Conservation Commission
Meeting
Sharon Community Center
March 3, 2011
Peg Arguimbau Chairman, Hank Langstroth, Elizabeth McGrath, Keevin Geller, and Meredith deCarbonnel were the members present. Conservation Commission Members, Christine Turnbull
and Stephen Cremer were absent from the meeting.
The Conservation Administrator, Greg Meister, was also present.
7:45 p.m., RDA Public Hearing filed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the proposed
cleaning of an existing sluiceway and the replacement of an existing bridge adjacent to a pond at
259 Massapoag Ave.:
Eleanor Yahrmarkt, Supervisor of Borderland State Park, appeared before the Commission
and submitted the following information: 1970s USGS map, 1999 GIS Orthophoto map, and a
Borderland State Park Trail Map. She explained to the Commission that the proposed project is located at the Granite Hills Trail (Lower Loop) near a pond at the edge of a 10 acre hay field on the site. Eleanor Yahrmarkt explained the following scope of the proposed project to the Commission:
- The existing 5’ x 20’ sluiceway on the site presently flows through the 10 acre hay field on the site and across the road into a gravel pit before discharging into Lower Leach Pond.
The proposed project is to remove the excess silt and gravel from the existing sluiceway to allow the water to flow directly into the Lower Leach Pond, as originally designed by the Ames family in 1937.
- The Applicant anticipates that Americorps will be starting the following proposed work in June 2011 concerning the proposed project:
- The removal of excess silt and gravel from the existing sluiceway on the proposed project
site.
- The removal and replacement, of the small walking bridge that lies over the existing
sluiceway due to its poor condition.
- Trimming the existing vegetation and small trees along the existing sluiceway area of the
proposed project site.
Peg called for a motion for the Commission to waive the abutter notification for this application filing as requested by the Applicant in consideration of the small scope of the proposed project.
Keevin Geller moved. Hank Langstroth seconded. Voted. Unanimous. 5-0-0.
The Commission agreed to approve the proposed project with the following conditions:
- The Applicant is required to contact the Conservation Administrator prior to starting and upon completion of all the proposed work.
- The Applicant shall maintain the existing structures/features of the proposed project site.
Peg called for a motion to close the hearing and to issue a Negative Determination to the Applicant with the conditions as discussed.
Hank Langstroth moved. Elizabeth McGrath seconded. Voted. Unanimous. 5-0-0.
8:00 p.m., An Amended Order of Conditions Public Hearing filed by Sharon CF II, LP, for the proposed modifications to the culvert alignment at the bog crossing within the layout of Old Post Road and South Main Street under DEP File #SE-280-0491:
Present: Attorney Bob Shelmerdine, Representing the Applicant
Ken Caputo, Kelly Killeen, and Jim Colantonio, Engineers from Coler and Colantonio
Richard Kershaw, Representative from Sharon CF II, LP
Vincent Chiozzi, Vice President/Director of Development & Construction of
Congress Group, Inc.
Page 2 SCC 3/3/11 Meeting Minutes
Attorney Shelmerdine explained to the members of the Commission that he recently met with the Conservation Administrator, along with representatives from Coler & Colantonio and Sharon CF II, LP, to review a preliminary amended plan to the existing Order of Conditions for the proposed drainage improvements of Old Post Road. Attorney Shelmerdine also met with Mr. Fred Bottomley and representatives of the proposed development project to review the changes to the culvert system at the bog crossing within the layout of Old Post Road. Mr. Fred Bottomley has reviewed the Applicant’s proposed modifications to the culvert alignment at the bog crossing within the layout of Old Post Road and agrees to the design changes with some recommendations.
Ken Caputo reviewed the following submitted plans with the Commission:
- Sheet # 1, Entitled, "CC-1, Concept Comparison Plan, Sharon Commons, Land off Old Post Road, Sharon, MA." Dated, February 15, 2011.
- Sheet # 10, Entitled,“ RP-1, Old Post Rd., Profile & Grading Plan,
Sharon Commons, Land off Old Post Road, Sharon, MA.”
February 3, 2011, Last Date Revised
Ken Caputo explained to the Commission that the proposed modifications to the culvert alignment at the bog crossing within the layout of Old Post Road resulted from consultations with the manufacturers of the pre-engineered culvert systems. The manufactures have stated that the proposed aluminum culvert and retaining wall systems require 90 degree angles where the culvert and headwalls meet. The width of the CON/SPAN structures would be revised to 24 feet at the bog crossing. The width of the CON/SPAN structures along the Billings Brook area would be revised to 35 feet. These proposed modifications would result in reducing the permanent impact from the footprint of the proposed project by approximately 1,293 s.f. There are no proposed changes to the previous mitigation approved by the Commission for the proposed project. Ken Caputo explained to the Commission that Mr. Bottomley has made some suggestions such as coordinating the activities of the proposed construction of Old Post
Road with the on-going activities of the bog operation. Ken Caputo said that Mr. Bottomley has expressed a genuine interest in the preservation of the bogs similar to that of the Commission. Ken Caputo indicated that Mr. Bottomley has made some suggestions that will help capture a collaborative co-operation between all parties involved with the proposed project.
Ken Caputo explained some of the following suggestions made by Mr. Bottomley concerning the proposed project:
- For the Applicant of the proposed project to stake the limits of the proposed roadway prior to construction of the project.
- That the Applicant of the proposed project work together with the bog operator to locate the bog irrigation system to allow the bog operator to define a scope of work for portions of the irrigation system that will need to be relocated prior to the proposed roadway construction.
Peg called for a motion to close the hearing per submitted information to the Applicant and to issue the Amended Order of Conditions to the Applicant. The Special Conditions shall include the recommendations from Mr. Bottomley’s e-mail dated March 3, 2011 that has been submitted to all interested parties.
Hank Langstroth moved. Keevin Geller seconded. Voted. Unanimous. 5-0-0.
8:35 p.m., Signatures:
The Commission authorized payment to Massachusetts Audubon for a Conservation Restriction
on the Massapoag Sportsmen’s Club property that was acquired through a land swap.
Amended Order of Conditions for the Old Post Road Improvements under DEP File # SE-280-0491. Negative Determination to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the proposed sluiceway cleaning and bridge replacement near 259 Massapoag Ave. The Commission also signed bills.
Page 3 SCC 3/3/11 Meeting Minutes
8:45 p.m., Old/New Business:
-Scope of Work for the Cedar Swamp:
Peg explained to the Commission that she recently attended a Finance Committee Meeting with the
Conservation Administrator, Greg Meister where he presented the Finance Committee with a scope of work for the Cedar Swamp that was awarded to Horsley and Witten by the state that also included some funding from the state for survey and groundwater mapping services.
-The Commission’s Budget Proposals for FY’12:
The Conservation Administrator presented the Commission with draft copies of the FY’12 budget proposals that were submitted to the Finance Committee as follows:
- FY’12 Level Funded Salary Proposals
- FY’12 Primary Budget
- FY’12 Option 1 Budget
- FY’12 Option 2 Budget - ($20,000 was requested to replenish the Commission’s Land Management Account to provide funding for the Cedar Swamp consultants during FY’12)
The Finance Committee requested to schedule another meeting with the Conservation Administrator following their review of the Commission’s FY’12 Budget Proposals.
-CPC Update:
Meredith deCarbonnel explained to the Commission that Greg presented a project to the CPC for the 154A Billings Street Conservation Restriction Stewardship and requested $10,000 in CPC funds to have the Audubon Society perform the required stewardship and baseline report. The CPC voted
in favor of the project with an additional $5,000 added to the request to cover potential legal expenses. The CPC will consider confirming their vote on March 14, 2011.
Greg also discussed filing a CPC Application for potential action at the upcoming Annual Town Meeting to secure $25,000 in CPA funds to replenish the Conservation Land Account.
-Senior Property Tax Work Off Abatement Program FY’12:
Peg presented the Commission with an e-mail she received from Alice Cheyer concerning a request for the Commission to sponsor both Alice and Rita Corey for a trail clean-up project under the
Senior Property Tax Work Off Abatement Program. They are planning to work approximately
2.5 or 5 hours per week from April 1 through June 30, 2012. Susan Edinger would need to approve
the assignment.
Peg requested feedback from the members of the Commission as to any ideas that they like to see included in the project such as trailblazing or cleaning the parking lot of the King Philip’s Rock Trail.
Meredith deCarbonnel suggested that it might be helpful for them to make a list invasive plant species along the trails as part of their project.
The Commission agreed to discuss this subject further at the next Commission meeting.
9:00 p.m., Approve Past Meeting Minutes:
Peg called for a motion to approve the February 17, 2011 Meeting Minutes as amended.
Meredith deCarbonnel moved. Elizabeth McGrath seconded. Voted. Unanimous. 5-0-0.
9:10 p.m., Adjournment:
Peg called for a motion to adjourn.
Keevin Geller moved. Hank Langstroth seconded. Voted. Unanimous. 5-0-0.
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