TOWN OF RUTLAND
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES: OCTOBER 6, 2015
MEETING OPENED: 7:01 PM
Attendance
Board Members Present: Joe Dell’Aquila, Chairman; Shawn Moore; Scott Landgren; Peter Craine; Nancy Nichols
Board Members Absent: Willard Cannon; Eric Bigelow
Guests
Jennifer Howald, DCR
Application Submissions
NONE
Votes
Meeting Minutes from September 15, 2015 – Motion to approve minutes made by Scott, seconded by Peter; Minutes approved at 7:04 PM with Nancy abstaining.
Motion to close meeting – Motion made by Shawn, seconded by Nancy; vote unanimous at 8:24 PM.
Hearings
NONE
Discussions
Ralph Takala, Extension of ANRAD
The original was never received, so we are resigning to send another original.
Meloche & Meloche
Received a letter from Meloche & Meloche about a sale on Emerald Road. We have the right of first refusal on the property. We are not interested.
Brice-Lemon Estates
We received a request from Attorney Kiritsy asking for a letter stating whether the Conservation Commission would rather see culverts or bridges. The Order of Conditions we have done will most likely be superseded. A letter will be drawn up and sent.
Budget
The Conservation Commission has been asked to see where we can cut our budget. Joe presented the Finance Committee with two scenarios: 1. less meetings per month or 2. cut the Conservation Commission line for education. He will let us know what the Finance Committee says.
By-Law Discussion
Elements in Common – Peter said that many towns have created an Earth Works Board, but usually another Board takes this over. Those were the Board of Selectmen, Conservation Commission, or the Board of Health which would be really involved anyway. The other option would be to create an entire new Board. Joe thinks we could do this in conjunction with the Board of Health. Scott thinks that it is going to have to be someone who is paid. Nancy said that the Board of Health does have a paid employee. Peter said there is going to be real work involved and a lot of paperwork when we do have something. Joe said we could get a 3rd party and Scott asked who would pay for it and Joe said the person bringing it in could pay for it, but Scott disagreed.
Joe said the intent of the by-law is not to screw up building, but to protect the town from the overburden coming in to regulate beyond what the sate regulates. Scott said the bottom line is to know what is coming in and to make sure nothing is exceeding DEP’s limits. Joe thinks we need something workable and would be able to tell the town what is going on and why.
Scott wants to know what the trigger to be notified and a permit filed should be. Joe thinks 50,000 tons. They can get a permit so that they can tell us what they are doing. Scott thinks the trigger amount might be too low and how are we going to specify.
If they are doing cut/fill on a lot there would be no trigger. It is for when stuff is being brought in. Shawn suggested that we go to a nearby town that already has this in place and sit in on a meeting.
Scott thinks we should not write a by-law that some else will enforce, and perhaps the Board of Health should do this or come to one of our meetings. Joe thinks we are to get a set up done and do the first pass, which will then go to the other Boards for comment, edits or suggestions. This will be a town by-law not a Conservation Commission by-law; we were asked to start it.
Jennifer said that it costs about $1,000 for a test of everything to be done. Joe thinks that this cost should be passed to the applicant of the permit. This will be continued at the next meeting.
Reviewed Mail
Respectfully Submitted,
Karen Wamback
Secretary
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