Conservation Commission Meeting Minutes 09/20/2022

By Otis Town ClerkConservation Commission Minutes
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TOWN OF OTIS

CONSERVATION COMMISSION

9/20/2022 MEETING MINUTES

 

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

 

Conservation Commission Members present:  Dave Sarnacki, Roger Meyer, Bruce Wall, Jeff Laramy.

 

Conservation Commission Members absent:  Domenic Battista, Jenn Rivers Cole.

 

 

Staff and others present:  Kristen Brown OCC Admin Secretary, Don Adams, James Wendell, Mark Paulson, Michael Vincenti, Shannon Boomsma w/White Eng., Mike Kulig w/Berkshire Eng., Alicia Belanger.

 

 

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 10/18/2022 meeting is on Wednesday October 5, 2022 @ 6:00 PM. The next office hours, for the October 18, 2022 meeting, is also Wednesday October 5, 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 August 16, 2022 meeting; RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes from the August 16, 2022 meeting.

 

  • Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Michael Vincenti, 126 East Shore Rd., map 16A lot 39, regarding the removal of a tree within the BZ of Big Pond. Dave opened this hearing and asked the Commission if any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection.  Per BW, everything OK, tree is dead; no issues. Dave made a motion for a -3 determination with standard conditions, JL 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination with standard conditions.

 

  • Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Michael Gatzounas, 1004 Reservoir rd., map 15C lot 43, regarding the removal of 7 trees within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and asked the Commission if any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection.  No concerns with this project, trees are OK for removal. 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 – RDA – Submitted Dave Wheeler, 25 Bay Point Rd., map 17D lot 102, regarding the installation of patio blocks beneath existing deck within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and asked the Commission if any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection.  Per BW, this is one where applicant appears to have begun the work prior to obtaining approval. Bruce made a motion to remind applicant that for any future projects, work cannot commence until the proper approval paperwork is in their hands. RM 2nd the motion & the Commission voted unanimously to remind applicant as such. As for the work, no issues are observed and no other issues from Concom. With that being said, Dave made a motion for a -3 determination with standard conditions, BW 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination with standard conditions, etc.

 

  • Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Wendell Family Trust, 2 S. Gate Island Rd., map 17C lot 1, regarding the removal of a tree within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and asked the Commission if any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection.  No issues, tree is dead, no issues. 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 – RDA – Submitted by Mark Paulson, 6 S. Gate Island Rd., map 17C lot 2, regarding the removal of a tree within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and asked the Commission if any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection, again JL indicated that the tree if dead, and no issues, everything looks good. Dave made a motion for a -3 determination with standard conditions, JL 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination with standard conditions.

 

  • Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Chris Cagenello, 24 Candlewood Dr., map 16C lot 17, regarding the removal of 3 trees within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and asked the Commission if any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection. With this one, BW indicated that applicant should plant 2 native shrubs and/or bushes of their choosing, to replace the trees being removed; everything else looks OK. Dave made a motion for a -3 determination with standard conditions to include that applicant must plant 2 native shrubs/bushes to replace trees, BW 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination with standard conditions as outlined above.

 

  • Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Mary Fischer, 355 Stanley Rd., map 16A lot 2, regarding the removal of a tree within the BZ of Big Pond. Dave opened this hearing and asked the Commission if any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection.  Bruce stated that the tree is dead and needs to be removed, but in this case as well, 3 native plantings are required to replace the tree. Dave made a motion for a -3 determination with standard conditions to include applicant must plant 3 native plantings, RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination with standard conditions as outlined above.

 

 

 

 

 

  • Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Donald Adams, 32 South Lake Ave., map 18A lot 50, regarding replacement of existing wood dock with pre-fab dock, within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and asked the Commission if any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection.  Per BW, everything looks good; however, this is another one where applicant will need to obtain additional permitting as required by MA DCR and/or DEP, and applicant must obtain a Chapter 91 license. Dave made a motion for a -3 determination with standard conditions as well as applicant must obtain additional permitting from MA DCR/DEP & must obtain a Chapter 91 license, JL 2nd the motions and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination with standard conditions as outlined above.

 

  • Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Berkshire Eng., Inc., on behalf of Dave Wheeler, 19 Pine Grove Ridge, map 15D lot 92, regarding replacement of an existing failed septic system within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and asked the Commission if any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection.  Per BW, everything looks good on the prints/plans, as well as the site, no issues. Dave made a motion for a -3 determination w/standard conditions, BW 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination with standard conditions.

 

 

OTHER BUSINESS

 

Enforcement Orders/Letters:

 

    • Enforcement Order – Tree removal within a protected area w/o prior Permission – Gary Belanger, 20 Pine Road Extension. Dave opened this hearing and invited applicant to address the Commission, and then promptly recused himself from this hearing as he is an abutting neighbor to respective property owner. Applicant indicated that they did not realize that the work that was conducted need permission as they were just trimming. Bruce interrupted to state that trees were removed as well, as observed in the pictures of stumps taken on site and presented. With some further discussion, Bruce made a motion for applicant to submit an RDA application to replace the healthy trees that were removed (4), with 5 Aphrodite shrubs in the area of the tree removals. RM 2nd the motion & the Commission voted unanimously as outlined above. Applicant asked if they could wait to plant until next spring, and the Commission agreed.

 

Emergency Certifications:

 

    • Emergency Certification – 30 Clubhouse Road, map 10F lot 14, regarding the removal of a tree within the BZ of Owl Lake. Dave opened this hearing and asked if any discussion required, with none being stated, Dave made a motion to ratify this EC. RM 2nd the motion & the Commission voted unanimously to ratify this emergency certification.

 

    • Emergency Certification – Becket Road, between 154 & 190, regarding the breach of existing beaver dam causing flooding. Dave opened this hearing and asked if any discussion required, with none being stated, Dave made a motion to ratify this EC. BW 2nd the motion & the Commission voted unanimously to ratify this emergency certification.

 

    • Emergency Certification – 22 Chestnut Lane, Map 16C lot 1, regarding the removal of four (4) trees within the buffer zone of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and asked if any discussion required, with none being stated, Dave made a motion to ratify this EC. JL 2nd the motion & the Commission voted unanimously to ratify this emergency certification.

 

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.
      • West Center Road – 46 Acres
      • Lyon Hill, Church Hill & Becket Roads – 90 Acres +/-

 

Extensions of Orders of Condition:

Certificate of Compliance Requests:

Unanticipated Business:

 

  • Discuss the delineation report for Route 8 & Dimmock Roads, Chris Davis. Dave opened this item and asked if anyone in attendance and Chris was in attendance along with his representative Shannon Boomsma w/White Engineering. Shannon outlined the work done previously, both by applicant, as well as previous owners. The information provided by the delineation clearly shows that the work conducted by Mr. Davis has helped to clean-up & sustain the existing resource areas of concern. Upon discussion & review, Dave made a motion for applicant to complete & submit a RDA filing, in order to cover the work done without permission. DB 2nd the motion & the Commission voted unanimously for applicant to complete & submit an RDA filing for work done in subject areas.

 

  • Discuss and review map for beaver dams within the Town. Dave bumped this for discussion at a future meeting, since Jenn was not in attendance and het input will be invaluable.

 

 

 

Next office hours:  Wednesday, October 5, 2022 from 6-9 p.m. at Otis Town Hall.

Next meeting:  Tuesday, October 18, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. at Otis Town Hall, or Remote via Zoom.

 

Dave made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:02 PM. RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting.