MONSON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES APRIL 11, 2012
MEMBERS PRESENT: Glenn Colburn, Leslie Duthie and Davis Johnson.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Audra Staples & Dana Staples
7:00 Leslie Duthie stated she spoke with Andrea Monette 45 Waid Road and asked her to file for the work involving clearing the damaged trees. At this time the Commission has not received a filing.
Leslie Duthie stated she would touch base with Eric Fuller the remaining member of the Wilbraham Conservation Trust regarding the land on Lemon Road, Monson. There appears to be a discrepancy between the Monson Assessors records and Wilbraham Assessors records with regard to the acreage in Monson.
Glenn Colburn moved to approve the minutes of March 28, 2012 as presented.
Davis Johnson seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
7:20 Leslie Duthie stated she had a conversation with Highway Surveyor John Morrell regarding a drainage project at Flynt Park and asked him to put something in writing for the Commission. She stated it goes without saying that the work will require the filing of a Notice of Intent. The project involves replacing in kind the drainage on the lower, middle and upper fields. The problems are similar on both the middle and lower field where the hill comes into the fields. It is proposed to install three catch basins at the middle and lower fields, one at each end of the field and one in the middle and two catch basins on the upper field. This is a Parks & Recreation project but the Highway Department proposes to do the work because it will be significantly cheaper. Leslie Duthie stated
John Morrell explained that nothing is really changing with regard to the drainage they will just re-install what was there. At the far end of the lower field there is a gully that runs down onto Park Street.
The middle field has an issue where the grade drops down toward the lower field. There is a soil swale that runs along the hill and behind the location of the porta-potty that the Commission would prefer to see changed to a grass swale. Vegetation would protect the swale and help slow down the water.
Leslie Duthie stated she made a preliminary walk around the property with Mr. Morrell and did not see any insurmountable issues but an NOI is needed.
Leslie Duthie stated she also went with Mr. Morrell to McCray Circle to look at an area where the water runs off of Carpenter Road onto McCray Circle. The water backs up where there is a leaf dam and an area of multi flora rose. John Morrell would like to remove the deaf debris and the multi flora rose. Ms. Duthie stated she told Mr. Morrell there would not be a problem with him doing that.
7:45 The Commission discussed the criteria that must be included in the development of a Request for Proposal for leasing of land on Reimers Road that was formerly owned by Dr. Jean Porwoll for agriculture use.
Davis Johnson stated he started work on the document and included a provisional one year lease which would give the Commission the opportunity to review and make changes if there were problems. The law requires that the Commission keep a record of all who request a RFP and open the RFP’s submitted by interested parties at a specific advertised date and time. The RFP must include details of the leased property; duration of lease; specify renewal of rental options and identify payment terms.
The Commission discussed the payment terms and was in agreement that its preference is for a barter system rather than to receive money. The Commission will have to check to determine if this would be allowed in a Request for Proposal. The successful applicant would be required to remove the woody growth no later than November, use best management practices when using the property, fence the area on which the animals are grazing and the use of commercial fertilizer would be prohibited. The Commission felt that lime would be acceptable on the field. No liability is accepted on the part of the lessor for any activities the lessee chooses to do. The transfer, assignment or sub-let of the lease to a third party without the prior approval of the Conservation Commission is prohibited.
Glenn Colburn questioned if the area of the property that is not being leased would be open for recreational use?
The consensus of the Commission was that the public would assume the risk. The Commission would stake out the field size that was to be cleared by the successful applicant and also stake out the area to be fenced for grazing. People would use the land at their own risk.
Davis Johnson stated he would work on the RFP and have something for the next meeting.
8:10 M AIL
- Brenda Gagne received the Order of Conditions for Old Wales Road, Roux Associates received the Order of Conditions for Boston Road and Deborah Pafumi received the Determination for 55 Reimers Road.
- Mark Stinson, DEP notified the Commission that as of April 1, 2012 wetland field numbers would be posted on its website within one business day if the minimum submittal requirements for the Notice of Intent are received. The website is http://public.dep.state.ma.us/wetland/wetland.aspx
- Copy of a Forest Cutting Plan 12.35 acres on Paradise Lake Road, Donna St. Pierre.
- Copy of MACC.
- Various building permits.
Glenn Colburn asked the Commissioners to look at a site on Boston Road close to Maxwell Road where camping trailers have been parked in the buffer zone to wetlands.
The Commission observed that more tree cutting has occurred on property located at 241 Silver Street. This is a property that the Commission has discussed with the property owner in the past and thought that there was a clear understanding of where the wetlands and buffer zone were and what the owner could or could not do without filing with the Commission.
It was brought to the Commission’s attention that a property owner on Lakeshore Drive has cut trees in the river front area. The property in question has an Order of Conditions that establishes an undisturbed area. The Commission knows that Al Joyce, Bedrock Builders constructed the house and will check the files for the DEP number. The Commission will send a letter to remind the property owner that there are on-going conditions affecting this property.
8:30 Leslie Duthie moved to adjourn.
Davis Johnson seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda A. Hull
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