Conservation Commission
Meeting
March 2, 2006
Peg Arguimbau Chairman, Katherine Roth, Hank Langstroth, Stephen Cremer and Stephan Glicken were the members present.
7:45 p.m. N.O.I. Hearing continuance to review the revised plan for the proposed modifications and repairs to
the Sharon Community Center:
Present: Richard Leonard, Architect from BH & A. Anthony Stella, Engineer from Site Engineering Consultants. Anthony Stella
presented the following revised plans to the Commission:
· Site Plan L101, 2/27/06 revised date.
· Site Plan entitled, "Sharon Community Center at Massapoag Avenue, Sharon , MA"
Sheet Numbers L2, L3, 2/26/06 revised date. Sheet Number L4, 2/24/06 revised date.
Anthony Stella explained that the following modifications were made to the submitted revised plans to address
the concerns of the Commission as discussed at their previous hearing held on February 16, 2006:
· A definitive 100' Buffer Line surrounding the proposed project is outlined on the revised plan.
· The installation of a haybale/fabric siltfence barrier around the entire limit of work for erosion
control during the construction phase of the project.
· The existing contour lines within the property line have been modified due to the proposed grade work
for the reconstruction of the parking lot.
· The flared ends for the proposed stormwater retention system overflow lines were modified on
the revised plan by reducing the length of the blades so that the elevation of the flared ends would be equal
to the elevation of the stone outlet apron. The elevation depicted on the revised plan shows a 0% slope
across the stone outlet apron.
· Larger size stones are proposed for the project to increase the depth of the stone outlet to 12".
The Commission requested the following revisions for the proposed project:
The installation of a 4' sump to Manhole DMH 1.
· To relocate the catch basins proposed at the edge of the left side of the parking lot back from
the edge of the pavement to provide access for snow removal equipment.
Peg explained to the Applicant that the Order of Conditions would reference the following:
The contractor for the project is not allowed to stockpile material within the 100' Buffer Zone of the site.
· Erosion control barriers are to be installed completely around all stockpiled material.
· All debris from the proposed project inside the 100' Buffer Zone and wetlands shall be removed and
disposed of properly.
Peg called for a motion to close the hearing upon receipt of the DEP File Number and revised plans.
Hank Langstroth moved. Stephen Cremer seconded. Voted. Unanimous.
8:00 p.m., Signatures:
The Commission signed bills. Conservation Restriction comprising of 2.73 acres of land adjacent to the Griffin
property on Norwood Street, Thomas Altieri. Order of Conditions for the Community Center,
DEP File Number SE-280-0475. Certificate of Compliance for 9 Chive Drive, DEP File Number SE-280-348.
8:15 p.m., Eric Hooper, Superintendent of Public Works, updated the Commission on potential well exploration
sites:
Eric Hooper, Superintendent of Public Works and Jeff Hershberger, Consultant from ESS Group, appeared
before the Commission and presented an information booklet prepared by ESS Group entitled,
"Town of Sharon, Potential In-Town Water Source Evaluations". Dated 3/2/06.
Page 2 SCC 3/2/06 Meeting Minutes
Eric Hooper explained to the Commission that four viable well sites were identified as possible options by an
evaluation project he completed with the ESS Group approximately two years ago. The Blair Circle site was
immediately eliminated due to the presence of a bedrock lined hill on the property.
The evaluation project identified problems with each of the proposed viable well sites:
MBTA, Maskwonicut Street – Too variable to achieve at 48-hour at this time.
NSTAR, Canton Street- Is the focus now.
ISLAMIC CENTER, Chase Drive- is still on the table. A 48-hour pump test is proposed under the same
conditions as the NSTAR site.
It is apparent that the 400’ radius required by DEP would not be obtainable at any of the three well sites. The
400' radius is traditional when there is a single point well. A well field approach is now being proposed. A
suction type head and pump was a previous DEP requirement for a well field with a restricted 22' drawdown
limit. The problem with utilizing a suction pump is that a breakage can occur in the pipe, thus introducing
surface water and contaminants into the well. Changes in the DEP regulations now allow for the use of
submersible pumps with the restricted 22' drawdown limit. Based on DEP regulations, there is a 250’ radius
requirement for a well field in Zone I, which is obtainable by not introducing residential septic systems and
possibly roadways.
Jeff Hershberger explained to the Commission that the information booklet is a result of a six-month long
evaluation. The following is the scope of the project for developing a well site for a 250,000-gpd production
well to accommodate an emergency situation for the Town:
Blair Circle - Eliminated as an alternative well site due to the results of the initial test drilling.
(A bedrock-lined hill was present on the property)
MBTA site – A 2 ½" test well resulted in 30'- 45' of very fine material. Sporadic aquifer materials were
found at depth before rock was located. A large enough area of the site has not yet been located to
drill for a bigger well test. Additional test drilling at a later date would be required to continue with this
alternative. 50 gpm with 27" of vacuum from the 48-hour pump test.
NSTAR site on Canton Street – Successful drilling results were performed by using groupings of 2 ½" test wells
spaced 50’ apart to simulate the well field separation. A tight but possible site for a well field.
A 175 gpm, 250,000 gpd 48-hour pump test was completed with good production results.
60 gpm with 17"-19" of vacuum from the 48-hours pump test. There is an abundant amount of water
supply at this site. The water quality is good. The iron and manganese content are below thresholds for
treatment. The nitrate levels are slightly elevated, 4.4 mg/L collected at the end of a 48-hour pump test.
The water that was pumped from the testing was discharged into the wetlands. A long-term pump test is
proposed at this site.
Islamic Center, Chase Drive – Not suitable to fit a single well within a 250’ radius.
(A previous aquifer test was completed at 500,000 gpd in 1998). 75 gpm with 14" of vacuum.
A long-term pump test is proposed at this site at 250,000 – 300,000 gpd. Eric proposes to evaluate the peat
deposits near the existing well and to install piezometers in the wetland deposits.
Peg explained to Eric that the consultant previously hired by the Commission to review the pump test at
the Islamic Center indicated that the pump test underestimated the projected impact.
Peg asked if the Blair Circle site had shown the same possibilities as with the NSTAR and Islamic Center sites,
would the exploration at the Blair Circle site continue?
Jeff responded in the affirmative.
Peg inquired if it would be a problem to perform the same exploration exercise at the cemetery by Edge Hill Rd.
Eric expects that the same conditions found at the NSTAR site would be found at the cemetery site.
(The production results will be the same as the NSTAR site).
Eric stated that he does not recommend permitting a well that the Town does not own.
Greg mentioned that the people at the cemetery are willing to negotiate with the Town provided that they continue
to have available water for irrigation from the proposed well.
Page 3 SCC 3/2/06 Meeting Minutes
Eric stated that the issue with the cemetery would be with the permitting of the well and competing with the
people at the cemetery to withdraw water from the well. (The Town would want to use the water to meet peak
demands during the summer and need operational flexibility during the winter months).
Peg stated that the Commission is interested in a joint cooperative effort to find an ample water supply to
accommodate the future development of the Town.
Katherine Roth explained to Eric that the Commission would like to be able to rule out the cemetery site
by using the same comparative methods as the other sites.
Stephen Cremer expressed his opinion that the Town should not plan to utilize the MWRA as a back-up water
source. A similar examination of this site is an important piece of information for the Commission to have, not
only to evaluate a potential well site location, but also in knowing what the potential is for securing the water
needs of the Town.
Eric stated that the Gobbi property is not yet attainable to perform well testing.
Peg requested that Eric submit a plan for well testing at the cemetery that is similar to the NSTAR site.
Eric agreed to comply with this request. He plans to obtain a proposal from Jeff to review the cemetery site
by Edge Hill Rd. After meeting with DEP to review the collected data from the Islamic Center, NSTAR and
the cemetery, Eric will report back to the Commission.
Katherine Roth left the meeting at this time.
9:35 p.m., Approve Past Meeting Minutes:
Peg called for a motion to accept the February 16, 2006 Meeting Minutes amended, including the
Executive Session Minutes. Hank Langstroth moved. Stephen Cremer seconded. Voted. 3-0-1.
9:50 p.m., Adjournment:
Peg called for a motion to adjourn.
Hank Langstroth moved. Stephan Glicken seconded. Voted. Unanimous.
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