HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-05-07 Conservation Commission Minutesi?i~ ENED
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Minutes of Wednesday, May 7,1997 Town Hall Selectmenrs Meeting jqrli
PRESENT: Chair Nancy Eaton, Members Vice Chair Stephen Chapman, Clifton
Proctor, H. "Lucky" Hulse, John Kilborn, Mark Gillis, Conservation Administrator Donald
Nadeau, and Recording Secretary Kathy Morgan.
ABSENT: David Danis and Consultant Leo Kenney (prior notice given).
7:08 PM Meeting was called to order.
7:10 PM Public Meeting - Oakland St.. 62 - herbicide under bleachers RGB# 1997-
09 Joe Connolly, Recreation Administrator, came before the Commission to explain the
plan for applying the herbicide and the clean up work they plan to do under the bleachers
at the site. A motion was made and seconded to close the Public Meeting. VOTED:
6-0-0. A motion was made and seconded to issue a negative determination of
applicability with the understanding that the work will be limited to only the paved area
under the bleachers. VOTED: 6-0-0.
7:15 PM Plan change/sign off; Main St sidewalk from Nelson Ln to #1317 (ref
RGB# 1997-04 Mr. Joe Delaney, Town Engineer, came before the Commission
requesting a plan change to accommodate a woman on Nelson Avenue who needs access
to the sidewalks by wheelchair. He advised the Commission that there is sufficient funds
in the project to provide for this change, and he has received the okay from Mass.
Highway to go ahead. Members had given Mr. Delaney a list of their concerns made on
their site visit, ie., the safety issues when moving the guardrail and a boardwalk to protect
the resource area. He addressed them saying that the guardrail is there to prevent people
from going into the ditch and because the contractor is working on the project now there
would be no time to design a boardwalk. The Administrator asked if they had made any
considerations with regard to the drainage situations. He stated no. A motion was made
and seconded that the members consider this an insignificant plan change and allow it to
be done under a negative determination. VOTED: 6-0-0.
7:25 PM Water Treatment Plant DEP# Consent Order AP-NE-92-901 Mr. Peter
Tassi, Operator of the Water Treatment Plant explained the problem that they are having
removing the residual. They would like to move the remaining residuals in the temporary
lagoon into the stockpile. They are currently removing residuals on a daily basis to a
waste water plant but they are having trouble with gravel that's mixed in with the waste.
He also added that it would be less costly to use the stock pile. S. Chapman questioned
the consistency of the material. He felt that a soupy material may slosh out onto the
roadway during the trip. Chair asked if they would be passing any vernal pools. He stated
he didn't believe so. The Administrator advised the Commission that DEP has had to label
this material as waste which makes it hard to find a place to put it. The stockpile has been - -
okayed for this material. S. Chapman asked that the
Reading Conservation Commission Minutes of 5/7/97 Page 2
Administrator carefully oversee the removal process. If spillage occurs, they may have to
change their method of removal.
7:47 PM Steve Biller, BSA Troop 702, Eagle Scout proposal. Steve Biller proposed
his plan to create a web site of conservation sites in town. He plans to make maps of
hiking trails and educate people on conservation issues. Chair asked if he had consulted
with the town forest people; he stated he hadn't yet. Chair stated that L. Kenney was in
favor of the idea. S. Chapman thought the project was well written out and felt that it
would be beneficial to the towns people, but he was concerned that these areas may
become bombarded and over used requiring maintenance. The Administrator was glad to
see a volunteer take this on. He asked if Steve would submit a final report for the
Commission to review and edit. He also asked that whoever is overseeing the web site to
keep in touch with Conservation for updating. A motion was made and seconded that the
Commission support the request. VOTED: 6-0-0.
8:00 PM Plan Change - Old Mill Village 48 Mill St DEP# 270-283, RGB# 1995-31
N. Eaton placed on the record her public disclosure letter. David Hurley gave the
members an update on the project. The water under the roadway was discussed.
S. Chapman requested that the water under the roadway be monitored. He was also
concerned with the 25' zone around replication area 2. S. Chapman asked if there is a
clear indication of where the limit of activity would be with regard to the revised plan.
The Administrator stated 3 to 4' away from the new contour. S. Chapman suggested that
something other than grass be planted on the slope. Mr. Hurley stated that they could
leave the siltation fence up along the lot line after activity has finished to reinforce to the
homeowner where the conservation area is. Chair asked if the conservation signs were up
and if they had given any idea to permanent markers. Chair mentioned that she wasn't too
concerned that all the signs get out but that they be noticeable to prospective buyers. A
motion was made and seconded that the plan that was submitted for the grading of Lot 1
be considered as an insignificant plan change. VOTED: 6-0-0. A motion was made and
seconded to allow the applicant to temporarily hold off on the placement of signs.
VOTED: 6-0-0. A motion was made and seconded to approve the repair and placement
plan for the area by the shed and behind the silt fence to the immediate left of the entrance
which plan is described in Paragraph 2 of the applicant's 4/17/97 letter. VOTED: 6-0-0.
8:40 PM Public Meeting - 99 Lilah Lane RGB# 1997-10 Mr. and Mrs. Colvin explained
their plans to the Commission for installing a fence and an inground pool. S. Chapman
mentioned the concern of the actual limit of work line and that the fence would go over
the limit. He also addressed the slope from the apron around the pool to the existing
grade and the placement of the fence around the apron. The engineer of the pool was
present at the meeting and explained the reason for the grading. A motion was made to
close the Public Meeting. VOTED: 6-0-0. A motion was made and seconded to issue a
negative determination with conditions, the conditions being a fence no further down than
Reading Conservation Commission Minutes of 5/7/97 Page 3
mid-point and haybales or a silt fence at the limit of activity. VOTED: 5-1-0. N. Eaton
against.
9:10 PM Public Meeting - 57 Lilah Lane DEN 270-171, R TB# 1997-11 The abutters
list was not completed on time. Applicant asked for a waiver for not having a Certificate
of Compliance. A motion was made that the Commission accept applicant's request for
temporary waiver of COC until he receives one after the completion of the pool.
VOTED: 5-1-0. N. Eaton against.
9:45 PM Recess taken.
9:50 PM Partial COC -:Leaning Elm Farm" PRD, 89 Main St DEP# 270-288,,
RGB# 1996-16 A motion was made and seconded to issue a partial COC to cover
detention walls as noted in 4/25/97 plans with no bond release. VOTED: 4-0-2.
H. Hulse and S. Chapman abstaining.
10:00 PM Final Order of Conditions - 40 Azalea Circle R B# 1991-03 The appeal
was dismissed. Chair advised the other members that the process of completing the order
of conditions is nearly done.
10:12 PM I Kilborn made the motion to go into Executive Session for the purpose of
discussing on going litigation and not to return to public session. Roll-call vote taken:
6-0-0. The Chair was turned over to S. Chapman.
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Kathy Morgan
Recording-Secretary