Town of Monson
Conservation Commission
110 Main Street
Monson, MA 01057
413-267-4111
Fax 267-4108
MONSON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES MARCH 30, 2011
MEMBERS PRESENT: Leslie Duthie, Glenn Colburn & Davis Johnson
ALSO PRESENT: Dana Staples & Audra Staples
7:05 Leslie Duthie moved to accept the minutes of March 2, 2011.
Glenn Colburn seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
The Commission signed a two year extension for the Order of Conditions issued to Stephen Phillips for property on Wilbraham Road, DEP # 228-313.
Leslie Duthie questioned how the Commissioners felt about sending a letter to the Board of Selectmen to recommend appointing Dana & Audra Staples to the Conservation Commission? She stated they have attended meetings and site visits and she thought they would prove to be a good addition to the Commission.
Glenn Colburn and Davis Johnson agreed.
Leslie Duthie stated she would send a letter to Board of Selectmen.
7:15 Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation (ANRAD) for Maple Street, Irving Arnold. John Prenosil, JMP Environmental Consulting stated Mr. Arnold is asking the Commission to approve the wetland boundaries as shown on the plan for riverfront area and bordering vegetated wetland. The notice is for approval of the wetland boundaries and at this time no work is being proposed.
Glenn Colburn stated the Commission has looked at this before and he did not see that anything had changed. The plan to determine the wetland boundaries would enable the applicant to plan any future work.
Mr. Prenosil stated that was correct. Once the wetland boundaries were confirmed they could move forward to the engineering phase to plan the work.
Leslie Duthie stated she concurred with Glenn Colburn the Commission did review this property a few years ago when Mr. Irving filed an ANRAD and she did not believe anything had changed.
Glenn Colburn moved to issue a determination that the boundaries of resource areas shown on the plan were accurate.
Leslie Duthie seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
Mr. Prenosil stated he had another filing with him this one for Mr. Wallach on Bumstead Road however on further review he found that the submission lacked the required signatures. Mr. Prenosil stated he would deliver the filing to the office in the morning.
The Commission stated they would arrange a site visit for Thursday April 7, 2011 at 4:30 P.M.
Mr. Prenosil stated he would like to speak with the Commission regarding the removal of invasive species at the Flynt Quarry property.
Leslie Duthie stated she was scheduled to meet with the Land Trust on Thursday and would discuss it with them.
7:35 NOI ExxonMobile Pipeline Fenton Road. Seth Lajoie stated the site is off of Fenton Road and because the culvert is damaged the water has exposed ExxonMobile’s pipe. It is an obvious problem that must be fixed and it is proposed to replace the culvert so the water goes where it should and cover the exposed pipe. Mr. Lajoie submitted a letter proposing a 2-1 replication using black birch and white oak as discussed at the site visit.
Leslie Duthie stated the Commission also discussed how it was proposed to get the equipment to the site because it is so wet.
Mr. Lajoie stated they would use mats, obviously the company is anxious to start work as soon as possible.
Leslie Duthie stated DEP has not issued a file number yet and the Commission cannot close the hearing without that.
Glenn Colburn questioned if after the mats are removed the area would be revegetated?
Seth Lajoie stated the trees would be planted on the edge of the rip rap. ExxonMobile does not want any planting on top of the pipeline but they would use a ground cover conservation mix. They want visual access for the pipeline from the air.
Leslie Duthie stated the horse tails that are there could be preserved and replanted it may stabilize the area a little quicker.
Mr. Lajoie stated a combination of what is there and conservation mix would work well.
Leslie Duthie moved to continue the hearing to April 13, 2011 to allow time for DEP to issue a file number.
Davis Johnson seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
Mr. Lajoie questioned if it was necessary for him to attend the April 13, 2011 meeting?
Leslie Duthie stated that would depend on the comments from DEP. If DEP issued the standard comments it would not be necessary for Mr. Lajoie to attend but if they were substantive in nature it would probably be better if he did.
7:45 Seth Wilson and Bill Plante met informally with the Commission to discuss what uses the Commission proposed for land it owns on Reimers Road formally owned by Dr. Jean Porwoll.
Leslie Duthie stated the Commission has not discussed what to do with the land because it does not own the land. Dr. Porwolls’ will was specific in that nothing can be constructed on the property it can only be used for agriculture, silviculture and preserved as a natural area for wildlife.
Bill Plante stated he was interested in using the land for agricultural purposes. He owns approximately 2 ½ acres of land on Upper Palmer Road where his house is and he has cattle on the property. There are wetlands on the property that contribute to the mud problem and the land on Reimers Road is suitable for grazing cattle and would provide some relief for his pasture.
Leslie Duthie stated Dr. Porwoll mowed the fields annually or bi-annually but she did not remember it being mowed in the last few years.
Glenn Colburn stated he walked both fields one is approximately 10 acres and the other approximately 2 ½ acres there is some woody growth and initially both fields would need to be cleared with a brush hog.
Bill Plante stated running a plow through the ground would certainly be quicker but recovering the land by grazing would work well.
Glenn Colburn questioned what Mr. Plante would propose for water for the animals? Dr. Porwolls’ land is on the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species map as habitat for endangered species and the banks of the stream would have to be preserved. Additionally there are woodcocks on the land and the birds like cover by the brook so the Commission would not want to see any cattle in or near the brook.
Mr. Plante stated he would put a couple of tanks on the land and haul in water.
Leslie Duthie stated she was not against the idea in principal and it would be a way for the Commission to maintain the property as field habitat, having said that the discussion is premature because the Town does not own the land. Additionally there is the issue of liability for the Town that would have to be worked out and also there is a discussion to be had regarding payment or some other sort of compensation.
Seth Wilson stated Mr. Plante has liability insurance for the animals on his property. If he is allowed to use the land he may be able to qualify for grants.
Leslie Duthie stated the other concern is that it is wetlands and the Commission does not want to see the field get muddy like Mr. Plante’s property on Upper Palmer Road. How would the field be managed and how would the animals be moved around to keep it from getting too muddy?
Mr. Plante stated he would not use it year round and there would be no need for a shelter for the cattle.
Glenn Colburn questioned how Mr. Plante proposed to fence in the cattle?
Mr. Plante stated he would stake in a simple electric fence and use solar or battery charged power.
Seth Wilson stated because of the diversity of the property it would lend itself to a more diverse use sheep and goats are more interested in woody growth than cattle. Use different animals and different grazing methods.
Leslie Duthie stated the Commission has property on Margaret Street, formerly owned by Mr. Kolowrat that needs to be brush hogged but it would be difficult to get equipment across the bridge. The Commission wants to keep a three foot wide trail open but the abundance of multiflora rose makes it very difficult.
Seth Wilson stated the Commission may want to think about allowing grazing on that property. A way to make the area friendlier and reclaim land overrun by multiflora rose would be to brush hog it and put grazing animals on it.
Leslie Duthie stated she liked the idea of trading services and suggested making a site visit to the Margaret Street property on Thursday April 7, 2011, meeting in the High School parking lot around 5:30 P.M.
8:25 Charles Richard met with the Commission to discuss his interest in donating Lot 38 Heritage Lane and Lot 39 McCray Circle to the Town.
Leslie Duthie stated she remembered a conversation with the previous Building Commissioner Chip Lapointe who wanted an engineered plan for the retaining wall that was proposed on Lot 38.
Glenn Colburn stated it would be nice for the neighborhood to have a little open space and would eliminate any potential problem with water coming down the hill.
Leslie Duthie stated the residents of the neighborhood walk their dogs through the property to access the area up the hill. It is also box turtle habitat and on the National Heritage and Endangered Species map. Mr. Richard submitted a plan of each lot and letter donating the property to the Town of Monson in the care and custody of the Monson Conservation Commission.
Leslie Duthie moved to request the Board of Selectmen to put an article on the warrant for the Town Meeting to accept Lot 38 Heritage Lane and Lot 39 McCray Circle in the care and custody of the Monson Conservation Commission.
Glenn Colburn seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
Leslie Duthie reminded Mr. Richard he would need the deed book and page numbers and appraisal.
Mr. Richard stated he still owned Lot 36 Heritage Lane and he would like permission to grade the mound of earth that is there in order to develop the property for a single family home.
Leslie Duthie stated she would look at it.
8:50 MAIL
- Letter from Stephen Hoy 19 Paradise Lake Road regarding property that abuts his. He has asked to be notified of any meeting that includes discussion on the property owned by Clifford Farquhar.
- Notification of AMEC annual right of way herbicide spraying.
- Proof of recording the Amended Order of Conditions from Walter McLaughlin Lower Hampden Road.
- Notification of NECR annual right of way herbicide spraying.
- Notice of a hazardous waste collection day on June 11, 2011 from 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. from the Board of Health. The Board of Health supplied the Commission with a plan showing how it was proposed to protect the brook.
- RFD from Billy Pope for Lot 3A Paradise Lake Road for work associated with the construction of a single family home.
- Various building permits.
Glenn Colburn moved to adjourn at 9:10 P.M.
Leslie Duthie seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda A. Hull
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