MONSON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES MARCH 7, 2012
MEMBERS PRESENT: Leslie Duthie, Glenn Colburn, Davis Johnson and Audra Staples.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Dana Staples
7:00 Leslie Duthie stated she has had conversations with Seth Wesson regarding approximately twenty five acres of land on Reimers Road that was not included in the land to be sold to the Town. Originally a family member was going to purchase the twenty five acres and maybe cut out a building lot or two now that may not happen and Mr. Wesson has questioned if the Town would be interested in purchasing it.
Leslie Duthie stated it would be much easier if this land had been included in the parcel that will go before Town Meeting for approval by the residents on May 14, 2012. A couple of options would be for a family member to purchase this parcel and then sell the Conservation Commission a bargain Conservation Restriction, or Opacum Land Trust purchase the property and sell the Conservation Commission a bargain Conservation Restriction. She stated discussions with Seth Wesson were on going.
7:15 NOI 41 Old Wales Road Work, Brenda Gagne. The work proposed in the Notice of Intent is associated with reconstruction of a private sanitary sewage disposal system. The DEP has issued a file number 228-0340.
Present were Jeffrey Gagner, Sherman & Frydryk, Land Surveying & Engineering and property owner Brenda Gagne.
Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program has responded that the project as proposed will not result in a prohibited take of rare species.
Mr. Gagner stated the old system has failed and will be abandoned and a new system installed. In order to protect the slope erosion control is proposed along the west and north sides.
Leslie Duthie stated the Commission made a site visit and would say that it is steep slope. There was a discussion on site that all fill would be removed from site and new Title V soils brought in.
Glenn Colburn questioned if it was just the leech field that was to be abandoned or the tank as well?
Mr. Gagner stated the tank and leech field are to be replaced.
Glenn Colburn stated he would like to see an anti tracking pad installed at the access to the property; it would appear there will be a significant amount of traffic in and out.
Davis Johnson stated he was concerned with the steep slope going down into the stream, and questioned what protective measures had been taken to protect the trout habitat right below the steep slope. What extra precautions are going to be taken to make sure no effluent gets into the stream?
Audra Staples stated she believed there was a weight limit on the bridge on Old Wales Road.
Mr. Gagner stated the property could be accessed from Moores Crossing Road.
Davis Johnson stated he would like some kind of assurances that what is proposed would adequately protect the stream. Is the new system going in the same place as the old? He stated the vulnerability of the slope really concerned him.
Mrs. Gagne stated there is a significant amount of fill in the back yard that will be removed and a retaining wall constructed.
Mr. Gagner stated there is a soil valuation of 96 inches of fill in that location.
Davis Johnson stated the plan proposes using a retaining barrier plastic wrap will that sufficiently protect the slope?
Mr. Gagner stated it was 40 mil thick.
Leslie Duthie stated Donald Frydryk notified her that the material it is proposed to encase that side of the slope is approved by the Department of Environmental Protection.
Davis Johnson questioned if any type of vegetation was proposed to guarantee the integrity of the slope?
Leslie Duthie stated the slope would not be disturbed.
Audra Staples stated the easiest way to describe it was like digging out a bowl, and then leveling it off.
Leslie Duthie stated the yard would be more level at the finish of the project. In order to make the house habitable the system must be replaced.
Davis Johnson moved to approve the project with the addition of an anti tracking pack and prepare an Order of Conditions.
Glenn Colburn seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
7:45 NOI 106 Boston Road West ExxonMobile Pipeline Co. The work proposed is the maintenance and repair of a petroleum pipeline. DEP has issued a file number 228-039.
Eric Runstrom Roux Associates was present representing ExxonMobile Pipeline Co. and stated it was determined that a problem existed in this particular area of the pipeline. It is proposed to unearth the pipeline, find the problem in this case it has been determined it is corrosion and fix it. Generally it is done in one day and it is anticipated the location would be de-watered, (pump the water out into a silt trap down gradient of the work site) expose the pipeline, facilitate the repair and wrap the pipeline. Once the repair is complete the soils would be replaced and the water allowed to resume its normal course. The work should be performed as soon as possible and when it is dry. The area is currently under water and if it does not appear likely to dry up the work would wait until summer. It is not anticipated using any barriers in the dig just de-watering. Mr. Runstrom stated they have discovered ExxonMobile’s right of way is inaccessible and have been granted permission
by the property owner Earl Stockwell to access by the back field. He has also given permission for any brush removal that may be necessary.
Davis Johnson questioned if he was clear that the site would be accessed through private property?
Mr. Runstrom stated originally it was planned to access from the right of way, but that is just impossible. This is the best solution and timber matting would be used in places.
Davis Johnson questioned how it was determined this was an isolated problem?
Mr. Runstrom stated a pipeline inspection gauge (PIG) is sent through the line to identify any problems.
Leslie Duthie questioned if the length of the trench would vary depending on how successful they are finding the corroded area?
Mr. Runstrom stated a PIG is routinely sent through the pipeline and is pretty accurate at identifying problems and the location of the problems.
Leslie Duthie stated she would expect that a silt fence would be put in between the excavation and the river.
Glenn Colburn stated he did not see any mention of a conservation mix to cover disturbed area.
Mr. Runstrom stated the area would be temporarily mulched to secure the location and the natural vegetation allowed to grow.
Davis Johnson questioned the integrity of the pipeline?
Mr. Runstrom stated the pipeline has been there for years and has not suffered any catastrophic problem.
Audra Staples moved to close the public hearing and issue an Order of Conditions.
Glenn Colburn seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
8:10 RFD 55 Reimers Road Robert & Deborah Pafumi continued. The request is for work associated with the clean up of tree damage from the October snow storm.
Robert Pafumi stated before the discussion regarding the tree work he had questions about the paperwork to remove the hill. He stated he did not understand them.
Leslie Duthie stated the paper work is for a Notice of Intent and Mr. Pafumi would probably benefit from consulting a professional.
Leslie Duthie stated the Commission made a site visit to the property and had several concerns. It appeared that a certain amount of cutting has already been done.
Davis Johnson stated the cutting was around the edge of the birch trees.
Mr. Pafumi stated he did start to try and clean up but stopped because he realized there may be a problem.
Leslie Duthie stated another concern for the Commissioners was the location of the manure pile. It should be moved to avoid impacts to the wetlands. Wetland soils come up to the driveway in fact the horse paddock is in wetlands. This also poses a problem because there is nothing to stop the flow from the paddock into the wetlands. The Commissioners would like to see some type of vegetation along the edge of the paddock to help stop the flow.
Mr. Pafumi stated he wanted to let it grow naturally.
Leslie Duthie stated the Commission is looking at the area from the wetlands protection standpoint and would prefer to leave it natural. She stated she would not be adverse to a once a year mowing in the winter to keep it from becoming brushy.
Deborah Pafumi stated she wanted to put the horses out to graze in the summer.
Glenn Colburn stated the concern is pollution, run off from the manure pile runs into stream.
Deborah Pafumi stated the horses are only in the paddock for approximately an hour to graze.
Leslie Duthie agreed with Mr. Colburn stating the concern is keeping the brook clean. If the grass is allowed to grow it will help filter out some of the pollution from the manure pile.
Glenn Colburn stated across the street would probably be a better place for the horses.
Mrs. Pafumi questioned if Mr. Colburn meant the area where she would like to move the earth around and level out the area?
Glenn Colburn stated yes.
Deborah Pafumi stated she would want to put up a solar fence there.
Leslie Duthie stated if the horses go across the street some type of guard should be installed to stop them going down to the brook, and speaking of the brook the Commission noted that grass clippings had been placed near the brook.
Robert Pafumi stated that was the previous owner.
Leslie Duthie questioned if the temporary tractor shed could be moved more toward the yard area? She stated everything that the Commission is asking the property owners to do is for protection of a beautiful wetland with awesome water quality and lovely natural habitat.
Mr. Pafumi stated he believed it would be possible.
Leslie Duthie stated the Commission would like to meet Mr. & Mrs. Pafumi on site and together mark the trees that it is most important to cut.
Robert Pafumi stated he did not want to clear it completely but right now that area is an eye sore.
Leslie Duthie stated she believed this would put the Commission and Mr. & Mrs. Pafumi in a better place and more in step with what they want to do on the property and the protection the Commission wants for the wetlands. In a year if the area is still looking bad the Commission and the property owners could meet again on site and mark a few more trees.
Mr. & Mrs. Pafumi questioned if the Commission had made any decision with regard to the property it acquired from the late Dr. Jean Porwoll?
Mrs. Pafumi stated they were still interested in using the field to graze their horses.
Leslie Duthie stated the Commission had not prepared the documents and forms it needed in order for interested parties to file.
Davis Johnson stated he would work on preparing the request for proposal.
9:00 The Commission received correspondence from Andria Monette, 45 Waid Road requesting an extension of the time allowed to remove trees from her property that were damaged by the June 1, 2011 tornado. She stated Leslie Duthie wrote a letter giving her until March 31, 2012 to complete the work.
Leslie Duthie stated she would contact Ms. Monette.
The Commission signed an extension of the Order of Conditions for Paradise Lake DEP 228-045 for 3 years to 2015. Included with the extension was a letter that requested proof that the extension was recorded.
MAIL
- Copy of a letter sent by Leslie Duthie on behalf of the Conservation Commission to Michael Bergeron re: cutting at the Keep Homestead.
- Seth Lajoie received the Order of Conditions for ExxonMobile pipeline repair on Fenton Road.
- Forest Cutting plan for Keith Hooton Fern Hill Road 47 acres.
- Copy of Mass Wildlife News.
- Copy of Northern Woodlands.
- Various building permits.
The Commission scheduled a site visit on Sunday March 11, 2012 at 8:30 A.M. at 55 Reimers Road, Robert & Deborah Pafumi.
Davis Johnson moved to approve the minutes of February 8, 2012 as presented.
Audra Staples seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
9:15 Davis Johnson moved to adjourn.
Audra Staples seconded the motion.
It was so voted, unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda A. Hull
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