Minutes of Meeting
June 6, 2005
COLLABORATIVE MEETING #2
A meeting of the Sharon Board of Health was called to order at 7:35 P.M. on Monday evening, June 6, 2005, in the Sharon Town Offices, with the following members in attendance: Anne Bingham, Chair; Elizabeth Barnett, M.D.,Vice-Chair, Suzi Peck, and Sherwin Goodblatt. Also present was Jim Andrews, Health Agent for Engineering.
No official vote taken, but everyone at meeting reviewed minutes as distributed by Suzi Peck and meeting started from there.
1. Clarifications/ expansion of prior minutes
Anne Bingham: How much money is left in the CHAPPA Grant?
What is the status? Eric Hooper said should be completed by end of the summer.
Is CHAPPA study just for Wilber school or entire downtown area? According to Jim Andrews. the grant encompasses whole thing, but first Wilber then the rest
Suzi Peck: CHAPPA grant project #1 is to study the absorbant capacity of the Wilbur School lt.
Could the money left over be used to study wastewater issues in the downtown area more broadly?
Are wastewater treatment options for the part of the CHAPPA grant?. Answer: No one has heard from Delapa in a few years so not sure what their interest may be. Downtown Delapa units do not qualify as affordable housing.
Jim Andrews: Perc tests are scheduled for next Tuesday at Wilber school. Jim will be on vacation next week so he will not be there. Perc is to check soil and water table. They will perc the entire site.
Additions to goals obstacles statements:
George Bailey, MAPC Rep .: spoke about thinking of zone 2 on this side of track. Opportunity CHAPPA gives us for long term sewage area – depot across chestnut to tracks. He spoke with Eric Hooper: aware area is full of houses, high density, deserves some thought. 1) determine possible site and treatment system. 2) Figure treat wastewater contributing to zone 2 from that area.
, CHAPPA has strong interest in housing, not concerned with other uses…. Purpose of grant is to establish housing.
Joe Roach Selectman: When CHAPPA grant comes back, does not want to overload with downtown area. Treat area gently. Don’t want to see putting something in there just because we have room to put something in there. Don’t want to affect wells below.
Gina Maniscalco Planning Board: Goal to create affordable housing all over town, focus on smart growth principles in mind. Creating affordable housing in downtown area, including Delapa property 1) is there place for capacity of redevelopment of Wilber school and Delapa property. 2) ground water protection district… zone 2 and 3; heights, shaws plaza….. Would like to be educated on use of CHAPPA and would like to learn others level of expertise. Planning Board goal is to try to keep 40B’s at bay, but not at expense of drinking
water. She is here to be educated. Trying to learn each others mutual goals to move forward.
Greg Meister Conservation Agent: Would have liked to have Hank of Metcalf and Eddy Hank here, he is very knowledgeable. On same plane regarding goals, ensure effluent is managed properly. Protection from unregulated 40b’s. He read in paper about sewer extension for smart growth in a local town that received a grant. There is money out there and he feels that if departments work together money could be found for our project. He also mentioned that there is a site available for a treatment plant. (i.e.: take
the heights, treatment system available, tanks and low pressure, also (down near Islamic center) sand and gravel at top of cedar swamp. Put water into swamp for discharge. Perfect for that type of treatment. Need to bring in other areas as well, ie.. heights….etc…. recharge, effluent, smartgrowth…..
Marcia : Wilber committee: green toilets, waste…. What if we looked into waste product on some sort of scale. Who produces, maybe get them to foot bill on new technology, their firm would gain exposure for innovative systems and perhaps we could get some funding??
Suzi: What are we trying to do as a group? What info do we need to go forward? Then proceed. Get all info on the table so we are all on the same plane. People agreed on the following charge
Charge : Figure out how best to achieve the following, potentially conflicting goals:
Minutes of Meeting
June 6, 2005
A meeting of the Sharon Board of Health was called to order at 7:35 P.M. on Monday evening, June 6, 2005, in the Sharon Town Offices, with ?the following members in attendance: Anne Bingham, Chair; Elizabeth Barnett, M.D.,Vice-Chair, Suzi Peck, and Sherwin Goodblatt. Also present was Jim Andrews, Health Agent for Engineering.
No official vote taken, but everyone at meeting reviewed minutes as distributed by Suzi Peck and meeting started from there.
1. Clarifications/ expansion of prior minutes
Anne Bingham How much money is left in the CHAPPA Grant?
What is the status? Eric Hooper said should be completed by end of the summer.
Is CHAPPA study just for Wilber school or entire downtown area? According to Jim Andrews. the grant encompasses whole thing, but first Wilber then the rest
Suzi Peck CHAPPA grant project #1 is to study the absorbant capacity of the Wilbur School lt.
Could the money left over be used to study wastewater issues in the downtown area more broadly?
Are wastewater treatment options for the part of the CHAPPA grant?. Answer: No one has heard from Delapa in a few years so not sure what their interest may be. Downtown Delapa units do not qualify as affordable housing.
Jim Andrews Perc tests are scheduled for next Tuesday at Wilber school. Jim will be on vacation next week so he will not be there. Perc is to check soil and water table. They will perc the entire site.
Additions to goals obstacles statements
George Bailey, MAPC Rep .: spoke about thinking of zone 2 on this side of track. Opportunity CHAPPA gives us for long term sewage area – depot across chestnut to tracks. He spoke with Eric Hooper: aware area is full of houses, high density, deserves some thought. 1) determine possible site and treatment system. 2) Figure treat wastewater contributing to zone 2 from that area.
, CHAPPA has strong interest in housing, not concerned with other uses…. Purpose of grant is to establish housing.
Joe Roach Selectman: When CHAPPA grant comes back, does not want to overload with downtown area. Treat area gently. Don’t want to see putting something in there just because we have room to put something in there. Don’t want to affect wells below.
Gina Maniscalco Planning Board. Goal to create affordable housing all over town, focus on smart growth principles in mind. Creating affordable housing in downtown area, including Delapa property 1) is there place for capacity of redevelopment of Wilber school and Delapa property. 2) ground water protection district… zone 2 and 3; heights, shaws plaza….. Would like to be educated on use of CHAPPA and would like to learn others level of expertise. Planning Board goal is to try to keep 40B’s at bay, but not at expense of drinking
water. She is here to be educated. Trying to learn each others mutual goals to move forward.
Greg Meister Conservation Agent Would have liked to have Hank of Metcalf and Eddy Hank here, he is very knowledgeable. On same plane regarding goals, ensure effluent is managed properly. Protection from unregulated 40b’s. He read in paper about sewer extension for smart growth in a local town that received a grant. There is money out there and he feels that if departments work together money could be found for our project. He also mentioned that there is a site available for a treatment plant. (i.e.:
take the heights, treatment system available, tanks and low pressure, also (down near Islamic center) sand and gravel at top of cedar swamp. Put water into swamp for discharge. Perfect for that type of treatment. Need to bring in other areas as well, ie.. heights….etc…. recharge, effluent, smartgrowth…..
Marcia : Wilber committee : green toilets, waste…. What if we looked into waste product on some sort of scale. Who produces, maybe get them to foot bill on new technology, their firm would gain exposure for innovative systems and perhaps we could get some funding??
3. Suzi: What are we trying to do as a group? What info do we need to go forward? Then proceed. Get all info on the table so we are all on the same plane. People agreed on the following charge
Charge : Figure out how best to achieve the following, potentially conflicting goals:
*Protect Public health and the environment by preserving and enhancing water quality, quantity, and recharge and preventing exposure to inadequately treated wastewater
Maximize protection of water resources in the town
Sufficient drinking water quantity
Clean drinking water
Affordable drinking water
Effective wastewater disposal
Affordable wastew ater disposal
Sufficient flow to surface waters and groundwaters to protect wetlands and wildlife
Surface water/wetland protection from runoff (e.g. fertilizer, contaminated stormwater etc.)
*Increase commercial development and affordable housing, with a particular interest in Business Districts A, B, and C and near public transportation
Meet 40B
Keep tax rate manageable
Broaden tax base
Enhance character of the ton
Provide housing for seniors, young people, and town employees
Meet 10% affordable housing goal milestones to qualify for state grants and subsidies
Limit actual number of units built to that which can be supported with town resources (environmental & fiscal)
Anne Bingham: Important for everyone to work together. Can’t continue to deal with issue as piecemeal. We need to deal holistically within the town so as to add affordable housing. Issues will be raised no matter where housing would be put. Need to deal with wastewater as a town, not as piecemeal. Affordable housing is less dense then 40B, but still more dense than conventional housing. This raises a broader issue. (i.e) hunters ridge, cluster development - planning board supports, less homes then conventional
subdivision would have. Believe less of an impact….
Walter Newman – Zoning Board of Appeals: Density poses different issues on wastewater then the town has encountered in the past. From technical standpoint, this needs to be recognized. Cumulative with increase re: wastewater, etc….. even if not in ground water protection district. Density has advantages in water use, but disadvantages in wastewater.
.
4. What information do we need to go forward ? Do we have it? Can we get it?????
Data Requested
What makes something affordable: subsidize by state/agency, or a deed restriction on cost.? (Suzi Peck)
*We have 228 units DHCD that are affordable (according to alice cheyer, town citizen).3.25% affordable units in our Sharon
(Gina) Planning board needs data on left side, health needs data on the right. .
(Anne) would like a big map with
zone 2,
muod area,
groundwater protection districts,
business districts
, where sites are for proactive 40b’s (town owned);
representation of density that currently exists (lot size would give a good idea, plus according to size
how many bedrooms are contributing to zone 2.
*Information is available according at assessors office and from GIS system, plus data from town clerk office, (per George Bailey). It would be a lot of work and probably expensive. Eric Hooper has most information, except for data on bedrooms.
*Creating this map would be too busy, but put on clear overlays so able to look at a few thins at once. Overlays are expensive to create though.
Available treatment capacity at current treatment systems. (macintosh, highschool). (Suzi)
*Not too feasible to use these, but possible
* Middle school has interest in high school treatment system
Others’ thoughts
Start with a map showing what area of town suitable and limited to title v systems (soil maps)
where would likely have failures. Pump out rates, failure rates, might narrow areas down. If Title V systemes seem to be working well then maybe able to concentrate on other areas.
Town owned land suitable for treatment facility?
How much land do you need for this? Size of plant (not that big, leaching field) but… less leaching after treated…
5. Next Steps Working premise:
no extra sewage at Wilber, but cognizant of what is going on in town.
Chappa should give idea of what can be done.
Wilber should have the number for doing what they want to develop by the end of the summer.
Money left over from chappa, could be be used for more comprehensive downtown study
Everyone should email Suzi Peckl questions they would like answers to.
Will consider developing primers on the various topics that need to be considered in dealing with these issues (wastewaer, water supply, water management, planning, zoning etc.)
Next meeting scheduled for Monday, June 27th. 7:30PM
Protect Public health and the environment by preserving and enhancing water quality, quantity, and recharge and
preventing exposure to inadequately treated wastewater.
Increase commercial development and affordable housing, with a particular interest in Business Districts A, B, and C and near public transportation
Maximize protection of water resources in the town
Sufficient drinking water quantity
Clean drinking water
Affordable drinking water
Effective wastewater disposal
Affordable wastew ater disposal
Sufficient flow to surface waters and groundwaters to protect wetlands and wildlife
Surface water/wetland protection from runoff (e.g. fertilizer, contaminated stormwater etc.)
Meet 40B
Keep tax rate manageable
Broaden tax base
Enhance character of the ton
Provide housing for seniors, young people, and town employees
Meet 10% affordable housing goal milestones to qualify for state grants and subsidies
Limit actual number of units built to that which can be supported with town resources (environmental & fiscal)
Anne Bingham Important for everyone to work together. Can’t continue to deal with issue as piecemeal. We need to deal holistically within the town so as to add affordable housing. Issues will be raised no matter where housing would be put. Need to deal with wastewater as a town, not as piecemeal. Affordable housing is less dense then 40B, but still more dense than conventional housing. This raises a broader issue. (i.e) hunters ridge, cluster development - planning board supports, less homes then conventional
subdivision would have. Believe less of an impact….
Walter Newman – Zoning Board of Appeals: Density poses different issues on wastewater then the town has encountered in the past. From technical standpoint, this needs to be recognized. Cumulative with increase re: wastewater, etc….. even if not in ground water protection district. Density has advantages in water use, but disadvantages in wastewater.
.
4. What information do we need to go forward ? Do we have it? Can we get it?????
Data Requested Comments/ Answers/ Availability of Data
What makes something affordable: subsidize by state/agency, or a deed restriction on cost.? (Suzi Peck) We have 228 units DHCD that are affordable (according to alice cheyer, town citizen).3.25% affordable units in our Sharon
(Gina) Planning board needs data on left side, health needs data on the right. .
(Anne) would like a big map with
zone 2,
muod area,
groundwater protection districts,
business districts
, where sites are for proactive 40b’s (town owned);
representation of density that currently exists (lot size would give a good idea, plus according to size
how many bedrooms are contributing to zone 2.
Information is available according at assessors office and from GIS system, plus data from town clerk office, (per George Bailey). It would be a lot of work and probably expensive. Eric Hoooper has most information, except for data on bedrooms.
Creating this map would be too busy, but put on clear overlays so able to look at a few thins at once. Overlays are expensive to create though.
Available treatment capacity at current treatment systems. (macintosh, highschool). (Suzi)
Not too feasible to use these, but possible
Middle school has interest in high school treatment system
Others’ thoughts
Start with a map showing what area of town suitable and limited to title v systems (soil maps)
where would likely have failures. Pump out rates, failure rates, might narrow areas down. If Title V systemes seem to be working well then maybe able to concentrate on other areas.
Town owned land suitable for treatment facility?
How much land do you need for this? Size of plant (not that big, leaching field) but… less leaching after treated…
5. Next Steps Working premise:
no extra sewage at Wilber, but cognizant of what is going on in town.
Chappa should give idea of what can be done.
Wilber should have the number for doing what they want to develop by the end of the summer.
Money left over from chappa, could be be used for more comprehensive downtown study
Everyone should email Suzi Peckl questions they would like answers to.
Will consider developing primers on the various topics that need to be considered in dealing with these issues (wastewaer, water supply, water management, planning, zoning etc.)
Next meeting scheduled for Monday, June 27th. 7:30PM
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