MONSON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES AUGUST 6, 2014
MEMBERS PRESENT: Glenn Colburn and Leslie Duthie.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Davis Johnson.
7:00 Old Reed Road. Charles Smith met informally with the Commission to discuss problems with road run-off from Old Reed Road into his pond. He stated he had spoken with John Morrell for his assistance with the problem. Mr. Smith stated he met with the Commission many years ago about the same situation, but at that time Old Reed Road was not paved and the Commission was unable to help. Now the road has been paved the problem still exists, in fact more water and salt from the paved road is going into the pond. Mr. Smith questioned if a Request for Determination was filed when the road was paved because he believed the work was within the jurisdiction of the Commission.
Glenn Colburn stated he did not think an RDA was filed.
Charles Smith questioned what could be done? The pond is dying because of the road run off. In the spring John Morrell put hay bales in on both sides of road but they are now filled with dirt. He questioned if a little detention pond could be constructed at the end of the road to treat the run off before it gets to the brook? He stated he would like John Morrell to remove the sediment that is there now and dig in new hay bales. At the moment the run off comes down the road and runs around the sides of the hay bales directly into the brook.
Leslie Duthie stated a depression on Mr. Smith’s property, planted with a conservation mix may help.
Glenn Colburn stated a swale would fill with sand and need to be cleaned out, similarly any type of catch basin would require the same maintenance.
Leslie Duthie stated she would try to meet with John Morrell.
7:15 NOI Lot 13 Zuell Road William Jahn, Assessors Map 031 Lot 19A. DEP has issued a file number 228-0363.
Also Present: Donald Frydryk, Sherman & Frydryk, Land Surveying & Engineer, and William Jahn.
Donald Frydryk stated an NOI was filed in 2002 for the property and an Order of Conditions issued, but the construction did not happen and the permit expired. The Notice of Intent is for a single family home, driveway, well and septic system in the buffer zone. There is a total of 6,500 square feet of disturbance in the buffer and the property is on the NHESP priority habitats and estimated habitats map. Mr. Jahn has filed with NHESP and is waiting for a response.
Glenn Colburn questioned if Mr. Jahn was cutting into the hill?
Donald Frydryk stated yes due to the topography the proposed system will require a pump.
Glenn Colburn questioned how it was proposed to handle the run off into the roadway?
Donald Frydryk stated currently the water runs off of the property onto the roadway but as part of this project is it proposed to catch the run off and put it into a basin.
Glenn Colburn stated he did not see a problem with this project, it is well designed the only comment he had was to advise Mr. Frydryk to address the size of the culvert with Highway Surveyor, John Morrell.
Glenn Colburn questioned if the slope would be mowed?
Donald Frydryk stated he did not imagine the property owner would be mowing much outside of the driveway area.
Glenn Colburn stated the Commission could not close the hearing until there was a response from NHESP.
Leslie Duthie stated she had no questions and would move to continue the hearing to August 27, 2014 at 7:15 P.M. to hear from NHESP. Additionally if NHESP has no questions or concerns it would not be necessary for Mr. Jahn to attend the next meeting.
Glenn Colburn seconded the motion.
It was so voted, unanimous.
7:35 Heather Comee Pioneer Environmental stated she was preparing a request for a Certificate of Compliance for 60 Lower Hampden Road and following a review of the plan and the work that was done found too much fill was placed in one area, and although the replication that was done is larger than what was proposed, it still does not meet the requirement. The original plan proposed a ten foot wide driveway, and a twelve and a half foot driveway was constructed.
Glenn Colburn stated Ms. Comee should submit a request for a Certificate of Compliance with an “As Built” plan and a letter describing the solution to bring the work into compliance.
Heather Comee questioned if the Commission could issue a friendly enforcement order to allow them to do the work?
Glenn Colburn stated the Commission could do that and would hold the request for a Certificate of Compliance until the new restoration area germinates. Ms. Comee should call the Commission when there is some growth and also note the new restoration area on the “As Built” plan. He questioned how the original restoration area looked?
Heather Comee stated it is growing and stable.
7:45 NOI Lot 38 Heritage Lane Assessors Map 114 Lot 81p Sergey Savonin. The work proposed is the construction of a new single family home and related site work. A portion of the work falls within the buffer zone. DEP has responded with a File number DEP 228-0364.
Leslie Duthie stated the lawn area is in the 100 foot buffer zone and there is construction material in the buffer zone.
Heather Comee stated Mr. Savonin is working on the abutting property and pushed material from the lot he is working on onto Lot 38. In addition to the lawn area a small amount of grading is in the buffer zone.
Leslie Duthie stated she wanted to see the anti-tracking pad and erosion controls on the plan. When the Commission writes an Order of Conditions it will clearly state that all of the erosion control must be maintained throughout the entire project.
Heather Comee stated the anti-tracking and silt fences will be put on the plan.
Leslie Duthie questioned what was happening in the back of the property?
Heather Comee stated there are grade changes in the back but there is a small flat area right behind the house. It is proposed to construct a swale and drain similar to the house under construction. The water will be piped to go under the lawn area to avoid any flow over the driveway, and then overflow into wetlands.
Glenn Colburn stated the flat area would be ideal for a rain garden, make shallow depression and plan sedges and rushes.
Heather Comee agreed a depression would slow down the water.
Leslie Duthie stated she wanted to be clear that all of the water had to be handled on Lot 38 and not run off onto Lot 39 or into the Town storm drain.
Glenn Colburn stated a culvert under the driveway, all erosion control and a depression in the south west corner of the lot should be on the plan.
Leslie Duthie stated the slope in the back is steep enough that a conservation mix rather than lawn grass would be better.
Leslie Duthie moved to continue the hearing for a response from NHESP.
Glenn Colburn seconded the motion.
It was so voted, unanimous.
8:05 NOI Lot 39 Heritage Lane Assessors Map 114, Lot 81P, Sergey Savonin.
Heather Comee stated this is a more challenging lot and she had suggested to Mr. Savonin that he move the house closer to the road to reduce the amount of grading.
Glenn Colburn stated he believed this lot was going to get a lot more water and the photographs that Ms. Duthie showed illustrated that.
Leslie Duthie stated the property was a dairy farm and the area of construction was field. Ms. Duthie stated she has more concerns with this lot than Lot 38 because of the water and the grading in back.
Heather Comee stated they have kept the limit of work close to driveway. She questioned if the Commission felt a depression would work on this lot?
Leslie Duthie stated she was skeptical, this was a tight lot. She questioned how Mr. Savonin meant to handle the water and stabilize the slope in the back?
Sergey Savonin stated he had enough material to assure that nothing would slide down.
Leslie Duthie stated there has to be a way to handle the water on site without dumping it into the stream or wetlands, and it must be treated before it gets there. If the plan is to place rocks how will the run off from the swale be handled?
Sergey Savonin stated he would build a retaining wall out of rocks.
Leslie Duthie stated she wanted to see everything on a plan to make sure there is no question as to what will be done and how it will be done on this lot.
Heather Comee stated they propose drainage swales at the base of the steep slope and on either side of the house to prevent water flowing into the residence. The closest point of the work is two feet from the wetland.
Leslie Duthie questioned what was proposed on the steep slope?
Sergey Savonin stated he would place rocks on the slope and seed over the top.
Glenn Colburn stated that may work on the other site but this is a twenty foot slope and much different from the four foot on the house under construction. Something extra is needed on this slope such as geo textile underneath the rocks. Glenn Colburn advised that careful thought should go into the construction of the proposed armored slope and the details of the slope must be clearly laid out on the plan.
Heather Comee stated the slope was designed with a fabric and gravel base. Erosion control blankets will help stabilize the base before rocks are put on the slope.
Sergey Savonin stated it is not a twenty foot slope it will be tiered.
Glenn Colburn that it not shown on the plan. The Commission must have all of the details on the plan just saying the words are not good enough. Whatever is planned for the site must be put on the plan along with complete details on the erosion controls.
Heather Comee stated it is proposed to put eight permanent monuments on Lot 39 and two permanent monuments on Lot 38.
Leslie Duthie stated she agreed with Glenn Colburn that Lot 39 is a problem because of the flow of water coming down the site, almost all of the work on this lot is in the buffer zone and the closest point of work is only two feet from the wetlands. Erosion controls are going to be crucial and the anti-tracking pad and other erosion controls must be constantly monitored and maintained throughout the length of the project.
Leslie Duthie moved to continue the public hearing for revised plans and response from NHESP.
Glenn Colburn seconded the motion.
It was so voted, unanimous.
8:50 The Commission received an e-mail with photographs attached of piping and a pump that is believed to be withdrawing flow from Temple Brook and going to private property on Lower Hampden Road. The e-mail came from the Trustees of Reservations who hold the Conservation Restriction on the Temple Brook property. The Commission will contact the property owner and ask that they attend the next meeting of the Conservation Commission.
Silver Street, Matthew Guthrie. The Commission believes that Mr. Guthrie has sprayed or cut 10 to 20 feet in an area that is jurisdictional. The Commission has previously visited the property and discussed with Mr. Guthrie at one of its meetings that the Commission considers everything from the driveway over to be jurisdictional wetlands.
The Commission will write to Matthew Guthrie and ask him to attend a Conservation meeting.
Eric Runstrom from Roux Inc. contacted the Commission on behalf of Exxonmobile regarding pavement resurfacing on the access road located near Calkins Road/ Route 20 in Palmer. The access road is used by a utility company who plow the road and that has resulted in insufficient cover over the pipeline. He is seeking confirmation from the Commission that the project is exempt from filing.
The Commission questioned if Exxonmobile have an open Order of Conditions for work in the same area? If that is the case Roux Inc. should forward the location and description of the work and it could be added to the existing Order of Conditions.
9:15 Leslie Duthie stated she checked on M & M Chemicals, Cushman Street it appears that the small pump room has been demolished and the area reseeded. The material is still on site stored on a flat area on the east side of the building, covered with plastic.
NOI Pulpit Rock Pond, Lakeside Drive. Drawdown to repair the gates mechanisms and replace gates continued with the agreement of all parties to Wednesday September 17, 2014 at 7:30 P.M.
NOI Cote Road, Monson Highway Dept. Road paving and culvert repair/replacement continued with the agreement of all parties to Wednesday October 8, 2014 at 7:30 P.M.
9:20 MAIL
- Copy of e-mail and photographs from Eric Runstrom, Roux Inc. re: Exxonmobile access road resurfacing at a location near Calkins Road/Route 20 Palmer.
- Michael Scott Boston Road East received the enforcement order for work in the buffer zone without a permit.
- National Grid received its Order of Conditions.
- Lycott Environmental notified the Commission of an herbicide treatment at Dean Pond scheduled for July 30, 2014.
- Lycott Environmental notified the Commission of an herbicide treatment at Paradise Lake.
- Letter from PVPC regarding a certain amount of Conservation services for one year at a cost of $1500.00.
The Commission felt the cost for a year was excessive for the services offered.
Leslie Duthie updated the Commission regarding the property on Silver Street, the appraised value can be achieved through CPA monies and reimbursements.
Kim and James Bailey own land on Cedar Swamp Road that does not have frontage but directly abuts land owned by the Conservation Commission. They have approached the Commission to see if there is any interest in purchasing the land that is approximately 23 acres. Ms. Duthie stated because it directly abuts land owned by the Town on Cedar Swamp she would like to have an appraisal done.
Glenn Colburn agreed and moved to fund an appraisal of the land.
Leslie Duthie seconded the motion.
It was so voted, unanimous.
The Commission signed the Certificate of Compliance for Dorothy Fisher, Childs Road.
Leslie Duthie moved to approve the minutes of June 4, 2014 as presented.
Glenn Colburn seconded the motion.
It was so voted, unanimous.
Leslie Duthie moved to approve the minutes of June 25, 2014 as presented.
Glenn Colburn seconded the motion.
It was so voted, unanimous.
The Commission will try to set up a site visit to Old Reed Road for August 19, or 20, 2014.
9:30 Glenn Colburn moved to adjourn.
Leslie Duthie seconded the motion.
It was so voted, unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda A. Hull
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