CCB MEDIA PHOTO
Falmouth Town Meeting member Kevin Murphy, a former two-time selectman, makes an amendment to raise the salaries of selectmen. The amendment passed.
FALMOUTH – The last piece of the town of Falmouth’s current wastewater project was put in place by Falmouth Town Meeting members last night as they voted to rezone land on Thomas B. Landers Road.
The parcel will be used for wastewater disposal after the wastewater is treated to drinking water standards, according to Eric Turkington, chairman of the Falmouth Water Quality Management Committee.
Some Town Meeting members expressed concern that the effluent put in the ground at the disposal area would flow through the groundwater to nearby Crocker Pond, which is located on the Bourne Farm at the intersection of Thomas B. Landers Road and Route 28A.
But Turkington said studies have shown that the water will not contain any phosphorus, which would pollute a freshwater pond like Crocker Pond.
Among the debates earlier in the evening was whether to raise the pay of Falmouth Selectmen from $3,000 to $5,000 for each board member and from $3,500 to $6,000 for the chairman. The amendment was put forward by former two-time selectman Kevin Murphy, who said he would not be seeking the office again.
Former Selectman Brent Putnam said even with the increase, the salary is a small sum and the position, which can require 15 to 20 hours a week, is essentially a volunteer job.
Town Meeting members passed the increase in a strong voice vote.
At the end of the night, Town Meeting members passed a $119 million municipal budget unanimously.
The Special Town Meeting begins tonight at 7 p.m. in Memorial Auditorium at the Lawrence School.
The remaining 12 articles left on the Annual Town Meeting warrant will be taken up after the Special Town Meeting has completed.
By LAURA M. RECKFORD, CapeCod.com News Editor
