Wellfleet National Seashore Homeowners Association

The Town of Wellfleet issued an undated press release on October 23, 2009, signed by the Town Collector, Town Treasurer, Town Assessor, and Town Accountant, on the Town website stating:

“Due to unavoidable delays in setting the tax rate the Town of Wellfleet will be accepting voluntary real estate tax payments for FY2010.

“Those taxpayers that wish to have credit for calendar year 2009 will be able to send payments made payable to the Town of Wellfleet and mailed to the Town Collector at 300 Main Street, Wellfleet, MA 02667.

“A copy of the last tax bill should be attached or the property address should be noted on the check.

“Any questions can be directed to the Town Collector at 508-349-0307.”

Voters at a Special Town Meeting on October 26, 2009, approved initial spending for preliminary studies and permits for a 400 foot wind turbine to generate electricity for the Town’s use and to produce revenue for the Town from excess generation.

In the Cape Cod Times, Mary Ann Bragg writes: “Voters approved borrowing $290,000 to pay bid documents and permits for the turbine, a land survey, bird and wildlife studies and a document needed to connect the turbine to an NStar electric company substation.”

“The turbine would, when fully operational, generate an estimated $250,000 worth of electricity annually. That’s roughly $70,000 to $80,000 above the town’s yearly NStar bill, officials said.”

“Last night’s approval occurred with a required two-thirds vote, based on the requirements of state Proposition 2½ law that sets limits on property taxes. The borrowing must still be approved by a ballot vote today.”

Read the full article here.

The following day, voters approved borrowing $290,000  for turbine pre-construction expenses, by a vote of 273 to 110.  See Cape Cod Times, October 28, 2009.

The Wellfleet Conservation Commission reviewed NSTAR’s plans for using herbicides to control vegetation near power lines at its August 19, 2009 meeting:

“[Conservation Agent] Andrew Petty reported he had attended the 8/12/09 NStar herbicide spraying meeting which covered their 5 year cycle on mowing and herbicide spraying.  NStar stated they will use the lowest concentration of herbicides.  FAC and NARC are the two regulatory agencies that determine the height of the vegetation, etc.  Petty stated there were representatives and scientists speaking to satisfy the concerns of the citizens.  If everything works to the optimum, the invasive plants will be eliminated.  The spraying will be done by hand. ”

The Conservation Agents will also monitor fresh water algae in the ponds and recommend steps to limit substances being transfered  from the ocean beaches to the ponds by bathers.

See the Meeting Minutes for details.

The Town has posted the Assessors’ Atlas FY2010 online, allowing property owners to view large-scale maps of all property parcels in Wellfleet.

Individual parcel assessments have long been available on the Assessors’ website.

NSTAR agreed to suspend herbicide use to control vegetation under power lines in Wellfleet and Eastham in 2009, but said it would resume use in 2010.  “NSTAR Freezes Plan for Lower Cape Herbicide Spraying“, Mary Ann Bragg, Cape Cod Times, September 4, 2009.

Wellfleet officials are seeking alternatives to herbicide use, including residents’ voluntary brush-cutting, and will consult with other Outer Cape officials and the Cape Cod Commission.  “Wellfleet Officials Seek Herbicide Alternatives“, Mary Ann Bragg, Cape Cod Times, October 6, 2009.