Conservation Commission Meeting Minutes 07/19/2022

By Otis Town ClerkConservation Commission Minutes
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TOWN OF OTIS

CONSERVATION COMMISSION

7/19/2022 MEETING MINUTES

 

Location:  Otis Town Hall, One North Main Road, Otis – In-Person Meeting

 

Conservation Commission Members present:  Dave Sarnacki, Roger Meyer, Bruce Wall, Domenic Battista; Jennifer Rivers Cole.

 

Conservation Commission Members absent:  Jeff Laramy

 

Staff and others present:  Kristen Brown OCC Admin Secretary; Heather Fusick; Patrick O’Brien; Chris Cagenello; John Alicandri; James Fink; David Donahue; Christopher Davis; Jackson Alberti w/Foresight Land Services; Lisa Gelinas; Rick Gelinas; Dan Murray.

 

Opening items/Introduction of Commission members and staff.  Dave opened the meeting at 6:00 p.m., and noted that the meeting is being recorded. The deadline for applications for the 8/16/2022 meeting is on Wednesday August 3, 2022 @ 6:00 PM. The next office hours, for the August 16, 2022 meeting, is also Wednesday August 3, 2022 from 6:00 –9:00 PM. Dave introduced the members of the commission, and asked everyone to turn off/down their cell phones for the duration of the meeting.

 

Minutes:  Dave made a motion to approve minutes from the June 21, 2022 meeting; DB 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes from the June 21, 2022 meeting.

 

  • Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Curt Thiem, 18 Elm Lane, map 16B lot 20, regarding the removal of three damaged/dead trees within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and asked if any questions stemming from the site inspection; with no issues being stated, Dave made a motion for a -3 determination with the standard conditions. BW 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination with standard conditions.
  • Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Daniel Murray, 79 D’Wolfe Drive, map 7B lot 4, regarding the removal of three damaged trees within the BZ of Watson Pond (Creek Pond). Dave opened this hearing and asked if any there are any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection; with no issues being stated, Dave made a motion for a -3 determination with the standard conditions. RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination with standard conditions.

 

  • Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Town of Otis Highway Dept., Reservoir Road, map 15C/16B, regarding the removal of nine trees along the roadway, removal & replacement of 12 cross culverts that are in poor condition & full depth reclamation of exiting road to rebuild asphalt surface. Dave opened this hearing and asked if any questions stemming from the site inspection. Per BW, need to know which culverts are being replaced, and if they are being replaced at the same size and capacity as current; Dave Donahue asked when the work would be conducted, since his concern is with people being able to access the Marina. Dave then made a motion to continue this hearing to the 8/16/22 meeting, so that we can clarify these points with applicant. RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to continue this hearing to the 8/16/22 meeting.

 

  • Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by John Alicandri, 207 Brookman Drive, map 18C lot 54, regarding the removal of existing wooden dock with aluminum dock system, within the BZ of Otis reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and asked if any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection. No issues stated, only that applicant must obtain permits from DCR and DEP as required, prior to work start. Dave then made a motion for a -3 determination with standard conditions, including that applicant must obtain permits fr4om DCR & DEP respectively, prior to work start. BW 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination with standard and above conditions.

 

  • Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Chris Cagenello, 24 Candlewood Drive, map 16C lot 17, regarding the repair of stonewall adjacent to patio, within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and asked if any questions stemming from the site inspection; per DB, applicant should use wattles for erosion controls, for the least disturbance to surrounding resource areas. Dave then made a motion for a -3 determination with standard conditions, to include applicant must use wattles only for erosion controls. RM & DB 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination with standard and above conditions.

 

  • Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Stephen Costello, Norton Road Ext., map 15 lot 122, regarding the construction of a 14’ wide gravel driveway, addition of a utility pole & utility lines, repair of existing culvert. Dave opened this hearing and asked if any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection; per BW, no questions, all very clear cut and minimal disturbance to resource area(s). Therefore, Dave made a motion for a -3 determination with standard conditions. RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination with standard conditions.

 

  • Public Hearing – NOI – Submitted by Salvini & Assocs., LLC on behalf of Erika Mueller, 1361 East Otis Road, map 15A lots 25/26, regarding demo & replacement of existing single-family home within the BZ of Benton Pond. Dave opened this hearing and asked if any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection. KB indicated that OCC has not received a DEP file number for this project as yet; applicant did receive so they forwarded to OCC. BW added that the EC (wattles) must be installed to span the length of the road. Dave then made a motion to issue an Order of Conditions with standard conditions, as well as Otis Special Conditions, to include that additional EC (wattles) must be installed to span the length of the road. BW 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue an Order of Conditions with standard and special conditions, to include that EC (wattles) must span the entire length of the road.

 

  • Public Hearing – NOI – Continued from 6/21/22 Meeting – Submitted by Kevin & Heather Fusick, 408 Pine Rd., map 17B lot 46, regarding the repair of existing seawall & addition of a patio and firepit on the south side of property, all within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and asked if any; KB noted that applicant has requested a continuance. Dave then made a motion to continue this hearing to the 8/16/22 meeting. RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to continue this hearing to the 8/16/22 meeting.

 

 

OTHER BUSINESS

 

Enforcement Orders/Letters:

 

    • Richard A & Lisa J Gelinas, 258 Giles Road, map 5 lot 6, regarding unauthorized work conducted within 200’ of Benton Brook & associated BVW. Dave opened this hearing and made a motion to ratify the Enforcement Order, and asked KB to send applicant details for submittals, so that they can file the appropriate paperwork for work conducted without approval. RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to ratify this EO.
    • Christopher & Jeanne Davis, Property lot @ corner of Dimmock Road & Route 8 North, regarding work that has been conducted within 200’ of an intermittent stream & associated BVW. Dave opened this hearing and made a motion to ratify the Enforcement Order, and ordered that a wetlands delineation be conducted on this sight to determine the extent of disturbance created by the unauthorized work. RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to ratify this EO, and order applicant to contract a wetlands delineation.
    • Brookman A Association, Association Beaches, both on South Lake Avenue & Westerly Road, installation of two kayak racks (one at each location) within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and KB indicated that this EO was issued in error, as applicant had previous approval to install non-permanent kayak racks, that will be removed seasonally. Therefore, Dave made a motion to drop this EO; BW 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to drop this EO.

 

Emergency Certifications:

Forest Cutting Plan:

 

    • Several Approved Forest Cutting Plans have been received as issued by MA DCR, as follows: Dave announced the following forest cutting approvals for the record.
      • 272 East Otis Road – 36 Acres
      • Reservoir Road/Tolland Road – 65 Acres
      • Stebbins Road – 7 Acres
      • West Center Road – 80 Acres

 

Extensions of Orders of Condition:

 

 

 

Certificate of Compliance Requests:

 

    • Public Hearing – Request for COC – Submitted by Austin Brazee, 65 Kibbe Point Road, map 17 lot 14, regarding request for COC for work completed under DEP File #254-0437. Dave opened this hearing and asked if any concerns from the site inspection, one being stated, Dave made a motion to issue a COC for the respective Order; BW 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a COC.

 

Unanticipated Business:

 

        • Hiring a Wetlands Agent: Dave opened this discussion and asked the Commission their thoughts on hiring a wetlands agent. The Commission was in agreement, however, since Commissioner Laramy was not in attendance, this matter will be continued to a future meeting.

 

Next office hours:  Wednesday, August 3, 2022 from 6-9 p.m. at Otis Town Hall.

Next meeting:  Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. at Otis Town Hall, or Remote via Zoom.

 

Dave made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:27 PM. RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting.