Date of Meeting: Friday, February 18, 2011
Location: Town Hall, 221 Main Street
Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Members Present: James Stanton, Chairman; Roger Deal; Ken Sydow;
Others Present: Nancy Colbert Puff, Town Administrator; Mike Kane of The Banner; Various representatives of the Asian Longhorned Beetle program and DCR including: John Sullivan, DCR; Mary Caldwell, DCR; Ken Gooch, DCR; Mark Kolonofsky, DCR; Sarah Peers, DCR; Clint McFarland, ALB; Mike Bona, USDA Forest Service – Durham, NH
Financial Warrants Signed in Approval.
Asian Longhorned Beetle Program – Update and Request to Remove Additional Infested and Host Trees at Hillside:
Nancy stated she had met with the ALB program representatives last week, and that new information regarding the infestation at Hillside is available. Representatives of the program are in attendance to further describe the new findings, provide an overall update on the beetle in Boylston, and to request to remove additional host trees at Hillside.
Mark Kolonofsky and Sarah Peers, both foresters with the program, updated the Board with regard to the Hillside project. The described Boylston as the “battlefront” for all of New England, and stressed that stopping the beetle from moving beyond this point was crucial to their eradication efforts. They presented new maps which illustrate infested trees that have been discovered through additional surveys at Hillside, in West Boylston, on DCR property, and on the County Jail property. They noted that surveys are only estimated to be 70% accurate, and that they expect there are more infestations than they have been able to detect.
They pointed to 3 areas on the maps they request to remove host trees. Each area encompasses a ¼ mile “high risk” radius beyond an infested tree. They pointed out that these areas will be much less noticeable than the removal that has already taken place, and that the forest is more diverse that in the first project. They presented information on the composition of the forest and a simulation of how the areas would re-grow.
John Sullivan from DCR commented that his agency carefully considered whether to allow host removal, but ultimately they agreed that being aggressive at this stage offers the best change of eradication. Mike Bona, of the USDA, noted that this is the first ALB infestation in a heavily forested area, and as such, it presents a much more difficult challenge for the eradication effort.
Roger Deal acknowledged that while the request to cut trees is extremely difficult, he tends to see the matter as urgent, and “if you have to do it, you have to do it.”
Jim Stanton and Ken Sydow asked about future replanting. Clint McFarland commented that replanting and restoration efforts will occur in the spring, but the forested areas will be left to regenerate on their own.
A DCR representative stressed that now is an optimal time to remove trees, while the ground is frozen and there is snow cover, as it will minimize damage to the environment. He noted that they also need permission to use Hillside as a landing/access area.
Ken Sydow noted that while he believes the replanting and restoration effort will happen this spring, it is difficult to allow for another cut without having seen the aftermath of the first one. He commented that the Hillside driveway is in rough condition, and that it now needs guardrails to be replaced to ensure its safety.
Clint McFarland promised that the program is willing to work with the Town to help mitigate the impact the ALB is having on the property, and he assured the Board that he would see that the driveway is repaved and guardrail installed in the spring. Jim Stanton asked if he would memorialize this in writing, and he committed that he would. Ken suggested Clint meet with the Town Administrator to put the terms of the verbal agreement on paper, so it would be clear to all.
Upon a motion made by Ken Sydow and seconded by Roger Deal, the Board voted unanimously to support the tree removals as proposed, allow for the landing area as proposed, both contingent upon Nancy receiving a written agreement regarding the restoration of the driveway and guardrails.
Clint then described that the program will be pursuing treatments in Boylston, in the areas of Sewall St., Scar Hill Road, and Bigelows. Treatment is a voluntary process, and they will be canvassing owners for permissions. A “Town Hall” meeting will be scheduled for the week of March 14th to inform the public of this effort. Surveys will also be continuing, and they are even trying to train dogs to detect the beetle.
61B Hearing (continued):
Nancy recounted the proceedings of the last meeting, reminding the Board that the properties under consideration were divided by the house property, which was not for sale. She presented a summary of the valuations and taxes assessed on each property.
Ken Sydow asked about whether the assessor’s were collecting a penalty for conversion of the 140 parcel to a new use. Roger commented that he did not see a lot of commercial potential for the land, but thought the Board should try to negotiate for some type of PILOT payment, even if they chose not to act on the right of first refusal.
Jim Stanton asked Nancy to approach the Church about entertaining a PILOT for at least a limited time, based upon taxes now collected. The Board voted to continue the hearing to next Friday, February 25, 2011, at 2 pm.
The meeting adjourned at 4 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Colbert Puff,
Town Administrator
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