FINAL
Present for the Conservation Commission and attending the meeting were: Joan Malkin, Chairman, Bob Hungerford, Vice Chairman, Pam Goff, Candy Shweder and Chuck Hodgkinson. Chris Alley, George Sourati, and Marni Lipke also attended. Chris Murphy, Maureen Eisner, Sandy Broyard and Russell Maloney did not attend.
The meeting came to order at 12:30 PM. The two year rotation of the Chair and Vice Chair positions was discussed. A motion was made to appoint Ms. Malkin as Chair and Mr. Hungerford as Vice Chair. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously with four in favor.
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING SE 12 – 809; CODY COUTINHO FOR SCOTT ROSENBERG; 16 Shepherd’s Path; AP 24-1: Eligible voters: Candy, Sandy, Joan, Chris, Pam, Bob, Maureen): Ms. Malkin explained the hearing was continued to May 16 from April 18 to provide time to publish the plan in the Environmental Monitor. She confirmed the four Commissioners present are eligible voters and opened the continued public hearing at 12:30 PM. Mr. Coutinho reviewed the plan to remove invasive ornamental grasses located throughout the property—miscanthus (silvergrass) and manage the area. The vegetation stalks will be tied in bundles and hand cut. The remaining stems will not be treated with Rodeo or any other herbicide. The work will be done in the
winter months when the plants are dormant. The vegetation is located throughout the open, wooded and wetlands areas of the property including Bordering Vegetated Wetlands and the 100-foot buffer zones of the wetlands and fresh water ponds.
The Commission emphasized that this species of invasive plant is banned for sale anywhere in the Commonwealth and reiterated the importance of not spreading seed during the process. With no public comment a motion was made to close the hearing at 12:35 PM. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. A subsequent motion was made to approve the plan as presented with the following special conditions: 1. All work and future maintenance shall be done by hand and before the plants go to seed or during the dormant winter months. 2. All debris shall be disposed of off site. 3. The removal of re-sprouts shall be allowed provided they are removed before the plants go to seed. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously with four in favor.
RFD; CHRIS ALLEY FOR PAUL AND MARIAN LIPKE; 25 Windy Gates Rd.; AP 30-104.2: Mr. Alley reviewed the plan to upgrade the existing two cesspool, five-bedroom septic system to a five-bedroom, Title V system within the 100-foot buffer zone of a Bordering Vegetated Wetland. The closest activity is 29 feet from the wetland edge. He added this is a very sensitive site and the existing system failed inspection. The Commission discussed the observations made during the site visit and the extensive wetland network that exists on this and neighboring properties. This specific parcel is over four-acres with resources including wetlands and an un-named brook. After further discussion a motion was made
for a negative determination with the following special conditions: 1. The siltation barrier shall be installed and approved by the Conservation Agent before work begins. 2. Top soil shall be stockpiled and re-spread when the work is finished. 3. All excavation spoils shall be removed from the site daily. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved with four in favor.
RFD GEORGE SOURATI FOR BOB SKYDELL; 16 Old Nursery Lane; AP 7-10.6: Mr. Sourati explained the owner would like to abandon an existing cesspool on a 10-acre parcel and install a new Title V septic system. The cesspool is approximately 75 feet from the edge of a Bordering Vegetated Wetland. The cesspool will be pumped dry, crushed and backfilled with clean, course sand. The new system is located outside the wetland buffer zone. A trench will be needed within the buffer zone to run a line from the house to the septic tank. After brief discussion a motion was made for a negative determination as this is a significant improvement. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously with four in favor.
REQUEST FOR 3-YEAR EXTENSION ORDER OF CONDITIONS SE 12 – 748; UP-ISLAND, LLC.; 21 Squibnocket Road; AP 33-24 (Vytlacil house): Chuck H. explained an Order was issued in October 2015 to construct a 4-foot wide field grass walking path through a wetland buffer with an elevated walkway over the wetland, remove the well house and install a kayak storage rack. In March 2016 the path relocation was approved because of the steep ground slope in the original spot. The owner requests a 3-year extension for this Order. He has been renovating the house and has not yet been able to do this work. A motion was made and seconded to grant the three-year extension. The motion came to a
vote and passed unanimously with four in favor.
ADMINISTRATION:
The April 4, 2018 meeting minutes were reviewed and approved by consensus. The April 18, 2018 meeting minutes were also reviewed and approved as presented by consensus.
Basin Road site plan with resource delineations and elevations (regarding Planning Board proposed bus U Turn). As requested by the Commission Chuck H. reviewed the site plan and resource delineation for this section of Basin Road. The work was performed by Doug Cooper and funded from the Commission’s wetland defense fund. The Commission approved the delineations, resource definitions and contour elevations of the dune.
Signatures:
Order of Conditions SE 12 – 809; Rosenberg; AP 24-1.
Determination of Applicability Lipke; AP 30-104.2.
Determination of Applicability Skydell; AP 7-10.6.
Extension SE 12 – 748; Up-Island, LLC; AP 35-21.
Chuck’s Performance Review was discussed. The Commissioners agreed to send their thoughts to Ms. Malkin who will consolidate them into one document for discussion at the next meeting.
The next meeting will be Wednesday, June 6, 2018 @ 12:30 PM.
With no further business to discuss the meeting adjourned at 1:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted by Chuck Hodgkinson, C.A.S.
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