Minutes of Meeting— April 13, 2004
The Hudson Planning Board met at the Town Hall, 78 Main Street, Hudson, Massachusetts.
At 7:00 p.m., Chairman Robert D’Amelio called the meeting to order.
Present: Robert D’Amelio, Peter de Bakker, Joan Melillo, Richard Gelpke, Rodney Frias
Danforth Woods Subdivision
Present: Dale MacKinnon, EarthTech
Submitted:
Memo from Peter Majeski to Dale MacKinnon of EarthTech dated April 9, 2004 re: Slope Stability at Laurel Drive
Geotechnical Report from Simpson, Gumpertz, Heger
EarthTech visited numbers 56, 58, 60, and 62 Laurel Drive on April 8, 2004 and produced a memo reporting their findings at the site. EarthTech recommends review by a Geotechnical Engineer.
Mr. D’Amelio explained to attendees the process the Board would follow with regard to slope issues at Danforth Woods subdivision. The Board will write a letter to the the developer to explain EarthTech’s recommendation, and to determine the developer’s intentions, with the advice of Town Counsel. These steps must be followed in the event that the case goes to court. Mr. D’Amelio explained that no fix can be performed while the ground is frozen or saturated. The ground must be dry.
Ms. Simpson read the memo from EarthTech into the record.
Mr. Gelpke asked the Board to be specific about its planned reaction. Mr. D’Amelio explained that dependent upon advice of Town Counsel, much depends on the response of the developer.
Developer will choose a geotechnical engineer and the Board will decide if it is a reputable one.
A request will be sent out via certified and first class mail tomorrow, and the developer will be asked to respond within a week. Mr. MacKinnon stated that the work will not be performed until drier weather comes, but that the engineer will need to get out there now to become familiar with the problems posed by wet weather.
Mr. Gelpke asked if something could be done immediately. Mr. D’Amelio responded that the Board is obligated to follow a process outlined by Town Counsel. The Board must be sure that the developer refuses to fix the slope problems before it can act in any way.
Mr. Gelpke stated that there is nothing to prevent the Laurel Drive residents from acting on their own, although it’s not clear what effect any action they might take would have on what the developer might do. The Town’s authority is limited as the problems exist on private property.
Mr. Perry asked if the developer was the same one building the Simrah Housing. Ms. Simpson explained that in essence, it is the same developer.
The Residents asked a question about procedure and the testing done by EarthTech on April 8, 2004. The Board responded.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45.
Respectfully submitted,
___________________________
Jennifer Burke
Clerk, Hudson Planning Board
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