CAPE COD COMMISSION = CAPE-WIDE WASTEWATER & TAXING AUTHORITY/ENTITY/DISTRICT

CAPE COD COMMISSION = CAPE-WIDE WASTEWATER & TAXING AUTHORITY/ENTITY/DISTRICT

This is a documented fact, as concretely stated in writing by the Cape Cod Commission AND the Barnstable County Commissioners themselves.

As an existing county-wide entity, the Cape Cod Commission is about to adopt the added role of a Cape-wide Regional Wastewater and Taxing Authority. By employing their own publicly accessible document sources and statements, this factual conclusion has been reached, and cannot be denied. Here is why.

First, one should consult the area of the Cape Cod Commission website labeled as: "Frequently Asked Questions:Section 208 Plan Update"

Secondly, one should read and review the 16th category on the indicated page which is titled, "How will implementation be financed?"

It reads as follows:

How will implementation be financed?

Financing mechanisms and strategies are part of the three-year work plan and will inform its progress at every stage. It is recognized that unless the recommendations are affordable, the plan will not be implemented. Among the recommendations adopted by the Barnstable County Commissioners as part of the Regional Wastewater Management Plan in January 2013 is that the county advocate for state and federal contributions to cover half the total capital cost in all management solutions. The Commissioners also supported the recommendation that no new Cape wide entity implement wastewater management improvements.

According to the above-noted official statement issued by the Cape Cod Commission AND the Barnstable County Commissioners, the Commission will "...advocate for state and federal contributions to cover half the total capital cost in all management solutions." With the total cost of Cape Cod's wastewater problems estimated to cost in the billions of dollars, and with Cape Cod taxpayers and homeowners expected to pay for at least one-half of that total amount, this means that Cape Codders must still pay out billions of dollars on their own, according to the Cape Cod Commission.

Furthermore, the final sentence of the aforementioned paragraph states that: "The Commissioners also supported the recommendation that no new Cape wide entity implement wastewater management improvements." One needs to pay very close attention to the wording being utilized in this matter because when the Cape Cod Commission and the County Commissioners say that "...no new Cape wide entity implement wastewater management improvements" this can only mean that an EXISTING Cape-wide entity, such as the Cape Cod Commission, should be allowed to "implement wastewater management improvements." In other words, the Cape Cod Commission already exists. Moreover, in addition to its current regulatory duties, the CCC will then also adopt the additional role of a Cape-wide Regional Wastewater and Taxing Authority. Sound familiar? Despite the Commission’s longwinded protests, denials and claims to the contrary, this is apparently what they have been planning all along, an MWRA-style regional wastewater authority and/or district.

Additionally, with the new powers granted to the CCC last year to put into place a Cape-wide District of Critical Planning and Concern (DCPC), which it gained via the Cape-wide Fertilizer Management DCPC, establishing a county-wide Wastewater DCPC/Cape-wide Wastewater District is now completely and reasonably possible. Not only is it possible, it is a certainty unless WE THE PEOPLE remove this undeserved regulatory authority from the Cape Cod Commission.

Still do not think that they have not been contemplating a Cape-wide Wastewater DCPC? Well, you are wrong. Simply read the following article, and you will see:

The Barnstable Patriot, December 11, 2011

"A Capewide DCPC for wastewater?" Written By David Still, II

CC Commission director addresses the possibility

As even more evidence of this matter, if one is so inclined, read the respective February 2012 meeting minutes for the Special Commission on County Governance (a/k/a the O’Leary Commission) in which a discussion was clearly conducted about changing the term “authority” to the term “district”when conversing about their recommendation for a regional wastewater authority/entity/district with taxation powers. At that time, according to Sue Rohrbach, the District Director for State Senator Dan Wolf, the term “district”would be more readily accepted by the public because the term “authority” has negative connotations and is controversial.

One cannot make this stuff up folks. It is all well documented fact.

Now that the above-noted material has been pointed out to you, do you still want to trust them? Fine, that is your choice, but I certainly do not. Furthermore, I am not alone.

According to a recent poll conducted by WXTK Radio, approximately 70% of the Cape Cod populace believe that the Cape Cod Commission has outlived its usefulness in its present incarnation. It should either be abolished, or transformed into an agency that is advisory in nature only (without regulatory power).