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Minutes of April 9,2018 Meeting
APPROVED MINUTES
MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE MEETING
DATE: Tuesday, April 9, 2018 TIME:7:00 PM
LOCATION: Willcutt Center, 91 Sohier Street, 2nd Level Media Area
IN ATTENDANCE: Clark Brewer, Chair
Peter Hobson
Lynn Schwandt
Kevin McCarthy
Eric Seuss
Katie Dugan
Bill McGowan, Cohasset Sewer Commissioner
Peter Matchak, Director of Planning
Ralph Wilmer, MAPC - Project Manager
Angela Geso, MPC Administrator
ABSENT: Patrick Kennedy, Vice Chair
John Donohue
Amy Glasmeier
Charlie Higginson
Dr. Paul Schubert
Meeting called to order at 7:00 by Chair Brewer
7:00 PM: Discussion: Cohasset Sewer Presentation, Bill McGowan
Mr. McGowan, Cohasset Sewer Commissioner representing the Cohasset Sewer Commission spoke to the
Master Plan Committee concerning the state of the Cohasset Sewer and the planned expansion of the
sewer. Cohasset's current sewer capacity is 850,000 gallons per day (gpd). On an average day the
Cohasset sewer system processes 460,000 gpd on effluent. Mr. McGowen stated the recent tides 6' ft, or
greater cause during a storm event places an increase strain on the sewer system with additional flooding
from rainfall and storm surge.
The discussion then reviewed all development plans including the ongoing conversations with the towns of
Scituate and Hull calling for the development of a regional combined sewer plan. Within the town boarders
the sewer commission is analyzing opportunities to increase capacity the existing sewer system including
the expansion of the sewer system to environmentally sensitive areas of the community to help promote a
cleaner environment.
MAPC UPDATE: RALPH WILLMER
Ralph Wilmer, Master Plan Project Manager spoke to the committee stating Emma Schnur, MAPC
Regional Planner has been moved to another project and Alexis Smith, MAPC Senior Regional Housing
and Land Use Planner will join the Cohasset Master Plan.
Master Plan Committee
Minutes of April 9,2018 Meeting
For the upcoming May 91" open house forum at Willcutt Commons Ralph Wilmer requested to edit the May
forum agenda removing Housing as a proposed topic to the June public forum while placing Transportation
on the May agenda with Public Services/Facilities and Open Space and Recreation. The Committee
approved the changes.
Committee member Katie Dugan requested to review the draft of Cohasset"Today" at the next meeting to
include an implementation section to help educate residence how a master plan works within a community.
Peter Pescatore of the Cohasset Open Space and Recreation Master Plan (OSRP)— Update (10 min)
Peter Pescatore, of the Open Space and Rec Master plan gave a brief update to the Master Plan
Committee presenting the four objectives the OSRP have concluded:
1. Make protection of open space and the character of the town a priority in all town land use
decisions, in keeping with citizen's wishes, to preserve access, town character and scenic beauty.
2. Protect and maintain the natural environment, including:
3. Improve recreational opportunity and access:
4. Organizational changes and collaboration to monitor and achieve these goals.
The final draft of the OSRP scheduled for completion in June of 2018. The next meeting for the committee
will be on May 18, 2018.
Review: Social Media - Katie Dugan and Kevin McCarthy:
Both Katie and Kevin, Master Plan Committee members have helped develop the social media platforms
for the Master Plan group. A PowerPoint was reviewed by the committee discussing the "question of the
week" and the citizen participation that has been collected. A major response and interest of the community
has been the need for additional sidewalks throughout the community linking existing sidewalks and the
existing train station.
Schedule of Meetings:
It was decided the next public forum will be held on May 9t" at the Willcutt Commons. The Master Plan
Committee will meet again on May 2nd to review the context of the public forum. Furthermore, the
Committee will hold a conference call at Cohasset Town Hall on April 18 and 26 to review material which
will be presented at the public forum.
Meeting adjourned at 9:15 pm by Chair Brewer.