HomeMy WebLinkAboutConservation Comm 03/09/1981MANSFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MONDAY, MARCH 9, 1981
Members Present:
Min--nutes:
Chairwoman Dianne
Charles Meszoely,
MINUTE L
PAGE
Royle, Coms. Paul Boyden,' W
Jane Sheehan, Doris Webb I
MOTION: To postpone the reading of the Minutes
in view of the large number of items on
(Boyden - Webb; all in favor)
Correspondence:
of February 23, 1981
the agenda.
VOTED
1• February 27, 1981 bill from Mansfield Press in the amount
Of $11.20 for one -week's advertisement for applicants to
fill the opening on the Commission
MOTION: To pay this bill in the amount of $11.20
(Meszoely - Webb; all in favor) VOTED
2. Februar 25
J 1981 letter from Edward Carl granting J. p.
Smith permission to perform the work proposed in File
No. SE211-68.
3• March 6, 1981
for signature
in connection
Com.
and
letter from Town Counsel Mulcahy enclosing
a Petition for Contempt against Kelton Potter
with 1030 and 1036 East Street.
Webb signed this petition
it will be returned to Town
4• February 25, 1981
offering for sale
land southwest of
on behalf of the Commission
Counsel Mulcahy.
letter from Suzanne and Wendell Jackson
to the Town the eight -acre parcel of
the Canoe River.
MOTION: In light of this offer, to obtain an opinion of
value of this parcel of land to be paid from the
Land Acquisition Fund.
(Boyden - Webb; all in favor) VOTED
Com. Boyden will follow through on this matter and report
back to the Commission.
5. February 23, 1981 Notice of Intent from the Mansfield
School Department for the improvement and expansion of
existing sports fields adjacent to the Mansfield High School.
The Wet'
scheduled
nforus pMarch23
t,1 1981at8:00P
Hearing
fM this project was
MANSFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES
MONDAY, MARCH 9, 1981 PAGE 2
6. March 9, 1981 letter from Patricia E. MacKay requesting
a raise in her pay rate from $4.00 to %.50/hour.
MOTION: To recommend and/or raise Secretary MacKay's pay
rate from $4.00 to $4.50/hour.
(Meszoely - Boyden; all in favor) VOTED
7. February 23, 1981 letter from William N. Maravell of
SRPEDD enclosing a copy of a Impact Report of the Snow and
Ice Control Program prepared by the Mass. DPW which indicates
that sodium ferrocyanide is present at a rate of 2 pounds/ton
in the road salt used by the State.
MOTION: To send copies of this letter and its enclosure to
the Board of Selectmen, Town Manager, Board of
Health, and Judith Pickett of the Conservation Law
Foundation with a cover letter noting that this
will be of interest to them.
(Webb - Sheehan; all in favor) VOTED
8. Copy of February 19, 1981 letter to Rewlew Trust from DEQE
regarding gravel spreading at Woodland Park.
9. A present and proposed schedule of fees relating to Wetland
Protection Act Hearings form to be filled out and returned
to the Executive Office of Communities and Development.
It was agreed that the present fees should be listed along
with the fact that the Commission is hoping to have a town
wetlands bylaw passed at this year's Town Meeting but that
the intent is not to charge double fees. It was also suggested
that the Commission note that it would like to pass along to
the applicants the secretarial charges incurred in connection
with their hearings but that it appears that any such funds
would have to be added to the Town's General Fund.
Emergency Transfer:
MOTION: In view of the fact that the present balance in the
Commission's expense account is $143.46, to apply for
a transfer of $500 from the reserve fund.
(Meszoely - Boyden; all in favor) VOTED
Rewlew Trust - Woodland Park: In response to the Commission's
k request for a clarification of the plans submitted with the most
- recent Notice of Intent in connection with this project, James
MANSFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES
MONDAY, MARCH 9, 1981 PAGE 3
Kelly informed the Commission that it is not clear why the lot
numbers have been blacked out on this plan. Ralph Maloon, whose
firm drew up the plans, suggested that it might have something to
do with the fact that these four lots would not have been viable
with the brook in its original location.
MOTION: To request Rewlew Trust to provide the Commission with a
plan which reflects the contours, etc., as they presently
exist and indicates what work is proposed in this latest
Notice of Intent and to resubmit the Notice of Intent wits
the revised plans.
(Boyden - Webb; all in favor) VOTED
Ash Gravel Removal Project: Ralph Maloon left with the Commission
the revised plans for this project. An Amended Order of Conditions
will be issued by the Commission reflecting the changes in the
original plans agreed to previously by the Commission.and indicated
on these revised plans.
Town Wells:
MOTION: To request an extension to March 23, 1981 for the
issuing of the Order of Conditions for this project
due to the fact that the Commission has not received
the up -dated Notice of Intent and Plans requested at
the hearing.
(Meszoely - Boyden; all in favor) VOTED
Jelke Ligthart - 250 Plain Street: Mr. Ligthart, 207A Creek St.,
Wrenthan, requested information regarding work to be done on the
house and property he is interested in purchasing at 250 Plain
Street. The Commissioners informed him that any work (whether
dredging or filling the silted wet area on the property or adding
to the house) in or within 100 feet of the wetland would require a
determination of the applicability of the Wetlands Protection Act.
In response to his question, Com. Boyden explained to Mr. Ligthart
that he could apply for such a determination and file a Notice of
Intent without owning the property but presenting a signed Purchase
and Sales Agreement.
Opening on the -Commission: The Commissioners interviewed the
three applicants for the opening on the Commission:
Stephen Chapman, 123 Union Street, a civil engineer employed by
Stone & Webster, who took up residence in Mansfield last October
and is anxious to become involved in Town government. Mr.
Chapman's main conservation concern is the protection of existing
water supplies.
MANSFIELD (DNSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES
MONDAY, MARCH 9, 1981 PAGE 4
Keith Johnson, 103 Walnut Street, a civil engineer employed by
Haley & Aldrich, consulting geotechnical engineers, has lived
in Mansfield for three years and is most concerned with hazardous
wastes and protection of the ground water. Mr. Johnson was
alarmed to read of four possible hazardous waste sites in
Mansfield and would Work toward eliminating these problems.
Barbara Libby, 243 School Street, has indicated a great interest
in conservation by her regular attendance at Commission meetings.
Mrs. Libby, a long-time resident of Mansfield, is familiar with
the Town and the Commission's functions.
Martin Cahill - East Street: Mr. Cahill was seeking an up -date
and explanation of possible next steps regarding 1030 and 1036
East Street, owned by Kelton Potter. The Commissioners informed
Mr. Cahill that a Petition for Contempt had been signed and was to
be forwarded to Town Counsel Mulcahy for filing with the Superior
Court. In response to Mr. Cahill's subsequent questions regarding
his and the Commission's next steps, the Commissioners informed
him that he, as well as the Commission, would have to wait to
see what decision the Court reaches. Com. Boyden suggested that
Mr. Cahill consider seeking legal representation in this regard.
Little League: Associate Commissioner Frederick Rys reported
that the work has begun on the West Mansfield Little League complex
and suggested that a letter of commitment from the Army Corps of
Engineers which would include a work schedule and the type of
equipment to be used might be helpful not only to the Commission
but also to the Little League. Associate Commissioner Rys also
mentioned that a method for closing off the entrance to the Sweet
Conservation Land in this area must be found. (Com. Boyden left at
this time.)
Mrs Jellinek - Airport Tree Topping: (Com. Webb was not present
for this discussion.) Mrs. Jellinek informed the Commission that
she has spoken with the Fire Chief concerning the safest procedures
for tree topping --her main concern being the 37 acres of trees to
be affected by the Airport's future plans. Mrs. Jellinek expressed
her belief that the Conservation Commission has jurisdiction over
these trees since tests indicate that water levels in this area
are either above ground level or not more than one or two feet
below existing ground --swampland. (Com. Webb returned at this time.)
J. P. Smith - School Street: The Commissioners discussed this
project at some length and signed the usual Order of Conditions
to which the following had been added:
1. This project is denied for the following reason: The
construction of a swale would result in the drainage of a
MANSFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES
MONDAY, MARCH 9, 1981 PAGE 5
valuable flood retention area. The wetland in question
is important enough to be a factor in preventing downstream
flooding (Hodges Brook Basin).
2. There shall be no stockpiling within twenty (U feet of
the wetland area as shown on the above-cited plan.
Boy Scout Projects: Com. Meszoely will contact Peter Weikel and
Danny Swartz regarding the placement of wood duck boxes and the
cleaning of the Rumford River.
Adjournment:
MOTION: To adjourn this meeting at 10:30 PM.
(Meszoely - Sheehan; all in favor) VOTED
Accepted by
Date to Town Clerk —,Y/