping move the equipment. Um so we've had uh

37:58could provide more help to the towns and one of

38:04to indeed do that. Commissioner B. Yeah. Just you

38:09dredging. We've been doing it for for 300 years

38:17the county can provide is being a collective

38:22In other words, rather having each town call

38:26relieve us from the time of year closures. We

38:33you know, limit some of these closures." I mean,

38:38have changed. Actually, the horseshoe crabs doing

38:42channel. They're out in the beach. And the same

38:46to rub together in a long time. But no, I mean we

38:52to get relief. We have to have collective relief

38:57And I think that's something that the county can

39:03and and ask for uh more time to dredge because

39:09that's that's uh you know, absolutely where I

39:14I think one of the things that we've offered to

39:20more precise monitoring. Um and we are absolutely

39:27crabs, flounder piping clovers. I mean that that's

39:34clovers. So we don't you know we don't we're not

39:38restrictions. What we are in the business of

39:43uh trying to trying to more precisely um define

39:50time of year restriction that just says no can't,

39:54want to make sure that the technology is on the

39:59and know exactly what's there before we start uh

40:05program. So recently uh we were granted a waiver

40:12but wait, there is more. Um, we were granted a

40:20of that deal was we were going to we were going to

40:26to develop uh data uh for marine fisheries for you

40:32absolutely committed to that. It's all about, you

40:38building a level of trust uh with the regulators

40:42business of trying to do something uh that's

40:48So, um if the chair is going to permit, I do want

40:54one observation and but I'd also like to give uh

41:00no, you go right ahead. the um you should be

41:07state legislators about the needs for dredging. um

41:15that there were no dredging funds available for

41:22uh ef put put together a pretty rigorous effort

41:28uh for dredging. And uh in August we were

41:35Council uh made available uh set up a a a dredging

41:44deadline for that I believe was September 17th.

41:51on the Cape have submitted applications. I think

41:56for for many of our communities with state

42:04um help from the state in almost any area is

42:10dredging program could be devastating for some

42:15they're dredging in Chadam every year and MASHP

42:20MASHP as well. So, that's something that we've

42:26uh your harbor masters, your marine personnel,

42:33for funding. So, that should not go unnoticed.

42:41shifting gears a little bit. One of the things

42:46uh, research and, uh, and advocacy, uh, on Beacon

42:53one of those issues is local aid. So everybody

43:00assistance UGGA uh for those that uh look at

43:07money that's uh generated through mostly through

43:13local communities. So, you'd like to think that

43:18um of of local aid across the state and and what

43:27some rationale to it about 30 40 years ago uh

43:33not a whole lot of rational uh rationality to it

43:40uh, local aid dollars generated by lottery and

43:47um, Cape Cod, if you look at the Cape Cod, the

43:53$231 million a year in lottery revenue. Just

44:05uh and in FY25 collectively all 15 towns

44:13over $12 million. Not not a lot. Now that's un

44:19obviously nobody's going to play the lottery

44:23So out of that 231 million comes the winnings

44:32revenues need to be distributed back uh to the

44:38have to be distributed to the lottery winners. Um

44:46of the the general revenues from the lottery can

44:54the good news is that it's really only about

45:01the lottery. That's really good. You know that's

45:06unfortunately when you when you go through all the

45:15uh are available for local distribution and that'd

45:23great um but we don't. So we get about five.2 two

45:32our report. And I think there are reports floating

45:36the detail. Um, but uh but that's all we get. We

45:44what we send up to Boston. We only get about 5%

45:52uh you're even lower. You get about 3.2% 2% uh on

45:59to the lottery uh system. So um so in FY25, MASHP

46:11received from that 453,000. And there are other

46:18or four times as much money back. Absolutely. So

46:26pick I'll pick on Churo. For some reason Turo gets

46:32know average that should be distributed but u but

46:39you know 15%. I guess they can you know high five

46:47game or something. But I will point out Senator Go

46:54the state state just decides the state system

47:01Senator Fernandez, the good thing is is that

47:05a reform proposal adopted in the Senate budget.

47:12language to reform this to set up a commission to

47:19was stripped out of the final budget negotiate.

47:27has promised to advocate for reform. Again, we're

47:34when, as you know, the legislators come before all

47:41I think we're recommending that you keep this

47:47in to meet with you to go over their agenda. As

47:52but once members are sworn in, once January comes

47:57January and February. And our recommendation

48:04you know, high on your list of items to

48:10we we as commissioners had Senator Fernandez come

48:16was making out in getting reform adopted. He he

48:24in the politics of the the budgetary process,

48:30they were opposed on the house. If I could just

48:36which is my town, and we did vote to send a

48:42they need to hear from us, not just um our

48:48from us. and then you know everyone else up there

48:55eventually penetrate that this might be something

49:03where people come from where and that money is

49:11want to I've said this before and it's it's not

49:17number of dollars All right. Every year you get

49:23the towns. If one town gets more, that means the

49:31your if your legislators and your senators say

49:37that means the other 165 legislators are going

49:45and including this year. Now, it's possible you

49:52money and the other 49% is too bad. They're

49:56that's I don't know if that's going to happen

50:02we need as much money as we can for local aid,

50:06the politics in this. I wouldn't want to be a

50:11"I just voted for less less local aid for us

50:20worked in a legislative body for 26 years, I can

50:26If we're getting right if we are getting harmed

50:32um, the Senate the Senate did its job.

50:38uh an an aggressive push. John, did you want Thank

50:46was very high in relatively high? Um yeah, if you

50:53money is is is a drop in the bucket percentage

51:00huge. Yeah. Like they get 15%. But go ahead. Got

51:05to change the formula but to form a committee to

51:11passed I don't know but uh it was opposed in the

51:16mean yeah that was well maybe I'm wrong. Yeah but

51:22going to No, I I'm just I'm just saying you know

51:27uh in comparison to what it is. So yes, one town

51:34more equitable distribution and uh bring up those

51:42getting 15% of the revenues in general, bring

51:50that's hard for the state to say, but again,

51:54when you read about what's going on up in the

51:58referendum than committee decisions. And I'm not

52:05they keep kicking things and not making decisions

52:12go fresh. Thank you, Mr. Chair. um not getting

52:20the finances of it. I don't believe that there's

52:26challenged by water quality and wastewater. And

52:34been very progressive in moving forward, whether

52:41phase three. The challenge at the local level

52:49mission critical operational needs and at the

52:56fund this wastewater project. This is a priority

55:01I mean the cape has developed let's face

55:05had all of these projects and I know now you're

55:10challenge each time each phase is getting more

55:18it comes down to the to the taxpayer. Uh as

55:24different funds that we're trying to create,

55:28the clean water trust, it's it's not as secure

55:37I think we have to take a look at what

55:42um a problem, you know? I mean, at some

55:50you can't do it. So, but we have to do the

55:55but that doesn't mean we can add more. The

55:59is that we're trying to clean the water, but

56:03the that doesn't mean anything because you have

56:08the the the towns are I'm looking at I'm looking

56:14board in Yarmouth. Yarmouth has financed phase one

56:21a main sewer line along Route 28 with a major

56:27been able to finance phase one, but the lack of

56:36uh it's going to be very challenging phase

56:43And and and every time we sit at the table with

56:50how much you can discharge and so the rules keep

56:55about? Yes. Did Yamouth do that inside two and a

57:05that's hard. We we we we we we did that with a an

57:12the ballot and allowed the community to do that.

57:17we're being told that without additional help,

57:24to be financed with property tax dollars. And so

57:30conversation. It moves us in that direction.

57:36with property tax revenues with a host of other

57:42by creating a series of dedicated revenue streams

57:48pay the financing. Yeah. So, and that's and that's

57:53The I believe that if the state can't provide

58:01all towns are going to be basically looking at

58:06terms of covering future wastewater expenses. And

58:11is going to be difficult to sustain in a very very

58:17aid's important. That's why all of these funding

58:23the federal level, but particularly the state

58:26grow. And that's my concern, Mr. Chair, what you

58:32to find other creative ways to advocate for more

58:38pinched big time at the local level. Commissioner,

58:44because I was away. I have had a great opportunity

58:50my first since 2018, but um I did a lot of work

58:57going on in Northern Car California where you have

59:04was uh this one gorgeous Glenn Ellen town north of

59:14in this very pristine place and they're also

59:21the Cape. It's not unique to Massachusetts or the

59:26nationwide we're not getting the assistance from

59:33are all about. But it's also the people we put

59:38committee work and coming up with solutions which

59:44you know all the way down here. It's like we're

59:48talk and Facebook posts and but nothing really

59:56um but these are these are real life problems.

1:00:01now you can once you sewer and you're

1:00:06now we can add more buildings." And not really,

1:00:13that's the thinking. and environmental things

1:00:19are also going by the wayside in these areas

1:00:27uh it's not unique to Massachusetts that it

1:00:32to protect this precious place all of a sudden

1:00:39things and once you destroy the environment that's

1:00:46Mr. Chair. Um, I agree with with everything

1:00:51points have been made and I further agree that as

1:00:59and the EPA forgiveness is going to become more

1:01:06because this has come up in MASH and I just want

1:01:13um water management protection fund. We know

1:01:20through 2037 I believe. I think I have that figure

1:01:28funding will continue to receive those funds. So

1:01:34clean water trust is is solid. Um it's solid based

1:01:41be able to take a breath about that and relax

1:01:46We do. Thank you. Thanks for raising that. Yes,

1:01:52went through the wastewater management plan almost

1:01:57were hit with a consent order or two because we

1:02:02to go to ground and we formed a committee and they

1:02:07the eststeries and where the critical areas were.

1:02:12manager at the time and the financial people said,

1:02:17project forward 50 years, assuming that some of

1:02:22and we're going to determine exactly what the, you

1:02:26the additional increase on the tax rate would be

1:02:32we said, everybody jumped up and said, "Well,

1:02:35this is what it's going to cost." And then we

1:02:40make that presentation we look at every possible

1:02:45and federal money to try to reduce that number

1:02:50I know masterpiece is the same way we bought

1:02:54uh idea of their clean water and their estuaries

1:02:59willing to make that sacrifice but the proper

1:03:05that we tap into every potential revenue source

1:03:12people but we're have providing infrastructure for

1:03:18mia shop at mass commons they go to the beach you

1:03:24know maybe if you're a town in western mass you

1:03:30maybe 62 in the summer but the cape specifically

1:03:36we actually have residents. So I think that's the

1:03:43as a region a net benefit to the state and sales

1:03:49goes up to Boston. So we have a a case to make

1:03:54know I think there are revenue streams but putting

1:03:58you're going to finance it so you can get the

1:04:03else on local aid? All right, next hot button

1:04:09more. Uh Oh, good. So, I just wanted to uh Well,

1:04:17items? The the the Harri letter on 40B. Sure. We

1:04:23that we would we would bring their message in our

1:04:29a slide on that. Is there? I did not make a slide

1:04:34the commissioners received. Folks in the audience,

1:04:39pretty worked up about 40B. They're not the only

1:04:4440B problems virtually in every community, but

1:04:53leg legis a legislative proposal that would allow

1:05:02they've the Harage Select Board has been told that

1:05:07pretty slim. But nonetheless, um, we promised

1:05:12There's some communities that feel that they do a

1:05:19are a lot of communities that have complaints. So,

1:05:24share their message. Uh, you've got their letter

1:05:33Kayla, take us. Go ahead. I haven't had the

1:05:38Okay. Um, but I think it's really important

1:05:46watersheds. We're sharing watersheds. So, MASHB

1:05:53with Falmouth, with Sandwich. So what happens for

1:05:58implications for for the region. It's going to

1:06:04Sandwich and the other town. So in thinking about

1:06:12I think in def in if I can explain a little bit

1:06:17coming from is that the the way this the structure

1:06:23development that could have a regional impact, but

1:06:29scrutiny and obviously doesn't apply the full

1:06:35Commission. And uh that's their concern. That's

1:06:41the Cape Cod Commission's review is considered

1:06:48contributing to the process and it's really up

1:06:54kind of regional impacts. And so that's kind

1:06:58you know, I I could go on about this and I have

1:07:04other voices that have talked about this, but you

1:07:11the Cape has always functioned is that it was a

1:07:17based on. And now we want it to be a year-round

1:07:24that's a very difficult thing to do. and even in

1:07:30and I I think more so here because you're wider,

1:07:36you have different, you know, when you're on the

1:07:40coming in and out on this road. And if there's a

1:07:49all of those people are going to use that one. I

1:07:53about the nuclear power plant. Um, and we're not

1:08:01where we are in the world today with climate

1:08:06having um you know I I we have a we have a history

1:08:14this whole history of 300 years and in 1985 it

1:08:21and their um the rainfall and snowfall. And it is

1:08:3251 years ago now, as opposed to what we're getting

1:08:39many and those second homes that are the seasonal,

1:08:46that those homes, and there's studies done by the

1:08:52intend to retire here. if everybody retired at the

1:08:58going to die in about between 10 and so there's

1:09:04But um but if everybody lived here, we would

1:09:12year long on top of and then nobody would really

1:09:17Island. So, are we are we destroying the economy

1:09:23it and are we looking at are we going to be able

1:09:33home and for everyone to live in a healthy way

1:09:39about is it possible? I mean, and then, you know,

1:09:48uh, apartment buildings where, you know, we have a

1:09:53You know, we have more more say over commercial

1:10:01you know I can imagine the developers in the room

1:10:06and Cape Cod Commission uh acts were developed

1:10:13know regular people. So, uh, it's a real complex

1:10:21uh, really voice loudly that this is not the right

1:10:31economic development need. Commissioner Bergster.

1:10:35and I totally agree with the Haritch uh with the

1:10:41Haritch board and you know I think we I personally

1:10:48review by county council to make sure we're doing

1:10:5240B law as well as Cape Cod commission law but

1:10:58of of any review the camp the the commissioners

1:11:06a project's advantages outweigh its detriments

1:11:13advantages of 40B outweighed um the disadvantages

1:11:19of 30 years and now we can say that the the

1:11:23to have them be able to make that decision and the

1:11:28in Martha's Vineyard. I've been told that they

1:11:33because of because they were told that they can no

1:11:39able to combine with them and and see that the uh

1:11:45appropriate for reviewing 40p projects. Thanks,

1:11:51recommendations on this proposal. Uh we came

1:11:58position, that's great. Um, but I I would like

1:12:04recommendation to us as to whether or not you're

1:12:10also have other ideas. There's some communities

1:12:17uh uh to a greater extent on these. With uh

1:12:22happy to bring this before the board. I've got

1:12:27out of respect to them, I would want to bring

1:12:32I have a quorum here, um I would respect the

1:12:40entire Can I just absolutely Can I just comment?

1:12:45I mean, to sum this up, it's I would like to have

1:12:54seems like I want to do a 40B project. You

1:12:59what you want to do and we have no say. So,

1:13:04on ongoing conversation. And I think that what

1:13:10be helpful is if we all do agree. I mean, this

1:13:15"We're going to stop development for a certain

1:13:21we are. What can we do? What can't we do? What is

1:13:27battle on itself. But if there's more of us saying

1:13:33that we deserve to stop and pause and say, "Where

1:13:42you know, by the time uh we make those decisions

1:13:48financial situations change uh and and more

1:13:54costing high premium dollars and we don't have the

1:14:02we can have a collective voice on it, um the push

1:14:12right? Move on to the next item. What was the

1:14:18hot button item was only uh to flag that uh the

1:14:25a question on the ballot. Uh so I just wanted to

1:14:34uh information on how that uh question is going to

1:14:39elected charter review committee to look at uh the

1:14:46uh later on for for the voters to to vote on. Um

1:14:54as you know, there's a lengthy list of questions

1:14:59and depending on the municipality, 1 through 10

1:15:05appears right after you select uh all all of your

1:15:13after the uh the the the charter review candidate

1:15:20it's it's right there. It's going to be on the

1:15:24uh page of the ballot. So, I just wanted

1:15:28uh that will be appearing on the ballot and uh

1:15:34so uh pleased with the placement of it, but

1:15:40say what I missed out because I What is question

1:15:46you want to have but so there's the the election

1:15:52is going to be do you want a county review

1:15:57which also looks like an assembly of delegates

1:16:02for it but we're not because we think this

1:16:08coming out do we like do we do we agree with

1:16:15it function what should it you know so it's how

1:16:21do the government and this is a chance to take

1:16:28um reformed or reconstituted in the 80s it's

1:16:34to the best of everybody's interest and do you

1:16:40um so I think uh it's it's an important question

1:16:46other nine. I mean, people are trying to deal with

1:16:51and there's a county question. So, um I guess

1:16:57try to have them focus on it would be Mark had

1:17:02uh we can continue on. Do you have anything for us

1:17:09improvements and so on? Or I should ask the

1:17:14are you doing challenges? And Mr. Vice Chair, if

1:17:20the ballot is that to so if you say yes because

1:17:29lot of these questions they're twisted. So yes

1:17:36that means you're in favor of a review. Of a

1:17:42what's the problem with that? Straightforward.

1:17:46to means you're in favor of review tricking you

1:17:52the other way. Clarification because I think a lot

1:17:57yes or no. It is yes or no. And then you have to

1:18:03a couple of candidates from your town that want to

1:18:08to represent? Well, Mash has an outstanding

1:18:14in town hall. Um if it's helpful, I can I can

1:18:21um go ahead is uh set by uh set by statute

1:18:29a charter study commission be created to study

1:18:33County to consider and make findings concerning

1:18:38thereon. So pretty pretty well it's not a simple

1:18:44create the charter study commission. Yeah. Now

1:18:50last charter review. I think you both were that

1:18:57uh potach. Yes. Which was different from just

1:19:03discussing now. It was a charter review by

1:19:10the assembly. Okay. Um and you heard a lot of very

1:19:19Right. And you were on as commissioner. I was on

1:19:25it. Suaran was on it and I think um the assist it

1:19:34I think of province town correct. Correct. So um

1:19:42that kind of dissolved because no one was coming

1:19:48that's why we said, you know what? We're not

1:19:52and see what if the people want to. Yeah. And

1:19:58was it was it was very challenging to come to an

1:20:05a fairly accurate way to leave it, right? Nice

1:20:10why we're at this process, right? We need to do a

1:20:16was written uh gives you an idea of how old I am.

1:20:23the blue ribbon panel that came up with the Cape

1:20:29been around sometimes too long. Um but uh when

1:20:36county was developed, the goal was really to keep

1:20:43I think there was an intent to make sure that

1:20:49uh this was our first crack at it as a county

1:20:54very very different from all the other counties

1:21:02um things have changed in the past 40 some odd

1:21:09review this time. So we anticipate making

1:21:14It has separate council and separate staff

1:21:20be fully addressed. So hopefully we can get that

1:21:26brings up this is total this is meant by the

1:21:31actual county government. In other words, although

1:21:36for instance the commissioners and stuff. So the

1:21:40commit to this as far as staffing and public legal

1:21:46kind of resources we provide. We have to provide

1:21:52have to provide office space and uh any other kind

1:21:58So and it's largely dictated by them. So, and

1:22:06topic? Mike, what do we got? Or or are we even I

1:22:12couple of other items on on sort of your uh your

1:22:17that the MASHB board didn't have any questions.

1:22:22the room uh on any number of different things,

1:22:27Yeah. Uh mastec uh the compost uh initiative. I

1:22:33are all here. Yeah. And and obviously we've got

1:22:39Cod Commission. So if you have any questions or

1:22:45of the initiatives as you know they're all very

1:22:51sometimes you know they're out making the rounds

1:22:57uh ask through us even to them if there's anything

1:23:03to see uh or talk about. Tracy. Hello. Um thank

1:23:15my mind is the affordability. Um I'm curious, you

1:23:24underway or what are things that we can support? I

1:23:30really stretched tight right now. It could be an

1:23:36the many things that we need to do as a town. It

1:23:43a lot of folks are feeling really pinched from

1:23:48initiatives maybe that's an excellent that's an

1:23:54a general answer is is that we see our role a

1:24:04the towns provide the most efficient and and and

1:24:11behind our dredging program. behind the thinking

1:24:18uh and the work that we're doing there. And so

1:24:22the board in a host of areas. And like I and

1:24:27are actually coming to us with ideas on the things

1:24:32let Michael take a stab at this, but if there are

1:24:39or getting more engaged in, um, you know, by all

1:24:46any suggestions. All ideas are welcome. I mean,

1:24:51towns millions of dollars over the years, and

1:24:56that helps save towns money. Um and so but again,

1:25:03for any suggestions or recommendations, Michael?

1:25:08one of the things that the county's done quite

1:25:13um that uh has, as the commissioner said,

1:25:20to hire additional staff um and and the expense

1:25:27expertise on on uh affordable housing, attainable

1:25:35particularly useful because uh we we the county's

1:25:41positioned to really look at the regional impacts

1:25:47um and been able to craft individual town

1:25:54way that that they'll pass muster with uh with

1:26:03think the the the value added that the county can

1:26:10um the county budget. Um so people think of county

1:26:17you know, and our budgets I think smaller than

1:26:23whole meeting. I'm far enough away so they can't

1:26:31actually very small. Um and we leverage enormous

1:26:37in order to make sure that we can to provide the

1:26:43board has ideas or any individuals on the board

1:26:48in securing, you know, specific grant funds,

1:26:55uh, some of the some of the, you know, escalating

1:27:01one of the programs that I didn't mention is the

1:27:06part of the home, it's a HUD program, uh, but

1:27:13roughly half million dollars a year, um, that we

1:27:20housing initiatives uh, throughout the Cape, and

1:27:25received some level of of home funding. So, so we

1:27:33funding where we can. Um, in this case, federal

1:27:39so we do provide a little bit of funding and

1:27:45home funds can sometimes be the the difference

1:27:52done. Um so so it's it's quite quite impactful

1:27:58Um follow-up question is the epidemiologists that

1:28:05know if a town identifies an opportunity to be

1:28:12I think the simple answer is yes. But I'm going

1:28:17an opportunity to come to the microphone and

1:28:24related to this that you might have. Tracy M. Mr.

1:28:28question. Uh Cassie O'Hara came on staff. Um

1:28:34asked not to have a consultant, but an in-house

1:28:41by all means. and she is making the rounds to the

1:28:46across the Cape to say what are the concerns what

1:28:52and let's get the data so that the public health

1:28:57in grants supportive things of that nature we'll

1:29:04I don't know her schedule I don't know if she's

1:29:08actively we work very closely yesterday we were

1:29:14work weekly, I will say, but certainly um on a

1:29:21sure her availability, the epidemiologist,

1:29:26and it's going to actually give us an opportunity

1:29:33successful entity is built on a foundation

1:29:37prioritize that. My career was up in Central Mass.

1:29:42different, right? The demographics are different.

1:29:47health and environment to our population. So, the

1:29:53to make sure when I go back that Cassie reaches

1:29:57know if you have any other questions. Yeah. No,

1:30:04uh, Michael was talking about, you know, the

1:30:08of people saying there's a lot of money, a lot of

1:30:12holding on to it and, you know, we all need it

1:30:18we're finally paying for. The county, if anybody

1:30:23lot and uh wasn't really managed well. But I think

1:30:31things have happened and uh we're stable. We're

1:30:38to get those grants at a lower rate for not just

1:30:44if we can have a collective need, we can do that.

1:30:51we're having this summit. How do we make sure

1:30:58or without feeling I'm not carrying my own weight.

1:31:04feel good for a lot of people who are working.

1:31:09a necessity. So how do we help those things? And

1:31:15help pro, you know, continue those things. So,

1:31:23thing about the county is we can't tax, we can't

1:31:29give out grants? Well, we apply for grants so that

1:31:34but we can't generate our own revenue the way

1:31:42but you can tax people if we have the and and they

1:31:47So, it's not um as flush as it looks and we have

1:31:55redoing and so there's big ticket items, but I

1:32:01broach the subject of budgets. I mean, I've never

1:32:06think it's undemocratic. I believe in one man, one

1:32:11very popular because you think everybody thinks

1:32:15they're going to eliminate and what you're

1:32:19and it's also you have no very little control

1:32:24over special needs students. You have very limited

1:32:29And so, what do you do about it? So, I think

1:32:332 and a half. And the only way I can think about

1:32:40a baseline budget. If you do the same thing every

1:32:46and step increases, you adjust for mandatory

1:32:53costs, that becomes your baseline budget and you

1:32:59a simple majority. Now, if you want to do other

1:33:04ask for a supermajority. But I I've seen I look

1:33:09pass overrides a lot. And there's and so that's

1:33:16one-time savings, let's say you adjust the the um

1:33:22year and the next year you did early retirement

1:33:28continue to increase faster than your revenues,

1:33:34had people in East town man East the same thing.

1:33:41budget and it has to be done with the next few

1:33:45it and and they're going to be battling in in

1:33:50I say that with with the experiences of selectman

1:33:56guys are going through it too. But I have great

1:34:00the budgets and so on when they find that they

1:34:06um you know and they have to go to they have to

1:34:11generous but there's going to come a time when

1:34:14do you do? And that's bad news. I don't mean to

1:34:19it's reality. It is. People can only go so far.

1:34:27department heads here. Feel free. Carrie Purcell,

1:34:34the last MC3 meeting on the composting, the food

1:34:40on any of that, she's here to address that. Um and

1:34:48here. So now is a good time if there's anything

1:34:53the work that they're doing. Michaela, one thing

1:35:00little when we talk about what the county is doing

1:35:06I don't think, directly, and I just that's why I

1:35:10I know the MASHP Police Department has relied

1:35:17and I was wondering if one of you could explain

1:35:23might not understand it. That'll be good. Okay.

1:35:29uh or pointing out u that omission. Um generally

1:35:36considered a child advocacy center and uh they um

1:35:45of uh child sexual um issues uh child sexual um

1:35:55provide uh an enormous uh resource for the areas

1:36:02interact uh directly with the DA's office uh and

1:36:09other social social agencies. Um and their work um

1:36:18a critical component of of uh county services and

1:36:25services that the county does provide. uh one of

1:36:31provides. So, so thank you, you know, for bringing

1:36:36you know, most of the county's uh the county's

1:36:43for the towns. Um we don't do a lot of direct, you

1:36:49where the county actually directly interacts with

1:36:56you know, with your police departments, your

1:37:02and so forth. So, so it's uh a lot of what the

1:37:08the radar. And so so I think one of the things

1:37:13these uh meetings, we call them road shows by the

1:37:19an opportunity to hear from you about, you know,

1:37:25get to tell you, you know, things you may not know

1:37:30So So that's one of them that we do offer. It's

1:37:38not well advertised uh probably on purpose. Yeah.

1:37:45this is it's great that you're bringing this up.

1:37:51a conversation with your delegate because there

1:37:55some assembly members that don't appreciate or

1:38:02um, we've had some ongoing dialogue with those

1:38:08at some point on the importance of Children's

1:38:13add one thing, um, what I would also, uh, remind

1:38:20training that goes into that. Right. Absolutely.

1:38:28importance of Children's Coke as well. Very sweet.

1:38:34I'm I've been a little bit disappointed with

1:38:38about the work of Children's Cove. So, we

1:38:42our delegates as to how critical their services

1:38:48switching gears and family members. Well, since

1:38:56that totally supports Children's Cove's work even

1:39:02that the Children's Cove serves a great service

1:39:08to continue to support that and fund that. That's

1:39:13that. Thank you to get the record floor right

1:39:19completely, but you mentioned your staff was here.

1:39:25think I believe MASH has done a really good job

1:39:32it provides and yet there are still questions.

1:39:38come up and describe a fund and how residents

1:39:45and the differentiated interest and all of that.

1:39:54okay. Uh so, thank you for having me. Um just to

1:39:59director of the Clean Water Center which includes

1:40:04health. uh member. I was chair for five years, I

1:40:10for sure. Um but yes, the uh so Cape Cod Aqua Fund

1:40:18in the county crown in that we provide um low

1:40:24failed and failing septic systems and also for um

1:40:31for that last mile connection piece because the

1:40:37in the roads and it's we still have to have all

1:40:41uh it's really important that we that we have

1:40:47tremendous success over the years. We've loaned

1:40:53the inception of the program in 2007. Um, and

1:40:59we borrowed $13 million from the Clean Water Trust

1:41:05and we're in the process of asking for another 10.

1:41:11set of funding. And it's important to advocate um

1:41:17Trust for doing the big infrastructure pieces, but

1:41:21those loans for your homeowners to get their their

1:41:26performs a very valuable service for our area. Um,

1:41:32getting the word out about what we do. Um I think

1:41:38participate in the program. Uh but when you look

1:41:43phase um not uh it's usually less than 50% who

1:41:51many are going maybe getting private financing

1:41:57the health department desk. Um you know we'd love

1:42:03when connection letters are sent out um I think a

1:42:09our information along with that and I think that's

1:42:13and how we can get our information around a little

1:42:18I Michaela's got the floor. Okay. Thank you. Um

1:42:24interest rates. Can you just Sure. say something

1:42:29um, thank you. We took our interest rates

1:42:33about four years ago or so, um, our program had a

1:42:41and recently we changed that so that it's a tiered

1:42:47the lowest income brackets, um, and that's 120%

1:42:53bracket that that's covered by, um, can get a

1:42:58120 and 180% of AMIR area median income, um

1:43:05it's a 4% loan. So, we're sort of subsidizing the

1:43:11that we have. Um if you have just the standard

1:43:174%. Um this is really to encourage uh installation

1:43:24And as towns are starting to look toward utilizing

1:43:30on-site technologies as well, nitrogen reducing

1:43:36homeowners would also be able to avail themselves

1:43:41the town identifies those projects as being part

1:43:49Thanks very much. Great. Commissioner Lance,

1:43:55that you um all right, I need a loan um and I have

1:44:00And so you just did that. So, thanks. But um

1:44:05especially if they're struggling with that.

1:44:10um on the local banking level, I think it would be

1:44:16So anyway, John, I'd like to uh encourage if you

1:44:22questions for us to feel free to reach out, reach

1:44:30superintendent is here, planners here for my

1:44:36issues or any questions, but I did want to have

1:44:43um that reference good air operations. So, I don't

1:44:54it's entirely up to them. Don't feel, you know,

1:44:59I you've got a talented team here. They're taking

1:45:04their being here. Well, they didn't have a

1:45:12Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair, for the record. Brian

1:45:16guys all for coming out. This is a great way

1:45:22at the local level as well as the the regional

1:45:28engaging with Mr. Dutton on a number of occasions

1:45:33program that the county provides and have found it

1:45:38we get through Barrett Consulting um is worth its

1:45:46Um, I did have a question that falls a tad more

1:45:52in the planning or affordable housing realm. And

1:45:58uh uh can partner with the county or what

1:46:04us tapping into to help support local businesses?

1:46:11you know the MASHBY Commons in particular

1:46:17um you know call MASHB their home. The Commons

1:46:24tenencies are small local businesses. They do

1:46:29a Starbucks and an LLBAN and some other uh larger

1:46:36and even outside of the commons, for example, we

1:46:42which is an indoor recreational facility that's

1:46:48So, are there ways that we can uh partner at

1:46:52is first of all, let me just make it very clear

1:46:57to the county. We have an economic development

1:47:02Cut Commission. Aaron Perry is sort of one of the

1:47:09outstanding job in providing staff support for the

1:47:15Christiey's still here but yeah maybe Christie or

1:47:21about um the work of the economic development

1:47:27we're going to put you on the hot seat and bring

1:47:31right up front here Christie. The question was

1:47:36support for MASHP and small business and

1:47:41staff to maybe work with us more closely in

1:47:46local business feel free to uh Sure. So sorry

1:47:52the the framing of the question and certainly

1:47:58at the Cape Cod Commission and we do work with

1:48:04municipalities to develop that plan. Um and that

1:48:10can incorporate different types of projects.

1:48:14is uh also expands to business support, business

1:48:21the local communities. So I certainly think that

1:48:26see how that how we could provide some additional

1:48:32have been impacts to local businesses during

1:48:37Um so an initiative that we're working on

1:48:42um that's happened and how we can provide

1:48:46be out there to support our local communities as

1:48:52um the types of disruption that's happening during

1:48:56answered the question. I'm sorry I didn't hear

1:49:01Great. Yeah. Does Erin want to uh I think Erin is

1:49:08while you're here, can you give a just a plug for

1:49:13going on over at the Cape Cut Commission. I know

1:49:17make sure that people can get it on the calendar

1:49:21we are hosting our annual 1 cape um on November

1:49:27we will have a number of guest speakers that will

1:49:33talking about lots of different things including

1:49:38economic development and housing challenges

1:49:43great opportunity for people to really engage with

1:49:48typically have a number of elected and appointed

1:49:53registration is open. It will be filling up fast.

1:49:57would encourage you to do so. If anyone has more

1:50:02website um at 1APE and um if anyone has anything

1:50:08that's great. Thanks, Christie. any other

1:50:13we are working very collaboratively with many of

1:50:18and I know many of the um stakeholders and and

1:50:23been engaged on open space planning. Um, and so

1:50:28of the next several months where we'd really love

1:50:33the communities. This has a number of issue areas

1:50:39including water supply protection and guiding

1:50:44make sense and protecting those areas across the

1:50:49That's great. Anybody else? Any questions for

1:50:54Christie. Commissioner Bergstrom. Yeah, I just

1:50:59out my way to um economic current economic

1:51:06some places are clo, you know, some restaurants

1:51:10simply and even in high season because they

1:51:14the with the the federal government is considering

1:51:20of employees guest employees who you know Haitians

1:51:27cape this is going to be an issue and more and

1:51:32work in retail stores and work in restaurants are

1:51:37houses on Cape Cod. So how are we going to keep

1:51:43of cape we had boarding houses people would come

1:51:48those are all gone so uh I think it is a big issue

1:51:56tag team right okay yeah if you if you don't mind

1:52:01into Christy's lane or the commission's lane but

1:52:06up on subtle cues on in town is the financial

1:52:13the financial um pressure that local businesses

1:52:20that residents are facing. Um, and I think because

1:52:28my concern is people may be ashamed in, you know,

1:52:35struggling. And I'm wondering if there has been

1:52:39some sort of like uh confidential forum where

1:52:46understanding of uh regarding what resources

1:52:51but that doesn't mean that we can't work with you

1:52:56to ask Michael Dutton to follow up directly with

1:53:02team and maybe the local chambers, maybe bringing

1:53:08maybe we can do some kind of focused counseling

1:53:15program. Uh, so would you mind if Michael follows

1:53:21if we can put something together. Commissioner

1:53:27it was named some lower Cape Development at one

1:53:32about the community development development uh,

1:53:37really gone into housing development more, but

1:53:43might be it would be good to talk with local, you

1:53:49businesses to hear directly what is what's what's

1:53:56that you're trying to do? Some of it's uh the

1:54:02computer systems to be able to do their inventory

1:54:08is management as well. And they did really good

1:54:15staff to grow in management because management

1:54:20clerk at the shop and so there's those types of

1:54:27that. It would be good to have maybe a a little

1:54:33um businesses from different regions of the Cape.

1:54:40know that it must when you're a person on your own

1:54:46homebased or in a structure, uh, there's a lot of

1:54:55been schooled on as far as even management.

1:55:02we should pursue something. I think we should

1:55:05has suggestions, let Michael know. John, but just

1:55:09uh called SCORE that businesses can contact to

1:55:17you know, professionals that can help assist

1:55:22whatever that whatever that takes. Yeah, that's

1:55:27uh is is maybe wise to look at this not just at a

1:55:34of the unique issues that Cape Cod as a region

1:55:39uh Commissioner Framm indirectly referenced is uh

1:55:45just the fact that the economic activity like the

1:55:52the summertime and serious cooling off in the

1:55:57where they've done like these small business

1:56:02where people can talk sort of one-on-one on what

1:56:06of what some of the local banks are doing,

1:56:11Chamber of Commerce, I believe, has got some kind

1:56:16worked for Congressman Studs, we had a very robust

1:56:22him, we did on the Cape that did a lot of very

1:56:28said, the community development partnership has

1:56:32but there may be and it may be a way to do

1:56:37sort of invite uh a variety of organizations to

1:56:43and make themselves available uh you know to

1:56:49Cape. So, but I I'll you know that I'll I'll I'll

1:56:53of that, but I think it's a great idea. Mhm.

1:56:59same thing or No, DPW. No, he he rides all my

1:57:09thank you, Jared. Meter, Mashby, wastewater, uh,

1:57:14I clearly everybody's aware of and they're dealing

1:57:18uh, the designated nitrogen sensitive area

1:57:23and I don't think a lot of people are looking

1:57:28designated nitrogen sensitive area. Uh, we

1:57:35for this for allowing people to come in and

1:57:39process is going to result in tens of millions

1:57:43on so a developer can make some money. Um, so I

1:57:49in their letter they're required to comply with

1:57:54but the nitrogen sensitive area designation and

1:57:58law and I think it's something that needs to be

1:58:05going to be solved until there's case law. So that

1:58:09there. Um, we always talked about the DP likes

1:58:15we're trying to respond to and one of our biggest

1:58:20after it's treated, how to recharge, right? Um,

1:58:26article 97 land more specifically. We have a lot

1:58:32one of the obvious solutions would be an outfall

1:58:37permitting um for each individual town. It's just

1:58:44taking on the the load of permitting and looking

1:58:51they've reached their recharge limit for that day

1:58:56hampers us. So then whatever flow we send there

1:59:01to pay for that new permit and studies going on

1:59:07I think if you had like three pipes upper mid and

1:59:12really save a lot of the towns in these issues

1:59:16to find a place to put the water back in the

1:59:21uh another uh issue that needs to be looked

1:59:26it quick. I have a longer list when I'm here, but

1:59:30really, you send it to Michael and he would share

1:59:36the uh solids handling is the next big issue on

1:59:41with sludge after the waste water's been treated,

1:59:47from going there. Who is Rhode Island, which

1:59:51before we have to really start shipping far away.

1:59:56expensive. There has been a group of uh wastewater

2:00:01regularly. Um the the joint base Cape Cod, they

2:00:07the D sends out a letter that says, "Oh, we're not

2:00:13to that base because it's now private." Um so

2:00:17So one of the things they're looking at is solids

2:00:21the county should be aware of in the towns because

2:00:27the hard part of getting the federal government

2:00:32um, at some point they're going to need a push

2:00:36to the state to say, "You've got to push this plan

2:00:41big wall we're going to hit in the near future."

2:00:45to talk about sludge and disposal, is there

2:00:49is invited? No, it's mainly just the actual town

2:00:53bounce ideas because the D will all have these

2:00:59and they will not share anybody else's idea. They

2:01:02They only tell you they listen and then they

2:01:07what's the other town doing? We'll call the other

2:01:11can share these ideas and and not keep beating the

2:01:16the only town that's wrestling with the wastewater

2:01:22member in Yarmouth. I sit in on some of these D

2:01:30and uh they can be incredibly frustrating.

2:01:35I've been experiencing a lot of this myself.

2:01:39is how we can sort of plug some of this into the

2:01:46and Aaron and some of our other uh folks at the

2:01:51can do together collectively to address some of

2:01:56sensitive to the sludge issue. It's just seems

2:02:02kicked what do we say? Kicked out kicked kicking

2:02:08but they always it's a financial burden, so

2:02:12you know, that starts an issue. So, the base is

2:02:17I'm going to we're going to ask our administrator

2:02:22appropriate county folk folks plugged into

2:02:27on a regional basis. So, I'm glad you brought it

2:02:32do you talk about your water uh reserve? I mean,

2:02:39you know, uh Felmouth had uh came out this summer

2:02:47were going to be um voting on duplexes and said,

2:02:53it." Just just keep in perspective um that um the

2:03:04Okay. We we don't so much talk specifically about

2:03:10talking about how to get it back into the aquifer.

2:03:17that's why alpha alpha pipes are they're they're a

2:03:22back in the ground, your salt water is going

2:03:26aquifer. So that's why we were saying just that we

2:03:31got to get rid of that extra flow that we're going

2:03:35uh we got to figure out how to get rid of. So um

2:03:40spend the next two hours sitting here um going

2:03:45I do think the county should take a more active

2:03:50we're going to put this on Michael to help figure

2:03:55same room with some of your superintendent and

2:04:00bubbles up. In addition to the superintendents, we

2:04:05talking about this. This is this is a conversation

2:04:10of municipal government. So, Michael, did you

2:04:15and and sort of a comment, but uh are you dealing

2:04:23Is that has that been a limiting factor to your

2:04:28no way to really stop it. Uh the you can the most

2:04:36through granular activated carbon, which you want

2:04:40So the only other option would be to introduce

2:04:44to it. The problem is out of the hundreds of uh

2:04:50that don't you have to have their own individual.

2:04:54Um the number one source that it comes from is

2:04:59dishes and washing their bodies with soap. Y um

2:05:05We could we could literally just just to orient

2:05:09but we don't have that. But that is the issue

2:05:13right? Bri Brian has brought this up to us. Yeah,

2:05:18going with that. And I you know, not only sludge,

2:05:22waste treatment plants. We know that we've got

2:05:28disposal. Um, and that's, you know, one of the

2:05:34uh, to try to, you know, get the composting plant

2:05:41that we know that down the road, you know, whether

2:05:45we are not going to have, uh, a place to put our

2:05:51because now we can couple that with um the solid

2:05:58and really look for solutions there. And a lot of

2:06:02And that's it. It the the process takes so long.

2:06:06And the private companies, they are looking at

2:06:10did it in the panhandle of Florida and they made

2:06:15at saying the base this could be a chance to

2:06:18the POS destruction through gasification or or

2:06:24this up. Like I said this could this we could talk

2:06:29Okay. So one follow up and then you have somebody

2:06:37This could also be another two-hour topic, but

2:06:41um that Ronnette had had put together. Um MASHB's

2:06:48repairing and strengthening relationship with the

2:06:53that. Um there are immense benefits to doing that

2:07:01mutual aid, um public health initiatives, um

2:07:08cultural resource protection. Um there's a lot of

2:07:14population in terms of stewardship of lands uh

2:07:22development um area. So just wanting to uplift

2:07:28with me and our administrator with the with the

2:07:35sovereignty is yeah if you can help facilitate

2:07:42we have multitude of roles where we we're looking

2:07:52we'd be more than happy to sort of at least share

2:07:58um, areas where we could use some help. If Yeah.

2:08:04I just think that the Wenog tribe would be, um, we

2:08:12the conversation about what is Cape Cod and

2:08:18what are we? Are we a year-round community? Are we

2:08:25community where people come and really enjoy the

2:08:32I think it would be very uh important and I've

2:08:37brought that up. I'd like to be part of that as

2:08:45there anybody from the town y mashp that has a

2:08:54if I don't know if anyone everyone I'm assuming

2:09:00a few times I mean feel free to bring feel free

2:09:08happy to show you does it very informative it's

2:09:15and second of all, I know the time being one of

2:09:19for setting this up. This was amazing. This is

2:09:25and right open up the door. It's important to have

2:09:31other to be engaged with you folks. Um, one of

2:09:36is is that when we're we're going to be starting

2:09:41of the things that we're going to want to do is is

2:09:47uh the communities and particularly the town

2:09:52review of our budget. So we we we will be calling

2:09:59uh to sit down with us as we put together our

2:10:04want to make sure that uh the priorities of the

2:10:09loves that. I know he does. You know how to reach

2:10:17Is there anybody else from the town of Mashby

2:10:22This has all been very, very informative. It's

2:10:33Yes. For years, I've been asking when when the

2:10:39enough water supplies, right? We got to I've been

2:10:45a lot of 40bs coming and that's going to drain

2:10:52we reached a point we can't do no more building?

2:10:57the building and our infrastructure is horrible

2:11:05There's nothing you can do about it. You know, we

2:11:10limit. We got to start building now and find, you

2:11:19right? Because we don't gain anything from it.

2:11:26you know, affordable, but that still don't bring

2:11:32going to reach it because you're giving them all

2:11:38out of 100 houses. So, is there a limit? Well,

2:11:45right? So, this is you need that collective voice.

2:11:52agenda. All right. And that is the question

2:11:57from the town as to whether or not it believes

2:12:02the growth and development that's programmed into

2:12:08that either they don't think they do or they

2:12:15us address it more. So rather than us talking to

2:12:23like to hear from you on. All right. And that is

2:12:29here on the Cape. And I'm going to I think you're

2:12:35you've kicked us off on that final question and uh

2:12:41and uh other department heads if there's some

2:12:47they have no answer for me. Yeah, I think I think

2:12:53our carrying capacity limit. The reality is is we

2:12:59trying to catch up. But the other question to keep

2:13:04all these pressures to develop all right is the

2:13:12going to keep up and be ahead of the development

2:13:17that we've had today is that we have had so much

2:13:22support it. And that's and that's something we

2:13:26away from that. So that's the question. I'm going

2:13:32some observations from them. So, John, you want to

2:13:38think we already kind of talked about we have to

2:13:43right? I It's already It's already in the agenda.

2:13:49agenda. So, and they're not the only town.

2:13:53Kick it off. Okay. So, I think we need more of

2:13:59on 40B. Um with respect to carrying capacity as

2:14:07really important points with regard to protecting

2:14:15our wastewater superintendent brought in the

2:14:21we're building and we're increasing our tax base,

2:14:27we're going to need while at the same time

2:14:32I think we need to think hard about caring

2:14:38said. Thank you. And and the other, if I may,

2:14:43taxing other people who live here. We're going to

2:14:48know, what the what the cost will be. I mean, we

2:14:54you know, old Cape Cod families here and and

2:14:5950 years, but we're going to be pushing them out.

2:15:05They just can't keep up. And those are the people

2:15:09Wampenog tribe who have been here, you know,

2:15:16um I I think that we have to really look at what

2:15:25uh fragile but but beautiful place to visit or

2:15:31going to and and it and we were all struggling

2:15:36building. But there's not really a year round. It

2:15:42Yes. Just one final closing comment on that.

2:15:47um and provide any supports possible for housing

2:15:52goes into um figuring out creative solutions.

2:15:58which are great. Um but really, you know, can

2:16:04somehow for people to stop posting winter rentals?

2:16:10hey, we've got teachers, we have first responders

2:16:15to live locally and they just simply can't afford

2:16:20just vacant for the majority of a year. So, are

2:16:25strain the environment that support um helping

2:16:30trying to, you know, make a living and raise their

2:16:34Tracy. Commissioner Bergster. Yeah. Um you know

2:16:38have asked now for quite a long time. I mean the

2:16:43to address this very issue about overdevelopment

2:16:49issue for people who are in low low income or who

2:16:54and center but I know I have noticed over the

2:17:01considerably. A lot of town a lot of projects that

2:17:06town meetings have actually been turned down in

2:17:11been revoked in places like Brewster and they've

2:17:18know I mean more and more people are starting

2:17:22to the capacity and to answer the question that

2:17:27limit well the limit is what we set the limit at I

2:17:33the Cape to look like. The people in MSHP have to

2:17:37stick to it and and work under those limits.

2:17:43attitude toward housing and they've been pushing

2:17:48us the money to provide the infrastructure, but

2:17:52local control guy. I believe that Truro should

2:17:58what's good for MASHP. And by the way, even though

2:18:03getting rid of but limiting 40B, there are some

2:18:09you know, in places like East Ham and Orleans

2:18:13town meeting and they say yes, we can afford

2:18:18the support for it. So, we shouldn't overlook

2:18:22to provide housing for people who need housing.

2:18:27would pro provide that would force us to increase

2:18:33longer sustain it. So that's my speech. Very good.

2:18:38I'm going to get to the end. I'm going to give

2:18:44have final word on this agenda item before we move

2:18:53The only thing that I would like to say is thank

2:18:58in the audience as well. Um, in terms of any

2:19:07uh, that's about as likely as the Red Sox

2:19:14and I want to thank everybody in Wleley for not

2:19:18to your part making Cape Cod a beautiful place.

2:19:26this is we're going to move on to another

2:19:30interest to most folks. This is administrative

2:19:36our department heads, they can they can

2:19:41you folks. Thank you for being hosting us

2:19:46we are not going to take offense if anybody has to

2:19:51to empty rooms. We have a consent agenda.

2:20:03So, let's go to the next item on our

2:20:09new business. Is there new business that needs

2:20:14Nothing. Okay. Next item. Commissioner's

2:20:21Mr. Chair, I move to approve the commissioner's

2:20:28Roman numeral 3, including all subse sections

2:20:36agenda. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a

2:20:41all those in favor say I. I. It carries

2:20:48approval of meeting minutes. Do I have a motion?

2:20:5416th, 2026 regular meeting minutes as

2:21:00a second. Any discussion? Hearing none. All

2:21:08unanimously. Commissioner reports. Commissioner

2:21:12report. Commissioner Lions, do you have I

2:21:16I was doing that's okay research on on other

2:21:24oh sorry yeah that's him upcoming we have

2:21:30another version of commissioners meeting at

2:21:37be your first October meeting we're not sure if

2:21:41this point so you you've got a little break um and

2:21:47uh second quarter financials uh with Carol and

2:21:53this emergency. Monday uh October 26, we've

2:21:59before uh tenatively scheduled for Cape Cod

2:22:05not Cape Cod Community College. I think we're

2:22:10in Yarmouth. Um and then you your next uh away

2:22:16in Dennis. Uh and and uh then on from there. So

2:22:23the specific date yet, but you've got a hearing on

2:22:30Uh we talked to Louisa Pawansky um the uh

2:22:38uh on the bridge replacements and we would like

2:22:44we've committed to to doing that in Bourne. Uh

2:22:49would be a public hearing um that we're required

2:22:55enough ahead right now. Okay. Um, see if there's

2:23:02report? Okay, I guess we said well then there's

2:23:10call it. Um, Mr. Chair, I move that we adjourn.

2:23:18all those in favor say I. I. I. I can hear Mark

2:23:24officially adjourned for at least another

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