Although he spoke respectfully of abutters’ concerns over stormwater flooding on two undeveloped adjoining lots on Starboard Way near Molly’s Cove, Mattapoisett Conservation Commission Chairman Mike King was also very clear: “You should engage an engineer to help you with drainage issues on your property,” he told the abutters, invoking that comment five times during the public hearing.

            Throughout the July 12 Notice of Intent hearings presented by Bill Madden of G.A.F. Engineering for the construction of single-family homes, King punctuated Madden’s comments with the point that the stormwater drainage issues currently experienced in the neighborhood are addressed in the engineering, with roof runoff diverted to underground recharge systems and topographical aspects moving water to the center of the properties. Concerns expressed by several abutters, most notably Nicole Balthazar, were around current conditions where stormwater ponds on the lots. But Madden pointed out that the soil testing confirmed the adequacy of sandy soils for drainage into the ground.

            King also noted that roadways in the beach neighborhood have become, in effect, dams holding stormwater on residential lots rather than granting flow away from homes. He said that if the proposed construction included septic systems, other considerations would cause the projects much more difficulty. However, the two new homes will be serviced by public sewer and water, he said.

            “This project, as proposed, will not add water to the neighborhood,” King assured the abutters. He said, “I’m sympathetic to the neighbor; the reality is that this won’t add water on the ground.”

            Madden called it a “cut and dried” flood zone project with the two homes being built in compliance to FEMA standards and of the occasional stormwater ponding. “It does dissipate,” he said.

            King also pointed to mounting evidence of sea-level rise in the seaside community, including at the Reservation Golf Club, but again said, “This design meets all performance standards, including all drainage issues.”

            Also present for the hearings was Attorney Jamy Madeja, who stated she was representing several other residents of the neighborhood and that her clients wished to join others in requesting the town’s assistance in correcting roadway drainage issues, including their damming impact.

            King advised the abutters that they could appeal the decisions made by the local commission to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, but that in cases such as this, the agency would most likely uphold the local commission’s acceptance of the project as designed. In the end, the commission unanimously approved the two projects with conditions.

            Other matters handled on this night: Requests for Determination of Applicability filed by Peter Annunziato, 11 Rock Road, for the construction of a shed; Mike and Elaine Botelho, 9 Crestfield Street, for an addition to an existing patio; Tom Grondski and Catherine Jackie for septic system upgrades; and Bartholomew O’Brien, lots 25 and 26 Prince Snow Drive, for removal of trees in a buffer zone. All received negative determinations of applicability.

            A Notice of Intent filed by the Howley Trust for 1 Waterman Street for the razing of an existing home and construction of a new residence was conditioned as designed.

            Also receiving orders of conditions were NOIs filed by Fred Danforth, 2 Brandt Island Shores,

and Good Speed, LLC, 1 Brandt Island Shores, both for beach nourishment and boulder placement to repair erosion of beach areas.

            Before adjourning, the commission again discussed the vacancy created by the retirement of Conservation Agent Liz Leildhold. King said that one application had been received for a freelance licensed agent.

            King said that the lack of a conservation agent as a town employee will shift a large burden to the applicants primarily in the form of increased fees. He said an RDA would now cost $450 to file.

            Commissioner David Lawrence confirmed his willingness to help the town with site visits for filed RDAs but said the time commitment was upwards of five hours per day. Commissioner Chapman Dickerson said, “That’s a lot of free labor to the town.”

            Commissioner John Jacobsen said, “This is a result of the town dragging its feet.”

            King said, “We’ll do what we can,” and thanked Leidhold for her service, saying, “You will be missed.”

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for Monday, July 26, at 6:30 pm.

The Mattapoisett River Valley Water District Commission voted at its July 13 meeting to move forward with the preliminary design agreement for the Koch Separation filter upgrade to its water treatment plant.

            After Jon Gregory of Tata & Howard told the commission that the preliminary design engineering agreements were set last month for filter replacement, MRV plant manager Henri Renald told the commission that he is “absolutely” good with the plan and reviewed it with Gregory. “I’m very comfortable moving forward with it,” Renauld said.

            MRV Chairman Vinnie Furtado said he, too, is comfortable going forward with the plan. Furtado told the commission that $736,000 was set aside so some of those funds are being used to get the project moving forward as a capital expense.

            Rochester Town Counsel Blair Bailey, who assists the commission, reminded Furtado that the funding was the subject of a vote that took place earlier so the commission should clarify where that money comes from. Furtado said the MRV typically puts an annual $200,000 into a capital fund and that would be the source of the funding.

            The commission voted to approve the $27,696 insurance agreement on the building that houses the MRV’s water treatment plant. The structure, constructed in 2008 for $15,000,000, is now valued at $9,000,000.

            Furtado noted that the City of New Bedford was victimized by ransomware when he said that the insurance company recommends that the Water District consider implementing a stand-alone cyber security system.

            Bailey said that Mattapoisett does not carry its own insurance on the water treatment plant; the policy is completely held by the district according to Renauld. Asked by member Rick Charon that nature of data storage, Renauld said the black box system cannot copy files and send them back to the operator, calling it a “one-way channel.”

            Renauld said the MRV cannot go online with either computer at the treatment plant. There is “no export capability on either one of them. It’s designed that way for protection.”

            In his Tata & Howard report, Gregory said the risk and resilience assessment has been submitted. His Tata & Howard colleague Paul Howard said there is “very little chance of anybody being able to get in there and change anything” because the computers are not on the internet.

            Gregory reported that the PILOT test was completed on June 15 and equipment removed from the treatment plant. Koch, he said, is slowly updating the lab data from the plant, has begun the report and, when complete, will provide it to the MRV. Tata & Howard engineers will review and submit the data to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for review and approval. Gregory said that all the chemical bids for FY22 have come in except for liquid oxygen.

            In his Operations Update, Renauld reported that June produced 75,000,000 gallons of water, a per-day average of 2,500,000 gallons.

            Attending the meeting, Mattapoisett Town Administrator Mike Lorenco asked if he should anticipate the MRV requesting ARPA funds. Lorenco said ARPA money lasts until 2024. “We’re looking for valuable reasons to spend this funding,” he said.

            Total commission invoices for the month totaled $50,823.96, covering most of the PILOT study, and including Tata & Howard at $4,426.

            In the MRV Water Protection Supply Committee that immediately preceded the commission meeting, the advisory committee voted to enter into an agreement with Tata & Howard for FY22 that would finance up to $35,000 for the fiscal year, facilitating the engineering firm’s work on behalf of the MRV.

            In his Treasurers Report to the MRV Water Protection Supply Committee, Jeff Furtado reported a July 1 ending balance of $227,394.98, total credits for FY21 at $90,738.60 and total debt for FY21 at $49,357.42. Jeff Furtado announced two credits, an interest rate Rockland Trust of $2.87 for June, and a $5,000 reimbursement for a monitoring program. Debts included $3,436.29 for Tata & Howard.

            The next meeting of the MRV committee and commission is set for Tuesday, August 10, at 3:30 pm and 4:00 pm respectively.

MRV Water District Commission/Water Protection Supply Committee

By Mick Colageo