Minutes of Meeting
November 19, 2009
To: Town Clerk
cc: CRWA
Members
File
Present: J. Fournier, J. Senterman, R. Willis, A. Tolland, M. Allen, J. Livingstone N. Alfieri, Conservation Agent
Absent: C. Botchis
There was a motion to accept the minutes of the October 15th meeting. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 5-0-0.
Mr. Nick Alfieri’s Agent’s Report has been appended to the minutes.
Public Hearing – Notice of Intent – Well No. 8, 25 Populatic Street – Town of Franklin CE159-989
Mr. Ray Willis, Commission member, recused himself from this public hearing.
Mr. William Yadisernia, Town Engineer, appeared before the Commission for the installation of replacement well, water piping and relocation of chain link fence. Mr. Yadisernia informed the Commission that this is for some proposed work at the existing Well No. 8 on Populatic Street.
The proposed work will require the relocation of an existing 8-foot high chain link fence. The work is located in the buffer zone of the wetlands. There is no creation of any impervious surfaces; the excavation of the piping is all temporary disturbance of the buffer zone area. There will be no permanent disturbance of any buffer zone areas.
There are erosion controls installed on the site and these are depicted on the plans and Mr. Yadisernia stated that he will provide the Commission with a letter with an engineer’s stamp to attest to this fact.
Mr. Alfieri stated that he is requesting that the fees be waived as this is a Town project.
Mr. Alfieri also recommended that a special condition be added to the Orders of Conditions that the DPW dig the trench and then assess whether or not the maple tree can be saved based on where they dig the trench and how much root damage there is.
There was a motion to waive the fees. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote
of 5-0-1; 5 Yes, 0 No, 1 Abstention.
A Commission member stated that there is no access to the hydrant behind the well house and questioned as to whether there will be another gate installed. Mr. Yadisernia stated that there is no plan to install another gate on this site. It was also questioned as to how close the fence would come to the top of the slope or would they have to go through the wetlands to go around the fence.
Mr. Yadisernia stated that the erosion control would be installed at the top of the slope; no one would have to walk through the wetlands.
A Commissioner asked if there will be any stockpile area located in the construction zone? Mr. Yadisernia stated that they would only be piling up the pipe and casting the earth to one side during the work.
This Commission member asked how would the DPW comply with the special condition regarding the refueling of equipment which is in the Orders of Conditions. Mr. Yadisernia stated that the equipment would not be refueled in Conservation jurisdiction nor will the equipment be stored in jurisdiction.
The special conditions discussed to be added to the Orders of Conditions were Conditions #19 thru 25 enumerated in the Orders of Conditions and the condition that Mr. Alfieri proposed about the maple tree that the DPW will try to excavate the trench and once it is excavated, based on if the root system is disturbed, the applicant could make an assessment on whether or not the tree could survive or if it needs to be removed, the applicant will notify the Commission.
There was a motion to close the hearing. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 5-0-1; 5 Yes, 0 No, 1 Abstention.
Public Hearing – Amendment Request to Orders of Conditions – 74 Oxford Drive – Medeiros – CE159-986
Mr. Jack Medeiros, the applicant, appeared before the Commission to request a change in the type and location of plantings and the extension of a concrete pool apron. Mr. Medeiros informed the Commission members that this will be a 3 ft. area to finish off the decking around the pool and also to extend the apron around the pool to make it more stable.
Mr. Medeiros also requested permission from the Commission to change the location of some of the shrubs along the fence in the back of the property and along the lefthand side.
Mr. Alfieri stated that he had requested that Mr. Medeiros provide the Commission with a list of the shrubs prior to planting. Mr. Medeiros does not have anything specific right now but is willing to use anything that the Commission members request. He requested a list of these shrubs from the Commission. Mr. Alfieri also recommended a special condition in the Order of Conditions specifying a width dimension for the concrete apron. Mr. Medeiros requested 4 ft. for the dimension of the pool deck.
A Commission member recommended some shrubs species to be planted to Mr. Medeiros that would be optimal for soil stabilization and have a good survival rate for this site as well. These plantings were added to the plan.
Some special conditions to be added to the Orders of Conditions were that the concrete apron being no more than or equal to 4 ft. and the revisions to the plantings with the Latin names as suggested by a Commission member and which were added to the planting schedule on the plan.
There was a motion to close the hearing. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 6-0-0.
There was a motion to issue Amended Orders of Conditions under the State and Local Bylaw for 74 Oxford Drive with the 2 Special Conditions that have been discussed. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 5-1-0; 5 Yes, 1 No, 0 Abstentions.
Public Hearing – Request for Determination – New England Power Co. – Existing 303 Transmission Line Right-of-Way
Mr. Andy Tolland, Commission member, recused himself from this public hearing.
Mr. Paul Knapik, a representative of AECOM, and Ms. Amy McKinnon, Environmental Engineer for National Grid, both appeared before the Commission for maintenance activities on existing overhead electric transmission lines.
Mr. Knapik informed the Commission members that this project is for replacement of various overhead equipment on numerous structures along the existing right-of-way, three of which runs through Franklin, one of which is within Conservation jurisdictional wetlands. Access to this structure, which is located off Old West Central Street, is difficult to reach as there is a slope to the right-of-way, which prohibits access by a vehicle. The only access to this location would be through an existing wetland to gain access to this structure.
There will be 900 sq. ft. of swamp matting required to be placed around the structure within the wetland area.
Mr. Knapik stated that National Grid is seeking alternative upland access through an adjacent property owner on Anthony Road. This access through the wetland would be the plan if access is not granted by the property owner.
Mr. Knapik informed the Commission that the work is proposed to start within a few weeks, which is an optimal time of year in order to minimize ground disturbance. The work will take up to 3 months for all of the structural work to occur depending on site conditions. Once the work is completed, the mats will be removed and the area would be restored to its original condition and he will ensure that there is no erosion occurring.
Mr. Knapik stated that there will be an environmental consultant on site to make sure that there is no erosion occurring and that the work is being done in compliance with company procedures. An inspection report will also be made and added to the file.
Mr. Alfieri informed the Commission that this project is being reviewed under the Town Bylaw only and is exempt under the State Act. He requested that the Commission request that the applicant notify the Conservation Department when the work will start as well as require that the work be done between the summer and winter months; not during the spring season.
There was no one present in the audience for this public hearing.
Mr. Knapik asked Mr. Alfieri as to how much advanced notice he would need to give him prior to the start of this work. Mr. Alfieri stated a few days before the mats would be put down would be optimal.
The Commission Chairman stated some special conditions to be added to the Determination would be to notify Mr. Alfieri a few days prior to starting the work and the work would be constrained to the summer and winter months only and not to be conducted in the spring.
There was a motion to close the public hearing. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 5-0-1; 5 Yes, 0 No, 1 Abstention.
There was a motion to issue a Negative Determination of Applicability for the transmission line right-of-way project with the 2 Special Conditions discussed at tonight’s meeting. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 5-0-1; 5 Yes, 0 No, 1 Abstention.
GENERAL BUSINESS
Permit Decision: 7 Old Forge Hill Road - CE159-988
There was a discussion among the Commission regarding the issuance of Orders of Conditions for this project.
There was a motion to issue Local and State Orders of Conditions for 7 Old Forge Hill Road with 28 Special Conditions listed in the Agent’s Report. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 6-0-0.
Permit Decision: 678 Pleasant Street - CE159-981
There was a motion to issue State and Local Orders of Conditions for 678 Pleasant Street with 31 Special Conditions; conditions 19 through 31 are listed in the Agent’s Report. The Motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 6-0-0.
Signed Orders of Conditions & Determination of Applicability
Determination of Applicability (Negative) – Trans. line maintenance - New England Power Co.
Amended Orders of Conditions – 678 Pleasant Street – Grady – CE159-981
Amended Orders of Conditions – 74 Oxford Drive – Medeiros – CE159-986
Orders of Conditions – 7 Old Forge Hill Road – Compton – CE159-988
There was a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 6-0-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kathleen Celorier
Conservation Secretary
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