Stow Conservation Commission
Minutes
October 29, 2013
A meeting of the Stow Conservation Commission was held at the Stow Town Building, 380 Great Road, Stow, Massachusetts, on October 29, 2013 at 7:30 in the evening.
There were present: Ingeborg Hegemann Clark, Chair
David Coppes, Vice-Chair
Cortni Frecha
Serena Furman
Jeff Saunders
Andy Snow
Absent: Doug Morse
comprising a quorum of the Commission; also
Present: Kathy Sferra, Conservation Coordinator
Maureen Trunfio, SCC Secretary
The Conservation Commission meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM.
Execution of Derby Woods Deed
The Conservation Restriction to the Stow Conservation Trust (SCT) has been recorded and the Commission must now execute the deed accepting Open Space Parcels A and B (42.5 acres) at Derby Woods. The Commission voted on December 16, 2003 to accept the land. The Commission reviewed and signed the required paperwork. Linda Hathaway, Town Clerk, was present and served as Notary.
Approve Minutes
Cortni Frecha made a motion to approve the minutes of October 15, 2013 as drafted and amended. Andy Snow seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Conservation Coordinator’s Report
Kathy Sferra reported that at the previous night’s special meeting town, citizens voted to support Article 6: Transfer Control of Town Land. This allowed for mitigation required by EOEEA with regard to a potential water supply source at Heritage Lane and/or Deerfield Lane.
Sferra reminded the Commission that there would be a site visit at the Stow Fire Academy on Saturday, November 2, 2013. The Academy is seeking a COC.
Sferra invited anyone interested to join her for a site visit on Friday, November 1, 2013 at the Lancaster Town Forest. Tim Castner, a Science Teacher at Nashoba Regional High School, is directing a project that allows student to track long term patterns of forest inventory and growth.
Sferra reminded Serena Furman, Ingeborg Hegemann Clark and Maureen Trunfio that they must update their State Ethics Certification.
New Associate Member
Sferra introduced Sandra Grund, a new Associate member, to the Commission. Ms. Grund is an Independent Environmental Consultant.
Certificate of Compliance Request
(#299-0428 original OOC dated March 1, 2005 & #299-0428 amended OOC dated
December 18, 2007)
38 Adams Drive (R-7 #4)
John Anderson contacted the office requesting a Certificate of Compliance for the property located at 38 Adams Drive, site of the former Whitewater Water Supply facility.
Stamski and McNary provided an as-built plan of the property. Dave Coppes conducted the site inspection on behalf of the Commission and found the area in good condition but specified that two items had not been completed. The settling lagoons have not been built (as noted on the amended order) and generators were disconnected but had not been removed from the site (as noted on the original order).
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 38 Adams Drive in compliance with Order of Conditions File No. 299-0428.
Cortni Frecha seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Certificate of Compliance Request (#299-0511)
15 Bradley Lane (R-11 #4)
Nora Daigle of Dorner Law & Title Services contacted the office requesting a Certificate of Compliance for the property located at 15 Bradley Lane. Property owners Robyn & Keith Daniel will be selling their property on October 30, 2013.
Kathy Sferra conducted the site inspection on behalf of the Commission and found the area in stable condition. Sferra did mention that she found a large compost pile directly abutting the wetland at the rear of their property. The owners were notified that that they must move the pile backand they agreed.
The Commission agreed to issue the Certificate of Compliance.
Serena Furman made a motion to issue the Certificate Of Compliance for work satisfactorily completed at 15 Bradley Lane in compliance with Order of Conditions File No. 299-0511.
Jeff Saunders seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
109 Barton Road (U-2 #61)
Replacement Wall
Property owner, Bill Conley, was given permission by an RDA on April 2, 2013 to replace a failed retaining wall at the shore on his property on Barton Road. Serena Furman mentioned that Pat Perry had visited the site in March of 2013 and the project seemed straightforward and needed to be done. The plan showed that they would construct a concrete wall utilizing a footing with rebar. Plans showed that the wall would be 36 inches nearest the street and approximately 24 inches farthest from the street. The Commission agreed to allow the work as long as Conley would agree to install straw bales, agree that there will be no rinsing of wash water/sluice within 35 feet of the lake, agree to dispose of forms, and agree to notify the Commission 24 hours prior to the commencement of work.
Encroachment - Wedgewood Pines Country Club
At its October 1, 2013 meeting the Commission discussed encroachments onto Marble Hill conservation land by Wedgewood Pines Country Club. Kathy Sferra had conducted a site visit to the area, reported to the Commission and they supported her idea to send a letter to Wedgewood advising them that no further material should be deposited on the town’s side of the stone wall and documenting the tree clearing. The owner(s) were asked to follow up with the Commission by October 24th and they appeared in Sferra’s office on the evening of the current meeting. Joe Pitterino was present and said that it’s possible that some of the trees that fell were caused to do so by heavy snow fall. They discussed the clippings, logs, etc. that had been dumped over the wall. Pitterino apologized and said that they would clear the
area by the end of November. Sferra told him that the Commission may ask him to replant trees. Sferra said she would report to the Commission. Sferra told the Commission that she would like Bruce Trefry’s recommendation on the property. She thought it would be wise to request an estimate from Trefry on the cost of posting boundary markers around the area. The Commission could then charge Wedgewood for the cost of the boundary marker installations. The Commission agreed to this action.
Tree Discussion
57 Barton Road
Kathy Sferra received a telephone call from the prospective buyer of 57 Barton Road who wanted to understand what was transpiring regarding the tree cutting, etc. Sferra informed him that Michael Jenike, the current owner, had been notified of the problem and was in the process of rectifying the situation. She explained that the SCT holds a Conservation Restriction on the property, which was also violated, and is involved in the discussions with Jenike. She suggested that the caller contact the SCT.
Hemenway Farms
Sferra explained that Planning Board had a hearing last week at which Rich Harrington and Mark White were in attendance. The PB asked the Commission to discuss the desirability of a parking lot/future lot or spaces at the end of the cul-de-sac. The Commission agreed that there should be parking permitted for 1-2 cars in informal, unpaved spots, if needed and that should be shown on the plan
Captain Sargent Farm Livestock Proposal
The Commission discussed Lenny Rodriguez’s livestock proposal. The only concern regarding the proposed chickens was that the area and moveable chicken pen should have an appropriate density. Sferra suggested researching the number of chickens per square foot at Drumlin Farm.
The Commission reiterated the fact that Rodriguez could keep two cows on the property. The Commission thought that it was important that this was allowed on a one-year trial basis and that the Commission reserved the right to terminate the agreement if there were complaints or Board of Health problems. Serena Furman would like clarification whether the cows would be locked in their structures at night.
Rodriguez would be sent a letter drafted by Kathy Sferra stating that the Commission would conduct a site visit to inspect the animal enclosures once they have been constructed. The letter would state that Rodriguez must keep the property clean and that he would be responsible for caring for and securing the animals that would reside on the site. The letter would inform Rodriguez that no predators may be killed or trapped on conservation land. Sferra would inform him that signage would be posted on the site stating that the public would be welcome to walk the perimeter of the farm but should respect the farmer’s operation and not attempt contact with the animals.
Cortni Frecha made a motion to authorize Kathy Sferra to send a letter to Leonardo Rodriguez advising him of the conditions of the agreement to allow livestock on the farm land he leases at Tuttle Lane. Dave Coppes seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
The Commission briefly discussed Jesse Steadman’s Christmas Tree Farm proposal. They were concerned with the possible use of the chemical Safari and its link to bee deaths.
The Commission discussed issuing a Request for Proposal for the available five acres of farmland on Tuttle Lane. The RFP will be announced publicly in the Beacon Villager, The Stow Independent, the Town website, etc.
Work Session – Goals
Update Regulations
Sferra reported that the Commission had been working on revising the regulations and has found a draft version. She will put this item on a future agenda. She will send the draft to the Commission. Ingeborg Hegemann Clark and Cortni Frecha will lead the subcommittee.
Wetland Guide for Homeowners
Sferra suggested that the Commission draft a pamphlet to be given to new homeowners. DEP had developed a guide and many towns have adopted it. In some cases towns have added their own item to it. Maynard has a guide that realtors hand out to buyers.
CR Monitoring
Sferra has been compiling binder notebooks on each Conservation Property. She explained that most land trusts attempt to have baseline documentation reports on each property. The Commission has baseline documentation for some of their properties and Sferra suggested that they complete baseline documentation reports for every property. She reported that each project could cost between $2-3K if a professional is required. An RFP would need to be posted in that case.
Sferra suggested annual monitoring of CR’s. Boundaries would need to be checked, etc. Dave Coppes suggested dividing the number of CR’s up into manageable portions. At that point a cursory level inspection could be completed by Commissioners. If everything looks correct, it could be left until the following year and if not, perhaps, a more in-depth inspection could be completed. The Commission agreed that property owners should be invited to participate in the annual inspection.
Land Stewardship
Sferra mentioned that she thought It would be ideal to have boundaries posted on most conservation lands. She would also like the Commission to consider recruiting volunteers to act as stewards for properties. She suggested inviting Bruce Trefry to a meeting and getting his input on this topic.
Sferra mentioned the Headway Life Course on the Marble Hill Property. She will follow up with the Building Inspector and SCT. Sferra thought we should recruit volunteers for specific work days, etc. She spoke to Bill Wrigley regarding liability. He suggested that anyone who volunteers be appointed by the Commission as a volunteer.
Deer Population
Sferra will put the deer population item on a future agenda.
Invasive Species
Sferra said that she will put a link from the Commission website to the Garden in the Woods site that has good information regarding invasives. She thought some sort of educational pamphlet or program for residents would be helpful.
Appoint New Associate Commissioner-Sandra Grund
Dave Coppes made a motion to appoint Sandra Grund as an Associate Member to the Conservation Commission. Cortni Frecha seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Adjournment
Serena Furman made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10 PM. Cortni Frecha seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
The Commission adjourned at 10 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Maureen Trunfio
Stow Conservation Commission Secretary
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