Minutes of Meeting
July 18, 2013
To: Town Clerk
cc: Members
File
Present: R. Ballantyne, M. Allen, J. Fournier, M. DePoto, Michele Grenier, Conservation Agent
Absent: J. Livingstone, P. Stolfa, Associate Member
There was a motion to accept the minutes of the June 13th meeting. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 4-0-0.
Ms. Michele Grenier’s Agent’s Report has been appended to the minutes.
GENERAL BUSINESS
Certificate of Compliance: 112 Populatic Street - CE159-1012
Ms. Grenier informed the Commission members that she has visited the site and the rain garden has been constructed as planned and recommended that the Certificate of Compliance be issued.
There was a motion to issue a Certificate of Compliance for 112 Populatic Street. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 4-0-0.
Certificate of Compliance: Lot 2 South Street - CE159-1020
Ms. Grenier informed the Commission that the house is located outside of the 100 ft. buffer zone and the grading is within the 100 ft. buffer zone. This area has been restored and the 2 Conservation plaques have been installed according to the plan.
There was a motion to issue a Certificate of Compliance for Lot 2 South Street. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 4-0-0.
Certificate of Compliance: Franklin Country Club – CE159-1041
Ms. Grenier stated that the function deck, storage room and upper deck have all been built according to the plan. All of the grass has been reestablished.
There was a motion to issue a Certificate of Compliance for Franklin Country Club. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 4-0-0.
Interested New Commissioner: Paul Harrington
Mr. Paul Harrington introduced himself to the Commission and stated that he is interested in becoming a member of the Commission. He gave the Commission members a brief overview of his background.
Mr. Harrington will attend an upcoming site walk with the Commission to get acclimated with the procedures of the Commission before he is appointed as a full voting member. The Commission came to the consensus that Mr. Harrington become an Associate Member before he gets appointed as a full voting member of the Commission.
Enforcement: 880 W. Central Street – Wise Way
Ms. Grenier informed the Commission members that Mr. Wise has requested another year to complete the sewer tie-in work which he has agreed to complete. He is waiting for a couple of permits from the DEP.
Mr. Mike Maglio, Town Engineer, was present at the meeting and stated that he has spoken to Mr. Wise and he is presently in the process of obtaining the sewer connection permits.
The Commission came to the consensus to allow Mr. Wise a one-year extension to complete this work. Mr. Grenier will write a letter to Mr. Wise informing him of this decision.
Public Hearing – Request for Determination – 39 Maple Street – Colburn
Mr. Seth Lajoie, Land Surveyor for the project, appeared before the Commission for grading for an upgrade of a failed septic system. Mr. Lajoie stated that some of the grading will be located inside of the 100 ft. buffer zone but not within the 50 ft. buffer zone. The septic system itself will be placed outside of the 100 ft. buffer zone.
There will be no trees removed in conducting this work.
Ms. Grenier informed the Commission that the grading is approximately 75 ft. away from the wetlands.
A Commission member stated that a 12” biodegradable compost socks should be used for erosion control during this work.
There was a motion to issue a Negative Determination subject to 4 conditions; that the applicant notify the Agent prior to commencing work, the work must be conducted according to the plan, that a modification be made to the plan replacing staked straw wattles with a 12” biodegradable compost sock and that the applicant notifies the Agent at the completion of the work. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 4-0-0.
Public Hearing - Notice of Intent – Panther Way – Town of Franklin DPW - CE159-1049
Mr. Mike Maglio, Town Engineer, and Mr. Jay Mello, Assistant Town Engineer, both appeared before the Commission for the construction of a sidewalk and bio retention area. Mr. Maglio informed the Commission that the DPW is proposing to construct a sidewalk from Rte. 140 along the length of Panther Way to the high school.
Mr. Maglio stated that most of the proposed work from Rte. 140 to Edwards Street is located outside of the resource area. The area between the police station and the high school will be within the 100 ft. buffer zone and the 200 ft. riverfront area. The sidewalk will be located within the 50’ & 100’ buffer zone.
Mr. Maglio reviewed the drainage issues for the site for the Commission’s review. There will be
Compost filter socks for erosion control purposes.
A Commission member questioned the location of the bioretention area. Mr. Maglio stated that it will be located outside of the 50 ft. buffer zone. He will work with Ms. Grenier regarding the plantings for this area. There will be 10-12 trees to be cut down for this work. Some small shrubbery will be planted in the bio retention area and then mulched.
A Commission member would like to be informed on what plantings will be planted in the bio retention area. A planting detail was constructed.
Closed subject to receiving a modified plan showing the planting detail for the bio retention basin which must be approved by the Commission.
There was a motion to close the public hearing. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 4-0-0.
There was a motion to waive the filing fees for this project. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 4-0-0.’
There was a motion to issue State and Local permits subject to the standard linear project conditions with the additional condition that we receive a revised set of plans at the next hearing on August 1st containing planting detail and plant list to be approved by a majority of the Commission. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 4-0-0.
Continued - Public Hearing - Notice of Intent – 19 Colt Road – Maliff - CE159-1048
The public hearing was opened by the Conservation Chair and a letter was read from the applicant’s representative requesting a continuance of the public hearing until the August 1st
meeting. There was a motion to continue the public hearing for 19 Colt Road until August 1st.
The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 3-0-1; 3 Yes, 0 No, 1 Abstention.
Discussion: 17 Forest Street
Ms. Debbie Murphy, homeowner of 17 Forest Street, appeared before the Commission to discuss some issues she has been having in her backyard regarding drainage and flooding coming from the adjacent on-going project at 656 King Street.
Ms. Murphy read a letter to the Commission members outlining these issues which has been added to the Conservation record.
The Commission Chair stated that a letter was received from Mr. Dan Murphy of the Wegman Companies on July 15th regarding Ms. Murphy’s issues with the recommendations that were agreed upon with Ms. Murphy. Ms. Murphy was given a copy of this letter for review.
Ms. Murphy submitted several photos of the pipe on her property which is damaged and in need of repair. Mr. Murphy questioned when the project has been completed and the silt fence is removed, where will the water flow? Mr. Mike Maglio, Town Engineer, addressed some of the issues regarding the pipe and the flooding on the site.
The Commission members will conduct a site walk of Ms. Murphy’s property to further investigate this matter. The site walk will be held on Monday, July 22nd at 5:30 p.m.
Discussion: Dacey Field Disc Golf
Mr. Mike Maglio, Town Engineer, Mr. Jay Mello, Assistant Town Engineer, and Mr. Ryan Jette, Recreation Director, all appeared before the Commission for a discussion regarding a disc golf course at the Dacey Field.
Mr. Jette gave the Commission members some background information on this proposed project.
He stated that back in the 1990’s when the field was constructed, some of the abutting neighbors and volunteers constructed walkways and bridges over wetlands. It is now the plan to improve the site with signs and paths. Signage was suggested to reroute visitors to go around the environmentally sensitive areas; bridges were also discussed, which will be constructed of non-pressure treated wood.
Signs depicting “Please stay on path and help us preserve this location” were suggested. The Conservation plaques were suggested to be used as an example to depict an environmentally sensitive area.
A copy of the signs depicting the wording was requested to be approved by the Commission. A one page management plan was requested by the Commission outlining the plans for this work.
Elections, Chair & Vice Chair
There was a consensus among the Commission members to hold the elections at the August 1st meeting
Signed Certificates of Compliance & Determination of Applicability
Certificate of Compliance – 112 Populatic Street – Clancy - CE159-1012
Certificate of Compliance – 672 East Central Street – Franklin Country Club – CE159-1041
Certificate of Compliance – Lot 2 South Street – TNT Builders – CE159-1020
Determination of Applicability (Negative) 39 Maple Street - Colburn
There was a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 4-0-0.
The meeting adjourned at 9:00p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kathleen Celorier
Conservation Secretary
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