TOWN OF OTIS
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
02/18/2020 MEETING MINUTES
Location: Otis Town Hall, One North Main Road, Otis
Conservation Commission Members present: Dave Sarnacki, Jeff Laramy, Roger Meyer; Bruce Wall; Domenic Battista.
Conservation Commission Members absent: None
Staff and others present: Kristen Brown OCC Admin Secretary; Bob Mason with MA DCR; Donnie Chaffee;
Opening items/Introduction of Commission members and staff. Dave opened the meeting at 6:00 p.m. He noted that the meeting is being recorded. The deadline for applications for the March 17th 2020 meeting is on Wednesday March 4, 2020 @ 6:00 PM. The next office hours, for the March 17, 2020 meeting, is March 4, 2020 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. Dave also introduced Bob Mason with MA DCR who was also in attendance as representative for the state.
Minutes: Dave made a motion to approve minutes from the January 21, 2020; RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes from the January 21, 2020 meeting minutes.
- Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Don Chaffee w/Chaffee Construction, on behalf of Bob & Judy Hampel, 31 Davison Road, map 11 lot 98, regarding the removal & replacement of existing rotted & collapsed deck, in same footprint, using techno-posts for piers, within the resource area of an intermittent stream. Dave opened this hearing and invited applicant to address the Commission. Donnie Chaffee was in attendance on behalf of applicant. Dave asked if there are any questions stemming from the site inspection. Per BW, please add the EC, as well as the stone and filter fabric for beneath the existing deck. Donnie added this info to the plans for himself and for our files. Per Donnie, he also will not do the work when the stream is running high from seasonal run-off. He stated that he does not want to do this job in the spring when everything is muddy anyway. Dave made a motion for a -3 determination with the following conditions: install EC and have inspected by OCC prior to work start; also call OCC a week prior to start date so they can inspect to make sure stream water level is not flowing too highly; no heavy equipment in the resource area; debris to be removed or covered daily; OCC reserves the right to inspect property for 3 years from date of approval. BW 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination with the above conditions.
- Public Hearing – NOI – Submitted by Lawrence Irvine, on behalf of Dorothy Pelikan, 14 South Lake Ave., map 18A lots 25/26, regarding the removal and replacement of existing failing dock on Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and invited applicant to address the Commission. A rep from Berkshire Engineering was in attendance on behalf of applicant (name not provided and illegible on the recording). Applicant will stay within existing footprint in order to not have to revise the existing 99-year chapter 91 license. Mark with DEP also had questions, which were answered fully by applicant. Book and page have been corrected to book 1575 page 396 for the record on the NOI, within the ROD as well as MA DEP. A copy was provided to OCC for our files. Map and lot are 18A lots 46 and 47. Everything else has been corrected, and file updated with OCC files. Procedurally, everything is in order. Dave made a motion to approve and issue an OOC with the standard conditions, including OCC reserves the right to inspect property for 3 years from date of approval. BW 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to approve and issue an OOC for this NOI, with the standard conditions, including OCC reserves the right to inspect property for 3 years from date of approval.
- Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Bruce A. Wall, 38 South Lake Ave., map 18A lot 51, regarding the removal of 3 trees & a partial 4th, as well as replacement of boards on top of existing dock, all within the BZ of OR. Dave opened this hearing and invited applicant to address the Commission. Bruce Wall recused himself from this hearing as it is his RDA filing, for his property. Dave asked if any questions stemming from the site inspection, and Bruce presented several pictures to the record as well, for the file. Per RM, the subject trees are OK to be removed as proposed as well as the replacement of several boards on the existing dock, for which permission is not typically required for this type of non-invasive dock maintenance. Dave made a motion for a -3 determination, with the following conditions: bio-oil only in chainsaw(s); debris to be removed or covered immediately; no heavy equipment in the resource area; OCC reserves the right to inspect property for 3 years from date of approval. RM 2nd the motion and the Commission vote unanimously to issue a -3 determination with the above conditions.
OTHER BUSINESS
Enforcement Orders/Letters:
- Dorothy Pelikan, 14 South Lake Ave., map 18A lots 25/26, regarding the unauthorized work in the BZ and resource areas of Otis Reservoir. Since applicant is here with a NOI filing as a result of this EO, Dave made a motion to ratify this EO; RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to ratify this EO.
Emergency Certifications:
Forest Cutting Plan
Extensions of Orders of Condition:
- Request for Extension of OOC: Submitted by GZA, on behalf of MA DCR/Dam Maintenance Program, FKA DEM, for draw down OOC extensions for both OR and BP in Otis, MA. OOC issued respectively under DEP File 254-0155 & 254-0156. Dave opened this hearing and asked the Commission if there were any concerns with extending the OOC for the official draw down for both OR and Big Pond. None being said, Dave made a motion to approve the extension of OOC for both OR and Big Pond, for MA DCR; RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to approve the extensions of OOC for both OR and Big Pond Draw Down orders.
Certificate of Compliance Requests:
- Public Hearing – Request for COC – Submitted by James LeGrand, 59 Pine Grove Ridge, map 15 lot 2140, regarding installation of Jet 500 septic system, drilling of a new well & temporary road for access and the repair of an existing dock in tandem with Chapter 91 application, all in the BZ of OR. Project completed under OOC issued under DEP file 254-0413. Dave opened this hearing and asked the Commissions if there were any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection. None being said, Dave made a motion t issue a COC for this completed project. BW 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a COC for this project/OOC.
Unanticipated Business:
Next office hours: Wednesday, March 4, 2020 from 6-9 p.m. at Otis Town Hall.
Next meeting: Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at Otis Town Hall.
Dave made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:17 PM. BW 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting.