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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMeetingMinutes_04.11.12 Conservation Commission Meeting Minutes April 11, 2012 Members Present: Louis A. Napoli, Chairman, Joseph W.Lynch Jr., Deborah A. Feltovic, Albert P. Manzi, Jr., Douglas W. Saal. Members Absent: John T. Mabon, Vice Chairman, Sean F. McDonough. Staff Members Present: Jennifer A. Hughes, Conservation Administrator, Heidi M. Gaffney Conservation Field Inspector, Donna M. Wedge, Conservation Secretary. Pledge of Allegiance Meeting came to Order at:7:02PMQuorum Present. General Business Approval of Minutes 9/14/11, Executive Session 3/28/12, 3/28/12 A motion to accept the meeting minutes of 9/14/11and 3/28/12 and theExecutive Sessionminutes of 3/28/12 asdraftedand reviewedismade by Ms. Feltovic, seconded by Mr. Lynch. Vote unanimous. Boston Hill Open Space Management Plan(cont. from 3/28/12) The administrator states that theTrustees of Reservationshad one comment which has been incorporated into the planby Brightview. A motion to accept the Boston Hill Open Space Management Plan is made by Mr. Lynch, secondedby Ms. Feltovic. Vote unanimous. Documents: Trail Management Plan dated 3/27/12 o NHESP No 06-21032 o E/Mail from Chris Ward of Trustees of Reservations dated 4/4/12 o 242-1511, Modification Request, 80 Dale Street (Massachusetts Electric Company) (cont. from 3/28/12) (Request to cont. to 4/25/12) The administrator states thatthe applicant originally asked for a continuance to revise its plans for the substation, however the applicant is asking for more time to revise the plans to incorporate Verizon conduit work near the site. The applicant discussed that withdrawing may be abetteroption. There will not be any work occurring beyond what was approved under the order of conditionsuntil they filemodification or amendment and thedouble filing fee would be paid. Mr. Lynch states that they would need to have a date certain that they will file by. Mr. Manzi states that the Verizon work possibly should be separate from the modification. Mr. Napoli states that he has read the recent monitoring report. Abutter Henry Fink discusses that the parcel next to this work is owned by the town. The administrator states that the Enforcement Order can be revised giving Mass Electric a date certain that they must file by. A motion to accept the withdrawalwithout prejudice ismade by Mr. Manzi, seconded by Ms.Feltovic. Vote unanimous. Documents: E-maildated 4/5/12from Joshua Holden of Massachusetts Electric Company o requesting a continuance to April 25, 2012 E-mail from Joshua Holden of Massachusetts Electric Company requesting a o temporarywithdrawal dated 4/11/12 242-1521, COC Request, 12 Massachusetts Avenue (Global Companies, LLC) (Hancock Associates) The administrator statesthatthe engineerhassubmitted a certification letter certifying that work has beendone in compliancewith the order of conditions, however the work that was done underground can’t be seen to be certified.Also some erosion control remains on the site. Mr. Manzi discusses issuing the COC without the removal of the remaining erosion control. Mr. Lynch states that he is comfortable with issuing the COC and holding it in abeyance until the remaining erosion control is removed. A motion to issue the COC and hold it in abeyance until the erosion control is removed and release the bondismade by Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Saal. Vote 4 to 1 Documents: Letter from Hancock Associates signed by Joseph D. Peznola, P. E. dated 3/21/12 o WPA Form 8A-Request for Certificate of compliance o Request for Certificate of Compliance Plan of Land dated 1/27/12 o Photos dated4/9/12 o NACC#93,660 Great Pond Road (Rolling Ridge Conference Center) (cont. from 3/28/12) The administrator briefly discusses the proposal. The Applicant Thomas Parker of Rolling Ridge Conference Center,Adisson Toussaini of AdSaint Farmand Jennifer Hersheyof AdSaint Farmare present. Mr. Parker discusses the farming proposal. Mr. Lynch discusses the need to protect the public water supply and asks about the farming techniques and about terracing the field to prevent runoff. Soil Management Mr. Toussaini states that he usesorganic fertilizer when necessary and will add o compost when available. Healso practicescrop rotation so that the soil is not continuously depleted of nutrients. The vegetable beds will be prepared perpendicular to the slope to decrease erosion and increase organic matter in the soil for the spring. Non-productive land management Mr. Toussaini states that he will keepthe field edges clear and will plant sweet o corn or another tall crop asawind barrier. He will weedwhack around anyfarm structures if needed. Rolling Ridge is responsible for mowing the grass and for the forest management. Weed Management Mr. Toussaini states that he will use black plastic to prevent weeds in the beds and o will use hand toolswhen necessary to remove weeds. Pest Management Mr. Toussaini states that he will use a row coverto prevent the bugs from o reaching the plants. He willspray surround WP (Kaolin Clay), which is not a pesticide (it renders the o crop invisible to many bugs) when needed. He states that he has not needed to use pesticides yet in Massachusetts, butif he o needs towill spray only organic pesticides. Water Management Mr. Toussaini states the plan is to install drip irrigation which will be on a timer o and will utilize individual valves so that only crops that needed extra water will be watered. The water I will use will be town water. In addition, the raised bed construction that I use allows for proper drainage. Wildlife Habitat Mr. Toussaini states that because heplants flowering crops and does not use a lot o of pesticides,hisgarden plot will be a vibrant habitat for the area’s pollinators. The nearby forest is maintained by Rolling Ridge which is also habitat for wildlife. He states that hemay set upabattery powered electric fence to keep the deer out of thegarden plotif necessary. Crop Rotation Mr. Toussaini states that he hasa diversified vegetable operation andheplants o different crops on each bed. Each year hechangeswhat is planted ineach bed in order to not deplete the soil of valuable nutrients and todeter pests. For instance, if heplantsbeanson one bed in the first year, hewill plant eggplant there in the second year. If in the first year he plants carrots in one place, hewill plant cabbage or another leaf vegetable there the second year. The administrator states that there will need to be a physical barrier at the 25’ No Disturb zone. An annual report will also need to be submitted each spring in order to keep renewing the permit. Mr. Lynch states the small project would havetorenewyearlyin the spring time and that we need to be certain to have contact numbers on file in case there is a large storm event rainfall. Mr. Manzi states that pre and post season inspections need to be done. The administrator, commission and farmer discuss nitrogen and phosphorus amounts in the fertilizer. A motion to accept as a small project 4.4.2.Jwith conditions to notify the restriction holder, require a permanent barrier at the 25’ No-disturb Zone, and to require conformance with the submitted soil conservation planismade by Mr. Lynch, seconded by Ms. Feltovic. Vote unanimous. A motionto require the small projectto berenewedyearlyevery spring is made by Mr. Lynch, seconded by Ms. Feltovic. Vote unanimous. Documents: Application Checklist-Small Project o Small Project Procedures o Copy of Check o Letter sent by Adisson Toussaini of AdSaint Farm dated 4/10/12 o Public Hearings Notice of Intent (NOI) 242-1526,285 Holt Road (Wheelabrator Technologies, Inc.) (Brown & Caldwell) (cont. from 3/28/12) The administrator states thatthe applicant is working with Eggleston Environmentaland is requesting a continuance to the April 25, 2012 meeting. A motion to grant the request for a continuance totheApril 25, 2012meeting is made by Ms. Feltovic, seconded by Mr. Lynch. Vote unanimous. Document: E/Mail dated 4/6/12 from Matthew Hughes of Wheelabrator Technologies, Inc o requesting a continuance totheApril 25, 2012 meeting 242-1544, Rear of 24 Main Street (26 Main Street) (Jeffco, Inc.) (Andover Consultants, Inc.) (cont. from 3/28/12) (Request to cont. to 4/25/12) The administrator states thatthe applicant is requesting a continuance to the April 25, 2012 meeting for allowing more time to prepare abuffer zone enhancement plan. A motion to grant the request for a continuance is made by Ms. Feltovic, seconded by Mr. Lynch. Vote unanimous. Documents: Letter from Douglas Ahern requesting a continuance to April 25, 2012 meeting dated o 4/11/12. 242-1548, Harold Parker Road (Department of Conservation and Recreation) (Lycott Environmental, Inc.) Jeffrey Castellani of Lycott Environmental, Incand Joy Liptakof Lycott Environmental are present. Mr. Saalreadslegal notice. The administrator states thatthis filing is foravegetation management plan for Stearns Pond at Harold Parker State Forest. Mr. Castellanifrom Lycott Environmental states that the proposal is to hydrorake a portion of Stearns Pond to remove aquatic vegetation. The vegetation will be allowed to dewater and will be disposed of dailyat a compost facility. A floating boom will be placed at the outlet to prevent any migration of fragments of vegetation. The administrator discusses the comments from DEP. Ms. Liptakof Lycott Environmental states that after the Wildlife Habitat and Plant Evaluationsarecompleted she will be able to address DEP’s comments. The administrator discusses the aquatic vegetation management protocols. Ms. Feltovic asks how deep the roots are. Mr. Castellani states that it depends on the species of plant. Ms. Feltovic asks when the hydro-raking was done last and how often it will need to be done. Mr. Castellanistates that it has not been done at all, but will need to be done usually every 3- 4 years. Mr. Castellanirequests a continuance to the next meeting to allow for time to complete the habitat and plant evaluation. A motion to grant the request for a continuance to the April 25, 2012 meetingismade by Ms. Feltovic, seconded by Mr. Lynch. Vote unanimous. Documents: WPA Form 3-Notice of Intentand associated documents o Decision 242-1480, 14 Lorraine Avenue The administrator reviews the drafted Order of Conditions. The commission makes changes tothe Order of Conditions. A motion to issue the Order of Conditions as draftedand amended is made by Mr. Lynch, seconded by Ms. Feltovic. Vote unanimous. A motion to adjourn the meeting at: 8:20PMmadeby Mr. Lynch, seconded by Ms. Feltovic. Vote unanimous.