TOWN OF OTIS
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
8/20/2024 MEETING MINUTES
Location: Otis Town Hall, One North Main Road, Otis – Zoom Meeting
Conservation Commission Members present: Dave Sarnacki, Bruce Wall, Domenic Battista, Jeff Laramy, Roger Meyer, Chris Chaffee
Conservation Commission Members absent: Jennifer Rivers Cole
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 September 17th, 2024 6:00 pm meeting is on Wednesday September 4th, 2024 by 3:00pm. The next office hours, for the September 17th, 2024 meeting, is on Wednesday, September 4th, 2024 from 8:00am –3:00pm. Dave introduced the members of the commission, and asked everyone to turn off/down their cell phones for the duration of the meeting.
Meeting Minutes: Dave made a motion to approve the minutes from the June 18th, 2024 meeting; DB 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes for the April 16th, 2024 meeting.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
• Public Hearing – RDA –Submitted by Derek Poirier, on behalf of the Town of Otis Highway Department, Algerie/Lee Westfield Roads, regarding grinding and resurfacing 1000’ of Lee Westfield Road and removal of 12 trees along the section and grinding and resurfacing 1.72 miles of Algerie Road, remove and replace 5 deteriorated culverts crossings and headwalls. With all that being said Dave made a motion of a -3 determination with standard conditions. BW 2nd the motion and the commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination.
• Public Hearing – RDA – John W. Field Tree Service, Inc., on behalf of Dan & Linda Ciejek, 44 Drive C., map 18 lot 112, regarding the removal of 6 dead hemlock trees and the cleanup of fallen hemlock, all within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. With all the being said Dave made a motion of a -3 determination with standard conditions and to put up a silt fence on the lower lake edge and up the sides of the work area. JL 2nd the motion and the commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination.
• Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by David & Joanne Russell, 18 Moody
Goodman Rd., map 17B lot 6, regarding the removal of 14 trees, all within the BZ of
Otis Reservoir. With all the being said Dave made a motion of a -3 determination with standard conditions and to make sure proper vegetable oils are used for saws and that trees are flush cut. DB 2nd the motion and the commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination.
• Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Mary Ann Buchanan, 46 Katie’s Way, map 12B lot 9, regarding the removal of dead tree, all within the BZ of Big Pond. With all that being said Dave made a motion of a -3 determination with standard conditions. DB 2nd the motion and the commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination.
• Public Hearing – RDA – John W. Field Tree Service, Inc., on behalf of Marnie Nir (Marsha Handel), 83 Hayes Pond Rd., map 9A lot 39, regarding the removal of 4 dying trees and the cleanup of fallen hemlock, all within the BZ of Hayes Pond. With all that being said Dave made a motion of a -3 determination with standard conditions. BW 2nd the motion and the commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination.
• Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Vincent & Amy Caruso, 117 Vine St., map 16C lot 30, regarding the removal of a large rotting tree, all within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. With all that being said Dave made a motion of a -3 determination with standard conditions. BW 2nd the motion and the commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination.
• Public Hearing – NOI – Submitted by Mike Parsons – Kelly, Granger, Parsons & Associates, Inc., on behalf of William Parker, 185 Pine Rd., map 15D lot 109, regarding the removal and replacement of existing septic tank and leaching bed, all within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. With all that being said Dave made a motion of a -3 determination with standard conditions. RM 2nd the motion and the commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination.
Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Katherine & Mark Couch, on behalf of Jim Fink, 1319 Reservoir Rd., map 15C lot 14, regarding the repair of existing stone wall using existing footings & addition of 4-5 stone steps to access waterline, all within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. With all that being said Dave made a motion of a -3 determination with standard conditions and to make sure proper vegetable oils are used in all the equipment, trees are to be flush cut, work to be completed during draw down, waddles to be installed 5 feet from the work area and filter fabric to be installed behind the stone. RM 2nd the motion and the commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination.
• Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Chaffee Construction Inc., on behalf of Andrea William Pecoriello, 71 Pine Grove Ridge, map 15D lot 101, regarding the removal of boardwalk, install of siding on house, resurface of decks, replacing stairs on side deck & removal of a pine tree, all within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. With all that being said Dave made a motion of a -3 determination with standard conditions and to install a silt fence down lower by the beach area. BW 2nd the motion and the commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination.
• Public Hearing – NOI – Submitted by Applied Watershed Sciences LLC, on behalf of Big Pond Association, Big Pond, regarding Aquatic Invasive Phragmites Australis Treatment all within the BZ of Big Pond. There were questions and concerns brought forward by the state that need to be addressed before we can make a motion on this NOI. With all that being said Dave made a motion to continue this NOI until next month’s meeting to give the applicant time to answer these concerns. BW 2nd the motion and the commission voted unanimously to continue this until next month’s meeting.
• Public Hearing – NOI – Submitted by Matthew Puntin – SK Design, on behalf of Brandi Page, 72 North Main Road., map 10B lot 15, regarding the installation of a new public water supply well, all within the riverfront area and floodplain of the West Branch of the Farmington River. With all the being said Dave made a motion to grant the NOI with special conditions as outlined in the July 15th 2024 NHESP recommendations letter. RM 2nd the motion and the commission voted unanimously to grant the NOI with the special conditions.
• Public Hearing – NOI – Follow up from June meeting. Submitted by John Scarmana, 46 Drive G, map 18C lot 7, regarding the removal of a rotting tree, all within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. With all the being said Dave made a motion to grant the NOI with special conditions that it will be done during draw down and no machinery will be in the water, debris will be covered daily or removed daily. DB 2nd the motion and the commission voted unanimously to grant the NOI with the special conditions.
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
• Public Hearing – COC – Submitted by Michael Conboy, 535 Dimmock Rd., Map 1 lot 37-2, regarding a Certificate of Compliance for work completed at 535 Dimmock Road. With all that being said Dave made a motion to grant the COC. JL 2nd the motion and the commission voted unanimously to grant the COC.
• Public Hearing – COC – Submitted by Polly Carlin, 35 Langdon Lane, Map 17B lot 78, regarding a Certificate of Compliance for work completed at 35 Langdon Lane. With all that being said Dave made a motion to grant the COC. BW 2nd the motion and the commission voted unanimously to grant the COC.
EMERGENCY CERTIFICATIONS:
• Emergency Certification – Submitted by James Horanzy 102 Kibbe Rd., Map 17F lot 3, regarding the removal of a tree that has a dangerous crack in it as a result of rot, decay and rapid deterioration. Dave made a motion to ratify this emergency certification. DB 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to ratify the emergency certification.
• Emergency Certification – Submitted by John W Fields Tree Service, on behalf of Leslie Morris 40 Drive F, Map 18B lot 140, regarding the removal of 2 dead trees. Dave made a motion to ratify this emergency certification. JL 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to ratify the emergency certification.
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ANY OTHER TOPICS NOT RESONABLY ANTICIPATED BY THE CHAIR
• Complaint made against Palmer Paving by concerned citizen. Bruce explained the issue. Palmer paving was washing their vehicles next to the Farmington River. The concerned citizen wanted to make sure they were using the proper cleaning products to wash their vehicles that wouldn’t contaminate the river. Palmer paving supplied us with a Safety Data sheet to show us exactly what they are using. The issue was resolved and the board agreed that they were using the proper solutions.
• Mark Amado spoke as a concerned citizen that his neighbor is cutting down trees and wanted to make sure that he is not working in the wetlands area. After listening to Mark and reviewing maps the board determined that he is not in the resource area or in the 100ft buffer zone of wetlands. The wetlands is in the back 1 acre of his 8 acre lot and the home owner has only cleared the first 50ft of his lot. This complaint is not something that the conservation is needed for. We recommended that Mark reaches out to MASS DEP.
• Discussion in regards to 0 Brookman Drive. Dave made a motion to draw up an enforcement order and to have legal counsel review it. BW 2nd the motion and the commission voted unanimously on this decision.
● Enforcement Orders:
● Forest Cutting Plan(s):
● Extension of OOC:
● Next Office Hours: Wednesday, September 4th, 2024 – 8:00 – 3:00 p.m. @ Otis Town Hall
● Next meeting: Tuesday, September 17th, 2024 @ 6:00 pm
● Deadline for September 17th, 2024 meeting Applications is Wednesday September 4th, 2024 by 3 PM – NO EXCEPTIONS!
*** Please Note: The order of the posted agenda, may not necessarily represent the order of applications heard at our meeting **
Adjourn