Public Meeting Conservation Commission

Minutes

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07102020.pdf

Meeting date:

Friday, July 10, 2020

Bolton Conservation Commission

Meeting Minutes

Date:	Tuesday, July 7^th 2020 no quorum – rescheduled to Friday, July 10^th 2020
Time/Location	5:45 p.m. Zoom (remote participation)
Commissioners Present:	Chair Brian Berube, Kip McNamara, Jeffrey Bryan, William Payne, Lori Stephenson, Kip McNamara, Emily Winner (Conservation Administrator, Rebecca Longvall)
Guests:	Curt Plante, Betsy-Taylor Kennedy
Next Meeting:	Tuesday, July 28^th 2020 7:00pm, Zoom Remote Participation

Agenda Items

	Agenda Item	Action
1.	Request for Determination - 269 Harvard Road – proposed demolition and rebuilding of existing barn structure Curt Plante present to represent applicant. Curt provided a summary of the proposed project: demolish the existing single-story structure and install a 48x48 pole barn with a concrete slab foundation. The Commission inquired about the footings and depth of the new structure. The existing depth is about 4’. The Commission discussed the following conditions: Stockpiling of any and all material shall be outside of resource areas and >75’ from rear of single-family home. Erosion controls shall be placed along the top of slope between work area and adjacent driveway easement. Machinery shall be kept outside of resource areas and >75’ from rear of single-family home. Roll Call Vote on motion: BB, WP, KM, JB EW, LS unanimous, YAY Roll Call Vote on motion: BB, WP, KM, JB EW, LS unanimous, YAY	Chair Brian made a motion to close the public hearing for 269 Harvard Road regarding the request for determination of applicability. Emily 2^nd all unanimously agree. Chair Brian made a motion to issue a negative three determination with the conditions as discussed for the proposed demolition and rebuilding of the existing barn structure located at 269 Harvard road. Lori seconded; All unanimously agree.
2.	After the Fact – Notice of Intent – 175 Fox Run filed by Hancock Associates The commission accepted the revised plans dated July 2^nd 2020 for the restoration work proposed at 175 Fox Run addressing items required through the Enforcement Order. Roll Call Vote on motion: BB, WP, KM, JB EW, LS unanimous, YAY Roll Call Vote on motion: BB, WP, KM, JB EW, LS unanimous, YAY	Chair Brian made a motion to close the public hearing for 175 Fox run road after the fact notice of intent. Jeff seconded; All unanimously agree. Chair Brian made a motion to accept the revised plans dated July 2^nd 2020 for 175 Fox run road restoration plan and after the fact notice of intent. Jeff seconded; All unanimously agree.
3.	Minutes – Chair Brian made a motion to approve the minutes from the public hearing dated 06/02/2020 and Jeff seconded; all unanimously approve. Roll Call Vote on motion: BB, WP, KM, JB EW, LS unanimous, YAY
4.	Volunteer Land Steward Position – position open, accepting applications
5.	Taggart Updates – Commission members inquired about working with various land trusts including Sudbury Valley Trustees to place a Conservation Restriction on the property. The Conservation Administrator clarified that at this time the Board of Selectman were not entertaining working with SVT to hold a CR on the land, but never established being against placing a CR on the parcel. The Commission established that they would like to revisit this with the Board of Selectmen. The Conservation Administrator proposed the commission vote on the following: Acquire land utilizing the approved methods through the town meeting including grant funding. Authorize use of the Conservation Fund for the purposes of acquiring the Taggart Parcel and any associated outstanding due diligence items. To support the application of the LAND and MAPC grants for funding to acquire the Taggart parcel. The commission was comfortable with these suggestions. Roll Call Vote on motion 1: BB, WP, KM, JB EW, LS unanimous, YAY Roll Call Vote on motion 2: BB, WP, KM, JB EW, LS unanimous, YAY Roll Call Vote on motion 3: BB, WP, KM, JB EW, LS unanimous, YAY	Chair Brian made a motion to Vote to acquire land utilizing the approved methods through the town meeting including grant funding. William seconded; all unanimously approve. Vote to utilize the conservation fund for the purposes of acquiring the Taggart Parcel and outstanding due diligence items. Emily seconded; all unanimously approve. Vote to support the application for the LAND and MAPC grants for funding to acquire the Taggart Parcel. Jeff seconded, all unanimously approve.
6.	Conservation Management and Maintenance Items: Chair Brian made a motion to transfer the line item conservation fund balance in the amount of $100.00 to the Conservation Fund. Jeff seconded; all unanimously agree. Roll Call Vote on motion: BB, WP, KM, JB EW, LS unanimous, YAY
7.	Mail – internship opportunity letter of interest from resident The commission is comfortable offering another volunteer intern opportunity so long as the conservation administrator felt they had the time to take on another intern. Additionally, the commission requested the conservation administrator send the cover letter and resume.
8.	Conservation Management and Maintenance Items Continued: The Conservation Commission discussed excluding the conservation managed and maintained properties that are established through the deed language as such, from the CMMCP spraying treatment. The Conservation Administrator noted that some properties that border the roadway may already be excluded by CMMCP’s 100’ setback from fish baring waters. Some properties directly restrict pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers including some fields. However the question was should the town exclude the conservation properties. Betsy Taylor Kennedy of Wattaquadock hill Road was present to share thoughts and information related to being in support of not spraying conservation land. The Chair made a motion to vote to exclude the conservation properties as discussed from the CMMCP spraying treatment until further notice. Jeff seconded, all unanimously approved. Roll Call Vote on motion: BB, WP, KM, JB EW, LS unanimous, YAY
9.	Conservation Management and Maintenance Items Continued: Story Walk has been installed at Fyfeshire Dam Conservation Area “The Woods” by Paul Hoppe Invasive Species Management Plan is continuing slow progress by our intern and Conservation Administrator working to remove the species throughout parts of Fyfeshire Dam Conservation Area and Bowers Springs Announcement and discussion of how the Level 2 Drought affect filings with the Conservation Commission. Specifically referencing guidance from the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions, Secretary Theoharides, and DEP. “For these NOIs and ANRADs, the observations that rivers have stopped flowing (made on May 1, 2020 and after) may not be used to prove a perennial river is an intermittent stream (with no riverfront area) since drought conditions exist.” The Conservation Agent will be working with the Town Administrator to create policies and procedures to get our much-appreciated volunteers back on our properties. These policies will be posted to the town website under the conservation page and shared with all volunteers. Policy’s may include; face covering (mouth and nose) to be worn working on properties at all times, pre-registration, providing acknowledgement of reviewing CDC guidelines and participating in the UNH extension volunteer safety training.
10.	Chair Brian made a motion to close the public meeting of the Conservation Commission July 28^th2020. Jeff; all unanimously approve. Roll Call Vote on motion: BB, EW, WP, KM, JB, LS unanimous, YAY