Bourne Board of Sewer Commissioners Meeting - June 18, 2026

Note: The transcript of the meeting references June 23, 2026, but the official record indicates the meeting occurred on June 18, 2026.

The Bourne Board of Sewer Commissioners met on June 18, 2026, at 7:00 PM at the Community Building. The meeting was televised, streamed, and recorded. Commissioners present included MJ, Jean, Peter, Melissa (via Zoom), and the Chair. The meeting began with a brief Select Board meeting that approved a special event permit, followed by the Sewer Commissioners' agenda. Key topics included converting an operational allocation to actual flow for Keystone Place, updates on the wastewater treatment facility, and a discussion on the intermunicipal agreement with Wareham.

Consent Calendar

• Select Board: Unanimous approval of a special event permit for Mitchell Kurtlin to use the Monument Beach baseball fields for a graduation party on June 28, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Peter Murner (resident, Nick Veter Road) addressed both the Select Board and Sewer Commissioners. He expressed disappointment that the Select Board had not yet requested a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with MassDOT regarding the bridge project. He urged the board to add this to the next agenda, citing a recent puddle that caused two-hour delays. He argued that MassDOT's priority is not Bourne residents and that the Conservation Commission had successfully forced MassDOT to not close Canal Road. He also strongly recommended that the Sewer Commissioners write a letter to the Select Board requesting an MOU with MassDevelopment about the redevelopment of 7,000 acres on the base, emphasizing the need for a wastewater treatment solution.

Discussion Items

• Conversion of Operational Allocation to Actual Flow for Keystone Place (Agenda Item 4): The board considered converting the preliminary allocation of 14,000 gallons per day (GPD) for Keystone Place in Buzzards Bay to actual flow based on a four-year average ranging from 9,140 to 10,800 GPD. No objections were received from the property owner. The board voted unanimously to convert the allocation to actual use.
• Update on Cape and Islands Water Protection Fund Subsidy (Agenda Item 5): No new information was received; the item will remain on the agenda.
• Status of Wastewater Treatment Facility (Agenda Item 6): Matt reported that the plant was seated and operational, with chemical addition to eliminate foaming and bacteriological issues. The new O&M agreement is expected to improve monitoring. A report from Kubota on membrane conditions is pending.
• Intermunicipal Agreement (IMA) with Wareham (Agenda Item 7): The board discussed the 20-year IMA signed in 2010, set to expire in 2030. Commissioners noted that Bourne pays approximately 20% of costs but has no voting representation. They agreed to strategize internally before scheduling a joint meeting with Wareham's Board of Selectmen and Sewer Commissioners, possibly in the fall. The need for a consultant (financial or legal) was raised. The item will remain on the agenda for continued discussion.
• Director's Report: Matt reported that the Scenic Park system is fully online (since May 5) with no issues. Two sewer breaks occurred on Ride Lane and Buttermilay in the past week, a rare occurrence. Grinder pump bids are under internal review. Construction updates will be presented in July.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous vote (4-0) to convert Keystone Place's operational allocation to actual flow.
• Decision to keep the Water Protection Fund subsidy update as a standing agenda item.
• Agreement to continue discussions on the IMA with Wareham at future meetings, with a goal of a joint meeting in the fall and possible consultant engagement.
• Next meeting scheduled for July 28, 2026, at 7:00 PM.

Other Notes

• Commissioner Melissa announced that she was attending the Commonwealth Heroin's award ceremony in Boston and recognized four nominees from Barnstable County.