Selectmen Split On Value Of Toilet Study

     Falmouth selectmen held a lively discussion about toilets last night, as they considered whether to support a study that could help the environment and save the town money on its longterm wastewater plan.
     State Representative Matthew C. Patrick (D-Falmouth) came before selectmen to ask for a letter of support on a line item he would like added to the Environmental Bond Bill, which is due to be debated and voted tomorrow on Beacon Hill. The line item would set aside $150,000 from the millions in the bill to do a study in Barnstable County on urine-separating toilets, which are used in Europe and which cut down significantly on the nitrogen that enters the groundwater and pollutes ponds.
     Mr. Patrick apologized for coming in at the last minute, but he said that he had just heard that morning that the bill would come up this week. He said he sent a letter to selectmen about the issue almost a year ago and had not been invited to appear on the board’s meeting agenda.
     Falmouth Selectman Kevin E. Murphy said he was chairman of the board when Mr. Patrick’s letter came forward and said at the time that the correct venue was the Falmouth Nutrient Management Committee.
     Mr. Murphy also said that he could not support Mr. Patrick’s idea for a study because state money, funded by taxpayers, is tight, and the money could be better used for schools or other uses. He also said that asking people to change their habits to use a different kind of toilet would not work in Falmouth, where people like to have curbside pickup because they do not want to handle their trash.
     Mr. Patrick said the money in the environmental bond bill cannot be spent on schools and is used for numerous studies in addition to other environmental uses. He said comparing behavior on trash and whether people will use a new technology for a toilet is “a stretch.”
     He also said the special toilets could be used in addition to the town’s plans for sewers, as a way to significantly reduce the massive amount—sometimes estimated at $500 million—that the town will pay for sewering parts of town.
     Selectman Mary (Pat) Flynn spoke in support of Mr. Patrick, saying ideas like recycling that were rare only a couple decades ago have now caught on across the country.
     Selectman Brent V.W. Putnam at first agreed with Kevin Murphy that it is difficult to change people’s habits, but then he listened to Ms. Flynn’s points and agreed to support the idea.
     Selectman Carey M. Murphy agreed with Kevin Murphy and said the idea should have gone through the town’s Nutrient Management Committee. He also said the town’s consultant looked at the idea and did not give it a positive analysis. He said Mr. Patrick’s estimate of the town’s wastewater costs are too high and that the town had “conventional” avenues already in process.
     “Conventional avenues tend to give conventional results,” Mr. Putnam said, saying he would support Mr. Patrick.
     Mr. Patrick pointed out that George Heufelder, a Falmouth Board of Health member and director of the Barnstable County Health Department, who is one of the region’s foremost experts on sewer issues, said he believed the consultant’s analysis of the special toilets was flawed.
     Falmouth Assistant Town Manager Heather B. Harper said supporting a study of the technology would not go against the town’s wastewater planning strategy.
     Two members of the Falmouth Conservation Commission, who were in the audience for another matter, Courtney F. Bird Jr. and Maureen Harlow-Hawkes, both spoke strongly in favor of selectmen supporting the study to help the environment.
     Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Ahmed A. Mustafa called for the vote, and it was tied 2 to 2, with Kevin Murphy and Carey Murphy voting against it. Ms. Flynn and Mr. Putnam voted in favor. Mr. Mustafa cast the deciding vote in favor, saying it is important to investigate different technologies.
     “Opportunity knocks once,” Mr. Mustafa said.