Conservation Commission Meeting Minutes

OPENING: The regular scheduled meeting of the Conservation Commission opened at 7:00 p.m.  Attendance is as follows:

 

7:00    Christopher Pratt, Chairman, opened the meeting.

        

Commissioner Mizanoglu made a motion to accept the minutes of 12/05/16.  Commissioner Drenen seconded the motion.  None opposed, motion passed unanimously.

7:15 NOI 6 Two States Avenue  

Mr. Jon Goddard, R. Levesque Associates

Mr. Ron Hess, Owner

Chairman Pratt opened the public hearing by reading the notice as posted in the Westfield Evening News.  Commissioner Pranka noted that he did a septic system inspection at this location as a matter of disclosure.

Mr. Goddard explained that the original dwelling burned down.  There will be a new foundation, but the dwelling will be replaced in the original foot print.  Grading will be created to keep the water away from the dwelling, a retaining wall will be installed, and double hay bails will be used for retention.  The plans have three trees that will be removed, one within the 50 foot buffer zone that is leaning toward the lake.  The Conservation Commission members will do a site visit on February 11^th at 10:00 a.m.

 Commissioner Kellogg made a motion to close the public hearing at 7:30 p.m.  Commissioner Drenen seconded the motion.  None opposed, motion passed unanimously.  

Chairman Pratt made a motion to approve the plan excluding removal of the pine tree within the 50 foot buffer zone.  Mr. Hess will need to submit an amended plan at a future meeting to include the tree removal.  Commissioner Kellogg seconded the motion.  None opposed, motion passed unanimously.  

  

7:30 NOI 25 Industrial Road

Mr. Jon Goddard, R. Levesque Associates

Mr. John Dziengelewski

Mr. Dziengelewski proposed the construction of a building for storage, maintenance, and an office relative to construction work.  The building will be within 50 to 100 feet if the buffer zone.  The rear of the building will be toward Great Brook with all the activity taking place in the front of the building to eliminate disruption to the brook.   Coordinator Clark noted that DEP did make comments concerning the high water table which could be attributed to the beaver activity.  Once the dam is breached, the water table should return to its habitual course.  Mr. Goddard requested that the Conservation Commissioners close out the Order of Conditions from 2005 on this property.

The hearing will be continued until March 6th, 2017.   

107 South Loomis Street   Mr. Jon Goddard, R. Levesque Associates, requested an extension of the conditions of the Enforcement Order.  The Order of Conditions stated that the property owner was to submit a draft written document prepared by a consultant by February 6, 2017.  Mr. Goddard had recently contracted to prepare the documentation.  Chairman Pratt made a motion to grant the extension until March 20, 2017.   Commissioner Kellogg seconded the motion.   None opposed, motion passed unanimously.

5 Kline Road DEP# 292-336  Coordinator Clark presented a status report of photos showing the progress on the dwelling construction.

 

27 Eagle Street DEP# 292-335  Coordinator Clark presented a revised plan showing changes in the retaining wall and railing.

North Pond Land Grant  Coordinator Clark presented a map showing three delineations of the land area.  The Conservation Commission members agreed on the segment noted as #3 which would include areas with vernal pools and walking trails.  Coordinator Clark and Chairman Pratt will attend the Select Board’s meeting on February 7^th for the project.

MACC Annual Environmental Conference  Chairman Pratt, Commissioner Mizanoglu, Commissioner Soleimani, Commissioner MacWilliams and Coordinator Clark will attend.  The conference will be held on March 4th at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester.

107 Point Grove Road DEP# 292-337  

Mr. Kerry Granfield

Mr. Granfield attended the meeting to relate an issue with the Order of Conditions concerning the removal of two trees.  The property owner was to mark the trees to be removed with green tape.  Mr. Granfield did remove the two trees marked, one was a chestnut very near the dwelling which was rotting, and the other on the boundary line of the neighboring property.   The plans submitted to the Conservation Commission did not include the tree near the dwelling.  The two trees on the Order of Conditions are outside of the 100 foot buffer zone.  Chairman Pratt made a motion to amend the Order of Conditions to include the tree near the dwelling that has already been removed.  Mr. Granfield will return to the property to remove the second tree on the original Order of Conditions.  Commissioner Drenen seconded the motion.  None opposed, motion passed unanimously.  

Mr. Stanley Brzoska

Mr. Brzoska attended the meeting to discuss irrigation to his fields.  Due to the extremely dry summer of 2016, Mr. Brzoska lost most of his corn crop.  Mr. Brzoska wants to create a parking area of approximately 10 X 12 feet for a tractor with a pump in Great Brook to irrigate the pumpkin patch and the corn crop.  The Conservation Commission will require site stabilization for the wetland area that may be disturbed.  Mr. Brzoska is working with the Agricultural Commission and the HRCS on alternative plans for irrigation.  The Conservation Commission members will do a site review of the area in the spring.

Canal Brook Beaver Dam  Coordinator Clark stated that there is an active Order of Conditions for this ongoing problem.  A proposal is for a hydro rake to remove the dam and place the debris on the banks of Canal Brook as that is where the material originated.  A beaver deceiver installation would not be a viable option for this site.

Goals & Objectives  Coordinator Clark composed a new listing of the goals and objectives for the Conservation Commission and updated the status of previously accomplished or completed items.    

 

Respectfully submitted

____________________________    

Jean Nilsson, Secretary