TOWN OF OTIS
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
11/17/2020 MEETING MINUTES
Location: Otis Town Hall, One North Main Road, Otis ** Remote Meeting Via Zoom ***
Conservation Commission Members present: Dave Sarnacki, Roger Meyer, Domenic Battista, Bruce Wall.
Conservation Commission Members absent: Jeff Laramy.
Staff and others present: Kristen Brown OCC Admin Secretary; Daniel Giusti; Dan Zenkel; others in attendance unknown, as not announced, nor signed-in with a confirmed name on the Zoom application.
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 December 15, 2020 meeting is on Wednesday December 2, 2020 @ 6:00 PM. The next office hours, for the December 15, 2020 meeting, is also Wednesday December 2, 2020 from 6:00 –9:00 PM. ** Office hours will be conducted remotely until further notice; in person meetings will be held by appointment only ** 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 October 20, 2020 meeting; BW 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes from the October 20, 2020 meeting.
- Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Sharon & Kevin Losier, 12 Blandford Road, map 18C lot 62, regarding the removal of 3 trees within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and invited anyone in attendance on behalf of this hearing to address the Commission. Dave noted that per an email from MA DCR, no trees are to be removed on state land, as they are healthy, and no need to come down. Therefore, Dave made a motion for a +2 finding, that applicant cannot do the requested tree removal, within the BZ of Otis Reservoir; RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously for a +2 finding.
- Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Berkshire Engineering, on behalf of Brian & Ronald Koch, 1004 Reservoir Rd., map 15C lot 43, regarding installation of a 2K Gallon concrete tight tank within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and invited anyone in attendance on behalf of this hearing to address the Commission. Dave noted that there were no notes on the folder and asked if any questions or concerns stemming from the stie inspection, and with none being stated, made a motion for a -3 determination with the following conditions: any required EC to be installed & inspected prior to work start; no heavy equipment in the resource area(s); all debris to be removed or covered immediately; OCC reserves the right to inspect property/work for a period of 3 years from date of approval. BW (and RM) 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination with the above conditions.
- Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Richard Gaylord, 21 Big Island, map 12A lot 21, regarding the replacement of a wooden deck located between existing access dock, and boathouse, within the BZ of Big Pond. Dave opened this hearing and invited anyone in attendance on behalf of this hearing to address the Commission. Dave asked if any questions stemming from the site inspection, and per BW, the plans are straightforward, no issues. Therefore, Dave made a motion for a -3 determination with the following conditions: any required EC to be installed & inspected prior to work start; no heavy equipment in the resource area(s); all debris to be removed or covered immediately; OCC reserves the right to inspect property/work for a period of 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 Daniel Zenkel, Larkum Lake Real Estate Co., LLC, 620-622 Reservoir Road, map 15 lot 60, regarding the removal of several dead/dying trees, within the BZ of Larkum Lake. Dave opened this hearing and invited anyone in attendance on behalf of this hearing to address the Commission. Dave asked the Commission if any questions stemming from the site inspection, and per DB they saw no issues with the selected dead and/or dying trees being removed. Therefore, Dave made a motion for a -3 determination with the following conditions: bio-oil only in chainsaw(s); debris to be removed immediately; no heavy equipment directly in any resource area(s); 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 – NOI – Continued from October Meeting – Submitted by Daniel Giusti, 1555 West Center Road, map 6 lot 172, regarding the installation of a WLC device, to mitigate beaver dam flooding, in the resource area of Benton Brook. Dave opened this hearing to update the Commission as well as applicant on the Enforcement Order issued, and an approximate timeline for field work, etc., for the resulting and ordered 3rd party peer review. Emily will keep in close contact with all interested parties, so that any/all can attend if desired. Dan will cut the check for the peer review and send to OCC, for holding, pending completion of the actual review. Dave then made a motion to continue this NOI until the next meeting in December 2020, as the Commission cannot move forward on the NOI work, until MA DEP issues a file number, and they will not do that until they are satisfied that the unauthorized work is being addressed on the subject site. BW 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to continue this hearing until the December 2020 meeting.
OTHER BUSINESS
Enforcement Orders/Letters:
Emergency Certifications:
Forest Cutting Plan
Extensions of Orders of Condition:
Certificate of Compliance Requests:
Unanticipated Business:
Next office hours: Wednesday, December 2, 2020 from 6-9 p.m. at Otis Town Hall.
Next meeting: Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at Otis Town Hall.
Dave made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:48 PM. DB 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting.