FINAL
Present for the Conservation Commission and attending the meeting were: Candy Shweder, Chairman, Joan Malkin, Vice Chairman, Sandy Broyard, Bob Hungerford, Russell Maloney and Chuck Hodgkinson. Reid Silva and Josh Kochin also attended. Maureen Eisner, Chris Murphy and Pam Goff did not attend.
The meeting came to order at 12:30 PM and Ms. Shweder appointed Alternate Commissioner Russell Maloney as a voting member for the day’s agenda.
NOI SE 12 - 786; REID SILVA FOR ROBERT ALDEN; 140 State Rd.; AP 33-17: Ms. Shweder opened the public hearing at 12:30 PM. Mr. Silva reviewed the site plan dated 1/31/17 to repair and maintain the existing elevated walkway over a salt marsh and pier that is over land under a Salt Pond. Approximately 348 sq. ft. of salt marsh and 52 sq. ft. of land under Salt Ponds have been altered. A Chapter 91 license will be obtained for the section over water. The Commission asked when the structures were built and why they do not have an Order or license. Mr. Silva said the walkway and pier were built about 60 years ago – before permits were required. After brief discussion about methods and materials and with no
comment from the public a motion was made to close the hearing at 12:45 PM. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. A subsequent motion was made to approve the permit and plans as presented with the following special conditions: 1. Any future maintenance plans shall be reviewed with the Conservation Agent (CA) before work begins. 2. Any new support posts shall be replaced with posts utilizing pin footings. 3. If a significant portion (approximately 50 percent or more) of the walkway or dock or supports need repairs or replacement the plans shall be reviewed with the Commission before any work begins and the repairs shall be designed using best proactices available at the time. 4. Any gas-powered tools or equipment shall be re-fueled outside the resource and 100-foot resource buffer zone. The motion was seconded and with no further discussion passed unanimously with five in favor.
DISCUSSION SE 12 – 697; JOSH KOCHIN FOR NICHOLAS NEGROPONTE; Signal Hill Lane; AP 34-1.3: Mr. Kochin explained an Order was issued in 2014 to develop this vacant lot. The project is in its final stages and the applicant would like to remove seven invasive Russian Olive plants that are within the Commission’s jurisdiction and outside the limit of work. He added this is not a view maintenance plan but rather something they would like to do with an excavator before the final landscaping is installed. He added the excavator can stay within the limit of work and reach the plants with the extended bucket. The Commission discussed the steep contour of the land leading from the limit of work down to the wetland and pond. The majority of the existing vegetation is woody which
has many benefits (over blue stem planting) such as containing down-grade erosion; preserving bird habitat and potentially avoiding additional human activity in the resource. Mr. Kochin said he would revegetate the seven locations with a mix of viburnum and bayberry with spot seeding of blue stem. He will place jute netting over the newly-planted area to contain erosion until the new plantings are established. After brief discussion a motion was made to declare the changes as inconsequential to the original activity permitted in the Order. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. A second motion was made to approve the removal of the Russian Olives as presented. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved with five in favor.
ADMINISTRATION:
The draft March 1, 2017 meeting minutes were reviewed and approved as presented by consensus.
The draft custom flyer was reviewed. Ms. Malkin provided a different set of copy points and had several graphic and layout suggestions. Chuck H. will prepare two separate versions for discussion at the April 5 meeting.
Ms. Broyard explained the purpose of the island’s We Stand Together Group and summarized their discussion with Congressman Keating about decommissioning the Pilgrim nuclear power plant. She added there is an open meeting among the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the owner of the Pilgrim power plant on Tuesday, March 21 @ 6:00 PM in Plymouth.
The following document was signed:
Order of Conditions SE 12 - 786; Alden; AP 33-17.
With no further business to discuss the meeting adjourned at 1:15 PM.
Respectfully submitted by Chuck Hodgkinson, C.A.S.
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