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HomeMy WebLinkAboutConservation Comm 12/01/1980CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES PACE 1 MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1980 DEC 119 m Members Present: Chairwoman Doris Webb, au l""Boyden; C'Yfarles Meszoely, Dianne Royle, Stuart Sweet Minutes: MOTION: To waive the reading of the Minutes of November 24, 1980 and to accept these Minutes as written. (Royle - Meszoely; all in favor) VOTED Correspondence: 1. November 25, 1980 personal letter from Robert DeLong' questioning the Commission's recommendation concerning the disposal of the sludge from the Norton wastewater treatment plant. 2. November 24, 1980 letter and plan from Rim Engineering Company outlining Fireside Realty Trust's alternative, discussed with and agreed to by Town Engineer Stanzione, to Condition No. 15 of the Order of Conditions for 100 Branch Street.' MOTION: To issue an Amended Order of Conditions to Fireside Realty Trust (SE211-55) substituting the proposed graded swale towards the rear of Lot No. 7 (100 Branch Street) for the catch basin outlined in Condition No. 15 of the Order: of Conditions issued by the Mansfield: Conservation Commission on April 14, 1980. (Boyden - Sweet; all in favor) VOTED 3. December 1, 1980 letter from Town Engineer Stanzione'I recommending that perforated pipe; be utilized for 150 feet of this drainage system rather than installing beehive or honeycomb catch basins. Com. Royale reported that Norton Conservation Director Opatka indicated that he would send a letter to the Commission outlining his recommendations for this drainage system. MOTION: To postpone issuing the Order of Conditions for this Watco proposal in anticipation of receiving a letter of recommendations from the Norton` Conservation Commission. (Royle - Sweet; all in favor) VOTED CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES PAGE '2 MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1980 W. Chadwick Maurer'- 1981-82 Budget: Because of Proposition 2 1/2, which cannot be overridden by Town Meeting, Town Manager Maurer informed the Commission that the Town has to reduce its budget; by $750,000.(This figure takes into account two out- standing bond issues.) The Town Manager has recommended to the Selectmen complete elimination of the Capital Improvements Program and while the Commission is free to submit an article to the Town Meeting'fiDr conservation land acquisition, Mr. Maurer feels the Town will have no money left; by the time 'Town Meding deals with such articles. As far as the operating budget of the Commission is concerned, Mr. Maurer suggested that while the Commission is legally bound to take action under certain circum- stances, these actions should be kept to the minimum. He also indicated that secretarial services should be streamlined wherever possible. The Commissioners indicated that this had been done two years ago and there didn't seem to be any other possible economies. The matter of the $25 filing fee set by law was addressed by the Town Manager, who felt that perhaps the Wetland Protection Act could be amended so that the actual costs of holding a hearing could be passed on to the applicants. Com. Boyden pointed out that all such fees collected are added to the General Fund and, therefore, would show no direct advantage t to the Commission. Town Manager Maurer admitted that this was true but that this increase in the General Fund due to all fees being increased would benefit all within a couple of years. Chairwoman Webb inquired as to the effect of revaluation on the property taxes'to be collected.- Mr. Maurer pointed out that the revaluation will not take effect until 1982 and that the only hope of benefitting sooner would be if the Department of Revenue updated its figures in order to 'estimate the amount of taxes the 'Down should collect under revaluation.' Chairwoman Webb than queried the Town Manager 'about contingency plans should more money than anticipated be available (if, by chance, 2 1/2 is greatly modified or not passed by the Legislature). 'Mr. Maurer felt it would be unrealistic to anticipate such circumstances and indicated that he would make recommendations to the Selectmen and the Finance Committee as to where such found money should go. He went on to say that it is his opinion that Conservation is a very low priority but he did indicate that if revenue sharing should be reinstituted or the Commission should receive a grant', this ' picture could change considerably. Chairwoman Webb was most concerned that the townspeople would not be involved in the E choices of how to spend any extra money. Com. Boyden suggested, therefore, that it would behoove the 'Commission to present an Article for land acquisition to the Town Meeting and then when any such monies were allocated, there would be available an indication of the 'desires of the people. CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES PACE 3 MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1980' ` Fireside Realty Trust -- East Street:A Wetland Protection Act Hearing was held at 8:00 'PM for Fireside Realty Trust's November 12, 1980 Notice of Intent to place fill for the con- struction of two homes and two sub -surface sewage disposal facilities at 1030 and 1036 East Street. A separate summary is on 'file; a tape of the hearing is also on file at the Town Clerk's office. Fasulo Property -- King Street:` It was the consensus of opinion of the Commission that this should be 'given low priority,:particu- larly, in view of other more serious problems in this vicinity. MOTION: To send a letter to Mr. Fasulo informing him that the Commission has reinspected his King Street property and finds there is still unsuitable fill present and requesting him to remove it. (Boyden -' Royle; lall in favor) VOTED J. P. '-Smith -- School Street: MOTION: To send a'letter to J. P. Smith stating that it has been three months since we last discussed his stockpiling on School Street and requesting that he submit a Notice of Intention or before January 12, 1981. (Sweet - Meszoely; all in favor) VOTED Carl Nelson -- School Street: MOTION: To send a:letter to Carl Nelson stating that it has been almost three months since we issued him a Cease and Desist Order and requesting that he submit a'Notice of Intent on or before. January 12, 1981. (Meszoely'- Royle; all in favor) VOTED Elwood Shepard -- Spring Street; MOTION: To send a+letter; to Elwood Shepard stating that it has been almost two months since we issued him 'a Cease and rDesist Order `and requesting that he submit a Notice of Intent on or before January 12, 1981. Royle - Boyden; all in favor) VOTED Lincoln Holske --'Elm Street/Elm Terrace: Mr. Holske appeared before the 'Commission to'inform 'them that he is ready to submit f a Notice of Intentlfor -his original proposal. It was agreed that Mr. Holske would submit this Notice after the holidays. CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES PAGE 4 MONDAY, DECEMBER 1 1980 Wetland Zoning: Com. Royle suggested that the Commission send for a'summary of the two-day Wetlands Seminar held in June at Tufts University sponsored by the New England Environmental Network since they dealt with Wetland Zoning'. Com. Sweet suggested that because of the impact of Proposition 2 1/2 on the land acquisition program, perhaps Wetland Zoning should be next year's main project for the Commission. Adjournment: MOTION: To adjourn this :meeting at 9:45 PM. (Sweet - Meszoely; all in favor) VOTED Accepted by li,, Date to Town 'Clerk' /G-' /h �L f pem k