Conservation Commission
Meeting
Sharon Community Center
September 15, 2011
Peg Arguimbau Chairman, Elizabeth McGrath, Keevin Geller, and Hank Langstroth 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.: N.O. I. Public Hearing filed by the Sharon DPW for the proposed culvert lining project at Billings/Deborah Sampson Streets:
Present: Peter O’Cain, Engineer, Town of Sharon
Brian Zagrodny, Technical Advisor from Snap-Tite Culvert Liners
Peter O’Cain appeared before the Commission and submitted a USGS map dated August, 2011 and a packet of information concerning the installation details for the proposed culvert lining project.
He presented photos to the Commission showing significant rust and holes throughout the existing steel culvert pipe beneath Billings Street/Deborah Sampson Streets that is also a support structure for the roadway. The culvert pipe conveys the water flow from Mann’s Pond via Massapoag Brook to the wetland area on the north side of Billings Street.
Peter O’Cain explained the following scope of the proposed project to the members of the Commission:
- To clean and remove any debris from the existing corrugated steel culvert before the installation of a high density polyethylene (HDPE) slipliner pipe. The installation of the new slipliner pipe is being proposed to repair the existing culvert, help eliminate erosion, and to keep any silt/sediments from flowing into Massapoag Brook. Concrete grout is proposed to be installed between the existing culvert and new slipliner pipe to help make the culvert stronger.
- The machinery for the proposed project will sit on the surface of the roadway while the machine’s extension arm reaches over the side of the roadway to install the sliplining pipe.
- To lower the water level of Mann’s Pond before installing the proposed slipliner pipe to help eliminate sediment/erosion concerns and protect the adjacent wetland resource areas of the proposed project site.
- The installation of a turbidity curtain on the downstream side of the pond to help reduce the impact to the wetland resource areas of the proposed project site.
Brian Zagrodny from Snap-Tite indicated that the proposed HDPE slipliner pipe could be installed as low as possible to the invert pipe to maintain the same water flow capacity at the present time.
Keevin Geller inquired as to the capacity of the smaller pipe verses the existing corrugated steel culvert.
Brian Zagrodny explained the difference between polyethylene and corrugated metal. He said that each material has a resistance to abrasion or smoothness. The Manning’s roughness co-efficient n-value for corrugated metal is 0.024 compared to 0.00914 for polyethylene. Although a smaller pipe is proposed to be installed inside a larger metal pipe, the smoothness of plastic polyethylene along with the absence of corrugations allows for greater hydraulic capacity throughout the pipe. The proposed project will be performed along the downstream side of Massapoag Brook away from the tree line.
The members of the Commission requested the following information from the Applicant:
- For the Applicant to define the location of the proposed turbidity curtain on a site location plan
submitted to the Commission.
- For the Applicant to provide feedback to the Commission concerning proper abutter notification
for the proposed project.
Peg called for a motion to continue the hearing until the first Commission meeting in October.
Hank Langstroth moved. Keevin Geller seconded. Voted. Unanimous. 4-0-0.
8:20 p.m. Old/New Business:
-Upcoming Fall Town Meeting Petition Article RE: Oakland Road:
Peg explained to the Commission that the Finance Committee sent an e-mail requesting her and
Greg to attend the next Finance Committee meeting to discuss Paul Vitale’s petition article for the upcoming Fall Town Meeting to transfer the Oakland Road gravel site to the control of the Commission.
Page 2 SCC 9/15/11 Meeting Minutes
- Old Post Road Cranberry Bogs:
Peg explained to the Commission that she has been in contact with the Cranberry Bog Operator,
Fred Bottomley, who has expressed an interest in updating the Commission with the progress of the
bog operation.
- Sidewalk Interest from Brett MacGowan - Massapoag Avenue to the Community Center:
Peg explained to the Commission that the Recreation Director, Brett MacGowan, has sent an e-mail to the Commission expressing his interest in the concept of a sidewalk from Massapoag Avenue to the Community Center and is seeking guidance from the Commission in this matter. He explained in his
e-mail that an unfortunate incident had recently occurred involving an elderly woman who fell in the roadway while walking on Community Center Drive.
It was the consensus of the Commission to consider the concept of a sidewalk installation from Massapoag Avenue to the Community Center. The Commission agreed for Greg to notify
Brett MacGowan to formulate a proposed sidewalk plan for the Commission’s review.
- Lakeview Street Meadow:
Peg informed the Commission that Greg has mowed the meadow on Lakeview Street.
- Former Landfill Parcel off Mountain Street:
Peg explained to the Commission that the Board of Selectmen are pursuing their initiative of implementing a solar energy facility on the former landfill parcel off Mountain Street. In exchange for removing the landfill parcel from the open space component, the Selectmen plan to replace it with a town owned parcel located at 1 Hixson Farm Road comprised of 11 acres.
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8:30 p.m. Approve Past Meeting Minutes:
Peg called for a motion to approve the September 1, 2011 Meeting Minutes as presented.
Elizabeth McGrath moved. Keevin Geller seconded. Voted. Unanimous. 4-0-0.
8:35 p.m. Signatures:
The Commission signed bills. Order of Conditions for the culvert lining project at Billings/Deborah Sampson Streets.
8:40 p.m. Adjournment:
Peg called for a motion to adjourn.
Keevin Geller moved. Elizabeth McGrath seconded. Voted. Unanimous. 4-0-0.
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