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SOUTH HADLEY CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
March 12, 2008
Approved at 3/31/08 meeting.
PRESENT: Jack Fleming, Chair; Dennis Swartwout, Vice Chair, Jim Canning and Art Jackson. Brad Allen excused. Janice Stone, Conservation Administrator. The Commission met in the Conservation Office, Room 205.
1. 6:00 PM DISCUSSION The Commissioners discussed the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) grant proposal support letter, and application for National Scenic Byway status for Route 47. The Commission agreed that it seemed like a good idea, with apparently no restrictions on the town or residents from the designation. Jack made the motion, seconded by Art to approve support of the designation, contingent upon Selectboard approving same at their meeting next week. All voted in favor. The Commission discussed the support letter for the Scenic Farm Byway grant by PVPC. Janice told them the canoe access at Bachelor Brook had been considered, but she and the other South Hadley representative at the meeting (Wayne Buckhout) had decided against it because it would
need regular maintenance and police patrols among other reasons. The Commission agreed to the other proposals (traffic safety, land protection, farm marketing) but agreed with Janice not to include the “car-top boat access” at Bachelor Brook in the proposal. Janice will tell PVPC.
The Commission then discussed the Bynan land-landfill issue. Jack and Janice will be attending a meeting tomorrow with the town DPW, Planner, Board of Health, and Interstate Waste Services and Jennifer Soper from EOEEA. They will discuss whether the landfill expansion is on Article 97 land or not, and what the state will think of the proposal from the conservation agency side. It is uncertain where the mysterious 21 acres are, and whether they should be considered available for landfill expansion or conservation land. The Commission decided to wait to hear what Jennifer had to say, and that they would need a professional plan showing that the Bynan property was 162 acres, so that there was an extra 21 acres to work with. The Commission discussed possible impacts to wetlands, ground water, conservation
land. In exchange for taking conservation land, could the Commission ask them to do something to clean up Buttery Brook, which is very orange and sometimes smelly as it flows out of the landfill and down Abbey Street.
2. 6:45 PM ADJOURNMENT. A motion was made to adjourn, which was seconded, and voted unanimously in favor. Next regular Conservation Commission meeting March 31, 2008 at 7:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Stone,
Conservation Administrator
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