TOWN OF OTIS
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
11/21/2017 MEETING MINUTES
Location: Otis Town Hall, One North Main Road, Otis
Conservation Commission Members present: Roger Meyer, Domenic Battista, and Jeff Laramy.
Conservation Commission Members absent: Dave Sarnacki; Bruce Wall; Renee Dube’.
Staff and others present: Kristen Brown OCC Admin Secretary; Bob Mason with MA DCR;
Opening items/Introduction of Commission members and staff. Jeff Laramy opened the meeting at 6:00 p.m. He noted that the meeting is being recorded. The deadline for applications for the December 19th meeting is December 6, 2017 @ 6:00 PM. The next office hours, for the December 19th meeting, is December 6th from 6:00 – 9:00 PM. Jeff introduced the members of the commission, as well as Bob Mason with MA DCR, and asked everyone to turn off/down their cell phones for the duration of the meeting.
Minutes: Jeff made a motion to approve the minutes from our October 24, 2017 meeting, with changes as outlined; RM 2nd the motion and the commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes from the October 24, 2017 meeting, with changes as outlined.
- Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by James Himes, 107 Pond Blvd., map11F lot 89, regarding the removal of one dead/dying Hemlock tree in the BZ of Big Pond. Jeff opened this hearing and invited applicants to address the Commission. John Fields attended the meeting. The commission had no questions from the site inspection as applicant had everything marked out. Jeff made a motion to issue a -3 determination with standard conditions to include bio oil in the chainsaws, remove debris daily and 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 Bill Dyer, with Dyer Excavating, on behalf of Moose Investor NOM Trust, 130 East Shore Rd., map 16A lots 40-41, regarding the removal of 6 trees from the site. Jeff invited applicants to address the Commission. Bill Dyer was in attendance and confirmed that there are only 5 trees, and they will be cut flush with the ground. Bill signed the RDA to indicate only 5 trees, not 6. Jeff made a motion for a -3 determination with the standard conditions to include bio oil in the chainsaws, remove debris daily and 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 Mark Demers, 132 Leonard Rd., map 11E lot 45, regarding the lifting of the existing house, to add a full foundation. Jeff opened this hearing and invited applicants to address the Commission. Mark Demers was in attendance and KB indicated that we still need a check for $75.00 for the legal notice. He will bring in after this hearing. Jeff asked how high the wall will be and he said about a foot and a half. Jeff asked if there is any tree work involved with this filing, and applicant said no. Jeff also indicated that there was no EC outlined on the work prints, and Pete Zarichak, the contractor, will install the EC. Jeff made a motion for a -3 determination with the following conditions: install EC and call OCC for inspection before work start; OCC has 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 stated conditions.
- Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Charles Rosenblum, 408 Hayes Pond Rd., map 9A lots 30A-31A-32A, regarding the removal of 3 trees in the BZ of Hayes Pond. Jeff opened this hearing and invited applicants to address the Commission. John Fields was in attendance and Jeff confirmed there are only 3 trees, and they will be cut flush with ground, with bio oil in chainsaws. Jeff made a motion for a -3 determination with standard conditions to include bio oil in the chainsaws, remove debris daily and 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 Michael H. Smith, 71 Benton Dr., map 10E lot 49, regarding the removal of 3 trees, and the pruning of the trees overhanging the driveway. Jeff opened this hearing and invited applicants to address the Commission. No one was in attendance but there were no questions, so Jeff made a motion for a -3 determination with standard conditions to include bio oil in the chainsaws, remove debris daily and 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 Terrence N. Trapp, on behalf of Justin W. Thomas, 38 N. Gate Island Rd., map 577-89 lot 3, regarding the removal of 3 trees, all in the BZ of OR. Jeff opened this hearing and invited applicants to address the Commission. No one was in attendance however applicant confirmed there are only 3 trees, and they will be cut flush with ground, with bio oil in chainsaws. However, we need to know how they are going to take the trees out. Per RM, no way they can get a machine down there so they are going to have to take down by hand. Therefore, Jeff made a motion for a -3 determination with standard conditions to include bio oil in the chainsaws, remove debris daily and 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 Jill Peters-Gee, 81 N. Gate Island Rd., map 17C lot 33, regarding the vegetation of the area of shed removal, and some pruning of trees & shrubs in the BZ of OR. Jeff opened this hearing and invited applicant to address the Commission. Per KB, applicant emailed to request a continuance until the January 2018 meeting as they were out of the country/area. Jeff made a motion to continue this hearing until the January 2018 meeting; RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a continuance until the January 2018 meeting.
- Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by John R. Boleng on behalf of Greg Hurley, 106 Pine Rd., map 15D lots 6-7, regarding upgrade of existing failed septic system, with a new 1,000 gallon pump chamber & new leach field in the BZ, and BVW west of the property. Jeff opened this hearing and invited applicants to address the Commission. John Boleng was in attendance. Jeff asked if any questions from the site inspection, per RM no questions. Jeff made a motion for a -3 determination with standard conditions as follows: no equipment in the resource area; all debris removed or covered daily; all work outside 50’ BZ; OCC has the right to inspect the property for 3 years from date of approval; call OCC to inspect EC prior to work start. RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination with the above conditions.
- Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Domenic Battista, 58 S. Lake Ave., map 18B lot 3, regarding the permitting for construction to DEP on 5/8/17 & Ch. 91 app submitted on 10/23/17 to DEP. Jeff opened this hearing, and Domenic recused himself from this hearing as it is his property. Since we did not have enough members to have a quorum vote, Domenic requested a continuance until our December 19th 2017 meeting. Jeff made a motion for a continuance until the December 19, 2017 meeting; RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to continue this hearing until the December 19, 2017 meeting.
- Public Hearing – NOI – Submitted by Donald Torrico, on behalf of Michael & Ellen Granoff, 22 Loop Dr., map 15A lot 49, regarding the replacement of existing stairs from rear of house to lake edge in the existing location, in the BZ of OR. Jeff opened this hearing and no one was in attendance for this meeting, so Jeff made a motion for a continuance to allow for KB to contact applicant for more information on this project. RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously for continue this hearing until our December 19, 2017 meeting.
- Public Hearing – NOI – Submitted by R. Levesque, on behalf of Robert Goyette, 491 Pine Rd., map 17B lots 59-61, regarding the rebuilding of existing stone seawall with improved drainage on OR. Jeff opened this hearing and invited applicants to address the Commission. Mr. Goyette was in attendance and explained that the wall will be done on both sides. Per Bob with DCR, they have a Chapter 91 with amnesty so they are all set as well. Jeff made a motion to approve and issue an OOC with standard conditions, including special condition that OCC has the right to inspect property for 3 years from date of approval. RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to approve the project and issue an OOC for this project/NOI.
- Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Thomas Logsdon, Giles Road, map 3D, lot 616, regarding the installation of leech field and septic system; part of leech field is in the buffer zone. Jeff opened this hearing and no one was in attendance for this hearing; Jeff made a motion for a continuance to allow for KB to contact applicant for more information on this project. RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously for continue this hearing until our December 19, 2017 meeting.
- Public Hearing – NOI – Continuation – Submitted by Mitchell Chambers, 45 Pine Grove Ridge, map 15D lot 97, regarding the repair of the north facing retaining wall facing OR, due to disrepair caused by frost and resulting erosion from adjacent land. Jeff opened this hearing and no one was in attendance for this hearing; Jeff made a motion for a continuance to allow for KB to contact applicant for more information on this project. RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously for continue this hearing until our December 19, 2017 meeting.
OTHER BUSINESS:
Enforcement Orders/Letters:
Emergency Certifications:
Forest Cutting Plans:
Extensions of Orders of Condition:
Certificate of Compliance Requests:
Unanticipated Business:
Next office hours: Wednesday, December 6, 2017 from 6-9 p.m. at Otis Town Hall.
Next meeting: Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. at Otis Town Hall. Meeting adjourned at 7:55 PM.