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TOWN OF OTIS
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
05/19/2020 MEETING MINUTES
Location: Otis Town Hall, One North Main Road, Otis ** Remote Meeting Via Zoom ***
Conservation Commission Members present: Dave Sarnacki, Jeff Laramy, Roger Meyer; Bruce Wall.
Conservation Commission Members absent: Domenic Battista
Staff and others present: Kristen Brown OCC Admin Secretary; Donnie Chaffee; Doug & Janet Baker with Outdoor Services; others in attendance unknown, as not announced.
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 June 16th 2020 meeting is on Wednesday June 3, 2020 @ 6:00 PM. The next office hours, for the June 16, 2020 meeting, is also Wednesday June 3, 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.
Minutes: Dave made a motion to approve minutes from the April 21, 2020; BW & RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes from the April 21, 2020 meeting.
- Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Dave Wheeler, on behalf of Nicole & Marc Maddalena, 29 Bay Point Road, regarding the installation of a new moveable shed in existing footprint; and the planting of two new trees, all within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and changed the order of business of this hearing, to the end of the agenda; RM 2nd the motion and the order of business was changed. Dave again opened this hearing and invited applicant to address the Commission. No one was in attendance for this hearing, however, there appears to be property line litigation going on in Boston right now, to identify the HWM, as well as other official boundaries in this specific area of Bay Point Road. Therefore, the Commission cannot make a decision until MA DCR can provide input on the legally defined boundaries, so Dave made a motion to continue this hearing until the June 16,2020 meeting, per request of applicant Dave Wheeler. RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to continue this hearing until the June 16, 2020 meeting.
- Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Margaret A. Harner, on behalf of Cooper Hi-da-Way Trust, 83 Pine Grove Ridge, map 15D lot 102, regarding removal of a dying/dead pine tree within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and invited applicant to address the Commission. Dave opened this hearing and invited applicant to address the Commission. No one in attendance, however, Dave asked the Commissioners if there were any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection and none being stated, made a motion to issue a -3 determination with the following conditions: Bio-oil only in equipment; stumps cut flush with ground; no heavy equipment in the resource area; all debris to be removed immediately; OCC reserves the right to inspect property for 3 years from date of approval. RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination with the above conditions.
- Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Chaffee Construction, on behalf of Karen Coviello, 78 Mallard Road, map 11F lot 94, regarding the removal of three trees within the BZ of Big Pond. Dave opened this hearing and invited applicant to address the Commission. Dave opened this hearing and invited applicant to address the Commission, Don Chaffee was in attendance. The question we have is that the application states 78 mallard road, but it is actually 72, and in addition, the Commission could not see any marked trees at this location. Don indicated that the high winds recently probably removed the ribbons he attached, so he requested a continuance to address the tree markings, so that the Commission can do a proper site inspection. Therefore, Dave made a motion to continue this hearing until the June 16, 2020 meeting. BW 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to continue this hearing until the June 16 2020 meeting.
- Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Michael Boyes, 44 Highland Way, map 10E lot 40, regarding the removal of several trees (20) within the resource area of Benton Brook Stream, that threaten the house. Dave opened this hearing and invited applicant to address the Commission. Dave asked the Commissioners if there were any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection and none being stated, made a motion to issue a -3 determination with the following conditions: Bio-oil only in equipment; no heavy equipment in the resource area; all debris to be removed immediately; One tree will need to be removed via crane as due to the size; OCC reserves the right to inspect property for 3 years from date of approval. JL 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination with the above conditions.
- Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by BSC Group, on behalf of Eversource Energy, regarding the upgrade of gravel access road, work pad construction, to support structure replacements proposed along the 1421 Line ROW, which falls within the BZ of associated BVW. Dave opened this hearing and invited applicant to address the Commission. Dave asked the Commission if there were any questions or concerns, and per Jeff Laramy, no issues, standard maintenance of public utility. Therefore, Dave made a motion for a -3 determination with the following conditions: No heavy equipment in any resource area; debris to be removed immediately from resource area and/or Buffer Zone; 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 – RDA – Submitted by Chester W. Galaska, 306 Kibbe Road, map 17C lot 89, regarding the removal of a dying tree presenting hazard to house, within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and invited applicant to address the Commission. Dave opened this hearing and invited applicant to address the Commission. No one in attendance, however, Dave asked the Commissioners if there were any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection and none being stated, made a motion to issue a -3 determination with the following conditions: Bio-oil only in equipment; no heavy equipment in the resource area; all debris to be removed immediately on a daily basis; OCC reserves the right to inspect property for 3 years from date of approval. JL 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination with the above conditions.
- Public Hearing – NOI – Submitted by Janet Baker with Outdoor Services, on behalf of Wayde McMillan, 633 Pine Road, map 17D lot 20, regarding the installation of drive on, removable jet-ski lift attached to existing dock, within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and invited applicants to address the Commission. Doug & Janet Baker were in attendance, and per Janet, she is requesting a continuance, as she could not obtain a proper and complete abutter list in time to send the letters out to all abutters of this address. Dave made a motion to continue this hearing until the June 16 2020 meeting; BW 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to continue this hearing until the June 16, 2020 meeting.
OTHER BUSINESS
Enforcement Orders/Letters:
- Public Hearing, Enforcement Order – Continuation – Brookman Drive, Map 18C lot 57, regarding unapproved work observed in the BZ of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and invited owner to address the Commission. No one in attendance again, as ordered by the Enforcement issued, so Dave made a motion to ratify this enforcement order, and to also forward this enforcement on to MA DEP for follow up action, since no one has answered the EO. BW 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to ratify this EO, and to forward this to MA DEP for follow up.
Emergency Certifications:
- Public Hearing – EC Tree Removal – 143 Vine Street, Larry Unwin, regarding the removal of a dead tree, presenting danger to property or persons, within the BZ of OR. Site inspection done on 5/8/2020. Dave opened this hearing and made a motion to ratify the Emergency Certification; RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to ratify this EC.
- Public Hearing – EC Tree Removal – 41 N. Lake Avenue, regarding 4 dead trees within the BZ of OR. Site inspection done on 5/11/20, with Tree Warden. Dave opened this hearing and made a motion to ratify the Emergency Certification; RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to ratify this EC.
- Public Hearing – EC Beaver Dam, Flooding Mitigation – Town Hill Road in Otis – Regarding the removal of a beaver dam, and removal of inhabitants to alternate area. Work done by Beaver Solutions on behalf of MA DOT. Site inspection done 5/9/2020. Dave opened this hearing and made a motion to ratify the Emergency Certification; RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to ratify this EC.
Forest Cutting Plan
Extensions of Orders of Condition:
Certificate of Compliance Requests:
Unanticipated Business:
- 633 Pine Road, Previously Approved RDA – Regarding slightly revised landscaping plan, that results in less overall disturbance to the respective and surrounding areas. Inspection done by Commissioner JL; on agenda to inform other members. Dave opened this hearing to advise the Commission that a slight revision was made to the landscaping plan, which was inspected by Bob Mason with DCR, as well as Commissioner Jeff Laramy, and the revision will actually reduce the disturbance. Applicant is all set with revision.
Next office hours: Wednesday, June 3, 2020 from 6-9 p.m. at Otis Town Hall.
Next meeting: Tuesday, June 16, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at Otis Town Hall, or remotely via Zoom.
Dave made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:12 PM. RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting.