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SOUTH HADLEY CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
March 10, 2008
Approved at 3/31/08 meeting.
PRESENT: Jack Fleming, Chair; Dennis Swartwout, Vice Chair; Jim Canning, Secretary, Art Jackson and Brad Allen. Janice Stone, Conservation Administrator. The Commission met in the Selectboard meeting room.
1. 7:00 PM OPEN FORUM Opportunity for the public to come in and ask questions, discuss wetland concerns with the Conservation Commission. Jim Reidy (DPW), Angelo Ortisi, Art Streeter and Richard Curry from North East Waste Services came in to speak to the Commission on the proposed landfill expansion into the Bynan Conservation Area. Jim Reidy gave a little history of the Self-Help grant purchase of the property, and the landfill expansion over time. The grant said there were 101 acres for conservation and 40 acres for landfill expansion, but did not give any boundaries. The deed lists 162 acres, so there are an additional 21 acres that are unaccounted for. Approximately ¾ of the 40 acres from the grant are in landfill now, and the proposal is to add another 21 acres
beyond what was already approved. There was a discussion about how could the Commission know that there were indeed 162 not 141 acres total, and getting a map that shows the boundaries, present landfill, and orthophotoimage of the land to see what wetlands and woods would be impacted. Art Streeter said they would check with Tighe & Bond, who has done a lot of the surveying work out there, to create a map that shows the wetlands and property boundary. The Commission questioned whether the “extra” undeclared 21 acres could automatically be considered non-conservation land. If it is not part of the conservation land purchase, then the landfill group does not have to go through the Article 97 voting process. The Commission asked about impact on groundwater from the landfill expansion as well as on the surface wetlands.
2. 7:30 PM DISCUSSION with Doug Hutchinson, Amherst Conservation Land Manager about proposed revitalization and extension of a trail off Bare Mountain in South Hadley. The part of the Robert Frost Trail that extends from the top of Bare Mountain down towards Lithia Springs Reservoir has been in disuse for some time. Staff from DCR have contacted Doug about getting permission to open the trail back up, and change the location where the trail crosses Elmer Brook and connects to Lithia Springs Trail. They want to avoid a section of the trail that comes too close to a series of vernal pools with rare salamanders. It would involve a new stream crossing, probably a small wooden bridge or stones. The Commission had questions about land ownership and
permissions, as well as whether there would be any tree removal necessary for the trail. Doug said he thought there would be almost no tree removal needed, and he would create a map that would show where the trail went and the property ownership. The Commission agreed it would be a good idea to walk the area with him when the conditions were a little better. Doug will call Janice to set up a time and date.
3. 7:45 PM PUBLIC HEARING on a Request for an Amendment to the Order of Conditions 288-381 filed by the South Hadley Selectboard, for construction of the Ledges Golf Course clubhouse off Mulligan Drive. Dennis recused himself from the discussion and vote. The amendment is for installation of a concrete pad and fence for a propane tank in the buffer zone. The Commission had agreed at a previous meeting that if the pad was able to stay out of the 50 foot Conservation Zone, that the amendment would be approved and work could proceed before the final vote. The plans show the pad outside the 50’, and Janice has checked it on site. Yem (DPW) told Janice that the site has been excavated, and will be poured today or tomorrow. Jim made a motion to approve the amendment
with standard and special conditions. Art seconded, and Jim, Art, Brad and Jack voted in favor. Dennis abstained.
4. 7:50 PM OLD & NEW BUSINESS: Jim reviewed the Bills payable, made a motion to accept the charges and approve payment. Dennis seconded, and all voted in favor. The Commission discussed the request by HG&E for an Extension of the Order of Conditions 288-349 for the Texon building demolition. There is a prospective developer of the site, so the demolition is on hold until everyone knows whether that is going to work out or not. There was a question about how long an extension should be given. The Commission decided on a year, and then HG&E could come back for another if needed. Brad made the motion to approve a one-year extension, which was seconded by Art, and all voted in favor. Janice discussed a call she had gotten from the South
Hadley police department last Friday, about a truck stuck in the snow at the Bachelor/Stony Brook conservation area off Ferry Street. She went out to see the situation, and fortunately there was not much damage because the truck was stuck in the snow. She did discover a garden site on the conservation land. The neighbor told her a 92 year old man has been maintaining a garden plot there since the 1980’s when there was a program called Project Produce for seniors from Holyoke. He is the only one left. The Commission agreed to let him continue, but not to expand the practice. One of the Selectmen had heard the call on the scanner and came over. He suggested community gardens on part of the conservation land, but Janice was concerned about maintenance and parking. This needs further consideration. Janice is looking into finding out if the large field could be grassland bird habitat, and if special management practices
should be employed there about mowing. It was agreed that some signage is needed there so people know when they are on conservation land, and what the rules and regulations are. Janice suggested resurrecting the idea of a Conservation Land Sub-Committee that Jim had promoted a year or two ago. Allaire Gaudet from the High School gave the Commission an update on what some of the students are working on there. They may be doing a cleanup for Earthday, some more Stream Team field work. Allaire will get Janice some information on grassland bird habitat. The Commission discussed briefly the “Farm Tax” for rounds of golf played at the Ledges. Dennis recommended using the 18-hole equivalent numbers. Janice recommended taking the rounds by season, not by fiscal year which spans two seasons and is a lot harder to calculate in time for budgets. Dennis tried to track down all the rounds and payments, and
believes the fund may be ahead by a few hundred dollars at this point. The Commission agreed nothing further needed to be pursued this year, since there is money in the golf budget for this now.
5. 8:15 PM PUBLIC MEETING on a Request for Determination filed by WMECO for replacement of electric transmission poles at various points in South Hadley. Calvin Layton from Northern Tree Service was present to represent the applicant. William Blanchard from WMECO was also present to answer questions. Calvin told the Commission this is normal maintenance for the utility. They will be working this spring and fall, and be done by December. There are some wetland areas that will be impacted. Legally they are exempt under the Wetlands Protection Act for normal maintenance, but they are going through the process so the Commission is aware of what they are doing. They will need to cut a swath about 100’ around the poles to get the equipment
in to remove the poles and put in new ones. They will use wooden platforms for access for the large vehicles. These work well and create minimal impact on the vegetation long term. These platforms are approximately 4’x16-20’. They will seed all disturbed areas with appropriate mix afterwards. All work will take place within the easement. Brad asked about long term access. Calvin told him they will put down crushed stone if necessary, but just to grade and then seed over it. Any excess soil will be put elsewhere (does the Commission have any place they want it?). The Commission discussed concerns about creating new access points for recreational vehicles into wetlands and conservation land with this work. Calvin told them they would work with the Commission, and put in a gate (such as off Hadley St) if needed. They have an ORV policy, and find gates most effective. One may be needed at Bachelor Brook,
and going into the Stony Brook wetland from McCray’s field. Work will be done during the dormant season, and follows the plans approved last year in the VMP filed last fall. NHESP has approved those general plans, but has not provided specifics on this project yet. Dennis asked for a copy of that letter when it comes, for the Commission’s files. Calvin agreed. Staging areas will be in uplands nearby. Dennis made the motion to issue a negative determination # 5 & 6, and special conditions. Art seconded, and all voted in favor.
6. 8:25 PM OLD & NEW BUSINESS: The Commission reviewed the minutes from January 28, February 11 and February 20, 2008. Dennis made a motion to accept the minutes as reviewed, Brad seconded, and all voted in favor.
7. 8:45 PM DISCUSSION with representatives from Loomis Village about violation of their Order of Conditions 288-389. Dan Rukakowski from Tighe & Bond and Pat Laskey from the Loomis Communities were present. Large mechanized equipment was used to cut the woody vegetation along the path to the second pond, and the trees were cut around the pond before Commission review and approval. The work along the path was supposed to be limited to 10 feet and hand tools, and neither happened. Dan and Pat explained how surprised they were to discover the work had been done without their knowledge between Christmas and New Years. Dan had told the contractor to call the Commission for permission to use the mechanized equipment, but they did not. Dan handed out copies of
their letter in response to the notice of violation letter they had received. They will install erosion control, remove the shredded cut material, most of which is from invasive shrubs, prune the remaining vegetation where necessary, remove the ruts and improve the path, plant additional native shrubs along the stream, and reseed the other disturbed areas. More details are in the letter. The Commission accepted the proposed restoration work.
8. 9:00 PM OLD & NEW BUSINESS, continued. Janice told the Commission the postcards about work in the Riverfront Area will be mailed this Friday. There will be approximately 180, to people who have houses within the 200’ Riverfront. Janice asked the Commission for a vote of support for the PVPC application for Federal Scenic Byway designation for Route 47 in South Hadley. It is being requested for the entire stretch, and PVPC would like letters of support from each of the towns. The Commissioners asked if there were any restrictions, and Janice said she was told there were none. The PVPC is also submitting a grant proposal for state money for Route 47 under a Scenic Farm Byway program, and would like a support letter for that as well. It is already designated a Scenic Farm Byway in MA. Proposal is for funds to make a traffic safety improvement, tourism brochure, and land protection. The Commission asked Janice to check into Federal proposal a bit more, and they will make
a decision Wednesday night.
9. 9:15 PM ADJOURNMENT. Dennis made a motion to adjourn, Art seconded, and all voted unanimously in favor. Next regular Conservation Commission meeting is March 31, 2008 at 7:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Stone,
Conservation Administrator
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