Stow Conservation Commission
Minutes
March 4, 2014
A meeting of the Stow Conservation Commission was held at the Stow Town Building, 380 Great Road, Stow, Massachusetts, on March 4, 2014 at 7:30 in the evening.
There were present: David Coppes, Vice-Chair
Cortni Frecha
Serena Furman
Doug Morse
Jeff Saunders
Andy Snow
Sandra Grund, Associate Member
Absent: Ingeborg Hegemann Clark, Chair
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.
Approve Minutes
Cortni Frecha made a motion to approve the minutes of February 18, 2014 as drafted and amended. Andy Snow seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Certificate of Compliance Request (#299-0531)
55 Lantern Lane (R-4 #10)
Homeowner, Peter Millholland contacted the office requesting a Certificate of Compliance for his property and submitted site photos. Millholland built an addition to the home in 2011. The property abuts the Elizabeth Brook. The homeowners are presently requesting a Certificate of Compliance to enable re-financing paperwork to be filed. Andy Snow completed the site inspection on behalf of the Commission.
Millholland displayed recent photos of property in pre-snow conditions to the Commission showing re-establishment of lawn and vegetation. Andy Snow stated that due to the snow she could not say with certainty that the grass had been established, but that she did notice signs of grass along the edge of the house where some snow had melted. She also told the Commission that the lot was graded fairly flat and she assumed that there would not be a high likelihood of erosion.
The Commission agreed to issue a Certificate of Compliance based on site plans, photos submitted and the site inspection report.
Andy Snow made a motion to issue the Certificate Of Compliance for work satisfactorily completed at 55 Lantern Lane in compliance with Order of Conditions File No. 299-0531.
Cortni Frecha seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Ongoing Enforcement Issue
Quirk Property - Athens Lane off Hudson Road
The land owned by Robert Quirk is currently for sale. Kathy Sferra reported that this is the site of long-standing enforcement issues. She briefed the Commission on the site's history and provided them with a GIS map of the site as well as descriptions and photos of the five areas on site that required restoration. Sferra had sent a letter to Robert Quirk dated February 14, 2014 stating that the Commission intends to conduct a site visit and invited Quirk, or a representative, to joint the Commission for an upcoming site visit. Mr. Quirk is now deceased, but Sheri Lazaros, co-executor of the Quirk Estate, contacted the office and said that she may join the Commission. Sferra will ask the Quirk Estate to provide an as-built plan.
A site visit date of April 12, 2014 was agreed upon by the Commission. Sferra will let the Lazaros know and confirm the date with all parties involved.
Conservation Coordinator’s Report
Sferra mentioned that an article regarding the land stewardship work of the Commission will be printed in the March 6, 2014 edition of The Stow Independent.
Sferra congratulated Andy Snow on completing the eight units of Fundamentals for Conservation Commissioners offered through MACC.
Sferra reported that she had walked the site at Hemenway Farm with the contractor, Mark White discussing and approving the removal of specific trees.
Sferra mentioned that since the Commission cannot meet the first Tuesday in May due to Annual Town Meeting, she would like to request a meeting on the previous Tuesday, April 29, 2014. The Commission seemed to be agreeable to this idea. The goal will be to focus that meeting on land stewardship.
Town Administrator, Bill Wrigley, has spoken to Sferra regarding the possibility of building a new parking lot and boardwalk to serve as alternative access to the Pompo Soccer Field. The former Pompo Elementary School may be voted to become the site of a new fire station and Community Center. The Commission will discuss the possibility of a new parking lot at a later date if needed.
Work Session
Draft Amendments to Wetlands Protections Bylaw Regulations
Ingeborg Hegemann Clark, Andy Snow and Kathy Sferra have held two working sessions and have developed proposed revisions to several provisions for consideration by the full Commission. Completed sections include filing/consulting fees, exemptions/limited projects, wetland replication standards and vernal pools.
The Commission reviewed proposed changes to the sections on filing fees, consultant fees and limited projects/exemptions. They agreed with the recommendations presented. These will be incorporated into the draft regulations. The sections on replication and vernal pools will be on an upcoming agenda.
Adjournment
At 9 PM Cortni Frecha made a motion to go into Executive Session pursuant to MGL Chapter 30A, section 21(a)(6), and not to reconvene in open session, to discuss the purchase of real property. Serena Furman seconded the motion and it carried in a unanimous roll call vote of six members present, Mr. Coppes aye, Cortni Frecha aye, Serena Furman aye, Andy Snow aye, Jeff Saunders aye, and Doug Morse aye.
The Commission moved into Executive Session at 9:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Maureen Trunfio
Stow Conservation Commission Secretary
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