HANSON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC MEETING OF FEBRUARY 11, 2014
TOWN HALL, 542 LIBERTY STREET, HANSON, MA
Called to Order at 7:00 PM under M.G.L. c 131, §40 and the Hanson By-Law 3-13, §5 and Rules and Regulations by John Kemmett, Chairman, in Meeting Room A at the Town Hall.
Present: John Kemmett, Chairman
Frank Schellenger, Vice Chairman
David Harris, Member
Absent: Phil Clemons, Associate Member
John Murray, Clerk
Also Present: Laurie Muncy, Agent
Rebecca Nehiley, Administrative Assistant
Minutes
Motion to approve minutes of January 28th, 2014: David Harris
Second: Frank Schellenger
Vote: 3-0-0
Appointments
None
Public Hearings
None
Discussions
Mr. Harris expressed his displeasure that the Whitman-Hanson Express did not publish an article about the $82,800 LAND Grant that the Town received from the State to purchase 115 acres of open space bordering Poor Meadow Brook. A prepared copy of the press release was given to a reporter at a scheduled public announcement at a Selectmen’s meeting along with photos and it never made it past a blurb in the paper. He was of the opinion that the story would have merited a little more coverage as Open Space and trails are an interest to a segment of the population of the Town of Hanson just as schools and sports are.
Gift of two parcels of land to the Conservation Commission at Deer Hill Road
Ms. Nehiley said that Mr. Richard Beal, the developer of Deer Hill Road had offered to gift two small, landlocked parcels at the end of the cul-de-sac to the Town of Hanson under the care and custody of the Conservation Commission. However, Mr. Beal had discovered in the meantime that the Natural Heritage of Endangered Species had required that those two parcels be maintained in perpetuity under the Homeowners Association Agreement. Therefore, the offer was withdrawn and no action was taken.
Smitty's Bog
Mr. Harris wanted to know if everything was on track to proceed in the spring as scheduled in regards to the field work, dike removal and phragmites control at Smitty’s Bog. Ms. Muncy answered that she and Mr. Clemons had met recently with Ms. Irene Winkler, the Wetlands Reserve Program Director at the Natural Resources Conservation Services and Ms. Winkler is revising the Plans by tweaking the removal of some of the water control structures. The new Plan will have to be drafted into a new Request for Proposal (RFP) to accommodate those changes. Ms. Winkler also wants to set up a meeting with the Conservation Commission and Mr. & Mrs. Record of Katydid Lane to discuss their flooding problem. Her suggestion is to breach the dike
and incorporate that work into the RFP for the removal of the water control structures. Ms. Muncy will facilitate this meeting once the new plans are received.
Mr. Harris asked about the progress of the parking area. Mr. Kemmett answered that he had talked with Mr. Al Hanscom, Town Engineer who is looking into fixing the Marcus L. Urann boat ramp and help to facilitate the road repairs and he wants to take a look at the plans.
Poor Meadow Brook Conservation Area
Mr. Harris mentioned that Newcomb Tree Service had volunteered to do the tree cutting for a new parking area off of West Washington Street. Ms. Muncy informed the Commission that two proposals were received for the Environmental Site Assessment (21E) that is required before the property can change hands. The Commission looked over the proposals and ultimately decided on the larger firm that could get a report in earlier.
Motion to accept the proposal from Norfolk-Ram: David Harris
Second: Frank Schellenger
Vote: 3-0-0
Mr. Schellenger questioned the use of the Revolving Fund to pay for the Site Assessment. Mr. Kemmett said he would look into the financing with the Community Preservation Committee meeting next week.
Future acquisitions and what we will need to do
Mr. Harris wanted to discuss a timeline for a plan of action for basically three properties that Conservation has an interest in: the Veterans Memorial Forest, the Smith-Nawalzelski property and the Plymouth County Hospital site. Mr. Kemmett said the Town Forest is getting surveyed presently and it doesn’t make sense to transfer it over to Conservation until there is a plan. Ms. Muncy said that after speaking with Phil Clemons she understood that the Town Forest Committee is considering sponsoring the Article for that.
Ms. Muncy said to let her know if they want to move forward with Smith-Nawalzelski being transferred to the care and custody of Conservation Commission and she’ll prepare the article. She added that the deadline for submitting an article for Town Meeting is March 7, 2014. Mr. Kemmett suggested putting a placeholder on the warrant and making a decision when everyone is present.
Mr. Kemmett felt strongly that the Plymouth County Hospital should be on the ballot this go round. He suggested that a citizen’s petition with 10 signatures could get it on the warrant. Mr. Harris agreed that we should move forward with that if possible.
Maintenance plan for Nathaniel Thomas Mill
Mr. Kemmett mentioned that the sign for the Mill is “dead in the water.” It was too expensive, so he’s started anew with someone else. Also, as far as the maintenance plan, he’s approached the Building Inspector who is supposed to get back to him with a list of things. Mr. Curran also looked at the electrical and there’s nothing too major but it needs to be addressed. Mr. Harris suggested that the wheel needs work if not replacement in the very near future and things need to be put in order before renting it out.
Mr. Schellenger commented that renting the Mill for $25 a day will not pay for repairs and/or maintenance and maybe the “long term plan would be to get rid of it. We’re interested in the conservation of the property, not the Mill.” Mr. Schellenger wondered “Where are the people that supported the purchase of the Mill with Community Preservation Funds?” Mr. Kemmett said that originally the long term plan was the put the Indian Head Trailhead through the property and that the Mill was a liability. Ms. Muncy asked if it was possible to ask the Community Preservation Committee for money for maintenance or another option would be to write an article and bring it Town Meeting. Mr. Kemmett agreed and said the
Selectmen and the townspeople would be on record as supporting or not supporting the Mill because the Conservation Commission does not have the funds to maintain it.
Funding/Grants
Mr. Harris asked if anything was available out there in terms of trails. Mr. Kemmett said that the Department of Conservation and Recreation is potentially thinking of creating a Circuit Rider Program to come to towns and offer advice on their various grants and funding opportunities.
5th member
Mr. Kemmett was dismayed that he never sees it advertised in the paper that we are in need of another member. Ms. Muncy said that she brings it up at every Department Head meeting. She said there’s another one this Thursday and she’ll bring it up again. Mr. Harris suggested considering reducing the Commission from a 5-member to a 3-member Board as it’s the only fair thing to do.
1101 Main Street
Mr. Schellenger asked when the Order of Conditions ran out. Ms. Nehiley will look into it but it probably falls under the Extension Permit Act giving it a 4-year extension. Mr. Harris “wants to know when the study is supposed to be done between the Town Engineer and the Selectmen on the flow. We were told they were going to do a dye study.” He added that “the Town would want to know where their water is going from their system.” Ms. Muncy said that she has talked to various parties about that, but she has received nothing that she is able to present to them. Ms. Muncy said that Al Hanscom was supposed to contact the MBTA to get an as-built plan for the area. She suggested
inviting Mr. Hanscom in to finalize his synopsis.
Old Business/New Business
ClipperPress/Invoice – signed
Certificate of Compliance for All American Assisted Living at Hanson, 1074 West Washington Street, Map 104 (Hanson), 67 (E. Bridgewater), Lot 1 (Hanson), Lot 6A (E. Bridgewater for SHI-II Hanson, LLC, 30 Jericho Executive Plaza, Suite 400E, Jericho, NY 11753 (DEP #SE175-612)- signed
Adjournment
Motion to adjourn at 8:15 PM: David Harris
Second: John Kemmett
Vote: 3-0-0
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