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HomeMy WebLinkAboutConservation Comm 02/23/1981MANSFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTE S MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1981 PAGE 17 Members Present: Chairwoman Doris Webb, Coms. Paul B ydeit'Y"i'i C_7 - Charles Meszoely, Dianne Royle, Jane Sheehan Ted Robinson - Conservation Constable: Since Ted Robinson had indicated privately that he would be willing to replace Dick Lambos who retired at the end of 1980 as Conservation Constable, the Commission invited Mr. Robinson to discuss the position with them. Mr. Robinson informed the Commission that he would enjoy directing his love of the outdoors and his conservation mindedness into the voluntary, part-time position of Conservation Constable. MOTION: To request that the Board of Selectmen appoint Ted Robinson as Conservation Constable. (Boyden - Sheehan; all in favor) VOTED Mr. Robinson requested a list of the land controlled by the Conservation Commission and asked whether periodic reports would be desired. The Commissioners felt that while such formal reports would not be expected, they would hope that Mr. Robinson would feel free to contact one of the Commissioners should any problem arise. It was also suggested that once Mr. Robinson becomes familiar with all the Conservation Land and has had a chance to evaluate the necessity for any action (such as, posting "No Trespassing" signs, blocking entrances to areas, etc), it might be in order for him to come before the Commission again to discuss any thoughts he has on these matters. Maple Park: MOTION: To send a letter to the Town Manager reminding him of the Conservation Commission's concern that the entrance to Maple Park behind the Town Garage is still being left open, allowing unauthorized vehicles free access to the Park, where tree cutting and vandalism have been reported. The letter should also'request that the Town Manager inform the Commission of his solution to the problem (Royle - Sheehan; all in favor) VOTED Minutes: Com. Boyden read the Minutes of February 9, 1981 aloud. MOTION: To accept the Minutes of February 9, 1981 with corrections. (Royle - Boyden; all in favor) VOTED Kalnins Property: MOTION: At the earliest convenience when the frost is out of the ground, to set the metes and bounds for the Kalnins property adequate to delineate such property. (Boyden - Royle; all in favor) VOTED E MANSFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1981 Margot Jellinek - Tree Cutting at Airport: Mrs'. Jellifiekinformed the Commission that the Town is in danger of losing six more acres of trees (in addition to the 400 acres of woodland lost to Route 495 and what will bd razed to make way for Route 140) if the airport clears trees, rather than topping them off, in order to accommodate its new runway. MOTION: To send a letter to the Airport Commission with copies to the Board of Selectmen and the Town Manager stating that because of the natural destruction that is taking place in the southern portion of Town, the Commission is opposed to removal of trees for any purpose and therefore recommends tree topping to meet the airport's needs. (Meszoely - Sheehan; all in favor) VOTED Correspondence: 1. Bill from Patricia E. MacKay in the amount of $100 for 25 hours of secretarial services. MOTION: To pay this bill in the amount of $100. (Meszoely - Royle; all in favor) VOTED 2. Voucher in the amount of $12.00 to cover the fee for Mrs. MacKay to become a Notary Public. MOTION: To pay this fee in the amount of $12.00 (Boyden - Royle; all in favor) VOTED 3. Request for a Determination of Applicability of the Wetlands Protection Act from the Mansfield School Department for the work on the athletic fields. MOTION: To send a Determination of Applicability form to the Mansfield School Department indicating that a Wetlands Protection Act Hearing will be required for this project. (Royle - Sheeha; all in faw r) VOTED 4. Notice of Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions Annual Meeting on March 7, 1981. Chairwoman Webb and Coms. Sheehan and Royle indicated that they would like to attend'. . MOTION: To submit a voucher in the amount of $30 to cover the registration fees for these three representatives of the Mansfield Conservation Commission to attend the MACC Annual Meeting. (Boyden - Meszoely; all in favor) VOTED **A Wetlands Protection Act Hearing was held for the Town of Mansfield'; Wells project. (SE211-72.) A summary is filed separately and a tape of the hearing is on file at the Town Clerk's office. MANSFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1981 PAGE 3 5. Rewlew Trust's Plans for Woodland Park: It was agreed that these plans are not clear and that a representative of Relew Trust should be invited to appear before the Commission to explain the plans to the Commission. 6. Memo from Paul Folkman requesting the Conservation Commission to appoint one of its members to serve on the Hazardous Waste Advisory Task Force. Com. Boyden volunteered to take on this assignment on a temporary basis in the event that Com Sweet did not wish to serve on the Task Force. NOTE: When asked later in the week, Com. Sweet agreed to serve on the Hazardous Waste Advisory Task Force. 7. Memo from the Board of Health stating that the information regarding the presence of sodium ferrocyanide in the water is available from the Town Manager. This information will be requested of the Town Manager. Lincoln Holske - Elm Street: After considerable discussion of this project, the following Order of Conditions was voted on: 1. The Town of Mansfield shall be held harmless in connection with any future flooding that might be caused by this plan. This has been agreed to by Lincoln S. Holske. (Boyden - Sheehan; those in favor: Boyden, Sheehan, Webb; opposed: Royle; abstained: Meszoely) VOTED 2. The ditch adjacent to Elm Street shall be filled to an elevation of 138.0 (Royle - Sheehan; all in favor) VOTED 3. The excavated/regraded area shall be loamed and seeded according to best landscape practices. (Boyden.- Royle; all in favor) VOTED Kelton Potter - East Street: Com. Boyden reported that Town Counsel Mulcahy has contacted Mr. Potter's attorney informing him that Mr. Potter has a specified amount of time in which to respond to the temporary injunction pending against him which calls for the removal of fill from his East Street lots. Frederick Rys: Com. Royle informed the Commission that former Commissioner Rys has expressed his hope to stay involved with the Commission in a part-time capacity. MOTION: To elect Frederick Rys as an Associate Conservation Commissioner. (Royle - Sheehan; all in favor) VOTED MANSFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1981 PAGE 4 Fred further offered to oversee for the Commission the Little League complex to be constructed on the Sweet Conservation Land. Cutting trails through the Kalnins Conservation Land was another project the former Commissioner volunteered to direct. MOTION: To send a letter to Frederick Rys informing him that he has been elected an Associate Conservation Commissioner and assigning him as the Commission's liaison and watchdog in connection with the West Mansfield Little League complex and also requesting him to see to the cutting of trails through the Kalnins Conservation Land. (Royle - Meszoely; all in favor) VOTED Jackson Property: Com. Boyden has spoken with the Jacksons who informed him that very shortly they will formally offer for sale as conservation land eight acres of land southwest of the Canoe River. Opening on Commission: MOTION: To place one more advertisement in the MANSFIELD NEWS seeking applicants for the opening on the Commission. (Boyden - Sheehan; all in favor) VOTED The two people who have applied for the position thus far, Barbara Libby and Stephen Chapman will be invited to speak with the Commissioners at the next meeting on March 9, 1981. Resignation of Doris Webb as Chairwoman: Chairwoman Doris Webb informed the Commissioners that she wished to resign from her position as Chairwoman of the Commission. Com. Boyden expressed the Commissioners sincere appreciation of a job well done by one of the Commission's "best chairpersons ever." MOTION: To elect Dianne Royle as Chairwoman of the Conservation Commission. (Boyden - Sheehan; all in favor) VOTED Adiournment: MOTION: To adjourn this meeting at 10:30 PM (Meszoely - Boyden; all in favor) VOTED A c cepted by Date to Town Clerk �'s�-40/ WETLANDS PROTECTION ACT HEARING SUMMARY ]Vs E.E t_ APPLICANT: Town of Mansfield tC3ftd tLd'dtC ' DATE OF HEARING: Mon., Feb. 23, 1981 at 8:00 PM --- LOCATION OF PROJECT: Off East Street PURPOSE OF PROJECT: To construct two gravel packed wells at the sites of test well Nos. 32-74 and 77-75. Pumping Stations will be constructed at each site with approximate dimensions of 20 feet X 20 feet, along with access roads and discharge water mains to be incorporated into the Town's distribution system. These wells will help to alleviate the strain that is presently being put on existing municipal groundwater supply facilities. Arthur Stockus of Whitman & Howard, water consultants to the Town, made the presentation for this project which includes two wells 1,200 feet apart and their brick housings, a drainage ditch which sheds into the adjoining swamp, and the necessary roadways and parking areas. When Mr. Stockus explained that since completing the Notice of Intent, changes have been made in the information and the plans, Mrs Webb requested that new plans be submitted to reflect these changes as well as a corrected version of the Notice of Intent. While the original plans had indicated the construction of walls on both sides of the station in order to prevent any working in the wetland, the cost of these walls prohibited such a safeguard. Instead, it is now proposed that the foundation of this station house be made deeper. The only location where this project will encroach on the wetland is on the slope north and east of the station. One of the two proposed wells, presently housed in a 10 X 10' wooden building, has been driven and has been pumping since December 23, 1980. Otherwise, the only other work performed in this area is the clear i ng and regrading necessary to accommodate the digger and the removal of peat and the substitution of gravel under the station. The purpose of replacing the 10-14 feet of peat with gravel is to minimize organic contamination of well water. The addition of four more feet of gravel is proposed. When questioned by Chairwoman Webb as to the effect these wells will have on the adjoining swampland, Mr. Stockus stated that there should be no long-term effects. The Chairwoman persisted in her questioning in order to ascertain how Whitman & Howard had reached this conclusion and Mr. Stockus explained that the tests did not measure the ac tion of water table and the test did not measure the swamp per se since during the testing they were discharging into the swamp. The main concern is to make maximum use of the aquifer. Town of Mansfield --Wells off East Street (Maple Park) Hearing Summary Page Two Com. Boyden queried Mr. Stockus concerning a request by the Town Manager concerning a report on the impact of these wells on Mill Pond. Mr. Stockus stated that the report could be ready within two weeks and agreed to send a copy of this report to the Commission. At present the one existing well is working 24 hours each day pumping 450 gallons/minute. This well is pump.ing.at less than full capacity in order to prevent damage to the aquifer because of the well working constantly. When both wells are operational, (one with a maximum capacity of 700 gallons/minute and the other 500 gallons/minute), only one well will be pumping at a time, thus allowing for each well to rest part of the day. The existing well (No. 8 on the plans) is 53 feet below existing ground which is at elevation 1261; the other well is to be 55 feet below existing ground. At the time of the drilling, the ground water in this area was slightly under 125'. When discussing the eight -foot roadways and the 30 -foot -wide parking areas, Mr. Stockus stated that gravel or stone dust will be used rather than paved surfaces. Since these roads and parking areas (to be used for maintenance vehicles) are not adequately delineated on the plans, Chairwoman Webb requested that these be outlined on the new set of plans. While Mr. Stockus stated that he had not seen the Commissions's stipulations regarding the development of these areas, the plans fall within the stated outlines which the Commission set forth at the time they ceded the land to the Town for well development. The proposed well (No. 9 on the plans) will not encroach on the wetlands at all. The aquifer in the area of the wells is about 50 feet underground. The testing indicated that there is no total isolation of ground water from aquifer. Chairwoman Webb queried Mr. Stockus about the results of water quality testing, particularly about the possible presence of sodium ferrocyanide in the water. Mr. Stockus replied that the testing had indicated that the water fell well within the guidelines of the Pure Water Quality Act. Mr. Spockus stated that since the State did the analyses, he was not sure whether or not the testing included a search for sodium ferrocyanide. pem