ANNOUNCEMENTS
Community Update: Highlights of
June and July 2023 Board Meetings
We want to thank everyone for your patience as we address emergency repairs and plan for longterm upgrades to our water system. While the main break has been repaired, we continue to work to address the ongoing issues with our water, in daily communication with Sharpe. Special thanks to Board members who have devoted lots of hours during this past July 4th holiday to problem solve and address the latest water system failure. In the past month we have had emergencies related to one of our septic fields as well as a failure of the main pipe to the well. During the septic emergency, Board members took turns to manually pump the system while we waited for repairs. I am so very grateful for their dedication to our community!
We’ve held emergency Board meetings on July 4th and 8th. The meeting on July 8th was well attended by residents who learned first hand of the complexities of the decisions that we as a Board are facing. Minutes from each of these meetings will be posted on the website, and this update will summarize key points covered in all meetings that occurred in June and July
WATER SYSTEMS
Current Well
We have had two proposals from Sharpe Water with estimates to repair or replace the current well which is in imminent danger of failure. We will also seek bids from another water company too. Replacement has implications for our plans to pursue county water. In the coming weeks we will be meeting with the county official to get answers that will inform our decision on how best to proceed with the two options.
The pump house drain that flows into the bay was scheduled to be jetted by Atlantic Plumbing on July 6, but they were unable to do so citing phragmite overgrowth at the end of the pipe. Board members were skeptical, and so Rotorooter is scheduled to come out July 12, we will ask about installation of a wider drain.
County Water
Resident engineer and Board member Bill Custead leads this work. He has also proposed a third option that will be considered. We discussed the timeline, urgency, and ways to encourage the county to speed up the process which at this point looks like at least two years away. Our current system will not last until then. We are also exploring additional grants that could help us defray the costs. As you can imagine, this is a complex decision that we face and we are
determined to explore all options, weigh pros and cons, and consider financial impact when we make the best decision for all.
COMMUNITY SEPTIC
Emergency repairs were made in June to septic system B. A huge thanks to board and community members who manually pumped the system over a series of days while waiting for the repair. We avoided a devastating septic flood into homes!
WETLANDS PRESERVATION
Recent removal of phragmites from the waterfront near the dock has led to concerns about legal vs illegal actions. A call to the Worcester County Environmental agency clarified that only Phragmite can be removed from the wetlands, no other plants of any kind may be touched. Chopping Phragmite down during this season will only result in quick regrowth, and so Fall is the best time for cutting. According to Dave Bradford, the Deputy Director of Environmental Programs, hiring a company with knowledge of how to properly remove and manage growth over time is recommended. The Architectural Review Committee will revisit this in light of the impact on well drainage.
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE
The townhouses are still in need of painting and repair. Letters to individual owners will be resent with deadlines.
BOAT DOCK/BOATYARD
Dock Update: New repairs are holding well. Marina is filled, but a pile driver is still needed.
Boatyard Update: Boatyard will be more functional by cutting down trees for more room for storage, and removing abandoned boats/trailers. Next year boat yard payments will be included with the dues.
RESERVE STUDY
Is underway and scheduled to be completed by the October deadline. 

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Subject: URGENT: Temporary Water Shutdown for Emergency Repairs
Dear St. Martins By The Bay community members,
We hope this email finds you well. We are writing to inform you of an urgent matter regarding the water supply within our community. Due to an emergency repair, it has become necessary to shut off the water starting at 10am today until further notice.
We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause, especially considering the timing. We understand the importance of access to water, and we are working diligently to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

Dear St. Martins By The Bay community members,
We hope this email finds you well. We are reaching out to inform you about a major leak that has occurred at the pump house within our community. While the issue has been addressed, we regret to inform you that due to the unavailability of necessary parts and our service contractors, the repair work cannot be completed until Wednesday.
During this time, we kindly request your cooperation in conserving water and minimizing usage as much as possible. It is essential that we all make conscious efforts to limit our water consumption until the repair work is completed. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, especially during the holiday period.
In light of this situation, we strongly advise you to boil tap water before consuming it, as a precautionary measure. This will ensure the safety of drinking water for you and your family members. We understand that this additional step may be an inconvenience, but it is necessary to prevent any potential risks to your health.
We appreciate your understanding and support as we work diligently to address this issue. Our primary objective is to ensure that our water tank does not run dry, and by conserving water, we can collectively contribute to achieving this goal.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to reach out to the St. Martins Homeowners Association (HOA). We will provide updates as necessary and keep you informed about the progress of the repairs.
Thank you for your cooperation and for being an integral part of the St. Martins By The Bay community. We appreciate your understanding during this time, and we wish you a safe and enjoyable holiday.
Best regards,
St. Martins Homeowners Association (HOA)

To learn more about our progress and setbacks in getting public water please feel free to attend any or all HOA meetings via Google Meet. All meetings are posted on the website. We will be having an emergency meeting sometime tomorrow and will send out an invite via email.