BARNSTABLESEWERS.COM

The next meeting of the Citizen’s Advisory Committee has been rescheduled to March 8, 2010, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm in the town hall hearing room.   One reason for skipping a February meeting may have to do with two possible resignations of appointed committee members.

The results of our poll indicate that the predatory statements by CAC member Rob Anderson in e-mails recently pasted on capecog.com convinced 77 out of 87 voters that he should resign from the committee.  We’ve certainly seen better appointments than Anderson in Barnstable, but we’ve also seen a whole lot worse.  While his moral credibility has been damaged, is he really any more repulsive than the likes of Milton Berglund in this wastewater war of wills over reason?

Frankly, we’re not convinced that the findings of this new CAC will amount to anything meaningful regarding future sewer projects.  Keep in mind that Barnstable had a CAC from 1993-2007  comprised of 14 members of the community who  met regularly to plan for big sewer expansion projects.   Of course in 1993 some of us had car phones as big as toasters, and the cost of big sewer was bread crumbs compared to the billions of dollars it will cost to approach Cape sewering the old fashioned way today.  

 According to DPW Director Mark Ells, there are only two reasons the town has for going forward with the 17 year old plan for big sewer in Stewart’s Creek:

Homeowners from  Stewart’s Creek and Lake Wequaquet rejected these ”only reasons” from the DPW, and every other reason given by the town council for going forward with the old CAC recommendations, and both projects were voted down by the council that night. 

A sleazy scheme was designed and promoted by Precinct 13 councilor J. Gregory Milne to drag stinky old mothball  Milton Berglund, an abutter of the Stewart’s Creek Project,  to  ask for  a “do-over”  on the June 25th measure.  Geezer Berglund submitted a flimsy petition (which has disappeared from town files)  suggesting  the idea that councilors may have confused the two projects.   As you know, the council reversed it’s decision on Stewart’s Creek at the mega-meeting of August 6th, 2009.   

While the last CAC met for 14 years, the targeted time frame for this committee is only 18 months.  Town Council President Chirigotis made repeated claims before his re-election that he was putting together this committee to address the financing options for Stewart’s Creek and future sewering projects. 

In spite of profound statements of the obvious from Brian Dudley of DEP and assorted comittee members at the January 11th CAC meeting, old man Berglund insisted that addressing the immediate needs of his neighbors to find help in financing the project (scheduled to begin no later than April 15, 2010) should not be prioritized on the “to do” list of the new Citizen’s Advisory Committee.  While compelling arguments were made otherwise, nerd Berglund repeatedly posited that this CAC should not play a major role in researching financing options.

What’s really disturbing about this meeting is that no one demanded to take a vote when members obviously disagreed on the order of agenda items.  Mark Ells clearly gave members an option to prioritize financing to the top of the list, but Baritone Bergland won out, and the committee went along with the agenda of town administrators.

Being that the last CAC spent 14 years researching everything BUT how to pay for the big sewer plan, don’t you think this CAC should at least figure that one out?   After all, didn’t Chrigotis, who appointed these people repeatedly say that addressing financing was an urgent need?

In addition to up front costs which could easily be as much as ten thousand dollars ($8K grinder pump, costs to get rid of your old septic, costs to tear up your lawn and put it back together, etc..),  property owners in the Stewart’s Creek project will be charged a betterment of $1240 per year for 20 years starting Feb. 1, 2012. 

 We looked up assessments for each of the 42 properties listed on Greenwood Avenue, as it is the largest road in the SC project area.   We calculated the average value to be $266,852.    The average tax bill for 2010 on Greenwood is about $1900 with the residential exemption.   Provided we have no major hurricane or other Acts of God, the average Greenwood Avenue resident is facing a minimum of a SIXTY-FIVE PERCENT INCREASE in taxes for a sewer that they don’t need.

 Pre-printed letters drafted by Attorney Michael Turner were sent to most homeowners on private roads last week:

We expect that the DPW will be receiving notices from several property owners on private roads refusing or revoking permission to access their private ways.  We’ve been advised that some have already begun to send the letters to the DPW.   While this may forestall as much as 20% of the project, it appears the town plans to start digging on public roads within the next 60 days.

Although we appreciate the argument that “eventually” we will need to address “possible” problems with wastewater issues in the area, there is no immediate need to financially cripple any homeowner in Barnstable at this moment, in the midst of this particularly difficult economy.  The Citizen Petition for a Moratorium is floating in Town Council limbo.  They have ten more weeks (sometime within the next 5 council meetings) to have a hearing and vote on the matter, according to Section 8-7(b) of the Town Charter.  You may want to contact your councilor, no matter how callous he/she has been so far to the pleadings of the people, and ask for serious consideration of the petition.

Remember that eventually the town is going to try to come to your door with an opressively expensive, unwanted and very possibly unneccessary alternative to your Title V system.  A very dangerous precedent is being set in Stewart’s Creek with the measure for 100% betterment costs nailed to the homeowner’s tax bill for 20 years.   The cost for big sewer by the time it gets to the homeowners in Lake Wequaquet could easily be five times the cost in Stewart’s Creek.  If you live in one of any of the 13 precincts within the Town of Barnstable, please contact your councilor and ask that he/she support the Moratorium Petition filed two weeks ago.  You can find contact info for your councilor on the town’s website:  http://www.town.barnstable.ma.us/TownCouncil/towncounelcontact.pdf

Barnstablesewers.com confirms that the emails posted today on capecog.com were authored by defeated Precinct 2 council candidate and current member of the Citizens Advisory Committee, Rob Anderson of Centerville.

Anderson organized the November 21, 2009 meeting at a local church for “Concerned residents affected by the Stewart’s Creek SEWER EXPANSION PROJECT”, and ran his campaign for a town council seat primarily on the issue of town sewers. 

The e-mails are dated one week after Anderson lost the election to incumbent Tom Rugo.   Lopez ommitted some particularly disturbing statements that specifically named residents of Stewart’s Creek intended to be “test subjects”, and that he would “fully intend on charging” them.

At first glance the missives seem to be a business proposition that could slow the movement for big sewer in Barnstable.  However statements like “I have two smoke screens in mind,”  “I am not going to be up front with them”, and his intention to “cause some serious commotion while we slip in for the waivers” demonstrate that Anderson’s scheme to  “pull about $100K to make it worthwhile” , included deceiving town officials, blogger Eric “Bugsy” Schwaab, Gary Lopez of capecog.com, Stewart’s Creek residents who thought his intentions were altruistic, and countless other potential “customers”.

After careful consideration, SCRUBS President Ernie Doody, and Treasurer Louise DiCecca have annouced their resignation from the PAC.   We respect and fully understand their reasons to do so. 

In the absence of financial support to sue the town in hopes of obtaining an injunction to stop the sewering project, there does not seem to be much purpose to maintaining the political action committee.  SCRUBS can regroup or dissolve with little or no consequences to the actions of the group, provided that no campaign finance laws will be broken in their future endeavors. 

Mrs. Dorothy Hughes of Centerville delivered the Petition for Moratorium to the Town Clerk’s office this morning with a cover letter directing her to section 8-7 (b) of the town charter.  Mrs. Hughes also advised Clerk Linda Hutchenrider that per her suggestion, Hughes had contacted a town councilor to sponsor the petition, and that he is giving the matter “serious consideration”.

While the more villagecentric folks will argue that Hughes and others outside the affected area are interfering with a neighborhood issue, Stewart’s Creek residents feel strongly that more people from other parts of town should be thinking about the cost of what may become a town-wide issue.  A Phase II resident wrote that “The perceived base of opposition has to go beyond the few Stewart’s Creek residents – like me – whom the council has already identified and marginalized….Better a new face and a new name from another part of town.”

While we whole-heartedly agree with these assertions, the problem is that our town “leaders” consistently give us mixed messages about our image as a community.  Several councilors weighed in on the battle at Stewart’s Creek by saying that it is a neighborhood problem that should be worked out among the targeted homeowners.  A few months later, the CAC was formed, supposedly to help with the issue, but included only one resident from the affected area. 

4th generation Centervillian Rob Anderson was also appointed to the CAC.  The e-mails clearly demonstrate that he has a personal financial interest in the outcome of the recommendations of the committee.  Looking at several other members of the CAC however, it appears that Anderson is hardly alone in having financial motivation for seeking appointment.

In closing we would like to clairfy that this website was re-opened temporarily to report the progress that the people of Stewart’s Creek have made in fighting for their homes by staying involved.  We have no role in leading the group, as only the homeowners can decide what is the best course of action in their own best interests.   

“Creekers” will continue to appear at council and committee meetings, support petitions, defy the town’s attempt to take easement on their private roads, look for and accept help from anyone interested in volunteering to find a solution to the mess created by the Barnstable Town Council.

Barnstable is full of good people who find happiness in service of others.  Every bushel has a few bad apples, and not everyone wants to make a buck off the backs of the sewer victims in Barnstable.

“Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.”

Dalai Lama quote

The confirmed death toll in Haiti’s calamitous earthquake has reached 70,000, and officals speculate the number could reach as high as 200,000. 

Members of Barnstable’s Haitian community live in the affected area of Stewart’s Creek, but it is unlikely that they are thinking about sewers right now.

Today is a holiday for Americans to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King and the timeless values that empowered his revolutionary spirit.  It’s a day to remember his dream of a nation united in justice, peace and reconciliation.

While others in the local blogosphere continue to engage in petty arguments, we here at barnstablesewers.com ask that all members of the Barnstable Community count their blessings today.  For most of us, this is a day to reflect , pray for others, and be thankful for what we have.

Following are photos taken by JONATHAN TORGOVNIK & /SHAUL SCHWARZ REPORTAGE, AFP GETTY IMAGES FOR CNN:

Barnstable Sewers is temporarily re-opened to update resident and non-resident homeowners of Stewart’s Creek on the activities of a group of people who have been working for several months to find a fair and reasonable solution to the unreasonable financial burden the Town of Barnstable is placing on the owners of 320 properties in the affected area.

Were the town council, local blogs and newspapers giving reliable information about the project, re-opening this blog would not have become necessary.   While the actions of honestly compassionate individuals from outside Stewart’s Creek is greatly appreciated, it is up to the homeowners themselves to decide the best course of action to take in order to protect their property rights.

The operative word here is action, and the people of Stewart’s Creek have been doing what they can to save their homes.   Away from the prying eyes of  local authorities, bloggers and reporters, this group has planned a meritorius strategy to keep awareness raised about the outrageously cruel and abusive treatment they are getting from town “leaders”.

Before the November 3rd election last fall, members of this group were accused of misleading voters about the town’s plans for town-wide sewering and the unfathomable costs for the projects.  Fearing the sewer issue would crush their chances at being re-elected, incumbent councilors lied about earlier statements regarding sewer projects, made promises that were broken immediately after being re-elected, and had DPW director Mark Ells write a letter to the state removing a line item for a $165 million wastewater treatment plant.

Remember this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIBDFaAhtWc

We will be reviewing last year’s council meetings and campaign debates and bring you undeniable proof of the lies and deception stinking up the debate over the issue.   It seems that getting their hands on stimulus money is the only reason the council has left to insist that the project go forward.  Homeowners continue to beg for mercy, but councilors respond by either demonstrating their willful ignorance of the facts, deception of or distraction from the facts, or not at all .

The group of individuals from Stewart’s Creek and their supporters recently circulated a petition which will be presented to the town clerk on Monday with a cover letter referring to the chapter of the town charter, allowing council consideraton of the petition.   A minimum of 150 signatures are required, and petitioners collected over 200 signatures in a brief period of time.   The petition reads as follows:

                                                                 PETITION

Bergland repeatedly claimed that discussion of financing options by the CAC would merely be duplicating the work of the CFAC.  There was a brief opportunity for a committee member to insist that financing, which is number five on the agenda for discussion be prioritized as the first order of business, but no one spoke up, and the meeting went forward in accordance with the wishes of the town.

Certain homeowners in the affected area received letters from the town asking for an ”irrevokable signature” allowing the town easement for installing sewer lines.  Here is a copy of one such letter:

2009-11-03 letter blackedout

These letters were sent to homeowners in Phase ONE (east side), but we hadn’t heard of anyone from Phase TWO who had received the letter.  While approximately 75-80% of the town’s roads are private, every single road in Phase II is  public.

Check out this map of the affected area.  Roads with red lines are public, blue lines are private, and yellow highlighted roads represent roads in the affected area.  Properties colored in green are noted as those who have given permission to the town for easements.

Please continue to be a constant presence at town hall meetings, CAC, CFAC, and even Planning Board meetings.  Contrary to all the chat about the  issue of property rights taking place in a courtroom, the issue of the easements will be handled at a public meeting with the Planning Board.

Some of our members are speaking with local lawyers and others have been calling Law Schools around New England, as we haven’t given up on filing suit and motioning the court for an injunction to halt the sewer project at Stewart’s Creek. 

We don’t know if this mess will be come a battle for survival of the fittest, or if  David can really get Goliath to back off, but we’ve still got a few rocks for our slingshots. 

Comments will remain open until such time as the abuse becomes intolerable.  There may be times when comments will be moderated.  If you have a question or comment, please feel free to contact us at barnstablesewers@live.com.