CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Town of Monterey, Massachusetts
MEETING DATE: February 13, 2006
Present: David Dempsey, chair, Chris Blair, Judith Bach, and Rick Andrus
The meeting convened at 6:10p.m.
6:10pm – 6:50pm Dolber Public Hearing – 2 Stevens Lake Rd, SMA NOI Vista Pruning
Vista pruning and some brush removal, removal of dead trees. A representative from Okerstrom Lang discussed the details of the removal and what would be planted in place of. The future maintenance of the plantings was discussed. Okerstrom Lang offered to flag the trees to be taken down and have a site visit done with 48hours notice. The board agreed to look at the flagged material coming out. The board approved this project with the following conditions:
1. Trees & plants to be removed are to be flagged and inspected at least 48hours before removal. 2. Vista pruning of the trees should be shown on the drawing. 3. The Conservation Commission will make a site visit in August of 2006 & 2007. |
6:50pm – 7:00pm Public Meeting – Schutzmann, 19 Laurel Banks, RDA Dock Repair
The heavy rains in October loosened the dock and it moved about 37 inches back. They are proposing to get rid of all the timbers and fasteners and rebuild the dock on the existing steel structure. The dock would be built off site so there would be no cutting near the lake. No machines will be near the water. The board approved the plans as submitted.
7:00pm – 7:05pm Enforcement Order – Johnson, 140 Main Rd
Mr. Johnson came in discuss the enforcement order that was issued. Mr. Johnson gave his reasons for removing the trees that he did. Mr. Johnson thought that taking down dead trees did not require filing.
7:50pm – Delmolino – Bidwell Rd, RDA - Vista pruning to remove branches from pine trees behind house and on lake side.
Mr. Delmolino was not present to answer questions the board had. The definition of vista pruning was reviewed. The board approved the application with the following conditions:
1. Can only cut limbs off of the trees between 0 inches and 30 ft from the ground. 2. Can not cut any trees or shrubs on the ground within the first 50 feet of the shore.
For Discussion:
1. Thomas Sullivan came to discuss a project review form that needed more information. It’s within the 100ft buffer zone of the lake and he will need to file an RDA.
2. Certificate of Compliance for Elliot Small was signed.
3. Reviewed the Sanchez/Murray project on Griswald Rd and filled out a current Project Review form for the Building Inspector.
4. Dick Tryon came to discuss:
a. The salt on the road that is being “spread like it’s going out of style” he says that when he complains to the highway garage he just gets more dumped on his road. He’d like to know how to get the EPA involved. Chris volunteered to make a call and see if there is anything that can be done.
b. The dam situation. Chris commented that there was a meeting there this morning and did he attend. He claims the log was washing out the far side of the dam for over a month. After 3 weeks Mr. Tryon claims the town crew finally cut it up and pushed it into the river. He believes that the state did not know about the dam until just now and he presumes that we are not going to get the money allocated by the state to repair historical dams. Chris let Mr. Tryon know that the town owns the dam and the Conservation Commission issues the permits. He’d like to know if they are going to breach the dam or what’s going to
happen?
c. Mr. Tryon states he received the letter that asked him to remove the trees from the river he doesn’t own. He spoke with the former Highway Superintendent to get another opinion and he claims that in the past the town has set several precedents in the past in clearing/cleaning trees off of private property so why should he have to do this. He claims that the core of engineers has the final say on this on section 404. He told the select board this. He thinks the Con Comm should go down and take a look and David told him they all did. Chris let him know that he needs to work with the town to decide what needs to be done to
solve the problem and that as the land owner he is responsible and if he has any problems with this he may want to take this matter up with Town Counsel. He claims that not one of the Select Board members has gone down to the property to see the problem to figure out how to resolve this. He says he is not going to remove them and that the river is not his property nor is the land under it.
5. Forest cutting plans were reviewed.
6. The minutes from 1.9.06 were approved.
7. Mail was opened and reviewed.
Meeting adjourned at 8:20pm
Submitted by: Melissa Noe, Conservation Commission Secretary
Cc: Conservation Commission Board Members
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