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Home My WebLink About2023-03-22 Conservation Commission MinutesTown of Reading _ , 0 Meeting Minutes E 'di id CLEf3K MA. ld eoard - committee - commission - council: 21124 MAR 12 AM 10: l i Conservation Commission Date: 2023-03-22 Time: 07:08 PM Building: Location: Address: Session: Open Session Purpose: Zoom Virtual Meeting - Version: Final Conservation Commission Meeting Attendees: Members - Present: Martha Moore chair, John Sullivan, Andrew Dribin, Brian Bowe vice chair, Carl Saccone, Bill McCants, Tony Rodolakis (assoc) Members - Not Present: None Others Present: Chuck Tirone, Conservation Administrator, Greg Hochmuth Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Brian Bowe Topics of Discussion: Topics of Discussion: This meeting was held remotely via Zoom. Chair Martha Moore called the meeting to order at 7:07 pm. NOTE: Before the business of the meeting Mr. Tirone gave an update that the Reading Community Garden is looking for anyone interested in signing up for a garden bed. Sign up sheet can be found on Conservation Division webpage. Hearines Scheduled: 0 Small Lane Assessor's Mao 40 & 41 Lot 153,155 & 29 Dep File No. 270-0748 Motion to continue at applicant's request to April 26 by Mr. Bowe, seconded by Mr. Sullivan Vote 6-0 544 Summer Ave. DEP File # 270-0768 Assessor's Mai) 8 Lot 115 Mr. Hochmuth gave an overview of the project, in particular responding to questions raised by the commission in the previous meeting. Explains the permeable paver technology and the inclusion of an O&M plan. They have included a variance request for the patio. They are also going to remove a brick walkway out front and replace with more permeable pavers. Mr. Bowe asked about some debris in the stream bed and a pile of debris just off their property towards the back right. Mr. Bowe also asked about the stability of the stream back. There is one area in particular where the channel has undercut the bank. Mr. Hochmuth agreed the tree is in danger of falling and he said he would take a look to see what might be done. Mr. McCants asked for Page I 1 more information about the permeable pavers. Mr. Dribin asked about how far the fence has been moved in to accommodate the plantings. Mr. Hochmuth responded about 2 ft. Mr. Dribin likes that the space is better but would like to see more. He then asks about other alternative placement of the patio that could be considered. Mr. Hochmuth fielded that answer. Ms. Moore asks about access to the proposed patio. Mr. Hochmuth explained the intent of the addition and the associated deck. There are no stairs from that deck to the patio. Ms. Moore states that the Commission typically prefers a mulch sock rather than a silt fence. Mr. Hochmuth agrees. Ms. Moore also states she'd like to see something lie a coir log on the undercut portion of the stream bank. Mr. Tirone asks about animal passage with the fence. Answer is yes. Emphasizes points about the maintenance of the permeable paver patio. Motion to close hearing. Motion by Mr. Bowe. Seconded by Mr. Dribin. Vote 6-0. Motion to issue NOI for 544 Summer Ave by Mr. Bowe. Seconded by Mr. McCants. Vote: 6-0 36 Arthur b. Lord Dr. Assessor's Mao 33 Lot 92 RCC File No. 2023-07 Joe White, Civil Engr with BSC Group gives an overview of the proposed project. Project is to remove the play area material from behind the Y and replace it with artificial turf product, SYNLawn. Mr. White gave an explanation about the turf product based on some research he did in response to questions from Mr. Tirone. It has sand fill rather than rubber fill. The key point is that the sand does not track like the rubber infill does. Ms. Moore gives an update of the site visit by some of the commissioners. Ms. Moore asks about the containment of the fill inside the slight lip of the area. Mr. White says yes, especially in conjunction with the play area beyond. Mr McCants emphasizes there is a downward slope towards the wetlands so he is happy there will be a lip to contain fill. Mr. Dribin discloses he is a member of the Y but can be neutral. He asks what other surfaces were considered. Mr. White is not sure what else might have been explored. Ms. Moore asks if the springy surface that is already there would work. Mr. White says this material will help reduce the heat produced by an artificial surface. Mr. Bowe asks about the fence that is currently on site. Mr. White stated that it would be kept. Discussion of placement of fence relative to lip. Concern about exposed curbing might be a safety issue for kids. What does Mr. White know about the recycling of the material once it is done. Mr. White says it should last about 15 years but doesn't know beyond that. Mr. Sullivan asks about maintenance of the sand in fill. Mr. White says no he has not seen anything but will check into. Mr. Tirone states new surface is no better or worse environmentally than current. So a sideways move. He asks for an O&M plan. He also would like a link to the USDA website sent to us. White says there is a program for environmentally friendly products. Mr. Tirone makes sure Mr. White is aware the change to the parking lot would need to go before the planning board for approval. Ms. Moore asks about erosion control, stockpiling, etc. Mr. White states that since the driveway is one way and busy they will be removing material essentially right away, with frequent sweeping. Mr. Tirone asks Mr. White to check into whether or not they will load right into a truck for immediate removal. Also what is the sq. footage of work area. Motion to continue to Apr. 12� by Mr. Bowe, seconded by Mr. Saccone Vote 6-0 Old/New Business: 2023 Budget Discussion — Mr. Tirone gives current status. Budget this year is $5000. Current wish list is about $4700. On the list are two signs for Conservation Areas, 10 Custom town seal patches for ConsComm, 10 Hi Visibility vests, 3 "No Dumping" signs, 2 trail cameras to be posted in select areas. Motion to adopt this budget by Mr. Bowe, seconded by Mr. Sullivan Vote 6-0 Certificate of Compliance for 11 Pond view Ln. Mr. McCants points out that the homeowner was not present for our visit. Mr. Tirone that typically we don't adhere to hat in Reading. Email seems to work. But in this case, there will be another visit. Mr. McCants also discussed several items from the Order of Conditions. Primarily Page 1 2 that there was supposed to be regular maintenance of the retention basin. That is not what we saw. There is debris in the basin. Ms. Moore talks about the vegetation that we say. Mr. Bowe then asks about whose responsibility it is to clean up the debris. Mr. Tirone says it is the homeowner's responsibility. Mr. Tirone will check with Reading Engineering. Mr. Bowe talks about piles of cut brush, existing silt fence still present, a missing boundary on the south side. Mr. Dribin if this is now officially a wetland. Mr. McCants points out that under MA law a retention basin cannot later be declared a protected wetland. So if in the future if the basin needed major work it may need an NOI as determined by the RDA process. Ms. Moore states that the Conservation Restriction is being observed. Mr. Tirone will follow up with the attorney for the homeowner. Discussion Items a. Mr. Bowe makes a motion to accept the VMP for the MBTA, seconded by Mr. McCants Vote 5-0 (Mr Saccone has dropped) b. Mr. Tirone gives update on effort to get someone to handle the minutes for the Commission. c. Vote to authorize Mr. Tirone to enter into an agreement with Mass Audobon. We have an updated plan. d. Motion to authorize Mr. Tirone made by Mr. Bowe, seconded by Mr. Dribin Vote 5-0 e. Friends and Family Day June 10'e. Do we want a table and what would we have? We would get a table, canopy and electricity. We would be located with TFC. Trails, etc. People will check to see if they can attend and will get back to the Chair. Some ideas: wetland in a bottle, maybe a rolling slide deck, something about invasives, maybe a map of conservation land, CRs etc. f. Minutes to approve: - March 80 — Discussion of getting the draft to all members including new members. Motion by Mr. Bowe, seconded by Mr. Dribin Vote 5-0 - Jan 11" — Ms. Moore still working on this. May be mislabeled 2022. - Feb 22nd — Mr. Sullivan owns this one. g. Lot 5 work is being put out for bid. The easement from Meadowbrook is now available for us to review and approve. The easement will belong to Conservation Commission to help minimize the approval process. It will need to be signed by all members. Will try to steer foot traffic further from the golf course. h. Mr. Tirone gave a brief update on progress on Sommes-Maillet. Will start this summer and will take a year and a half. Motion to adjourn at 9:50 pm by Mr. Bowe, seconded by Mr. McCants, voted 5-0. Page 1 3