As the Tri-Towns strategize to locate sources of nitrogen pollution in hopes the state Department of Environmental Protection will relent on a sweeping septic regulation requiring an expensive upgrade to existing systems in areas deemed nitrogen sensitive, elected officials are raising their arms like a linebacker on the home team, trying to drum up noise for a big play.
The Marion Board of Health was on hand for Tuesday night’s Select Board meeting to discuss the issue and seeking public comment now that the DEP has extended the comment period to January 30.
“I’d like to see a … more thorough examination of the groundwater pollution that’s alleged instead of just sampling the water that’s in the bay,” said Board of Health member Albie Johnson, referencing the chain of events that leveraged the town into spending $13,000,000 to clean up and re-line a lagoon at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. “It’s my understanding at the time they didn’t find any (nitrogen) around the lagoon.”
He called the state’s plan “a little bit excessive.”
Dr. John Howard, the Board of Health chairman, reported 32 denitrification septic systems in Marion. “I’m not sure how many are functioning,” he said, noting that 14 have been built since Marion’s new denitrification septic regulation went into effect earlier this year. The regulation only applies to new or upgraded septic constructions.
Howard said the board has been monitoring the new systems and that they are doing well. A key element to that sustainability, says Dr. Ed Hoffer, a board member, is the homeowners’ accountability for testing and maintenance of the new systems.
“This is ultimately a political process like everything else. … We have to ask … what is the most cost-effective and reasonable way to do it?” said Hoffer, openly considering how much nitrogen is generated from the Kittansett Club and/or how much from Great Hill Dairy Farm. “We need to go about this in a rational manner and not just take a dictate from DEP.”
The problem with sweeping regulations, noted Hoffer, is that the new denitrification systems work “reasonably well for year-round dwellings; they work poorly for seasonal dwellings.” He said that new systems on seasonal properties may be less efficient than the systems they replace.
Executive Assistant Donna Hemphill indicated that the town will send out an email and post the matter on town web and Facebook pages.
Acknowledging a respectful disagreement with Interim Town Administrator Judy Mooney, Parker sought “a vote of confidence” to discuss a measure that would beef up health insurance benefits for town employees. He believes a stronger package would allow the town to maintain and attract more good employees.
Select Board member Toby Burr offered support, adding that job turnover costs the town money in training and performance. Select Board member Norm Hills noted the ongoing budget process and said the matter requires some research and analysis. “I need to understand what I’m looking at here, too,” he said.
The total annual cost of the benefits program is $128,102.88 for 64 employees, said Parker. Mooney said she is willing to research the matter further.
In her Town Administrator’s Report, Mooney announced that Marion has received an additional $250,000 from the DEP for the Lagoon lining project, to which Select Board Chairman Randy Parker publicly thanked Representative William Straus.
Mooney also announced that the state Seaport Economic Council has granted the town another $300,000 toward the construction of the new Marine Center. That leaves the town $700,000 based on May 2022 cost estimates (Town Meeting.) Mooney said she hopes to meet with Tim Sawyer of architect Catalyst to discuss cost, noting that the design for the new harbormaster’s headquarters is not totally complete.
Harbormaster Isaac Perry, according to Mooney, remains very confident about grant funding for the project.
Parker reported that architect Will Saltonstall is in the process of getting cost estimates for the new Department of Public Works operations center.
The Town Administrator Search Committee held three interviews on Tuesday and had three more scheduled Wednesday of this week. Out of 27 applicants, the committee hopes to bring four finalists to the Select Board in January.
“It’s tough to get down to seven or six … last time we lost candidates on a daily basis … it’s a lot of work, it’s very draining,” said Parker of the all-day interviewing process.
Mooney told the board the rates for community aggregation of electricity will be 10.470 cents per kilowatt hour (c/kWh) through December 2023 (year-long cycle), a “significant savings” relative to Eversource’s rate of 25.649 c/kWh. “We encourage residents to visit our website (marionma.gov),” she said.
The following 14 applicants are being considered to join Sippican Historical Society-recommended member Will Tifft for six other positions on the Historic District Study Committee: Margie Baldwin, Dan Crete, John DiSalvo, Charles Duane, Mary Endsley, Kevin Gretton, George Morton, Erin Murphy, Alanna Nelson, Ken Parsons, Jill Pitman, Shelly Richins, Stephen Swain and Mallory Waterman. Meg Steinberg pulled her name out of consideration.
During the Public Comment session, longtime Marion developer Sherman Briggs articulated concerns about Creek Road, offering a 21-year sketch of mishaps and apparently wasted investments on the part of the town without available information or a remedy for a water main that he and Hills agree is unusable.
“I’ve seen the pictures of it, I’ve never seen anything so bad in my life,” said Hills, who said he has a report from the engineer on the process.
“As a taxpayer … I don’t want to see Creek Road not rebuilt not the proper way,” said Briggs. “I think the Marion taxpayers deserve answers to these questions.”
The DPW has requested $122,000 in capital funds to address the matter. Briggs says that the town already approved $250,000 in funding that has seen the water main never tested, chlorinated or activated.
The Select Board voted to approve a revised sewer application at 460 Front Street, changing from a 6-inch pipe to a 4-inch pipe that runs out to a sewer connection.
The board approved the following Water/Sewer commitments: $265,845.12 (liens December 7th), $643.34 (final readings December 9th), $1,364.31 (quarterly billing December 12th) and $1,309,999.66 (quarterly billing December 16th.)
The meeting began with a brief executive session pursuant to Purpose 3 of state General Law c. 30A, s. 21(a)(3) regarding strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation.
The next meeting of the Marion Select Board is scheduled for Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at 6:00 pm at the Police Station.
Marion Select Board
By Mick Colageo