[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6156084,"mediaKeyId","5471662-4b067a2e1dfda9003986bf424916767f","parentId",5471662,"title","Commissioner reports GZA briefing on PFAS permeable‑reactive wall; public meeting scheduled","audioSeconds",364,"startMs",6269000,"endMs",6633000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5471662-4b067a2e1dfda9003986bf424916767f&start=6269&end=6633","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5471662-4b067a2e1dfda9003986bf424916767f/thumbnail_6269000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6156084/Barnstable-County/Massachusetts/Commissioner-reports-GZA-briefing-on-PFAS-permeablereactive-wall-public-meeting-scheduled","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6156084-6fdd415ed3272d935b088a64a9aa3cbf/orig.mp4?Expires=1775174337&Signature=hL6QTmI11leKLhyDANFbhw67IqcaScULApWsm831Bq70xivekyfWS6Q5mwDxcYMqKJ9lacfT~EBMhv5no4GQmSRVBg57DmoORSnkxun37MXP6M67g~KQMzA8UKI2UUO3sNUdhIY-Xyj80bh2YmzcjbWHwT38yr1Fpp5h9c--OzGKm6obOPflMbRK9bNrylhXbSHluQ0sF3fcn85eKRM3vAQozJ5qUUKkvzWEs09N-FB~Zbmol2ZZLbKCgVbrhN9TuzomPV17ZsxwYfHgIR7EGURstlbzngQV2bwbOiMPMGdYWIQobPFM4rSBd5mcBlvpmQo-zxIi5O2boZ4Sr-Cppg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Barnstable County, MA","date","2025-07-24T03:58:08Z","article","A county commissioner reported to the board on July 23 that he and staff met with GZA consultants to review detailed field work and a pilot for a permeable‑reactive wall intended to capture PFAS in groundwater.
\"The permeable reactive wall that our consultants are working on...has been pilot tested and has been approved for full scale implementation by DEP,\" the commissioner said, describing the technology as a liquid‑injection form that can be installed from the clay layer to the groundwater surface.
He said the liquid reactive material is injected in a continuous wall so that groundwater must pass through the reactive zone; GZA characterized the system as a carbon‑based reactive treatment and outlined installation and monitoring methods. The commissioner said the team reviewed groundwater flow analysis, monitoring plans and where a pilot wall would be located.
The commissioner said GZA’s approach is a frequently used remediation technique and that the firm expects monitoring and verification to demonstrate effectiveness; he told the board that a public meeting on the project is scheduled for the 29th. He described strong public concern and noted many residents have detectable PFAS in blood tests.
The technical briefing followed financial reporting earlier in the meeting that listed PFAS remediation among the county’s long‑term liabilities. The commissioner said local officials and residents had given positive feedback on the county’s multi‑partner technical approach and that staff would continue public outreach ahead of the next public meeting.
No formal regulatory decision or new appropriation was made at the meeting; the commissioner said work will continue with GZA and that monitoring and public updates are planned.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","July 23, 2025 County Commissioners Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","A commissioner said the county’s technical team met with GZA to review a permeable‑reactive wall approach to PFAS groundwater remediation that GZA says has DEP approval for full‑scale implementation; the county plans public outreach and additional monitoring.","taxTitle","Barnstable County, Massachusetts","taxId",12948,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6156089,"Chamber: Cape Cod tourism still large but short‑term rentals, workforce and insurance are growing risks",1870,1863000,3733000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5471662-4b067a2e1dfda9003986bf424916767f&start=1863&end=3733","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5471662-4b067a2e1dfda9003986bf424916767f/thumbnail_1863000.jpg","/articles/6156089/Barnstable-County/Massachusetts/Chamber-Cape-Cod-tourism-still-large-but-shortterm-rentals-workforce-and-insurance-are-growing-risks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6156089-1e3f3323463a9bd94131e21d949ff0f5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775174337&Signature=Y6nAq24kKCnTZKpMBkvgOrKlOhF5kDTU7Zs1Rdl4gUbJdgp6c6Mx79mx-aezvqV1hmHyLmqGybjmb9OSWvgn3o9ggUuepX7OI7xuxXLVQoGWePWx9vPg6v3TEx2UHVzBY96oQITs48qRKb3BuQp7mrk8LIoqhHvQiY~6Hgp43Sqpn0EZCNnP0bAAD7hU109H8-nul4jtnP3uaTEttSebcBou13Ds-hSqNACrwBEvSD8vZYM62EvOt2oWpQDCNlzkv~b927RFX~g2qRVy~nRGT-o915Ce0NH0jjRfVJdtN8NeWATVBlc1S8soOCJIsZySIGiGL2qy7buqGWSWItD8ZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Paul Nitswicky, CEO of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, told the board on July 23 that the Cape’s economy remains dominated by travel and tourism but is evolving in ways that could affect municipalities and regional planning.
\"The Cape is still primarily travel and tourism economy,\" Nitswicky said, and he cited 2023 visitor spending of about $2.7 billion, more than 14,000 jobs directly supported and nearly a quarter‑billion dollars in tax revenue.
Nitswicky highlighted several trends: a rapid expansion of short‑term rentals (he said there are about 19,000 registered short‑term rental units, roughly half the state total), shrinking booking windows and shorter stays, and a shift of some visitor demand toward the Upper and Mid Cape. He said short‑term rentals are increasingly competing with traditional lodging and noted the loss of a large meeting venue in Hyannis when part of the Emerald Conference Center property was sold for housing.
On workforce, he said the J‑1 seasonal worker program had rebounded to around 5,000 participants and that H‑2B numbers had not yet materially affected Cape operations this year, while cautioning that federal interview and visa processing changes could reduce those programs’ availability next year.
Nitswicky also warned of mounting homeowners‑insurance pressures and described a regional conversation about a possible catastrophic event fund or other mechanisms to preserve insurance availability and manage long‑term coastal risk. He said Barnstable County ranks high nationally for counties at risk of losing homeowners insurance, and he described the chamber’s intention to take a high‑profile role on the issue.
He briefed commissioners on the Chamber’s organizational changes and projects including a merger with the Falmouth Chamber and stewardship of the Cape Cod Climate Collaborative, and he described the Cape and Islands Business Bridge Coalition the chamber has formed to help steward the Sagamore Bridge replacement project.
Nitswicky urged county and municipal leaders to plan for shifting revenue and service needs and to engage on shared infrastructure and resiliency work; he said hard, localized economic data for the current season would arrive in October.","Paul Nitswicky, CEO of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, told commissioners the region’s travel-and-tourism economy remains large and resilient but faces pressure from short‑term rentals, changing visitor patterns, workforce visas and the rising risk of homeowners losing insurance coverage.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6156092,"Barnstable County finance director: reserves healthy but long-term liabilities loom",5492,203000,5695000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5471662-4b067a2e1dfda9003986bf424916767f&start=203&end=5695","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5471662-4b067a2e1dfda9003986bf424916767f/thumbnail_203000.jpg","/articles/6156092/Barnstable-County/Massachusetts/Barnstable-County-finance-director-reserves-healthy-but-long-term-liabilities-loom","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6156092-17052e71bf55c9c6d78122abc3fee0dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775174337&Signature=QymbeX5z2~GDL-JcxCiuoyUnBRtAC90lVtvPIWUs~2yqedGGvi~zqrr2AVv7ruHmA5BsGllYAuZHbLQslagKOYaykHI7zvbyH8dVPoZ8WoGu2MCHO71OH4vRvWmkP4Y3McoPwxomZBvtKOTJkPqRI-QneKhrclgTmK2qI~qR3faHvQOcXOgIjRdTwT25~R9Lbiyp9pH5Emz5YwrcBuKpN6ryMLY-Q6i~Xn-woJXcj502tCqoMKfB0r16PWJL~04cJTbGADWhxzLsPD9ksGfR4hhM~9O7TXDC-AUEPraSTNHF~ykIeQXfPVoNDh1MNlm9-QxPKsEQELnb5xm8~d7OMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Barnstable County Finance Director Carol Coppola told the board of regional commissioners on July 23 that the county enters fiscal 2026 in a relatively strong short-term financial position but faces large, looming long-term liabilities that will require sustained planning.
\"The county remains financially strong going into the current fiscal year of 2026,\" Coppola said, noting sizable stabilization reserves, the OPEB trust and unreserved fund balances for FY2025. But she warned those successes are “under the shadow” of long-term liabilities.
Coppola presented apples-to-apples, inflation-adjusted trends and said revenues have largely flattened since the post‑2021 spike tied to one‑time real estate activity. She recommended a five‑year forecast and continued work on capital planning.
The report listed specific long‑term obligations discussed at the meeting: a PFAS settlement in the town of Barnstable of $4,400,000 as of June 30, 2024, an estimated PFAS remediation scope that could be as much as $60,000,000, $15,000,000 already appropriated (including $4,000,000 from ARPA and an $11,000,000 SRF loan), a county pension shortfall reported at $36,700,000 as of June 30, 2024 (with funding timed to reach full funding by 2037), and an OPEB liability reported at $18,300,000 (Coppola said the county was about 19% funded in FY2024).
Coppola also cited deferred maintenance reported in the county master plan at about $71,000,000 and noted roughly $21,000,000 of previously authorized debt that has not yet been issued. She cautioned that some capital projects will be borne by the county until and unless the state reimburses its proportional share under existing court facility leases.
Commissioners discussed options including borrowing for large capital needs, further refining the five‑year forecast Coppola proposed, and clarifying what county services municipalities expect the county to provide. One commissioner said the next budget cycle should begin the first stages of implementing a long‑term plan.
The board did not adopt a new policy at the meeting. Staff were directed to bring final FY2025 close figures when available and to schedule a more in‑depth, workshop‑style discussion to develop budget‑cycle steps for addressing long‑term liabilities.","At a July 23 meeting, Finance Director Carol Coppola told county commissioners that Barnstable County’s reserves and short-term indicators are strong but that long-term liabilities — including PFAS remediation, pension and OPEB, and deferred maintenance — total in the hundreds of millions and will require sustained planning.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioner reports GZA briefing on PFAS permeable‑reactive wall; public meeting scheduled

Chamber: Cape Cod tourism still large but short‑term rentals, workforce and insurance are growing risks

Barnstable County finance director: reserves healthy but long-term liabilities loom