MONSON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES NOVEMBER 7, 2012
MEMBERS PRESENT: Leslie Duthie, Glenn Colburn, Davis Johnson and Audra Staples.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Dana Staples
7:00 Joseph Guillini met with the Commission to discuss his property on Boston Road.
Leslie Duthie stated the Commission has observed activity on the property that is negatively impacting wetlands.
Mr. Gullini stated he operates his business Energy Savers of America from this property and has problems with people dumping all manner of items such as concrete, wood, appliances and tires on his property. He stated when he purchased the property he cleaned out three thirty yard dumpsters of tires, freezers and other home appliances that had been dumped on the property. He stated it is an on going problem cleaning up all manner of things because of illegal dumping on his property. He stated he has finally been successful in his battle with the Tennessee gas line to keep the culvert clean and discourage the beaver who were flooding the property. Mr. Gullini stated he has cleaned up the trees that came down but was not looking to expand at this point.
Glenn Colburn stated he observed problems on the property with material being pushed over the top of the bank and down into wetlands. He stated he took pictures and it was clear that what was on top had been pushed over the edge and down into wetlands. The entire slope was raw dirt. He stated he would suggest hay bales at the bottom until the slope stabilizes because at the moment it is raw earth.
Leslie Duthie suggested that Mr. Gullini post no dumping signs if he is having problems with people dumping on his property.
Mr. Gullini stated he is planning lighting and to put up a fence eventually. He stated he also purchased the adjoining property previously known as Schmerhorn’s and is slowly cleaning that up.
Leslie Duthie stated she would agree that due to the location this is a difficult property to monitor.
Mr. Gullini stated he has taken out five dumpster loads of trash from the Schmerhorn property as well as moving out homeless people who were occupying the building. It was his intent to return it to the condition it was in years ago and now that the problem with the beaver has been taken care of the pipe is clear and water is flowing properly and not flooding the property.
Leslie Duthie stated she thought a fence at the top of the bank was a good idea as well as signage and cameras. The Conservation Commission has jurisdiction over wetlands including buffer zones to wetlands and on this property it would be a good thing to check with the Commission first before undertaking any work. The Commission would prefer to work with rather than against property owners. The Commission is open to listening to property owners but there are some projects that require a filing with the Commission.
Mr. Gullini questioned if it would be possible to pipe the stream that is between the two properties he owns?
Glenn Colburn stated the Wetland Protection Act limits the amount of alteration to 5000 square feet and he believed that what Mr. Gullini proposes would exceed that amount.
Mr. Guillini stated his primary goal with the old Schmerhorn property is to secure the building and put rocks in the front.
Glenn Colburn asked Mr. Gullini to keep the Commission in the loop with regard to the installation of a fence at the top of the bank on the Energy Saver property let the Commission know the type of fence and when it is to be installed.
Mr. Gullini questioned if he could put snow over the bank?
Glenn Colburn stated the Commission would not want to see the snow pushed down the bank but would have no problem if it were to be piled at the top of the bank. It is not beneficial to have salty dirty snow in the wetlands. He stated once a fence is put up that should alleviate the problem of snow over the bank.
Audra Staples stated she was familiar with the site and has read the application and minutes and was confident she could make an informed decision with regard to 103 Lakeside Drive.
7:30 RFD Daniel & Francis Moran 103 Lakeside Drive, continued.
Leslie Duthie stated David Chapdelaine contacted her with two quotes one for the pervious pavement $3,600.00 and the concrete proposed in the Request for Determination $1,200.00. He questioned if he could move forward with the concrete?
Leslie Duthie stated the pervious pavement used at the Group Homes in Monson is a combination of asphalt and something else but she did not know the cost. The pervious pavers are cement shapes with holes and either grass or stone is filled between the pavers. Leslie Duthie stated the project is the construction of a patio that is within 63 feet plus or minus of the lake.
Audra Staples stated it would appear the applicant is going to create more impervious surface close to the lake and that increases the potential for harm to the lake.
Davis Johnson stated originally the applicant wanted a walkway.
Glenn Colburn stated there are other ways to infiltrate water from 192 square feet of paved surface. A stone lined trench would take the water and hold it to allow infiltration. He stated he would not object to a concrete walkway, but was not in favor of a concrete patio if nothing was done to infiltrate the run off.
Leslie Duthie stated the Commission could make that a condition of the determination and say the applicant must either use pervious pavers or run the water into a stone line trench to allow it to drain.
Glenn Colburn stated he would move to give a negative determination for work in the riverfront area said work with the conditions as stated, would no fill, alter or dredge an area subject to protection.
Audra Staples stated she is familiar with the location and has read the minutes and reviewed the Notice of Intent that was submitted and is confident that she can make informed decision with regard to the Notice of Intent for Mechanic Street.
7:45 NOI Mechanic Street, Monson Water & Sewer Dept. continued. The work proposed is to replace an 8” water main on the east side of Mechanic Street in the vicinity of Mechanic Street Bridge. The main is located in the embankment of the stream and along the stream bed.
Leslie Duthie stated the Commission discussed the project at a public hearing held October 10, 2012 but at that time DEP had not issued a file number. The Commission had all of its questions answered at that time and continued the public hearing to receive a file number and any comments that DEP may have. DEP issued a file number 228-346 and had no comments.
Glenn Colburn moved to close the public hearing and issue an Order of Conditions.
Audra Staples seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
7:55 NOI Macomber Road and Upper Palmer Road. Cornerstone Power Monson, LLC. The project is for the installation of a large ground mounted solar array on approximately 85+- acres.
The Commission received a written request to continue the hearing to November 28, 2012.
Leslie Duthie stated Commissioners Leslie Duthie, Glenn Colburn and Davis Johnson met with Jeff D’Arrigo, Sage Environmental and Bob McCollum and David Foulis from DEP and walked the site particularly those areas of wetland where it is proposed to install panels in the wetlands. It was apparent from the conversation on the site between the applicant and DEP that a substantial amount of mitigation will be required.
Davis Johnson stated there was discussion regarding the merit of going back to the original plan that was submitted in August.
Leslie Duthie stated discussion included options to use the field across the street behind the houses on the other side of Macomber Road in addition to going back to the original plan. Although the area is steep the field is relatively level. The Commission would be open to invasive species mitigation.
Audra Staples moved to continue the hearing as requested by the applicant.
Davis Johnson seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
Davis Johnson moved to accept minutes of October 10, 2012 as presented.
Glenn Colburn seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
8:15 MAIL
- Letter from PVPC Regional Conservation Program. The program provides technical assistance and does land conservation work, baseline studies etc. The annual fee for organizations that join is $1500.00 and that entitles the organization to 20 hours of service.
Leslie Duthie stated Opacum Land Trust joined the program and will have a baseline report done on the Quinlan Property and monitoring the Conservation Restriction on the Flynt Quarry property. Ms. Duthie stated PVPC asked if the Monson Conservation Commission was interested in joining.
Glenn Colburn stated he did not think that the Commission could afford that at this time.
Leslie Duthie stated the year would give the Commission the opportunity see how it worked out for Opacum. The Monson High School senior who is working with the Commission Amanda is putting together folders for each of the properties on which the Commission holds a Conservation Restriction.
2. Various building permits.
The Commission noted that it had not received a Notice of Intent from the Quaboag Riders club and asked Linda Hull to contact Ray Mansfield.
8:30 The Commission received a letter from Joseph Dusel, Esq., Raymond Lavallee’s Attorney stating Mr. Lavallee has engaged the services Joseph Balduc, Cardano ATC who will take the necessary steps and file a Notice Of Intent within 2-3 weeks. If the Commission has any further questions it should contact Atty. Dusel.
Leslie Duthie stated she received a telephone call from Tim Shepherd regarding family property on Silver Street. Mr. Shepherd would like to remove the buildings close to the pond and questioned the type of filing the Commission would need. There is also a very large pine tree on the other side of the pond that is a problem.
Glenn Colburn stated he believed the work could be done with an RFD.
Leslie Duthie stated Mr. Shepherd spoke about a conservation restriction that the family would consider as long as abutting properties had a similar restriction.
In order to satisfy procedural requirements the Commission re-voted the following votes:
- NOI Flynt Park, Park Road, Monson Parks & Recreation Department. Glenn Colburn moved to issue an Order of Conditions to allow improvements to existing drainage on three athletic fields and mark parking improvements. Audra Staples seconded the motion. It was so voted, unanimous. Voting: Glenn Colburn, Audra Staples and Davis Johnson.
- NOI Macomber Road and Upper Palmer Road, Cornerstone Power Monson, LLC. Audra Staples moved to grant a continuation of the public hearing as requested by the applicant. Glenn Colburn seconded the motion. It was so voted, unanimous. Voting: Glenn Colburn, Audra Staples and Davis Johnson.
- RFD 6 Mill Street, Danil Kishko. Glenn Colburn moved to issue a negative determination with conditions for work in a resource area that will not alter, dredge or fill an area subject to protection, said work involves construction of a shed and improvements to the existing yard. The determination includes a condition that if necessary, as the work progresses the Commission could require additional erosion controls. Audra Staples seconded the motion. It was so voted, unanimous. Voting: Glenn Colburn, Audra Staples and Davis Johnson.
- RFD 241 Silver Street, Matthew Guthrie. Audra Staples moved to give a positive determination for the area described in the request that is subject to protection under the Act, and a negative determination for the work that involves tree removal and grading in the buffer zone, that will not alter, fill or dredge an area subject to protection. Glenn Colburn seconded the motion with the condition that the Commission would not issue the determination until the applicant sends a copy of the request of the correct forms to DEP. It was so voted, unanimous. Voting: Audra Staples, Glenn Colburn and Davis Johnson.
8:50 Audra Staples moved to adjourn.
Glenn Colburn seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda A. Hull
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