Approved at the Nov. 6, 2003 meeting
Conservation Commission
Minutes – June 5, 2003
Page 1 of 1
Marlborough, MA
Conservation Commission
Minutes
June 5, 2003
Members Present: Edward Clancy-Chairman, John Skarin, Dennis Demers, David Williams, and Priscilla Ryder-Conservation Officer
Absent: Lawrence Roy and Donald V. Rider
Approval of Minutes - Minutes of Feb. 20, 2003 and March 27, 2003 were unanimously approved 4-0 as written.
DISCUSSION
§ Dan Blake, Eagle Scout – Dan explained that for his Eagle Scout project he had decided to help the Commission with the identification of vernal pools in the Millham Reservoir and watershed area. He will check out 12 locations which the state map indicates may potentially be vernal pools. He will send in these certification information when he finds one. He has checked a few sites already. The Commission thanked Mr. Blake for taking on such an important project and approved his plan.
§ DEP 212-913 Jericho Hill, discuss construction sequence – Peter Vander Kyle of Emanouil Brothers, Inc. presented a written construction sequencing plan including the method to replace the drain pipe. After some discussion, the Commission voted 4-0 to approve the sequencing plan.
§ DEP 212-762- Villages at Crane Meadow – Andy Iovanni and Dave Franchi from Franchi Equipment, and Robert Lucia of Wetlands & Environmental Testing, Inc. were present. Mr. Iovanni explained that the wetland replication areas had never been installed. He has hired Bob Lucia to check the locations and evaluate their suitability. Bob Lucia explained that the original area proposed for replication has many mature trees and is already marginally wet. He presented a plan for two other areas for replication shown as Area 1 and Area 2 on the plans. Area 1 is already a disturbed area which had been flagged as a wetland
but is really a pile of rubble. The rubble will be removed, area graded to meet wetland grades and replanted. Area 2 is on the boundary of the adjacent Pappas property for which the applicant is seeking a zoning change. Two alternative’s for Area 2 were discussed, one which extends the wetland replication area into the Pappas property, and the other which does not use the Papas property. It was agreed that all this work (except the a portion of Area 2) was to be done as soon as possible but no later than September 30, 2003. The Commission agreed to accept these changes to the plan.
§ Marlborough Leash Law - Bill Bryant, has been working with the City Council on the revisions to the city’s leash ordinance. During these discussions residents have asked if there were any areas in the city where dogs could run free. He asked the Commission to consider which, if any , of the city’s Conservation lands would allow dog walkers to legally take their dogs off the leash. He is trying to find areas around the city where this might be permitted. The Commission said they would think about possible locations and how such a rule might apply.
Mr. Bryant also said that he is working on getting some private funding to subsidize the installation of “mut mits” to be placed at certain parks. This is just a small baggy that can be used to pick up after pets in the park. The Commission stated that these would be good for The Grove conservation land which gets lots of use. The Commission voted 5-0 to allow the mut mits to be installed at The Grove and other suitable locations to be determined.
§ DEP 212-888 Donald Lynch Blvd. Phragmites Control - Michael Slazik and Paul Slazik of Rosewood Construction presented a letter from Leah Basbanes, M.A. dated July 24, 2003 which outlined the procedures to be used for the phragmites control on the above noted site. The herbicide spraying would begin sometimes late July or August depending on weather conditions. The Commission reviewed the letter and required some additional details be provided and that OAR and the town of Berlin should be notified of this proposal. This item will be placed on the next agenda June 19, 2003.
§ DEP 212-771 – Home Depot- storage at the back of the building- No one from Home Depot could attend, this was continued to the next meeting.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Notice of Intent
18 Larose Dr. – Lloyd Cormier
The home owner proposes to install an in-ground pool and fencing next to his house and all work is proposed at least 50 ft. from the wetland. The Commission reviewed the plans he had submitted and determined that the following conditions should be included: All excess fill removed from site, some minor amounts of fill to be used to straighten out the gullies in the slope, fencing can be installed at the top of the slope. The Commission voted 5-0 to issue a standard Order of Conditions with the special conditions noted above.
Request for Determination of Applicability
1 Muddy Lane – Marlborough Fish and Game
No one from the Marlborough Fish and Game was present. The Commission reviewed the application and determined that this was similar to the application submitted last year. The Commission voted 5-0 to issue a Negative Determination with the conditions as submitted in the past.
Notice of Intent – (Continuation of Public Hearing)
Reservoir St. - Benjamin Donnarumma
Robert Parente of Central Mass Engineering represented the applicant and provided a revised plan showing the items requested at the last meeting including: construction sequencing plan, tracking pad and access location. The Commission discussed the slope construction, deck addition, type of soil and the future request by the applicant for a dock or steps to the water. The Commission closed the hearing. A draft Order of Conditions will be prepared for the next meeting.
Notice of Intent- (Continuation of Public Hearing)
127 Lakeside Ave. – Everest Construction
Jason Hemick of Meridian Associates, Inc. presented a revised plan. The revised plan address the items and comments raised by Pat Clancy, City Engineer. Items shown on the new plan include: construction details, root barrier for the infiltration system, no test pits were shown since they do not have control of the site, but he suggested this be a condition in the order. The Commission expressed concern about the infiltration system as designed and it’s ability to work throughout many years. The system will need constant maintenance to be effective which the Commission was skeptical would be done given the amount of sand that would be washed into the grassy area, before getting into the trench. The Commission discussed this issue at length and determined that some
testing of the soil, both for it’s permeability and for any subsoil contamination would need to be done before any work could proceed. The Commission indicated to Mr. Hemick that a new design for the drainage system might be necessary given the results of the soil tests which will be a condition of the Order. The Commission closed the hearing. A draft Order of Conditions will be prepared for review at the June 19th meeting.
Notice of Intent (Continuation of Public Hearing)
600-800 Nickerson Rd. – Glenborough Realty Trust
At the applicants’ request, this item was continued to the June 19th meeting.
Notice of Intent (Continuation of Public Hearing)
Crane Meadow Rd. (Fairfield Green at Marlborough) – FF Development LP
At the applicants’ request, this item was continued to the June 19th meeting.
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
§ DEP 212-887 79 Beach St. (Full Certificate) - This project is complete and the grass seed has been planted, but not yet grown. The Commission voted 5-0 to issue a Certificate of Compliance and to hold it until the site has been stabilized and the erosion controls removed.
CORRESPONDENCE
The following correspondence items were accepted and placed on file:
§ Let. From SEA Consultants. Inc. dated April 22, 2003 RE: Drainage calculations and traffic study review for Fairfield at Marlborough
§ Let. From Executive Office of Envir. Affairs, dated May 23, 2003 RE: FY04 Self Help Grant Due Aug. 2003
§ Memo from MACC, dated May 16, 2003 RE: Mass Highway’s new herbicide spraying along rights-of-way.
§ Let. To Pat Clancy, dated May 21, 2003 RE: DEP 212-774 Cross Country Sewer Line Pleasant St. to Matheson Dr. additional items to be completed
§ Hudson Conservation Commission – Hearing Notice- Location : 292 Brigham St. (Lilac Ln., Hugo Guidotti
§ Memo to file, dated May 23, 2003 Re: Forest Trails Subdivision, site inspection report 5-14-03
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting was adjourned at 9:15 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Priscilla Ryder
Conservation Officer
| 
