MONSON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
JULY 6, 2011
MEMBERS PRESENT: Leslie Duthie, Glenn Colburn and Audra Staples.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Davis Johnson and Dana Staples.
7:10 The Commission signed bill schedules for Fiscal 2011 and Fiscal 2012.
Audra Staples moved to accept the minutes of May 25, 2011 as presented.
Glenn Colburn seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
7:15 RFD for debris removal at the Monson Developmental Center, Clean Harbors will perform the work.
No one was present at the meeting to represent Clean Harbors or the Developmental Center and the Commission has not received a check for the advertising fee.
Glenn Colburn moved to continue the meeting to July 27, 2011 at 7:15 P.M.
Leslie Duthie seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
Leslie Duthie stated she would contact them.
The Commission had previously visited the site and did not see any problems with the manner in which it was proposed to remove the debris. In general the debris will be removed by machinery that will grab it and transfer it to waiting vehicles, in the area of the landfill the debris will be dragged up the slop using chains and then placed into vehicles for removal.
7:25 Donald Frydryk, Sherman & Frydryk spoke informally with the Commission regarding sections of wall and guard rails destroyed by the tornado on June 1, 2011 that the Town of Monson, Highway Department must repair. Most of the work is in the Stewart Avenue, Bethany Road, State Street and Washington Street area. There is a section of wall on Bethany Road that must be replaced. The flags near the stream are gone but this is a simple remove and replace project. The area on Washington Street basically goes from Cushman field up to the railroad tracks and everything will be excavated from above. There are wetlands on one side and the Town would like to address some of the drainage issues but there is only so much that FEMA will pay for. If any pipes are damaged John Morrell may replace
them but essentially the work involves replacing the wall, and luckily the steepest part of the wall is still in pretty good shape.
Leslie Duthie stated there are a lot of invasive species on Washington Street.
Donald Frydryk stated the Town received an extension of the emergency certification, Mr. Morrell wants to get moving on the replacement of the wall and railings.
Leslie Duthie stated the Commission will look at both sites.
45 Waid Road Andrea Monette. Ms. Monette contacted the Commission seeking permission to cut and clean up the trees that are in the Conservation Restriction area on her property that were damaged by the tornado.
Leslie Duthie stated the best thing to do would be to meet on the site and discuss the proposed work with the property owner before making a decision as to the filing that would be required. The Conservation Restriction covers a large area in the back of the property and the Commission must be sure this does not turn into a lawned area. There are other properties that have Conservation Restrictions on them and it is important that the Commission be consistent in its requirements. Ms. Duthie stated she had spoken with NHESP and if the properties are in turtle habitat property owner may be asked to wait for a certain time of the year.
7:40 NOI Town of Monson Highway Dept. Road repair on Margaret Street.
Donald Frydryk, Sherman & Frydryk, Land Surveying & Engineering stated the proposal is to reconstruct approximately 800 feet of Margaret Street from the intersection of High Street and Margaret Street to the brook; and for 325 feet from the brook to Thompson Street it is proposed to mill down the surface and overlay. This is the watershed for Dr. Rogers fields and runoff is piped down and then into the outlet.
John Morrell stated there are two pipes one is a 24 inch pipe and the pipe going along Margaret Street is a 15 inch pipe if the Commission looked at the bridge they would see the bottom of the pipe is completely rusted out. Mr. Morrell stated he wanted to replace the pipe and size it correctly so that both pipes are the same size.
Donald Frydryk stated it is proposed to continue the 24 inch pipe that will drain down to a catch basin in the middle of the street with a manhole for clean out. The catch basin will have a deep sump in accordance with standard DEP requirements. The abandoned pipe will have the ends filled with mortar and the bank will not be disturbed. On the opposite side of the street the water currently discharges directly into the brook, to address that it is proposed to put in a rip rap pad close to the bank.
John Morrell stated there is not a lot of room to work and Mr. Frydryk has come up with a good design that improves the situation.
Leslie Duthie stated she would agree and remembers looking at the culvert when she was there with Craig Jalbert, Water & Sewer Superintendent.
Mr. Morrell stated he would like to do the work before school opens up it would be much easier to shut the road down and detour traffic around Mill Street.
Donald Frydryk stated they would keep the existing system as long as possible and construct to the manhole. The change over occurs on the road closer to High Street and that would be when the final connection is made.
Glenn Colburn questioned what is proposed for the outfall from the new line?
Donald Frydryk stated they proposed a substantial stone rip rap. The pipe comes out almost flat with four feet of cover and goes down to nothing at the headwall.
Leslie Duthie questioned if there was going to be any reinforcement?
Donald Frydryk stated no because the slope would stay the same, the swale would be cut in and stay steeper at the road.
John Morrell stated the pipe is not so low that the level of the brook would obstruct the flow.
Leslie Duthie questioned if it would increase the flow?
Donald Frydryk stated there is no increase in volume. Included in the Notice of Intent is an operation and maintenance plan.
Leslie Duthie stated she believed this project to be straight forward and a good solution to an existing problem.
8:15 Leslie Duthie moved to close the hearing and issue an Order of Conditions.
Audra Staples seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
John Morrell stated he is working with DEP to clean out Chicopee Brook from behind the Highway Department down to State Street. There are approximately 186 trees in the brook and the plan is to lay down rip rap to get the equipment to the brook and use a crane to remove the trees. The problem has to be addressed because the trees are causing problems with the drainage system.
Mr. Morrell stated a resident reported oil residue in one of the ditches downtown. John Ziegler, DEP sent someone out to take samples but they think it is algae and will not be a problem. Mr. Morrell stated he was waiting for the official word from DEP.
8:15 Stafford Hollow Road David Roberts, Roger Wood, and Mark & Sue Pekala met informally with the Commission to discuss an estate lot on Stafford Hollow Road that was approved in 1997 and the home never built. The informal discussion is to see how the Commission feels about two crossings?
Leslie Duthie stated both of the small tributaries feed into Sawmill brook and have a two hundred foot buffer.
David Roberts stated all of the development would be out of the buffer zone.
Roger Woods stated they would have to re-flag the crossings as most of the flags are gone.
Glenn Colburn stated if he remembered correctly Mr. & Mrs. Pekala owned a large piece of land and developed lots with frontage on Cedar Swamp Road. On a site visit associated with the development of the lots the Commission identified a vernal pool.
David Roberts stated even if there is a vernal pool on site the question is still how does the Commission feel about two crossings? If it is against allowing two crossings there is no point in putting in the time and effort. The filing would of course show mitigation for the crossings.
Leslie Duthie stated it has been over 10 years since the wetlands were delineated and wetlands change over time especially with development of the surrounding areas.
Roger Woods questioned the type of crossings the Commission would like to see?
Leslie Duthie stated the Commission has no preference as long as it meets the standards, but having said that the Commission has seen a lot more arched culverts lately.
Mr. Roberts stated they would make sure they stayed true to grade, but most of the impact is in the area of the stream crossings.
Roger Woods stated there would not be a lot of cut and fill.
Leslie Duthie suggested that the Commission make a site visit before any plans are developed.
Glenn Colburn stated he remembered something about an underground intermittent stream.
Mark Pekala stated that was in reference to one of the lots on Cedar Swamp Road. The Town put in a culvert that came in at the corner of the lot and created wetlands. The DEP did say that there is a continuous wetland that has a hydraulic connection with the wetlands below. Mr. Pekala stated they had no plans to change anything on that lot.
The Commission set a site visit for Monday July 18, 2011 at 6:00 P.M. and would visit 45 Waid Road the same evening at 5:00 P.M.
9:00 MAIL
- Request from John Prenosil, JMP on behalf of Lamcotec for a Certificate of Compliance.
Leslie Duthie stated she believed this was a sewer project and the leach field was going to be abandoned. The Order of Conditions requires an “As Built Plan” and Stormwater Management plan.
Glenn Colburn stated Mr. Prenosil must specify any way in which the “As Built” plan differs from the original plan on which the Order of Conditions was based.
- Letter from Brian Harrington, DEP re: Extension of the Emergency Certification for tornado damage.
- Forest cutting plan T Peck Road, Courniotes.
- Notice from Lycott Environmental that Paradise Lake received an herbicide treatment on June 20, 2011 for vegetation management.
- Forest cutting plan Colleen Piskari East Hill Road.
Leslie Duthie stated NHESP and MESA review is free for maintenance, repair, and replacement within lawfully maintained area.
9:25 Leslie Duthie stated she met with Seth Wesson regarding the Quinlan property. This is a very large piece of property located on Reimers Road and Stebbins Road of which the family would like to sell approximately 149 acres to the Conservation Commission. The 149 acres is from the parcel on the east side of the road with the family cutting out a frontage portion and selling a couple of smaller parcels to abutters. The parcel on the west side of the road is approximately 67 acres and is to be held by the Quinlan Trust for a year to allow time to determine exactly what they want to do with the land. Bill Kane did an appraisal and the fair market value is 339,000.00. The Town will still get 70% reimbursement from State and there is a possibility of CPA funds.
Glenn Colburn stated this is an unbelievable piece of property and he wholeheartedly endorsed any and all efforts to acquire it.
Leslie Duthie stated if in the future the family decides to put a conservation restriction on the property on the west side of the road there is a possibility that the Shepard family who owns a large parcel of land abutting this would consider a conservation restriction on their property.
9:40 Glenn Colburn moved to adjourn.
Audra Staples seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda A. Hull
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