Town of Southwick, MA - Minutes March 03, 2008

Minutes of the Southwick Conservation Commission

7:00 PM -Chairman Chris Pratt called the meeting to order. Seated were Albert DeLoreto, Mehmet Mizanoglu, Richard Solek . Dennis Clark was also seated.

• Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) for Southwick Conservation Commission ; alternate location 75 Fred Jackson Rd.

• Invoice Annino Draper & Moore (Blue Sky) $857.50

• Invoice Annino, Draper & Moore Berkshire Ave. wetlands matter$980.00

• New England Wild Flower Society News Release Invasive Japanese Stiltgrass in Massachusetts

• Copy of CPC letter RE: Prifti Park

• Memo - Water Commissioners voted in favor of the Town of Southwick trying to obtain a grant for Map F Lot 141 and Map 91 (Lot 27)

• MA DCR Dam Registration Form for Congamond Lakes North Dike

• MA DEP Olde Farm Golf Club WMA permit #9P-1-04-279.02 5-Year Review

• Minutes- Board of Appeals, Community Preservation, Planning, Health, Historical, Water Commission

Request for Reimbursement

• J Cass for supplies purchased At Ocean State $9.49

R Solek made a motion to reimburse. 2nd= A DeLoreto All in Favor Motion Carried The Commissioners signed the form.

• J Cass for hand tool purchased @ Home Depot $14.97

R Solek made a motion to reimburse. 2nd= A DeLoreto All in Favor Motion Carried The Commissioners signed the form.

• B Bradley for plant conference @ U Conn 3-13-08 $80.00

R Solek made a motion to reimburse. 2nd= A DeLoreto All in Favor Motion Carried The Commissioners signed the form.

• John Stadnicki for Quarterly payment for Survey Monkey $59.85

R Solek made a motion to reimburse. 2nd= A DeLoreto All in Favor Motion Carried The Commissioners signed the form.

Review of Minutes - The requested change to the Minutes of 1-7-2008 was reviewed. R Solek made a motion to approve the Minutes of 1-7-08. 2nd M Mizanoglu All in Favor Motion Carried.

The Minutes of February 4, 2008 were reviewed. A DeLoreto made a motion to approve the Minutes of 2-4-08. 2nd R Solek All in Favor Motion Carried.

2007 Annual report - The decision was made to include the 2007 Green & Clean report.

75, 77, 79 Mort Vining (Blue Sky Builders)- Mr. Clark advised the SCC that SVE Asso. of Greenfield MA brought to the Commission office a revised plan to reconstruct the headwalls at the stream crossings on this driveway. SVE will discuss the proposal with the DEP. The plan calls for interlocking bricks.

253 Hillside Rd.: The Commission reviewed the ANR Plan for wetland issues. The Planning Board has requested a reply to the proposal by 3-4-08. The SCC had no comment at this time.

264 So. Longyard Rd.- The Commission reviewed the Special Permit application for this lot. The applicant has already filed with the SCC and has received his Order of Conditions.

Honey Pot Rd. - The SCC reviewed the Hearing Notice. The Commission had no comment at this point.

So. Loomis St./John Mason Rd.- Application by ABU development was reviewed. Wetland issues were discussed. The Hearing is to be March 25, 2008. Al DeLoreto agreed to look into this matter.

Williamsburg Estates - Review of consultants. Copies of the List of Consultants who frequently work with Southwick Conservation Commission were distributed to the commissioners. It was explained that this firm would do a "Peer Review" of the proposed definitive sub-division off Hickory Lane. R Solek stated he respects Tighe & Bond. D Clark agreed with the quality of their work. Rick Solek made a motion to retain the services of Tighe & Bond . 2nd A DeLoreto All in Favor Motion Carried.

The letter from D L Beans states that Mason Maronn will be the Wetland Consultant for this project and includes a list of his qualifications for the restoration. Mr. Solek stated that he would like to see Tighe & Bond oversee the restoration work for this project. Mr. Clark asked if the SCC is going to accept Mason Maronn for the project or do they wish to retain the services of someone else? Mr. Solek stated that he would like to see a list of about 5 people to pick from and the list will include Mason Maronn and the decision will be made on March 17, 2008. Mr. Solek and Mr. Mizanoglu both stated that they have walked the area of a swale and it goes on for a long distance and does not show accurately on any plan. Mr. Solek made a motion that he would like to see a list of 3 to 5 people to do the replication areas included on the plan. 2nd = A DeLoreto All in Favor Motion Carried

A letter from the SCC to D L Bean dated February 26, 2008 was reviewed. This letter responded to the comments provided in written from by DL Bean regarding concerns remaining unsolved for this proposed sub-division. Copies of a Plan received from D L Bean 2-5-08 (Revised 2-6-08) depicting Adjacent Wetlands and House Development Limits were passed out to the SCC. #3 in this letter pertains to the monitoring schedule submitted in the NOI and that it is not detailed enough. #4in the letter of the 26th concerns the Isolated Wetlands. The letter from D Hall mentions this wetland area is connected hydraulically to Kellogg Brook Wetlands. D L Bean was given permission to enter this property, and also access to existing wetland maps of the area. #8 The Operations and Maintenance Plan is missing. The SCC requested a copy of the NPDES plan.

#9The Open Space/ change to Natural Area needs to be on the plan. The Conservation Restriction paper work has not bee submitted. MEPA review is still not settled. R Solek inquired if the Order of Conditions for this project can state where the equipment is to be left at night. Dennis replied yes that it could but that it is better if they put it in the detailed monitoring schedule.

Buoy Purchase - R. Solek displayed the invoice for the buoys that were placed in North Pond last summer to protect the sensitive area there. Mr. Clark stated that the SCC has to justify that we are not singling anyone out out.

Lake Treatment Wetland Consultant - Mr. Clark stated that for the past several years Ray Levesque has been the consultant for the lake treatment. Unfortunately Rob Levesque does not have the back ground for this. Karo Frost did the original studies it would serve two purposes; #1 it would get the monitoring back on schedule; #2 she actually did a transit in the course of job.

She can GPS it and go back to the very same spot on the Lakes in North Pond and in front of 192 Berkshire and tell us what remains and what is gone. R Solek made a motion for Ms. Frost to receive a written proposal from the SCC to resume monitoring the Lake treatments. 2nd= A DeLoreto All in Favor Motion Carried The Town and CRC pay for this work.

Letter to Police Chief- Mr. Clark stated he will contact the Harbormaster for permission to place the second set of buoys in the sensitive area on Middle Pond if authorized to do so.

Green & Clean- Mr. DeLoreto stated May 3rd has been established as the date for the clean-up. Mr. DeLoreto stated he will begin the Press Release and request funding from local businesses. Mr. Clark stated that Mr. Neece has said the DPW will participate this year also. He requested the SCC attend a Selectmen's meeting and get their support for the project. Mr. DeLoreto stated he would set time aside to attend the Selectmen's meeting. He suggested we start a list of the worse areas in town; especially large items. Mr. Mizanoglu reminded the SCC of all the trash that is located on our Goose Pond property. Items, like cars, doors, tires, refrigerator, water heater. etc.

Rail Trail - Mr. Clark stated the project has begun. Dig Safe was there today.

Meeting with DEP - At this meeting tree removal near the Lakes was discussed. The DEP stated that any tree removal within 100-feet from the Lake must file an RDA. K Granfield was advised of that today.

Fuel Oil Spill, Calabrese Farm, Feeding Hills Road - Mr Clark reported that there has just been a 40/50 gallon fuel oil spill reported.

8:05 PM Commissioner Solek made a motion to adjourn until the next regularly scheduled meeting. 2nd= M Mizanoglu All in Favor Motion Carried.

Submitted by Jean Cass