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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-07-24 Conservation Commission Minutes• OFR� O �i I� Town of Reading ;. Meeting Minutes P a'aJi'IMCOPo�P Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Conservation Commission Date: 2024-07-24 Building: Reading Town Hall Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: Hybrid Meeting - Conservation Commission Meeting Attendees: Members - Present: RECEIVED TOWN CLERK READING, NIA. i 2125 MAR 20 PM 4: 20 Time: 07:00 PM Location: Select Board Meeting Room Session: Open Session Version: Final Brian Bowe, chair, Martha Moore, vice chair, Bill McCants (remote), Tony Rodolakis, Walter Talbot (remote), Craig Catalfamo, Chirag Sthalekar Members - Not Present: none Others Present: Chuck Tirone, Conservation Administrator, Mike Kessman, Richard Kaminski, Jeffrey Sarre, Jennifer Sarre, Maureen Harald Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Martha Moore Topics of Discussion: This meeting was held in person and remotely via Zoom. Chair Brian Bowe called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm. Public Hearings 1. Wood End Cemetery (Off Franklin Street) Open the Public Hearing on a Notice of Intent, filed by Assistant DPW Director, Michael Kessman, Pursuant to Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 131, Section 40-the Wetlands Protection Act and/or the Reading Wetland protection By-law, Section 7.1, The applicant is proposing general maintenance activity to chemically remove knotweed using glyphosate with a cut and drip method at Wood End Cemetery. All of the work is within the Buffer Zone to Bordering Vegetated Wetland. The application and plans can be viewed during regular business hours at the Town Hall Conservation Office, 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 01867, and on the Conservation Division page under the project by year, Assessor's Map 52 Lot 77, 78 Document shared: Notice of Intent Mike Kessman, Assistant DPW Director, presented the project. The knotweed in the stone wall is expanding into the new grave area. Proposed treatment this fall as advised by Essex Horticultural, using the cut and drip method. Waiter Talbot expressed concern about proper supervision of people employing RounclUp. Page I I Tony Rodolakis clarified that the wetland is quite a ways beyond the treatment area and asked if there will be multiple visits. Mike Kessman said that they would go back, Chuck Tirone clarified that this NOI was for one treatment and they will need to re -apply for further treatments. Tony Rodolakis suggested that they remove the Tree of Heaven next to the Knotweed patch. Martha Moore warned that just cutting the tree will lead to many suckers sprouting from the roots. Tony Rodolakis asked what would be planted where the Knotweed is growing, Mike Kessman replied grass. Mike Kessman suggested that he ask Essex about how to deal with the Tree of Heaven. Chuck Tirone asked if this is phase one of invasives removal, will they come back later to deal with the Tree of Heaven, maybe combine it with the Charles Lawn permit. Bill McCants went out on Sunday, he shares the concern about needing repeat treatment. Chuck said that the NOI could be renewed for 3 years to cover future treatments. Martha Moore went out today and also saw buckthorn and bittersweet in the same area. Chuck said that we couldn't condition treating them because we don't know what method they would use. Conclusion was to have DPW staff do mechanical removal of the buckthorn and bittersweet. Brian Bowe said that this makes it even more important to replant something in that area. Chuck Tirone said that this is a pilot program and future applications would include control of all invasives in an area. Martha Moore also noted that Essex Horticultural should be presenting this project, not the DPW. She asked about overspray of chemicals, and timing of the project. There is no write up from an environmental scientist beyond the Scope of Work submitted. She asked who will monitor the treatment, will all the workers be licensed applicators? Mike Kessman replied that there will be an Environmental Scientist on site and all staff are licensed. She noted that this NOI did not include a survey of the property and the wetlands were not delineated. Tony Rodolakis noted that there is no on4he-ground wetland delineation, this one is based on an aerial map. Chuck Tirone said that there is a list of requirements for an NOI and he likes to have plans to show where the proposed work is so he can compare to where they went after the fact. Brian Bowe requested a data sheet for the chemical that will be used to put into the record. Martha Moore moved to close. Tony Rodolakis seconded. Approved by roll call vote 7-0-0. Brian Bowe, YES, Martha Moore, YES, Bill McCants YES Tony Rodolakis, YES, Walter Talbot YES, Craig Catalfamo, YES Chirag Sthalekar, YES Conditions: Allow applications each year in August or September. Only treat the knotweed. Provide scope and date for each treatment. Loam and seed the area. Monitor the area for future invasives. Other invasives will be dealt with in a separate application. Martha Moore moved to approve the NOI. Tony Rodolakis seconded. Approved by roll call vote 7-0-0. Brian Bowe, YES, Martha Moore, YES, Bill McCants YES Tony Rodolakis, YES, Walter Talbot YES, Craig Catalfamo, YES Chirag Sthalekar, YES Pause in the meeting to check availability of Maureen Harald. Martha Moore noted that when she did the site visit to Wood End she found the laminated notice of the new rules for Bare Meadow turned backwards and turned it so it was visible. Chuck Tirone said that it will be not as effective if people don't know about it. 2. 167 Belmont Street Continue the Public Hearing on a Request for Determination of Applicability filed by Jeffrey Sarre under the Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act, M.G.L. Chapter 131, § 40 and/or the Reading Wetland Protection By-law, Section 7.1, The applicant proposes to repair and structural upgrade of an existing rear family room. The upgrade consists of bringing the Page 1 2 addition up to current building code to include repair of damage caused by carpenter ants. 4 hand dug footings will be installed and the spoils will be used outside of the jurisdictional area. Additionally, the project will remove a small 6' x 6' exterior deck and replace it with a 17' 6" x 10' deck with 4 hand dug concrete footings. The existing stairs will remain. The application and plans can be viewed during regular business hours at the Town Hall Conservation Office, 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 01867, and on the Conservation Division page under project by year. Assessor's Map: 7 Lot: 15 File No. 2024-3 Martha Moore moved to continue until later in the meeting. Tony Rodolakis seconded. Approved by roll call vote 7-0-0. Brian Bowe, YES, Martha Moore, YES, Bill McCants YES Tony Rodolakis, YES, Walter Talbot YES, Craig Catalfamo, YES Chirag Sthalekar, YES 3. 0 Cedar Swamp (North Cedar Swamp) Continue the Public Hearing on a Notice of Intent, filed by Andrew Cole, New England power Group Company (NEP), Pursuant to Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 131, Section 40-the Wetlands Protection Act and/or the Reading Wetland protection By-law, Section 7.1, The applicant is proposing general maintenance activity and improvements along the 3391349 transmission line. The activity will include the replacement and relocation of one of the caisson -supported structures, and tree removal within the BVW. All of the work is within the Buffer Zone to Bordering Vegetated Wetland and Wetland Resource Area. The application and plans can be viewed during regular business hours at the Town Hall Conservation Office, 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 01867, and on the Conservation Division page under the project by year, Assessor's Map 54 Lot 1 Dep File No. 270-0785 At the applicant's request Tony Rodolakis moved to continue to August 14 Chirag Sthalekar seconded. Approved by roll call vote 7-0-0. Brian Bowe, YES, Martha Moore, YES, Bill McCants YES Tony Rodolakis, YES, Walter Talbot YES, Craig Catalfamo, YES Chirag Sthalekar, YES Old/New Business 4. Violation Notices, yard waste and encroachment on Conservation Land, Follow-ups 51 Cross Street,126 Hanscom Ave, 22, 8, Oakridge Road, 38, 34 Bond, 445 Pearl Street, 1110 Main Street, 28 Willow Street Chuck Tirone described a new violation at 28 Willow Street visible from Maillett Sommes Morgan. A lot of clean up was done in a wetland area with a pile of brush left there. Chuck Tirone sent a notice of non-compliance to the owners. He got a call from one of the owners and educate them. They will remove the pile of brush and will file for permission to install a boardwalk. He recommended no further action is needed. 445 Pearl Street. The owner altered a stream which eroded the far bank. He appeared to be trying to put in more land to park a second car. An enforcement order was written. A plan to stabilize the stream bank was approved but no progress has been made since Jack Rivers went into the hospital over a year ago. Martha Moore stated that she would like to see the stream bank stabilized promptly. Brian Bowe has knocked on the door frequently, but the work has not been started. Martha Moore asked how we can initiate a daily fine. Brian Bowe suggested that we should notify the owner of a date certain to start the work before starting the fine. Chuck Tirone said that we should invite the owner to the next meeting. Bill McCants agreed that we need to give notice and invite them to a meeting. Tony Rodolakis asked if they need to submit a Notice of Intent. Martha Moore said that they already have an approved plan. Chuck Tirone said it is more powerful if we leave it as an enforcement order, they last forever, do not need to be extended. At the end we would need to release them from the enforcement order with a vote. Craig Catalfamo asked if there were dates given. Bill McCants suggested that the letter that Chuck sends should include some history, such as the date of the original enforcement order. Martha Moore said that she wants to see the work commenced by the end of August. Chuck Tirone said that they won't be able to find a company that can start work that soon. Waiter Page 1 3 Talbot asked if they have paid to anyone for engineering or construction purposes. Chuck Tirone said that they have not paid anyone yet. Bill McCants moved to authorize Chuck to invite them to the next meeting. Chirag Sthalekar seconded. Approved by roll call vote 7-0-0. Brian Bowe, YES, Martha Moore, YES, Bill McCants YES Tony Rodolakis, YES, Walter Talbot YES, Craig Catalfamo, YES Chirag Sthalekar, YES Martha Moore moved to continue the hearing on 167 Belmont Street. Chirag Sthalekar seconded. Approved by roll call vote 7-0-0. Brian Bowe, YES, Martha Moore, YES, Bill McCants YES Tony Rodolakis, YES, Walter Talbot YES, Craig Catalfamo, YES Chirag Sthalekar, YES Document shared: Letter from Norse Environmental Richard Kaminski introduced Maureen Harald of Norse Environmental to report on the soil in the back of the yard. Maureen augerred to 24 — 36 inches in 2 locations. She found no indicators of wetland soil. Adjacent vegetation included Red Maple and Silver Maple and some elders but also many upland species. The house was built in 1966, so some of the lawn has been manipulated over the years. Tony Rodolakis asked if she found any differences in the soil compared to the soil survey. Maureen said that her auger did not go as deep as a backhoe. Most of that material was just sandy loam. Martha Moore reported that the previous project on this property was in 2022. Martha Moore asked if we really need to require more plantings if this area is not wetland. Bill McCants asked to clarify that the zone of natural vegetation of 25 feet does already have natural vegetation. Martha Moore replied that the only issue with the zone of vegetation is the piles of yard waste. She made a point of informing the homeowners that they are allowed to remove invasive species in the Zone of Natural Vegetation. Chuck said that when we require a vegetated buffer strip it should be not full of invasives, so he recommended requiring invasive removal. Bill McCants supported that. Jennifer Sarre asked which plants they need to remove. Chuck Tirone said that he can stop by and show them what to cut. Tony Rodolakis moved to close. Chirag Sthalekar seconded. Approved by roll call vote 7-0-0- Brian Bowe, YES, Martha Moore, YES, Bill McCants YES Tony Rodolakis, YES, Walter Talbot YES, Craig Catalfamo, YES Chirag Sthalekar, YES Conditions: Clean up the yard waste. Remove the buckthorn and bittersweet within the vegetated area. Place the sonotubes supporting the deck in a place where it does not damage the tree roots. Martha Moore moved to issue a Negative Determination. Chirag Sthalekar seconded. Approved by roll call vote 7-0-0. Brian Bowe, YES, Martha Moore, YES, Bill McCants YES Tony Rodolakis, YES, Walter Talbot YES, Craig Catalfamo, YES Chirag Sthalekar, YES Discussion Items 5. Certificate of Compliance for 52 Louanis Drive. No action needed tonight. A site visit is scheduled for August 12 and the meeting is on August 14. Page 1 4 6. Certificate of Compliance 16 Varney Circle Map 29 Lot 109, Carmone Chuck spoke to the homeowner. He cannot make tonight's meeting but wants more direction on the list of requests. He says the wood chips have been there since before this project. Waiter Talbot said that 4 members of the Commission were on the site visit. A lot of grass and wood chips were around the perimeter of the property, the wood chips were burying vegetation. The patio comes within 35 feet of the wetland line. The gravel parking area extends past the 25 foot line. There is a wooden post in the yard. Tony Rodolakis said that the site is secluded and there is a lot of native vegetation at the edges of the lawn. Did not see invasive species along the perimeter. Brian Bowe noted that the wood chips are beyond the concrete bounds indicating the 25 foot buffer zone. Martha Moore commented that the post and patio were already there when the project was approved. The shed that was too close to the wetland has been removed. The gravel area past the 25 foot line should be restored to natural vegetation. Walter Talbot said that they should replace the wood chips inside the ZNV with vegetation. No vote is needed. These are the things that they need to address. 7. Certificate of Compliance 18 Whittier Road Map 39 Lot 33, CJM Builders Walter Talbot and Brian Bowe visited on Monday. There is a fence around the back of the property. The homeowner has installed metal mesh under the fence which prevents animal passage. There are wood chips within the 25 foot zone. The planting plan was not obeyed. The plants closer to the fence are in very poor condition because they are not getting enough water. Brian Bowe says that the pine tree in the back comer is in bad shape. The plan asked for wildflower seed mix. Walter saw some wildflowers. Not enough red osier dogwoods. Wood chips should be replaced with native ground cover plants. The downspout that hits the lawn is causing erosion. A 3 year survival rate for the plants is expected. Vegetated buffer strip is expected to survive beyond that. Martha Moore mentioned that the strip where the erosion control was should be re -seeded and established grass behind that can be mowed. 8. Conservation/DPW Monthly Meeting August 6 Martha Moore and Brian Bowe can zoom in. Chuck says the pavilion area has 18" high grass, it needs mowing. There is no poison ivy there. Brian says the pipe across the woods road in the town forest has been replaced. Thank you to Jeff Cummings for installing it. Chuck Tirone established the correct level for the pipe. 9. Bills approved, none 10. Administrators Report: none 11. Minutes for approval: 6/12/2024, Chirag Sthalekar moved to approve, Craig Catalfamo seconded. Approved by roll call vote 7-0-0. Brian Bowe, YES, Martha Moore, YES, Bill McCants YES Tony Rodolakis, YES, Walter Talbot YES, Craig Catalfamo, YES Chirag Sthalekar, YES 6/26/2024 and 7/10/2024 not ready yet. Walter Talbot suggested a get-together at his house for a social time. Martha suggested a poll to choose a date. Motion to adjourn at 8:59 pm by Craig Catalfamo, seconded by Chirag Sthalekar, voted 7- 0-0. Brian Bowe, YES, Martha Moore, YES, Bill McCants YES Tony Rodolakis, YES, Walter Talbot YES, Craig Catalfamo, YES Chirag Sthalekar, YES Page 1 5