Salem Conservation Commission
Minutes of Meeting
Date and Time: Thursday, January 22, 2009, 6:00 p.m.
Meeting Location: Third Floor Conference Room, City Hall Annex, 120 Washington Street
Members Present: Chairperson David Pabich, Rebecca Christie, Kevin Cornacchio, Michael Blier, Keith Glidden, Amy Hamilton, Carole McCauley
Members Absent:
Others Present: Carey Duques, Conservation Agent
Recorder: Andrea Bray
Chairperson Pabich calls the meeting to order and introduces the new member Carole McCauley.
1. Approval of Minutes – January 8, 2009 Meeting
Glidden: Motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Cornacchio. Passes 5-0.
Voting members are Blier, Christie, Cornacchio, Glidden and Hamilton.
2. Continuation of Public Hearing – Notice of Intent – DEP #64-481 – Shelly Bisegna, North Shore Medical Center, 81 Highland Avenue, Salem, MA 01970
Pabich reads the legal public hearing notice, which states that the purpose of this hearing is to discuss the expansion of the existing heliport pad located within the buffer zone to bordering vegetated wetlands at 24 Old Road.
Engineer Scott Patrowicz states that he has a revised design for this heliport pad at the Salem Hospital because Boston Med Flight is in the process of getting a much bigger helicopter. He says they will build a new concrete pad near the old pad. He explains that the survey is complete, the wetlands are flagged, and buffer zones are indicated in the plan. He states that, with the permission of the Commission, they cleared some trees to accommodate Boston Med Flight, who threatened to cease landing operations on the site.
Patrowicz states that Boston Med Flight is comfortable with this new design, but it hasn’t been mapped out on the site yet. He add that the grade is existing and they cleared to the existing edge.
Pabich confirms that there is a small amount of re-grading needed at the outer edge. He points out the limit-of-work line, stating that the trees must be cut down to 3 feet within that line, as well as trees outside the line, which have canopies overhanging the helipad space. He suggests having a site walk.
Blier asks why they don’t just clear it and then plant material that will not grow higher than 3 feet.
Patrowicz agrees to look at it during the site visit.
Pabich asks about the current conditions for that site visit.
Patrowicz states that the tall material will be visible but they will be walking in snow during the site visit.
Pabich asks about long-term maintenance.
Patrowicz states that it will be weed-wacked with a blade about once every six months.
Cornacchio asks if there will be enough room for the fire truck, which attends all landings.
Patrowicz says that he thinks the fire truck will be on the parking area, not the helipad.
The members agree to a site visit on Saturday, February 7, at 9:00 am.
Pabich opens to the public. There are no questions or comments.
Glidden: Motion to continue this public hearing until February 12, with a site visit on February 7, seconded by Cornacchio. Passes 6-0.
McCauley abstains.
3. Continuation of a Public Hearing – Request for Determination of Applicability – City of Salem, 120 Washington Street, Salem, MA 01970
Pabich reads the legal public hearing notice, which states that the purpose of this hearing is to discuss the repairs to an existing trail in Salem Woods at 75 Willson Street.
Pabich states that he and Christie both listened to a recording of the previous hearing and signed an affidavit, which qualifies them to vote on this issue.
Pabich states that there was a site visit on Saturday.
Chris Burke, a member of the Friends of Salem Woods, states that they amended the application as a result of the comments from the Commission, and they will keep about 50 feet of boardwalk in the first area. He clarifies that they will extend the boardwalk about 10 feet up to the existing boardwalk, and place 50 feet of GeoWeb leading up to that boardwalk in the first area. He adds that they like this method because the trail will not continue to widen.
Burke explains that they will install the first 2 sections in the spring and observe it, and if they are happy with it they will install the other 2 sections in the fall.
Pabich opens to the public. There are no questions or comments.
Duques suggests issuing a Negative 3, approving the proposed work, which does not include the approximately 50 foot area located in the first project area. Instead this 50 foot section would contain wooden planks extending over the resource area.
Glidden: Motion to issue a Negative 3 with the condition that the wooden planks be placed over the wet area in project area 1, seconded by Christie.
McCauley abstains.
4. Continuation of a Public Hearing – Notice of Intent – City of Salem, 120 Washington Street, Salem, MA 01970
Pabich reads the legal public hearing notice, which states that the purpose of this hearing is to discuss the repairs and replacement of existing stormdrain pipes behind homes at 9, 11, 13, 15, and 17 Orleans Avenue.
Pabich states that he and Christie both listened to a recording of the previous hearing and signed an affidavit, which qualifies them to vote on this issue.
Pabich confirms that the City plans to repair the troublesome pipe and there was a site visit on Saturday. He adds that the site is compact and easy to work with.
Glidden states that he doesn’t understand the new design for that pipe because there will be no headwall.
City Engineer David Knowlton states that there will be a flared wall with some riprap around it. He show the plan.
Glidden asks if it will slump in and Knowlton states that it shouldn’t.
Cornacchio asks if they will excavate to be sure that there is a good solid base under it, and Knowlton says that they plan to.
Cornacchio confirms that the city will pull out the debris.
Pabich states that they need to use plantings to stabilize this area.
Knowlton says that they will loam and seed.
Pabich states that loam and seed alone may not be adequate they might need hay or jute mat to help out on that area.
Blier asks if they have figured out where the pipe really is.
Knowlton states that they can guess but it will really require them to dig it to find it.
Duques asks which section they will work on first.
Knowlton says that it will be up to the contractor.
Christie asks if they will clear the underbrush.
Bill Ross of New England Civil Engineering says they will only clear debris.
Cornacchio states that they may need to write letters to the abutters.
Pabich suggests that they add a condition that all disturbed areas of slope must have a stapled jute mat cover.
Pabich opens to the public.
Scott Charlton at 11 Orleans Avenue expresses concern that the work will adversely affect his property because a shed will be moved and it will affect his two Willow Trees.
Pabich states that this is out of the jurisdiction of this Commission. He suggests that he speak to the City solicitor.
Tom Potorski of 9 Orleans Ave asks if this new system will be able to remain flowing and not back up. He looks for assurance that this will correct the water issues that he has been experiencing.
Pabich states that this should, from an engineering prospective, radically improve the situation. He adds that ongoing maintenance is a DPW issue, and they can condition this Order of Conditions to have this monitored at least once per year.
Christie asks if they can use a pipe made of a material that will resist the intrusion of the tree roots.
Knowlton states that they can go with concrete or plastic pipes, and the plastic will have longer lengths, and fewer joints, and this action will discourage the tree roots.
Glidden: Motion to close the public hearing, seconded by Hamilton. Passes 6-0.
Glidden: Motion to issue an Order of Conditions to include the conditions that a yearly maintenance plan will be submitted to the Conservation Agent, and jute mats be installed on all disturbed areas of slope, and a silt curtain and erosion control be in place during construction, seconded by Cornacchio. Passes 6-0.
McCauley abstains.
5. Continuation of a Public Hearing – Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation – DEP # 64-468 – Camp Lion of Lynn Mass., Inc. Salem, MA 01970
Pabich reads the legal public hearing notice, which states that the purpose of this hearing is for a determination of a delineated wetland boundary line at 488 and 488 Rear Highland Avenue.
Pabich states that there was a site visit on Saturday.
Terry Gensel states that there is a stream that, at one point, goes under the ground, with an intermittent channel. Above that seems to be ledge and outcrop. He adds that there is a wet spot up along the drive where he checked the soils that is not isolated, it is bordering. He states that there is about 10 feet of bank.
Duques asks how big the culvert is that goes under the driveway and Gensel says that he doesn’t know.
Pabich asks if this is dry for a good portion of the year, and Gensel states that it is dry for most of the year.
Cornacchio confirms that there is a lot of ledge up there. He says that it is all flagged.
Cornacchio: Motion to issue an Order of Resource Area Delineation, seconded by Christie. Passes 6-0.
McCauley abstains.
New/Other Business
6. Update on Greenscapes
McCauley recuses herself from this issue and steps out.
Barbara Warren speaks about the Greenscapes program for 2009. She states that she conducted 2 Greenscapes presentations for the city, and the program has all of the right messages for saving our water, and more people are aware of the practices. She adds that she hopes Salem will join again this year.
Warren explains that last year’s guide was overwhelming, so now there is nothing date specific in this years guide. She presents a mock-up of the calendar, containing suggestions for water protection through the year (April – March). She states that they would not require communities to mail it out, so the cities and towns can determine how they wish to distribute it. As an example, she says that Wenham will place the calendar in all of their water bills.
To get a good price on the printing, Warren explains that a minimum of 2018 calendars must be ordered. She describes additional benefits of membership, such as discounts on plants and products (15% off), and the website. She offers to place article in the newspaper mentioning that Salem is a member.
Warren states that the total fee for the City is $1500, plus the cost for 2018 calendars ($706), coming to a total of $2206.
Duques states that the Commission could split the costs with Julie Rose in the Engineering Department, so the Commission’s portion of the fee would be $1103.
Cornacchio states that it is a great opportunity to get the information out.
Pabich states that the change of format is great.
Duques asks if they have any opinions on how the City would distribute it if they do not mail it.
Pabich states that he likes the idea of enclosing a notice with the water bill, which advises people of where the calendars can be picked up.
Blier suggests the YMCA.
Cornacchio suggests the Council on Aging.
Blier: Motion to approve the expenditure of to up to $2206 for this program, seconded by Cornacchio. Passes 6-0.
7. Update on 100 Swampscott Road Project
Duques state that this is the go-cart project that was appealed by DEP because they wanted them to remove the culvert, and then the applicant found more parking. She shows the new plan for the parking lot. She adds that they also had to reflag the wetlands area because they wanted the area to be brought down low enough to remain wet. She says that the DEP has a long list of additional conditions.
Pabich asks Duques if she can get information from DEP on their specific objections to this project so that the commission will have this information when going forward with other projects of this type.
Duques states that the DEP still wants the commission to be involved in the preconstruction meeting. She agrees to get details for the reasons for their appeal.
8. DiLisio Property that Drains into Rosie’s Pond
Duques states that Pabich discovered a problem with this property.
Pabich states that he spoke to the property owner about this. He says they could install some sort of stone bed to catch some of the fines before they wash into Rosie’s Pond.
Duques explains that city land abuts DiLisio’s property. It currently contains piles of debris and sediment that must be removed, and the DiLisios were willing to move them. Duques says she will follow up with the property owner and the city engineer about developing a solution.
9. Robinson Road
Duques states that they haven’t done anything and she looked at the erosion control with a regulator from DEP. She adds that the DEP will be following up on this project.
10. Stormwater and Erosion Control Compliance Conference
Duques states that she attended a conference last week and learned that most people are moving away from hay bails and using socks filled with mulch or straw. She also noted that the Commission should be aware of Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans and their role of controlling stormwater runoff on construction sites 1 acre or larger.
…
Glidden: Motion to adjourn, seconded by Blier. Passes 7-0.
The meeting is adjourned at 7:45 PM.
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