Salem Conservation Commission
Minutes of Meeting
Date and Time: Thursday, October 24, 2013, 6:00 p.m.
Meeting Location: Third Floor Conference Room, City Hall Annex, 120 Washington Street
Members Present: Chair Julia Knisel, Gregory St. Louis, Dan Ricciarelli, Amy Hamilton, Bart Hoskins, David Pabich, Tom Campbell
Members Absent:
Others Present: Tom Devine, Conservation Agent
Recorder: Stacy Kilb
Chair Julia Knisel calls the meeting to order at 6:02PM.
Old/New Business
- Community Preservation Act Plan – Request for Comment/Input
The City of Salem has enacted the Community Preservation Act, and the funding must go towards projects in certain categories. Part of the process is to develop a CPA plan, including input from Boards and Commissions that are relevant to the CPA. Recommendations do not have to be for specific projects, but should pertain to the types of projects that should be funded. Specific projects can be recommended once applications for them are submitted, which will be early next year.
Hoskins outlines the process. There are about a dozen plans listing needs in different categories. Hoskins points out some features included in Commissioners’ packets that they should be aware of or follow up on. He outlines some of the features of the CPA requirements. For example, maintenance is not covered, but “preserving” is. There are many ways to use the funds; the main point is that they not be used for things that really should be funded out of the general fund. Hoskins would like to push for projects that are not likely to be funded any other way.
The amount of money this fiscal year is a 1% surcharge of what is paid in taxes, an average of $30 per household, with $400,000 coming in this year. 10% of funds must go into each of the three categories, but open space and recreation are lumped together and thus competing for that 10%. Up to 5% can go towards administrative costs and the remainder can go to any category in any configuration.
Chair Knisel asks about habitat value, but Hoskins isn’t sure. But, it can be used for property acquisition. Chair Knisel asks about how much they plan to bank before allocating. The budget for this year just includes the percentages listed above. Hoskins is unsure how much of the funding must be allocated, or how it will be allocated. This year there is no state matching since we can’t budget it. The match will begin in the next Fiscal Year. The state matches whatever is raised, not just whatever is allocated. The match is not 100% since it is the same pool of money being allocated to more towns as they approve the CPA. Hoskins anticipates a match of 25% next year; last year it was 50%. However, it is not certain exactly what it will be. The City may also put additional money into the CPA fund and have that be matched as well.
Chair Knisel asks which projects are preferred this first year, and Hoskins mentions the affordable housing people and the Common fence. There will be competition for the fund. Devine has heard Winter Island mentioned on several occasions as a candidate for the funds.
Hamilton mentions a couple of properties that people have wanted to donate, but the Commission did not want to follow up due to the possible need for decontamination. The Commission has never had money for acquisition, but that is part of the CPA. This is why Chair Knisel asked about letting funds build, but Devine says anything acquisition would probably have to use several funding sources. That could be a criteria for funding any type of project the Commission wants to pursue. Hoskins mentions areas that have tidegates that need to be preserved as they protect the salt marshes. Chair Knisel comments on the gray areas between categories, and Hoskins thinks that tidegates would be under “preservation,” and invasives removal would be “protection from harm.”
Final eligibility is determined by the CPA Committee. There will be a two stage application, including a short form to be submitted first. They are also reviewing what other communities have done. St. Louis asks if there is anything on the floodplain map that should be protected. Chair Knisel ask about non-city owned lands on wetlands, and the inventory is an appendix to the Open Space and Recreation Plan. No one has identified which are in the flood zone.
Specific needs and projects should be proposed, but the Commission does not have enough information to determine those yet. Salem Sound Coast Watch will probably also be putting forth proposals. Pabich thinks perhaps an outreach for people who live on the harbor, to control fertilizer, could be a good idea. Greenscapes is good, but he would like to see more done. There are many wetlands violations where awareness could be raised. Hoskins is not sure if funds can be used for research and studies. The CPA Plan creation process includes information gathering. However, no projects related to the Conservation Commission have been identified. Hoskins will do some research on that. Chair Knisel asks if anything on Commission property needs to be addressed, and Devine mentions the Forest River trail system, which has been maintained by
volunteers but needs professional rehabilitation. Chadwick Lead mills is mentioned; Devine notes that Marblehead has committed to making improvements on the site, including the portion in Salem.
St. Louis suggests looking at the NPDES permit requirements and see whether any could be funded with the CPA. Devine asks Hoskins about the 5% for administrative costs. Could some be money for developing an inventory and ranking of open space for potential acquisition? Hoskins will investigate.
There is a public meeting on Nov. 22nd, and the Committee needs to issue its recommendations before then. Hoskins wonders how to pull that together before the meeting. Commissioners will write suggestions on their own and Devine will consolidate. Chair Knisel suggests that Devine ask Barbara Warren of Salem Sound Coast Watch which projects she has in mind. Devine suggests leaving for next time only that which they lack information on this time. But Chair Knisel thinks there is nothing they can advance at this point, since they lack funds to acquire properties. Hoskins points out that the City could take out bonds on CPA funds for that purpose if necessary.
Hoskins will find out if they can use the funds to purchase a conservation easement. Devine thinks he should point the Committee toward the Open Space and Recreation Plan, since some goals and needs have already been identified there. Chair Knisel notes that a goal should be for Commissioners to get feedback to Devine by next Thursday so that he can compile the notes.
St. Louis suggests drainage improvements and outfalls should be examined. Chair Knisel asks how to address submerged lands such as public tidelands. That is covered under Open Space. They may want to partner with DMF and SSCW regarding shellfish habitat restoration and eel grass restoration.
Comments must be submitted to Devine by next Thursday, 10/31.
- 24 Congress Street/283 Derby Street, DEP #64-540: Request for Certificate of Compliance
At the last meeting the Commission determined it would like to see an as-built, which is now presented. There is no significant deviation from the approved plans.
A motion to issue the certificate is made by Pabich, seconded by St. Louis, and passes unanimously.
- 38 Swampscott Road: Discussion of wetlands violation
This is North Shore Self Storage, which had sand deposited in a wetland buffer behind a gate. The sand has been removed and the violation resolved. Wetland markers are being posted too, as requested. Devine will issue a letter to close out the violation, while reminding the owner to obtain a certificate of compliance for the original order of conditions for the property.
- Discussion and vote regarding funding for education and training for Commission members
Campbell has already attended an MACC webinar. The Commission in the past had approved funding so Hoskins could attend trainings without having to approve each one, and Devine is asking for similar funding for training for all Commissioners, so long as it is in state. These will be MACC or MACC partner trainings. Devine says that $400 or so was approved for Hoskins, who has not used it yet. Devine proposes allocating $1000 for all Commissioners, not including the Agent, who will make his requests individually.
Devine does not anticipate that much money being spent, but thinks it will be helpful to approve this amount to avoid having to approve funding for every individually. Devine will inform the Commission whenever anyone attends any training.
A motion to approve up to $1000 for training is made by Hamilton, seconded by Ricciarelli and passes unanimously.
The Commission tables minutes from the September meetings to the upcoming meeting because they have not had time to review them.
Miscellaneous
Devine comments that Nov. 14 and Dec. 12 are the two remaining meetings this year.
St. Louis comments that his wife’s firm may be coming before the Commission, so he may recuse himself. He does not think she is working on that particular project. He can fill out a form instead if he wishes. Devine states that it will be easier to maintain a quorum even if St. Louis recuses himself, now that Tom Campbell has joined the Commission.
CDM continues work on the climate study. They have been trying to identify specific climate parameters to use and narrow down some broader factors. They are also trying to determine which five sectors to analyze. Open space preservation/habitat interests should be one. The scope of work has been expanded and they are doing an analysis. Allocation of funding for this is discussed. Chair Knisel does not have much to report at the moment. Devine is in contact with them and gets updates, but has nothing to add. They hope to have a final product by the end of December, but it is uncertain when the public meetings would be.
A motion to adjourn is made by Pabich, seconded by Hoskins, and passes unanimously.
The meeting adjourns at 7:22PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Stacy Kilb
Clerk, Salem Conservation Commission
Approved by the Conservation Commission on January 9, 2014
| 
