MONSON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES MAY 14, 2014
MEMBERS PRESENT: Glenn Colburn, Leslie Duthie and Davis Johnson.
MEMBERS~ABSENT: Audra Staples.
7:10 Davis Johnson moved to approve the minutes of April 23, 2014.
Leslie Duthie seconded the motion.
It was so voted, unanimous.
7:20 RFD 101 Wilbraham Road, Echo Hill Orchard Richard Krupczak the filing is for work around an existing pond.
Mr. Krupczak was not in attendance at the meeting.
Glenn Colburn moved to continue the Request for Determination to the next Conservation Commission meeting scheduled for June 4, 2014 at 7:15 P.M. to allow Mr. Krupczak to be present.
Leslie Duthie seconded the motion.
It was so voted, unanimous.
Leslie Duthie had questions regarding trail work on the Town land known as Flynt Quarry. She questioned the minimum distance that should be maintained from the trail and the edge of the quarry?
Glenn Colburn stated he believed if it was more than a three feet drop the trail should be at least ten (10) feet from the edge of the quarry.
Leslie Duthie stated if any trees are cut to create the trail they would be used along the side of trail to clearly define it.
7:30 NOI 13 Lakeshore Drive Karen Frickenhaus and C. Howard Johnson. Public hearing for the location of two accessory structures within the riverfront area continued. DEP # 228-359.
Glenn Colburn and Davis Johnson made a site visit to the property and looked at the plan that Ms. Frickenhaus has proposed.
Glenn Colburn stated they discussed the pros and cons of the location of the shed close to the river versus moving it which would result in the loss of some trees. There is a maple tree that crosses one of the oak trees and a smaller oak tree. The maple tree should probably come down and the smaller oak tree, the loss of the two trees would not make a big impact on the tree canopy because of the remaining two oak trees. Moving the shed closer to the proposed garage and further away from the resource area was more acceptable to the Commission. Glenn Colburn stated the Commission wants to work with the property owners and at the same time protect the resource area.
Karen Frickenhaus stated the shed has been moved closer to the garage and turned perpendicular to the road and meets the setback required by the decision of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Leslie Duthie stated it was great solution and she particularly liked that the location was incorporated into the area currently used by the homeowners. The location does not cause a hardship in terms of excavation.
Glenn Colburn stated that Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program has responded that an Order of Conditions should not be issued until the MESA review is completed.
Karen Frickenhaus stated the project was exempt from MESA review because it involves accessory buildings.
Glenn Colburn stated he would check with them and meanwhile write the Order of Conditions and have it ready to close the hearing at the next meeting on June 4, 2014 and issue the O.C.
7:45 NOI New England Power Co. d/b/a National Grid the work involved is the upgrade of National Grids transmission line from Fenton Road to the Hampden line, approximately five miles of the line in Monson is within protected resources areas.
Also Present: Colin Duncan, TRC, Andrea Agostino, National Grid, Brian Duncan, National Grid,
Abutters: Kenneth Berward, Kenneth Gagne, Arthur Goneau, Catherine Proulx, Paul Proulx,
Colin Duncan stated the work is part of a larger project to upgrade the existing 69 kV line to 115 kV. The reliability project replaces the existing poles with taller steel poles and wherever possible care has been taken to minimize structures in wetlands and accommodate both crossing wetlands and property owner concerns. Approximately five (5) miles of the project occurs within protected resource areas including Bordering Vegetated Wetland (BVW), Bank, Land Under Waterbodies and Waterways (LUW), Bordering Land Subject to Flooding (BLSF), and Riverfront Area (RA). There is rare turtle habitat on the project and the turtles have been tracked over an extended period of time by means of radios that were attached to them. Biologists will performs sweeps before any equipment goes into the work areas. Timber swamp maps will be used to cross streams and wetlands. Best Management Practices will be employed throughout the project and a copy of the manual has been included in the Notice
of Intent. The construction will be done in stages, survey to stake the planned structures and edge of clearing limits; field flag wetland boundaries and stream banks; install erosion control devices; install barrier fencing around sensitive areas; install swamp mats and wildlife biologists will perform sweeps and monitor priority habitat and estimated habitat areas prior to construction. Following construction the swamp mats will be removed and the wetland areas will be allowed to re-vegetate from remaining root and seed stock.
Leslie Duthie questioned if all the erosion control would be installed and then the fencing around sensitive areas etc. or would it be done in stages?
Brian Dunn stated the construction would be done in stages typically the foundation crew may do 5 miles and then the structure crew etc.
Davis Johnson questioned if the new line would be following the location of the old line?
Colin Duncan stated it would and there would be less poles because the new ones are taller and allow a longer span between poles.
Andrea Agostino stated the project does not include any widening of the right of way.
Colin Duncan stated the permanent impacts are:
Bordering Vegetated Wetland - 1253.6 square feet.
100 foot Riverfront area – 201.1 square feet.
200 foot Riverfront area – 218.1 square feet.
Bordering Land Subject to Flooding – 501.6 square feet.
He stated there are areas of the project where instead of going through a stream they will turn around and then enter from the other side.
Kenneth Gagne questioned if the timber swamp mats were construct of treated or untreated wood?
Andrea Agostino stated untreated wood.
Paul Proulx stated the Reimers Road area is flooded because of the beaver.
Colin Duncan stated they have gone through one trapping season for beaver removal and this would probably be something that has to be repeated the next trapping season.
Andrea Agostino stated the specialist that works for National Grid discussed putting a beaver deceiver in the culvert but could not come to a solution with Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program to install a device that could allow rare species to move through it and keep beaver out. The trapping occurs during the winter season if the area is flooded when the construction crew get to the area National Grid will have to consult with the Board of Health and Conservation Commission for permission to breach the dam.
Leslie Duthie questioned the time of year National Grid estimated it would get to Reimers/ Nieske Roads?
Brian Dunn stated they intended to start during the winter and go through late spring around Memorial Day.
Kenneth Gagne volunteered that construction could not occur in turtle habitat after May 1st.
Colin Duncan stated National Grid was monitoring the turtles in the Reimers/Nieske Roads area.
Kenneth Gagne stated it would seem that the work would be well beyond his property by May 1st. He questioned if any special concrete mix was proposed because some of the areas of work were near the Town wells?
Andrea Agostino stated no special mix was proposed because the cement is poured into a steel casing.
Kenneth Gagne questioned who would police the project to make sure it is done correctly?
Andrea Agostino stated TRC will have full time monitors, in the areas of cultural resources there will be archaeologists, Conservation Commission and DEP.
Kenneth Gagne questioned what steps would be taken to prevent oil leakage when the equipment is working in wetlands?
Andrea Agostino stated National Grid requires all equipment that is involved in the project to be inspected before the start of the work each day and to refuel before the start of work each day.
Leslie Duthie stated the Order of Conditions would require equipment to be refueled outside of wetlands and carry spill kits and absorbent pads in case of accidents.
Andrea Agostino stated in the case of a release the first concern is containment and then call DEP.
Colin Duncan stated they have to file a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan with the Environmental Protection Agency and they can audit that at any time.
Arthur Goneau stated Atlantic Systems the company operating the drill testing equipment was working on Silver Street a couple of weeks ago and left ruts on the side of the road, ruts on the trail, cut the chain and removed the lock from the gate and left an oil spill on the pavement on Silver Street.
Glenn Colburn stated the chain was cut and lock removed from the gate on the Town owned property on Nieske Road.
Andrea Agostino stated she would follow up with Atlantic Systems at least if it was a couple of weeks ago it was before the act active season for the turtles.
Leslie Duthie stated if it was after April 15 it was the active season.
Kenneth Berward 2 Silver Street stated the same company dug up his lawn and did not clean up.
Brian Dunn stated they would follow up with these issues.
Colin Duncan stated the mitigation plan provides for the removal of invasive species in Monson.
Leslie Duthie stated the treatment of invasive species was fine with her Japanese knotweed is a challenge and she was happy there would be two treatments.
Colin Duncan stated the mitigation for filled wetlands has been constructed in Hamden.
Glenn Colburn questioned if the old wooden poles would be removed?
Colin Duncan stated they would be cut and the top parts removed.
Kenneth Gagne questioned why the old poles could not be completely removed?
Andrea Agostino stated the Army Corp of Engineers had no problems with leaving the base of the poles in the ground, additionally if the bases had to be dug out it would result in more disturbance.
Glenn Colburn questioned if Oxbow would do the third party sweep of the endangered species priority and estimated habitat areas?
Andrea Agostino stated Oxbow or TRC would do sweep.
Glenn Colburn questioned how sightings of other endangered species would be handled or turtles that have not been tagged?
Andrea Agostino stated if they are State Listed Species it is reported and then moved carefully out of the right-of-way in the direction they were going. There are different provisions depending if the work is occurring during the active or inactive periods. In some cases streams are bridged so as not to disturb the bank.
Glenn Colburn questioned if instead of starting at Fenton Road and proceeding straight down the line to Hampden it would be possible to leap frog to an area to avoid working in a sensitive area at an active time?
Brian Dunn stated they had limited flexibility because the swamp mats were not a smooth operation and it was not easy to get in and out of wetlands.
Leslie Duthie stated maybe because 12 Mile Brook was in a less developed area of Town something could be worked out there.
Brian Dunn stated he would look at the schedule.
Leslie Duthie stated there are quite lot of wetlands and streams to cross. .
Andrea Agostino agreed stating it is made more complicated because there are not many intersecting roads to help out with access.
Glenn Colburn stated it is a necessary project because no-one is happy when they don’t have power but he would empathize that care be taken to make sure all of the security gates a closed. The Commission has a chain and padlock on property on Nieske Road and would like to coordinate that rather than cutting the chain and removing the lock.
Leslie Duthie stated the Commission is experiencing problems with illegal use of ATV’s, dirt bikes etc. on its property. The Monson Police Department has been alerted but usually the damage is done by the time the Commission sees it.
Arthur Goneau stated the notification of the hearing was addressed to him but his wife is also the property owner and the notification should have been addressed to her also.
9:00 Leslie Duthie moved to continue the hearing because DEP has not issued a file number.
Davis Johnson seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
9:00 NOI Cote Road Town of Monson, Highway Department work involving paving and culvert repair/replacement.
Leslie Duthie moved to continue the public hearing to June 4, 2014.
Davis Johnson seconded the motion.
It was so voted, unanimous.
The Commission made a site visit to the property of Gale Howard on Silver Street with John Prenosil, JMP Consulting and Carl Trant the discussion centered on erosion control, bank stabilization and areas where material has to be taken out of the wetlands.
No work has started on the former M & M Chemicals on Cushman Street to remove the underground tanks. As far as the Commission is aware the booms are still in the brook to contain any further spill into the stream. Leslie Duthie stated she would follow up with Tighe & Bond for information on a start date for the work.
The Conservation Commission marked the boundary between the Conservation property and that of Mr. & Mrs. Etti Reimers Road.
The Conservation Commission made a site visit to 492 Boston Road owned by Michael Scott. The Commission will issue a friendly Enforcement Order to remove the boulders in the area where skunk cabbage is growing and restore the area. Additionally pull back the earth to the original fill area and place the rocks at the top of the bank.
The Commission will schedule a visit to Robert Richardson’s property on Carpenter Road.
9:30 Leslie Duthie moved to adjourn.
Glenn Colburn seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda A. Hull
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