Stow Conservation Commission
Minutes
December 6, 2011
A meeting of the Stow Conservation Commission was held at the Stow Town Building, 380 Great Road, Stow, Massachusetts, on December 6, 2011 at 7:30 in the evening.
There were present: Rebecca Mattison, Chair
Helen Castles, Vice Chair
Ingeborg Hegemann Clark
David Coppes
Doug Moffat
Kathy Sferra
comprising a quorum of the Commission; also
Patricia R. Perry, SCC Coordinator
Maureen Trunfio, SCC Secretary
The Conservation Commission meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM.
Approve Minutes
Dave Coppes made a motion to approve the minutes of November 15, 2011 as drafted. Doug Moffat seconded the motion and it was passed. Ingeborg Hegemann Clark and Kathy Sferra abstained.
Correspondence
Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) is seeking comments from Conservation Commissions on their comment letter regarding the Draft Action Plan for Regulatory Reform at Mass DEP. The Stow Conservation Commission stated that they support MACC’s comment letter.
Certificate of Compliance (OOC #299-322)
24 Asa Whitcomb Way (R-8 #8A, 8-B, 9)
The buyer’s real estate attorney has requested a Certificate of Compliance for 24 Asa Whitcomb Way. There is a small corner of the wetland buffer zone on the property. The Order was for the subdivision road, storm water basin and three lots. The town has already accepted the road.
David Coppes conducted the site inspection on December 4, 2011 and found no impact or activity in the buffer zone. He found the area stabilized and in good condition. The Commission agreed to issue a Partial Certificate of Compliance for 24 Asa Whitcomb Way only.
David Coppes made a motion to issue the Partial Certificate Of Compliance for work satisfactorily completed at 24 Asa Whitcomb Way in compliance with Order of Conditions File No. 299-0322.
Kathy Sferra seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Certificate of Compliance (OOC #299-0514)
277 Sudbury Road (U-3 #19)
Gary Shimmel has submitted a letter from his engineer certifying that the additional plantings have been completed and the area has stabilized. Invoices for the plantings and seed mix were also submitted. The homeowner notified Pat Perry that the plantings have been completed and they were satisfied with the work.
Pat Perry conducted the site inspection on behalf of the Commission and found the area stabilized and in good condition. She took photos and showed the Commission. The Commission agreed to issue the Certificate of Compliance.
David Coppes made a motion to issue the Certificate Of Compliance for work satisfactorily completed at 277 Sudbury Road in compliance with Order of Conditions File No. 299-0514
Kathy Sferra seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
FY2013 Budget Proposal
Town Administrator instructed departments to add a 3% cost of living increase for all personnel and to include any step increases that were due. Department heads have also been instructed to level fund expenses again. Pat Perry has attached the pages of the budget that pertain to salaries, expenses and wetland & conservation fund totals for discussion by the Commission.
The Commission reviewed the budget proposed by Perry and all agreed all numbers were in line. The Commission noted that, for the third year in a row, they were not requesting money to be added to the Conservation Fund at town meeting. If money is spent during the course of FY2012, they may need to request money be added to that fund next year.
Lake Boon Drawdown
No discussion.
Deer Population/SVT Sponsored Weston Suburban Conservation Council
Ingeborg Hegemann Clark requested this topic be on the agenda for discussion. Weston Suburban Conservation Council is sponsored by SVT and meets with other Conservation Commissions and land trusts within the SuAsCo watershed every 2 months and discuss regional conservation issues and ways to address them. Weston is investigating the deer population in their town.
The Commission talked about controlling the deer population in Stow. The idea of bow hunting was raised. Several members were concerned about allowing hunting on Conservation Land. In the past, hunters have been sighted gutting deer along the trails. Pat Perry pointed out that the farms, apple orchards and golf courses in town are permitted to allow hunting including the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge, Sudbury State Forest and the Delaney area managed by the Fisheries and Wildlife. This might aid in culling the deer population. Sterility programs were briefly discussed.
The Commission thought surveying the golf courses, farms, orchards to verify if they encourage hunting would be a good idea. Hegemann Clark will stay informed of developments of the deer committee’s developments and the Commission will discuss this topic further at a future date.
Center School Construction Site
No action.
Kirkland Drive
Susan Crane, a resident at Kirkland Drive has requested that the Commission visit her property and identify whether an area in her back yard is, indeed, a vernal pool. Ingeborg Hegemann Clark will visit the site at her earliest convenience.
Tree house on Hudson Road
The Commission raised a concern regarding a tree house that has been built on Hudson Road. It appears that there is a wetland area under the tree house. There are deep ruts under the tree house that indicate heavy equipment was used directly in a wetland area.
The Commission suggested that Pat Perry write a letter to the owner explaining restrictions associated with wetlands on an owner’s property. The owner should be asked to fill the ruts in the wet area and to contact the Commission in the future before any type of work is done in a wetland area.
Adjournment
David Coppes made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 PM. Kathy Sferra seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
The Commission adjourned at 8:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia R. Perry
SCC Coordinator
Maureen Trunfio
SCC Secretary
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