Salem Conservation Commission
Minutes of Meeting
Date and Time: Thursday, March 13, 2008, 6:00 p.m.
Meeting Location: Third Floor Conference Room, City Hall Annex, 120 Washington Street
Members Present: Chairperson Kevin Cornacchio, Michael Blier, Keith Glidden, David Pabich, David Summer
Members Absent: Joseph Furnari, Amy Hamilton
Others Present: Carey Duques, Conservation Agent
Recorder: Andrea Bray
Chairperson Cornacchio calls the meeting to order.
1. Approval of Minutes: February 18, 2008 Meeting
Pabich: Motion to approve the minutes from the February 18, 2008 meeting, seconded by Blier. Passes 4-0. Summer abstains because he was not present.
2. Continuation of a Public Hearing – Notice of Intent – City of Salem, 12 Swampscott Road, Salem, MA 01970
Cornacchio reads the legal public hearing notice which states that the purpose of this hearing is to discuss the proposed project which includes capping and closing the abandoned landfill as well as constructing and operating a new transfer station at 12 Swampscott Road. Work proposed is located within a 200-foot Riverfront Area and 100 feet of an inland bank at 12 Swampscott Road.
Duques states that David Summer will not be voting on this issue because he was not in attendance at the last meeting but he can comment.
Hanscom address some of the questions submitted by Amy Hamilton. He states that the TSS calculation is in the report that was submitted. He adds that they will provide a 4-foot sump, and the 900-gallon unit requested by DEP removes 80% solids.
Pabich states that the street sweeping requirements should be specified in the Order, perhaps quarterly at a minimum or as necessary. Hanscom agrees to this.
Hanscom states that the catch basins and the 4-foot sumps will be cleaned annually, with inspections as required.
Pabich suggests that an inspection for these systems could be scheduled on the quarterly sweeping dates. Hanscom agrees to this.
Regarding the guardrail, Hanscom states that they are prepared to penetrate the cap but use a skirt overlap and bentonite cover with a stainless steel strap attached. He says that the skirt could float back-and-forth without ripping up the liner. He specifies that the guardrail will have a 4-foot depth of embedment.
For landfill gas and venting, Hanscom states that there are no methane gasses so no venting will be required. He says that he filter bags could be used. Regarding the salvageable materials such as the granite, Hanscom suggests that the city could retain title to some of those materials, and those that are not kept will be managed for cleanup.
Glidden asks about potential residue on the inside of the stack.
Hanscom states that they will test the ash within the chimney for heavy metals and, if detected, it will be properly removed.
Pabich expresses concern about dust rising during the dismantling of the stack.
Hansom states that they will put a tarp over the top and topple it and as it comes down, they will wet it down. Or they will schedule it on a rainy day.
Hanscom states that the drainage pipes will be above the cap, and will slope to avoid any freezing inside the pipes.
Pabich asks how they plan to drain any water collecting in a depression in the cap.
Hanscom states that there will be seepage collars around that portion that will drain into the storm drains.
Pabich states that pooling water might run down and collect around the interceptor.
Hanscom states that this must be finely engineered because the DEP will not allow any damage to the cap.
Hanscom confirms that about 1330 square feet of the river area will be opened up. He states that a hydrologic analysis of the upland culvert area was provided in their packet. Regarding the existing pipe, if it is found to be inadequate, Hanscoms says that it will be replaced with an 18 or 24 inch pipe. Alternately, if the 48-inch pipe is found to be adequate, he says that it will stay in place and they will install a 12 inch pipe at the inlet which will control the flow into the 48 inch pipe.
Glidden states that part of this area being opened is wetland.
Hanscom states that this is a backwater condition caused by the runoff. He confirms that the 48-inch pipe is larger than it needs to be.
Glidden expresses concern about the flow management procedure being regulated only by a smaller pipe.
Hanscom states that a lot of downstream things could be affected if they open this outflow too much. He says that there are drainage problems downstream.
Much discussion ensues regarding the correct amount of flow allotted for this stream.
Hanscom states that he has deferred to the city engineer who has suggested that they restrict the flow in this way.
Hanscom states that details of the proposed storm scepter is in the submittal along with the updated stormwater report. He states that they will also remove waste above the water along with other white goods and other debris, and all of this will be reconfigured under the cap.
Cornacchio opens to the public.
Betty Yeung of 86 Cavendish Circle asks who will be monitoring this project, to see that this execution goes smoothly.
Cornacchio states that DEP will monitor and an LSP will be on site.
Glidden states that there will be a preconstruction visit and they will also have to get a certificate of compliance when the project is complete.
Pabich states that the Conservation Agent will monitor and communicate with the LSP.
Hanscom states that they have sampled and tested material on site and they found no methane production or ground water impact, and that it is mostly inert material and organic material. He adds that they will have daily and weekly reports and they must certify that it was constructed according to the submitted plans.
Pabich says that he would be happy to include the requirement for weekly site monitoring by the Conservation Agent, and Hanscom agrees to this.
Chuck Puleo of 5 Freeman Road, a planning board member, asks about the possibility of dust getting outside of the operations area if the doors are open.
Hansom states that all floor drains will be connected to a sanitary sewer and all activities will be enclosed within the building.
Chuck Puleo asks what permit is required for this.
Hansom states that they will need to get a building permit.
Paulette Puleo of 5 Freeman Road asks if there will be a compost site.
Hansom states that there will be a drop-off location but the material will be moved off site.
Paulette Puleo expresses concern about any pesticide running out of the compost site.
Hansom states that a rainfall will not be enough to cause leaching of the pesticides. He adds that a water quality swale will stop the runoff.
Chuck Puleo asks if the compost could be dumped into an area where it would not need to be handled twice, perhaps into a container.
Hanscom states that the trailers are too tall so this might not be very feasible. He clarifies that the compost pile will be out back, across the river.
Duques asks about pretreatment or the water quality swale.
Hanscom states that the pretreatment is the swale itself and the water will be stopped and will infiltrate into the ground.
Dennis Colbert of 37 Clark Street asks about snow removal.
Hanscom states that they will store the snow on the other side of the guardrail where it will be allowed to melt. He adds that no salt will be used. He states that in an extreme snow year some snow may need to be removed.
Pabich suggests having a designated area for placement of excess snow.
Paulette Puleo asks about the likelihood of having a ruptured diesel tank.
Hanscom states that the storm center will catch all of the runoff and then it can be pumped out.
Glidden asks if the 24-inch pipe were to be installed, would there be any retention.
Hanscom states that there might be.
Glidden expresses concern about a possible problem with the water retention.
There is more discussion about the stream.
Glidden suggests replacing the 48-inch pipe, if it proves to be unsound structurally, with another 48-inch pipe, and add the controlled orifice. This way, if the city wishes to open this flow in the future, they can just remove this orifice. Hanscom agrees to this.
Beth Rennard, City Solicitor, states that they have a construction agreement with the abutter. She suggests they add a condition that the abutter be listed as applicant on the notice of intent as well as a letter granting a construction easement.
Pabich states that there should be a condition that the applicant appear before the board, with final plans, prior to construction.
Glidden: Motion to close public hearing, seconded by Pabich. Passes 4-0. Summer abstains.
The members review all of the conditions to be placed in the Order, and clarify some fine points.
Glidden: Motion to issue an Order of Conditions with the special conditions noted today as well as those in the draft packet, seconded by Pabich. Passes 4-0. Summer abstains.
3. Continuation of a Public Hearing – Notice of Intent – Dana LiLisio, 100 Swampscott Road, Salem, MA 01970
Cornacchio reads a letter requesting a continuation.
Glidden: Motion to continue this hearing until May 8, 2008, seconded by Blier. Passes 5-0.
Old/New Business
4. Shetland Office Park and Pickering Wharf Realty Trust to discuss snow management
Attorney Scott Grover introduces Tom Kent, Property Manager of Shetland Office Park. He states that Shetland did not know that the dumping of the snow into the ocean was disallowed, and once they learned this, they stopped immediately. He says that now they plow the snow to an area adjacent to the ocean and then blow it into the resource area, and they stockpile some of the snow on the west side of the site.
Grover states that he looked up the DEP guidelines for dumping snow. He distributes the emergency guidelines. He says that he as deemed that these guidelines can go into effect whenever the city declares a snow emergency.
Pabich disagrees and states that the city uses the snow emergency to get cars off of the street so they can plow.
Grover says that the problem with storing snow on the west side of the site is that it attracts kids from that neighborhood.
Summer states that he can’t justify blowing snow into the resource area just to save some parking spaces.
Grover states that these parking spaces are leased to tenants, such as the registry of deeds.
Summer states that they can cart the snow away as all of the shopping centers do.
Grover states that the city should designate a site for snow removal.
Shetland Manager Tom Kent states that he is afraid to attract kids from the neighborhood because this could present a hazard.
Cornacchio states that the Hawthorn Hotel carts all of their snow away.
Much discussion ensues about the proper snow removal procedures.
Duques agrees to consult the DEP about this.
The members agree to waive the $200 fee.
Grover agrees to look into the best substance to add to the sand.
Pabich requests a letter outlining Shetland’s snow removal policy.
5. Discussion of proposal for public access signage
Duques provides photos of all of the public right-of-ways, and states that the Conservation Commission Approved this sign to be placed on Winter Island Road and on Bay View Ave.
Glidden suggests marking only those sites that are accessible. He states that they should prevent having the public violate private property rights. He says they should place some gravel on part of the path, and the sign should allow only foot traffic. He clarifies that they should only put signs on the paths that have been demarcated.
Cornacchio suggests looking into grant money for this.
Duques states that they need to create a sign that complies with the city’s signage program. She agrees to speak to the signage committee about a possible design, and to look into obtaining grant money.
Blier cautions against making a claim that any path is accessible if it is not ADA compliant.
Pabich suggests having the signs like those in Beverly which state, “Please enjoy this public right-of-way”.
Glidden suggests having the sign specify “for paddle craft or for foot traffic”.
The members agree to discuss this further after Duques has received additional information.
6. Request to purchase Topographic maps to create GIS maps showing intermittent and perennial streams
Duques states that the maps might cost between $12 and $60.
Pabich: Motion to approve the purchase of maps, seconded by Glidden. Passes 5-0.
Glidden: Motion to adjourn, seconded by Pabich. Passes 5-0.
The meeting is adjourned at 8:30 PM.
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