Franklin Planning & Community Development
355 East Central Street, Room 120
Franklin, Ma 02038-1352
Telephone: 508-520-4907
Fax: 508-520-4906
Memorandum
DATE: October 3, 2013
TO: Franklin Conservation Commission
FROM: Bryan W. Taberner, AICP, Director
RE: Supplement to 10/03/2013 Agent Report
This memo is provided as a supplement to Michele Grenier’s October 3, 2013 Agent Report, which was previously provided to Conservation Commission members. I will be in attendance at this evening’s Commission meeting to discuss or address related issues.
Public Hearings
Public Hearing: Notice of Intent - Camp Haiastan, 722 Summer Street, Repair of Septic System.
Earlier today DPCD staff talked with David McKearney, Franklin’s Health Director, regarding the project. At the Tuesday October 1, 2013 10:00 a.m. Franklin Board of Health (BOH) meeting, the project proponent, Health Director and BOH discussed a variety of issues, including the proper sizing of the septic system. No decisions were made at the BOH’s meeting. Director McKearney informed me that the BOH will have independent review of the plan, likely by Vine Associates. Required approval of the system’s design may first require Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management review and approval. Given that the eventual design could include larger leaching areas and tanks, DPCD recommend the Commission continue the Public Hearing to their next meeting.
New England Power Company. Public Meeting - Request for Determination. Electric Utility Maintenance on Upper Union & Mount Streets ROW
DPCD staff reviewed the request for determination document and has not identified concerns related to the proposed utility work.
General Business
Minor Buffer Zone Activity: 19 Echo Bridge Road
Given the nature of the request, it is difficult to make a decision without acually seeing the site. DPCD recommend the Commission schedule a site visit to assess potential impacts to adjacent wetland resources.
Discussions:
Amendment Request, 505 West Central Street
DPCD staff reviewed the applicant’s request for an amendment to their Order of Conditions (CE-159-1009). It is our understanding that the amendment would change nothing related to the project other than additional lines on the site plan (and related definitely private subdivision plan). If this is the case DPCD has no concerns related to the proposed amendment.
Amendment Request, Franklin Innovation Center, Hayward Street
DPCD has no concerns with relocation of dumpsters, it does not believe the small changes to the site plan will negatively impact adjacent wetland resources, and would not be concerned with a limited amendment to the Order of Conditions.
Meeting Schedule
It has come to my attention that a substantial change to the Conservation Commission’s regular meeting schedule has been proposed; my understanding is the proposed change would result in a monthly Commission meeting rather than the current schedule. I do not recommend major changes to the Commission’s meeting schedule for a variety of reasons, but most importantly is that according to section 10.05 of 310 CMR, “A public hearing must be held by the conservation commission within 21 days of receeipt of” a NOI, Abbreviated NOI, or ANRAD, and needs to be advertised according to M.G.L. c.131 section 40.
Meetings every two to three weeks are needed. If the Conservation Office received a submittal today (October 3rd) it would need to have a public hearing no later than October 24th. In this case, if meetings were held every three weeks it would work, given three weeks from today there is another meeting and there is anple time to advertise.
However, if we received a submittal yesterday, a public hearing needs to be held by October 23rd. The only meeting between those two dates (with the three week spacing) would be tonights meeting, which would not work (we need time to advertise). In this case you would need to add an addition meeting on October 17th.
During the 2013 calendar year there are 22 scheduled Conservation Commission meetings. With holidays it is nearly impossible to schedule meetings every other Thursday night. In addition, the Commission competes for meeting space with other commissions and boards, especially ZBA who also meets on Thursdays.
For these reasons there are four months in 2013 (February, April, July and November) with only one Conservation Commission meeting. This is made possible by carefully spacing the two meetings on the other months, and occasionally, as with October 2013, actually working a third meeting into the meeting schedule. During the four months when only one meeting is scheduled there is a good chance an additional meeting will be needed.
It is of course the Commission’s decision how often it holds meetings, but I suggest keeping meetings every other Thursday night where possible.
Other Issues
Staffing. Conservation Agent
Michele Grenier’s last day with the Town was September 11, 2013. In general, the Conservation Department has run smoothly with very limited assistance from Franklin’s Town Engineer and various DPCD staff.
The Town posted the Conservation Agent position on August 28, 20013; since that time many resumes and applications have been reviewed, and five candidates are being contacted to arrange interviews. Once an interview schedule is established the Conservation Commission chair will be notified. Commission involvement in the interview process will be appreciated: I request the Chair assign a Commission member (or two) to this task. Resumes will be available for review in the DPCD Office by Commission members involved with the interview process, but due to privacy issues will not be distributed to Commission members electronically. I expect to have a new Agent in place by the end of October.
Recent Communications
The Conservation Department received emails regarding at least three issues during the last two days. Copies of th
| 
