MONSON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
FEBRUARY 8, 2012
MEMBERS PRESENT: Leslie Duthie, Glenn Colburn, Audra Staples, Davis Johnson
MEMBERS ABSENT: Dana Staples
7:00 Glenn Colburn moved to accept the minutes of January 18, 2012 as presented.
Audra Staples seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
The Commission signed the Order of Conditions for the repair of the ExxonMobile pipeline on Fenton Road. Special conditions include planting 6’ to 8’ trees black birch or white oak at a ratio of 2 saplings for every tree removed and monitoring the replication every two months for a period up to two years, or until the Conservation Commission is satisfied the slope has reached stability.
Leslie Duthie stated the conservation restriction on the Flynt Quarry land has been recorded.
Leslie Duthie stated she was contacted by Eric Fuller the last member of the Wilbraham Conservation Trust regarding property in Monson on Thayer Road/Lemon Road that belongs to the Trust. Mr. Fuller would like to transfer to the Monson Conservation Commission that portion of the land that is in Monson. The Wilbraham Conservation Commission has taken over control of the land in Wilbraham. Ms. Duthie stated it is not as easy as it sounds as a deed would have to be prepared and a survey conducted.
Audra Staples stated when she worked in the Monson Assessors Office she did some deed research on the property and found that the property boundaries are not clear.
Glenn Colburn questioned if the Wilbraham Conservation Commission had already taken control of its portion of the land?
Leslie Duthie stated she did not know.
7:20 RFD 55 Reimers Road, Robert & Deborah Pafumi. Mr. & Mrs. Pafumi were not present for the hearing.
Leslie Duthie stated the Commission did make a site visit and had some concerns which they felt should be discussed with Mr. & Mrs. Pafumi. There was a cooler in stream, grass clippings in the wetlands, an open manure pile that could cause pollution in the stream.
Davis Johnson stated the manure pile was a concern for him because of the trout in the stream.
Leslie Duthie stated Mr. & Mrs. Pafumi are not following the best management practices leaflets that were given to them. There is activity in the wetland that does not comply with the Wetland Protection Act and for which there has been no filing. The Request for Determination is for work involving the clean up of trees damaged by the October snow storm.
Davis Johnson questioned if the RFD indicated how many and which trees it was proposed to remove?
Leslie Duthie stated that information is not in the RFD, but the Commission could meet with Mr. & Mrs. Pafumi to mark the trees to be removed. The trees should be cut and the stump left because the trees will sprout from the stump. In order to be sure that only marked trees are cut they should be marked at the bottom where the tree trunk meets the earth. The Commission should also discuss with Mr. & Mrs. Pafumi moving the horse activities back in front of the barn and away from the wetland.
Glenn Colburn stated he agreed that the front of the barn was a better place for the paddock than in the back near the wetlands.
Davis Johnson stated the temporary shed is also near the wetlands.
Leslie Duthie stated she would entertain a motion to continue the hearing to February 29, 2012 and contact Mr. & Mrs. Pafumi to ask them to attend.
Audra Staples so moved.
Davis Johnson seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
Audra Staples stated strictly for her own information she was curious as to what it takes to put a conservation restriction on a property.
Leslie Duthie stated the best way she could describe it was to think of the property as a bundle of sticks that you hold in your hand, if you decide you do not want to build on a certain portion of the property you give away a stick, or to develop another portion of the property you give away a stick. The property owner still retains ownership of the land but on areas of the property certain activities are restricted.
7:55 RFD 19 Cushman Street Joseph Metcalf. The request is to remove down trees and uprooted tree stumps using a chain saw and pickup truck. Mr. Metcalf was not present at the meeting.
Glenn Colburn stated his concern is that when trees are cleaned out it results in a loss of habitat.
Audra Staples moved to continue the request for determination to February 29, 2012.
Leslie Duthie seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
8:00 The Commission signed the emergency certification to remove beaver from a site on Nieske Road.
Leslie Duthie stated Audra Staples was contacted by Christian Kruger who is the forester working on the Pikul property on Carpenter Road. He requested that Ms. Staples authorize him to remove 3-4 acres of tree damage without a filing, as it was tornado damage. Ms. Staples stated she did not have that authority and would contact Leslie Duthie. Ms. Duthie stated she spoke with Mr. Kruger and asked him if he would be working in a wetland? He stated he would and Ms. Duthie told him to file a cutting plan before he started any work.
8:10 MAIL
- The Commission received a request for an extension of the Order of Conditions for Paradise Lake to allow the Association to continue to treat the lake when necessary. The Order of Conditions expires March 5th 2012.
Glenn Colburn stated he would have no problem issuing an extension for three years.
The Lake Association keeps the Commission informed and is managing the lake well.
- Lycott Environmental provided information on the spring aquatic survey and follow up herbicide treatment at Paradise Lake. The lake was treated for stonewort and filamentous algae in June 2011. Management recommendations for 2012 include monitoring and treatment if necessary of non indigenous species and algae.
- NOI from ExxonMobile for maintenance of the petroleum pipeline at 106 Boston Road West. DEP has issued a number 228-0339 the work involves repairing the pipeline at a depth of 5 feet, for 220 feet in length and 10 feet wide, dewatering may be necessary.
The Commission will make a site visit on February 22, 2012 at 4:30 P.M. and advertise
the hearing for February 29, 2012 at 7:30 P.M.
- NOI from Brenda Gagne, 41 Old Wales Road, for a sewerage disposal system. DEP has issued a number 228-340.
The Commission will make a site visit on February 20, 2012 at 4:30 P.M. and advertise
the hearing for February 29, 2012 at 7:15 P.M.
- Letter from UMAss Extension regarding the Key Stone Training Program.
- Various Building Permits.
Joseph Metcalfe came into the meeting stating that he had been waiting in the hallway.
The Commission apologized to Mr. Metcalf stating they were unaware that he was in the hallway when someone checked earlier in the evening the hallway was empty.
8:40 RFD 19 Cushman Street Joseph Metcalfe. Mr. Metcalfe stated he wanted to remove trees that were hanging as a result of the June 1, 2011 tornado. He would be using a chain saw, skid steer and pickup truck and would not cut any live trees or vegetation. The pickup truck and skid steer would be used primarily on the field side of the berm.
Leslie Duthie questioned if anything in the field would be removed?
Mr. Metcalfe stated a little.
Leslie Duthie stated the Commission discussed the removal of deadwood and does not like to see it all cleaned up because it provides habitat for salamanders and birds.
Mr. Metcalfe stated a lot of the trees are not in contact with the ground which means they will not rot as quickly.
Leslie Duthie stated she would be more comfortable if Mr. Metcalfe left as much as possible on the ground. It is understandable that the larger logs would be split and removed but she would like to see the larger branches left.
Glenn Colburn asked that some of the slash be left behind.
Leslie Duthie stated she would entertain a motion to give a positive determination for work in an area subject to protection under the Act, and a negative determination for the work depicted on the plan that will not alter, fill or dredge an area subject to protection under the Act and will not require the filing of a Notice of Intent.
Audra Staples so moved.
Davis Johnson seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
8:55 Audra Staples moved to adjourn.
Glenn Colburn seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda A. Hull
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