Select Board July 24 Meeting Recap: Town Welcomes DEP’s Tentative Denial of Holtec Request

At the July 24 meeting of the Brewster Select Board, Town Manager Peter Lombardi provided an update on Holtec International’s planned discharge of wastewater from the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station into Cape Cod Bay. In June, the Brewster Select Board voted to go on record in opposition to Holtec International’s plans. Mr. Lombardi explained that the Department of Environmental Protection issued their tentative determination on July 24 to deny Holtec’s proposal. “This is really reassuring news, and something that we have consistently heard about from residents for well over a year,” said Mr. Lombardi.

Select Board Chair Ned Chatelain and Clerk Kari Hoffmann

The Select Board also approved new appointments to the Drummer Boy Park Advisory Committee. The term of the appointments will be through May 2024. The following applicants were approved for at-large seats: Jillian Douglass, Allyson Felix, Devin McGuire, Katharine Scott. The following individuals were approved to serve their respective committees as voting members of the Drummer Boy Park Advisory Committee: Patricia Hughes (Natural Resources Advisory Committee), Jay Green (Council on Aging Board), Chris Ellis (Recreation Commission). In addition, Ray Hebert will represent the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Bill Roberts will represent the Brewster Historical Society and Hal Minis will represent Brewster Conservation Trust.  The committee will present their recommendations to Town Meeting in May 2024.

Davis Walters, Brewster Building Commissioner, then presented to the Select Board on the proposed revisions to the Building Department’s permit fee schedule. Mr. Walters explained that the proposed changes are intended to simplify the overall schedule, and to make for easier integration with the Town’s new e-permitting software. Mr. Walters noted that the modifications are, “reasonable and in line with building fees for other towns in our area.” He concluded by noting that “the relatively modest fee increases proposed will not significantly impact the overall cost to applicants.” The Board voted to approve the new permit fee schedule, which can be found here.

Brewster Building Commissioner Davis Walters

Maggie Downey, Administrator for the Cape Light Compact, provided an update to the Select Board on Brewster’s 2023 energy efficiency highlights, such as no-cost energy assessments for residents and businesses. Ms. Downey then summarized the Cape and Vineyard electrification program, a coordinated effort by the Cape Light Compact to decarbonize 100 homes on Cape Cod through the installation of insulation, heat pumps, solar panels, and electric stoves for low and moderate income residents. Interested customers should contact the Cape Light Compact at 800-797-6699 to determine eligibility.

Maggie Downey and Brianna Kane from the Cape Light Compact 

Finally, Mr. Lombardi updated the Select Board on the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources decision to approve Eversource’s 2023-2027 Vegetation Management Plan. The plan, as written, allows for the application of herbicides for maintenance purposes along the utility companies’ right of way. Mr. Lombardi explained that the Town has strongly opposed and litigated against the application of herbicides for these purposes and has historically been successful. “The draft yearly operations plan for 2023 indicates that Eversource only plans to apply herbicides in one section of the right of way in Bourne, which is relatively good news in the near-term,” Mr. Lombardi noted.