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SOUTH HADLEY CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
March 31, 2008
Approved at 5/19/08 meeting.
PRESENT: Jack Fleming, Chair; Dennis Swartwout, Vice Chair, Jim Canning, Brad Allen and Art Jackson. Janice Stone, Conservation Administrator.
1. 7:00 PM OPEN FORUM Opportunity for the public to come in and ask questions, discuss wetland concerns with the Conservation Commission. No one present, so the Commission did the following Old & New Business: Bills payable. Jim reviewed the expenses, and made a motion to accept the items for payment of general office supplies. Brad seconded, and all approved. Minutes. Dennis made a motion to accept the minutes from March 10 and 12, 2008. Art seconded, and all voted in favor. Bynan Conservation Area: Brad asked for an update on the status of improving the access off Lyman Terrace. Janice had spoken earlier with DPW, needs to do follow-up letter. The sign is okay, but the entrance path from the road needs
enhancement, maybe some grading and a boulder to designate path. Work with the Cotes on this. Updates. See attached sheet of notes. See Opinion letter from Tom Wallace about Black Stevens. HG&E has asked DEP for an extension of time to complete compiling the necessary information for the Riverside Park appeal review.
2. 7:15 PM PUBLIC HEARING on a Notice of Intent (288-393) filed by the South Hadley Electric Light Department (SHELD) for maintenance and expansion of existing electrical utility line from Pine Street to Brainerd Street. Wayne Doerpholz from SHELD and consultants Frank Postma and Amy Wetterskog from LFR were present to discuss the Notice. Frank handed out revised plans at a larger scale. Their proposal is to expand the existing 40-60’ wide utility corridor easement to 100’ from Brainerd Street to the Pine Shed substation on Pine Street. They will remove the existing single line of poles and replace with them with a triple line across. The single line cannot hold the capacity, and they have found that most of their power failures have been in this stretch. Pole 18 is in the stream, and presently supported by the wires. They will be removing all the trees within the 100’ easement, and then continue maintenance. Frank discussed some of the proposed methods for access to
limit impact to the wetland, including using track vehicles and chipping the trees, shrubs and vines and leaving the chips in place. The Commission asked about alternative access or utility corridor across the upland from Route 116. Wayne gave reasons why he did not think that approach would work. The consultant claimed less impact to rare species by expanding the existing line in the wetland. The Commission also asked about the DEP comments and questions. Frank said they will be asking for a waiver from the Water Quality Certification, and will be submitting an expanded Environmental Notification Form to MEPA. When asked about the use of track vehicles instead of swamp mats, the applicant stated that he thought swamp mats caused a lot more disturbance to the ground and vegetation. An abutter (Martha Terry) asked if SHELD was planning on using the town’s sewer easement across her property to access the floodplain. The applicant
said no. The consultant estimated the amount of time to do the project at about 3 months. The Commissioners discussed removing the chips rather than leaving them in place, especially with invasive species in the mix. Since there would have to be more administrative paperwork with DEP, NHESP, and MEPA before the Commission could proceed, all agreed to a continuance to June 2 at 7:15 PM. Art made the motion, Dennis seconded, and all voted in favor. The Commission decided on April 21, May 12, and June 2 for the next meeting dates.
3. 8:00 PM DISCUSSION AND VOTE on a Request for an Extension of Order of Conditions # 288-334, by Hillcrest Park Condominium Trust, 35E Hillcrest Park, for general maintenance and additional aquatic weed treatments. Brian Dowdall from Hillcrest Park was present to discuss the request. He explained that they would like an extension on the Orders which expire this July. They will be continuing the same work. The aerators are working, there have been 2 applications of herbicide (2006 and 2007). They would like to add another herbicide to the list, since the experts have found a new problem plant, Najas. It is the same treatment as Mount Holyoke College uses, and will be done in the same way as the other has been-from a boat in the springtime by a
licensed applicator. The Commission noted that they were supposed to receive an Annual Report describing how the treatments were working, but had not received any. They asked that the applicator write up something about the treatments. Brian then asked the Commission about the red/brown water that comes into the pond after a heavy rain. It starts somewhere upstream from Route 33. Brian estimated that a third of the pond has filled with sediment coming in from the stream. Brad made a motion to approve the extension, with the conditions that Hillcrest Park submit a letter from Aquatic Control describing the new chemical, and follow up with an Annual Report. Jim seconded, and all voted in favor.
4. OLD & NEW BUSINESS, continued. The Commission discussed the landfill expansion.
The special botanists approved by NHESP and hired by Angelo found a small colony of the rare fern just outside the presently proposed expansion area. Stonybrook Village: The Commission discussed the issuance of an Enforcement Order to Stonybrook Village, to change the frequency of erosion control reporting. This is the only way other than an Amendment to the Orders, to force the change, and there is good reason. Commission approved and signed. See attached sheet of notes on other updates. The Commission decided to wait until early May to schedule another meeting to review the Bylaw regulations. Dennis suggested the Commission meet at the new restaurant at the Ledges for a snack or meal while the discussion was held. The meeting would be posted for that location.
5. 9:15 PM ADJOURNMENT. Dennis made a motion to adjourn, which was seconded by Art, and all voted unanimously in favor. Next regular Conservation Commission meeting April 21, 2008 at 7:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Stone,
Conservation Administrator
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