Minutes of the Southwick Conservation Commission
March 17, 2008
7:00 PM - Chairman Chris Pratt called the meeting to order. Seated were Seth Kellogg, Vice Chair, Albert DeLoreto, Mike Krawiec, Mehmet Mizanoglu, Richard Solek. Dennis Clark was also seated.
Review of Mail
• Minutes, Lake Management, Community Preservation, Historical Commission, Water Commission, Selectmen
Requests for Reimbursement
• J Cass for supplies purchased at Staples $10.49
R Solek made a motion to reimburse. 2nd= A DeLoreto All in Favor Motion Carried The Commissioners signed the form.
• Bettye Bradley for mileage to Uconn $48.98
R Solek made a motion to reimburse. 2nd= A DeLoreto All in Favor Motion Carried The Commissioners signed the form.
• D Clark for printer stand purchased @ Staples
R Solek made a motion to reimburse. 2nd= A DeLoreto All in Favor Motion Carried The Commissioners signed the form.
Review of Minutes
A change on Page 2 of 3/3/08 Minutes was requested by the Chairman.
D Clark report
• A letter to Chief Krynicki RE: Buoys in Congamond Lakes was reviewed by the Commission. The Chair signed the letter for the Commission
• A letter to SVE Asso. regarding the proposed design of the headwalls @ 75,77,79 Mort Vining was reviewed by the Commission. The Southwick DPW said the headwall shown in the plans will be sufficient to bear the loads needed to service the residents on the far side of the headwalls with Town vehicles.
• A letter to Karo Frost of New England Environmental requesting as estimate for the vegetative monitoring report for Congamond Lakes was reviewed by the Commission. The Chair signed the letter for the Commission.
• A letter to Senator Knapik regarding support for the Environmental Bond Bill was reviewed by the Commission. The Chair signed the letter for the Commission.
• A letter to DL Bean, Inc. requesting additional information needed for Williamsburg Estates was reviewed by the Commission. The Chair signed the letter for the Commission.
• Mr. Clark discussed with the SCC the need to purchase a digital camera. Last year the SCC purchased a camera that Mr. Solek carries for site visits. The original camera uses 3 ? " floppys" and is becoming obsolete. The Open Space Committee also needs a camera, especially for vernal pool certifying. The SCC agreed that it would be an acceptable purchase.
• The recent session with the MA DEP included tree removal around the Lake. The DEP stated all tree removal within 100 feet from the Lake has to be included on a plan submitted with the RDA.
• Planning Board Requests for Review
Sunnyside Rd. - Mr. Clark stated he has worked for 5 Years with Mr. Bannish to obtain an APR with no favorable result.
Industrial Rd. - Mr. Clark stated there is a valid Order of Conditions for this property. Under this Order the 200 feet along the Brook will be restored and enhanced.
Certificate of Compliance P Howe 414 College Highway Dep File #292-027
This Order of Conditions for the covered bridge and the water lines was issued November 13, 1985. There were no On-going Conditions. The project is complete. R Solek made a motion to issue the Certificate of Compliance for this project. 2nd= A DeLoreto All in Favor Motion Carried. The Commissioners signed the Certificate.
7:15 PM RDA 194 Berkshire Ave. Zayle Carter
To install a 5-foot high black chain link fence from Berkshire Ave. easterly approx. 300 feet, thence northerly 80-feet;thence westerly 200-feet with a 4 inch gap at the bottom of the fence all around. - Hearing Notice was read by the Chairman- Zayle and Debra Carter appeared before the Commission to present the plan to install the fence. Mr. Carter stated the fence will be one-foot inside his property line and will be set back one-foot from the shore. The fence will be professionally installed. There will be no gasoline engines near the shore. Mr. Clark stated that the SCC accompanied by their attorney met recently with the MA DEP, Dwight Street office, accompanied by their attorney. This subject was discussed. The DEP had no problem with the fence as long as a 4" space beneath the fenceing
material was left for the critters to have access and egress. M Krawiec made a motion to find the project "Negative" 2nd= Al DeLoreto All in Favor Motion Carried. The Commissioners signed the Determination. Mr. Clark advised the applicant of the need to wait 10-business days after he has received his copy of the permit before commencing work. The work start date will be on a slip of paper attached to the decision. The MA D E P has a 10-day period of time to review the decision and appeal if warranted.
Informal - R L Asso Land for Beach St.
The Wetland Representative for the project appeared before the SCC to present the plan for Donald Acus and Debra A Thompson. This South Pond ranch home has access to the water. The existing retaining wall is made of old tires. The property is located south of the New Town Beach. A wetland exists across the street from this parcel also. The bank to the Lake is the resource area for the Pond. The plan at present shows the 50 foot and 100 foot wetland buffer. Photographs of the neglected property were exhibited. The applicants would like to clean it up first. Then they would like to renovate the home. There are obvious constraints both North and South on this property. They will like need a variance from the ZBA prior to the renovation. A cantilever 2nd-story
will be added. The existing home is approximately 45-feet from the bank to the Pond. The plan includes the installation of terraces down to the Lake level. The area is part of the flood plain. The stairs will be coarse pavers. To complete the stairs to the water a tree needs to come down. A thirty inch oak down by the water will need to be removed so they will do a replacement planting there. A patio will be included. Invasive species exist along the edge of the parcel. They will be removed and the area replanted. It is felt that down near the water a patio is better than lawn which would mean the use of gasoline and fertilizer. Mr. Clark explained to the SCC they intend to file a Notice of Intent for this project but wanted the Commission to preview the plan first. It is anticipated Anvil Rock will be the contractor for this project. Mr. Solek suggested roof drains infiltrated into the ground should
be incorporated into the plan.
7:45 PM Cont'd Williamsburg Estates DEP File #292-0274
The Chair announced that the SCC office received a request for continuance from the Wetland Representative, C M Maronn, to continue the Hearing until April 7 @ 7:31 PM
The SCC reviewed the proposed ABU sub-division which could connect So. Loomis St. to John Mason Rd.
Other Business
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.
Channel 15 - Mr. Solek discussed with the SCC the placing of a notice on Channel 15 for property owners and contractors to check their silt fences, swales and storm water flowing onto street, etc. The SCC agreed it is a timely subject and should be done.
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 background 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.
Green & Clean- Mr. DeLoreto suggested the Commissioners make a mental note as they drive around town looking for areas in serious need of cleaning. He has personally noted Tannery Road is seriously littered.
Fuel Oil Spill, Calabrese Farm, Feeding Hills Road - Mr Clark reported that when he arrived at the Farm the night of March 4 the dikes and dams were in place and the spill appeared to be contained. The next morning he was called back to the site as the dikes and dams breached overnight and the oil spilled into the brook that also flows by our well fields. It will now be a lot of work to clean-up this site. Mr. Clark advised the SCC that he visited the site on March 4, 2008 and subsequently issued an Emergency Certification Form which will expire 4-4-08.
7:55 PM Commissioner DeLoreto made a motion to adjourn until the next regularly scheduled meeting. 2nd= M Kraciec All in Favor Motion Carried.
Submitted by Jean Cass
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