MONSON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES FEBRUARY 19, 2014
MEMBERS PRESENT: Glenn Colburn, Leslie Duthie, Davis Johnson
MEMBERS ABSENT: Audra Staples
7:05 Leslie Duthie stated she called State Forester Doug Hutcheson re: the Forest Cutting Plan for Eric Wesson 42 acres on Nieske Road because of the concerns the Commission had about the bridge. It is a temporary bridge that will be removed when the project is completed.
The Commission also received a copy of a letter from NHESP Division of Fisheries & Wildlife that requested language be added to the plan prior to its approval “Operation of motorized vehicles at the site shall be conducted only during the time period beginning November 1, 2013 ending March 31, 2014 of any year because Twelve mile brook, its associated swamps and upland area surrounding the site are classified at known Wood Turtle habitat.
Leslie Duthie stated she mailed a letter to Dorothy Fisher Childs Road regarding her request for a Certificate of Compliance for property located at 50 Childs Road, DEP 228-102. The Commission feels the foundation survey will be sufficient, as long as the well and septic disposable system are marked on the plan and are within the work limit line. The Commission will not be able to complete its inspection until springtime when the snow is off the ground.
Leslie Duthie stated she received a telephone call from a realtor representing an owner of 7 acres of land on Cedar Swamp Road that is across the road from the Town’s property. The realtor questioned if the Commission would have an interest in purchasing the property. Ms. Duthie stated she explained that many steps have to be taken before the Commission could even decide if it was interested and usually the Commission was more interested in large properties. It maybe different if the property abutted land the Town already owns.
7:30 NOI Cote Road Town of Monson, Highway Department. Donald Frydryk, Sherman & Frydryk, Land Surveying & Engineering was present to represent the Highway Department.
Donald Frydryk stated John Morrell proposes to replace two culverts and reclaim a 2,700 foot section of Cote Road. This section will complete the work on Cote Road. The work will start where previous roadway improvements finished, just beyond 103 Cote Road and finish at Wood Hill Road. Two eighteen inch corrugated metal pipe culverts are to be replaced and the road repaved to a standard eighteen foot width. The culvert replacement at station 70+75 on the plans will impact eighty feet of bank and the culvert replacement at station 74+50 sixty feet of bank. It is anticipated the disturbance will be minimal and temporary and the applicant understands the project must take place during low flow periods July 1 to October 1. Temporary impacts to 1,410 square feet of bordering vegetated wetlands at the ends
of the culverts during the replace work are anticipated. No stockpiles of materials shall remain in the buffer zone at the end of the workday and all disturbed areas outside the traveled way shall be loamed, seeded and mulched.
Leslie Duthie stated it appears as though a significant amount of stump removal is involved.
Donald Frydryk stated he believed it was roadside trees that have died over the years.
Glenn Colburn questioned if any drainage improvements or swales were proposed?
Donald Frydryk stated no. The work proposed is, as is reclamation.
Leslie Duthie questioned when the work would be done?
Donald Frydryk stated he was not sure but did know Mr. Morrell would like to put the job out to bid in the spring.
Leslie Duthie stated her preference was to continue this until the Commission could take a look at the proposed work site at this point in time there is too much snow to see anything.
Glenn Colburn concurred and suggested the Commission carry the Notice of Intent until there is a significant snow melt.
Leslie Duthie moved to continue until the weather conditions improve.
Glenn Colburn seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
7:50 Gail Howard Silver Street. Present was Gail Howard, her son and her consultant John Prenosil, JMP Consulting.
Ms. Howard’s’ son asked the Commission if it had any objections to him recording the conversation.
The Commission had no objections.
John Prenosil stated he was present to submit a draft restoration plan to address an enforcement order issued to Ms. Howard. He suggested a site visit with the Conservation Commission after the snow has melted after which a final restoration plan would be presented to the Commission.
Mr. Prenosil walked the Commission through the proposed draft restoration plan to determine the wetland boundaries along the driveway. Determine the historic width of the driveway by digging trenches along the outer edges of the driveway to determine the fill material that was placed over the driveway. Remove any fill material placed in the wetlands any fill within the footprint of the driveway can stay.
Davis Johnson questioned how Mr. Prenosil would determine the edge if fill and sand has spread out?
Mr. Prenosil stated he would be able to determine by the soils.
Davis Johnson stated slumping, erosion, gravity and frost would cause the material to spread out in the direction of the wetlands and it would be difficult to quantify.
John Prenosil agreed but stated simple maintenance is allowed under the Wetland Protection Act. He stated he would like to meet with the Commission on site so there could be some agreement on the edge of the driveway and place some marks.
Gail Howard stated she contacted her attorney who advised her not to install any silt fences because the enforcement order was a cease and desist.
Leslie Duthie agreed not much could be done with 20 inches or so of snow on the ground but the Commission wanted the silt fences in as soon as possible to stop the migration of material from the driveway into the wetlands.
John Prenosil stated they would not wait too long to get the erosion control in, once the snow is about five to six inches in depth they would install the silt fence.
Leslie Duthie stated straw wattles would be fine. She requested that Mr. Prenosil give the Commissioners adequate notice for the meeting on site as they are volunteers and also hold full time jobs.
John Prenosil stated he would notify the Commission when the ground starts to thaw. The wetlands are mostly red maple and skunk cabbage if there is not a lot of herbaceous material in there is there a need to reseed?
Glenn Colburn advised that the Commission would wait and see what comes up in the springtime.
John Prenosil stated he has had experience with large wetland restorations where nothing was put in and it came back very well.
Leslie Duthie stated the down side of the driveway was a forested area with skunk cabbage in the springtime but she did not know about the other side of the driveway because it was not visible when driving by. The Commission has been to the abutting Haley property.
John Prenosil stated from the photographs the driveway was impassable.
Davis Johnson stated it would appear by the photographs that the situation has taken awhile to develop.
With no further discussion the Commissioners stated they would wait for Mr. Prenosil to contact the office to arrange a mutually convenient date to meet at Ms. Howard’s property on Silver Street.
Leslie Duthie moved to accept the minutes of January 29, 2014 as presented.
Glenn Colburn seconded.
It was so voted unanimous.
8:30 MAIL
- Bedrock Financial submitted a cover sheet for the construction of a new single family home on Silver Street requesting a sign off from the Conservation Commission.
The Commissioners stated the location of the proposed house would have to be staked on site and the Commission would look once the snow has melted.
- Bedrock Financial submitted a cover sheet for the construction of a new single family home on Paradise Lake Road requesting a sign off from the Conservation Commission.
The Commission stated this would be the same as Silver Street.
- Copy of a Legal Notice from the Monson Zoning Board of Appeals for property located at 13 Lakeshore Drive for a variance from the zoning setback requirements.
Glenn Colburn stated the property owner would have to file with the Conservation Commission for any construction at this location.
- Letter from Ara Merkian re: a change to the specifications for the driveway at 22 Macomber Road, Cornerstone Power solar array. It is proposed to change the material for the driveway to road gravel.
- Final report from Lycott Environmental for Dean Pond 2013 aquatic management.
- Final report from Lycott Environmental for Paradise Lake Road aquatic management.
- Forest cutting plan James & Emelda Gustafson, Maxwell Road 50 acres.
- Various building permits.
Davis Johnson had questions regarding notification to abutters when filing a Notice of Intent.
8:45 Leslie Duthie moved to adjourn.
Davis Johnson seconded the motion.
It was so voted, unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda A. Hull
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