Town of Becket - Conservation Commission Minutes 1/17/08

Becket Conservation Commission

January 17, 2008

Approved Minutes

Meeting Opens at 6:36 PM

Commissioners Present: Josh Lombard, Chair; Mercedes Gallagher, Vice Chair; Scott Morley; Barbara Toomey; Kathy Vsetecka; Marty Winters

1. Approval and signing of minutes from the December 20, 2007 meeting.

Marty moves to approve the minutes as presented; Barbara seconds; unanimous approval.

2. Amended Order of Conditions Irving Epstein 524 Silverleaf Drive Map 214 lot 130 DEP 102-316 Changing the location of a path and additional plantings

Mike Kulig of Berkshire Engineering, representing the applicant, presents the plan. He says the silt fence will be checked out and ensured to be in good order before any work commences in the spring.

Marty moves to approve the Amended Order of Conditions; Barbara seconds; unanimous approval.

3. Continued Notice of Intent Irving Epstein 524 Silverleaf Drive Map 214 lot 130 DEP #102-330 Installation of a dock for boat access to Ward Pond. A boardwalk and deck to be constructed

Mike Kulig of Berkshire Engineering, representing the applicant, presents the plan. The boardwalk and deck will be supported by helical anchors. Planking material has not been specified in the plan; the contractor, when chosen, will need to come before the commission for approval of materials. There are supplemental plantings shown on the plan but no replication; the commission requests replication be done and alternatives explored. No public.

Josh moves to continue the NOI to the 2/21/08 meeting with the applicant’s permission; Mercedes seconds; unanimous approval.

4. Request for Determination of Applicability Joseph DeCarolis 126 Alan-a-Dale Dr. Map 216 lot 494 Building a garage in the buffer zone of Little Robin Lake

Inclement weather prevented the site visit.

Barbara moves to continue to 2/21/08 with the applicant’s consent; Kathy seconds; unanimous approval.

5. Administrative Business

· Delaquilla: The house is now in possession of the bank and a contractor from Connecticut was found to be performing work there. The existing enforcement order was brought to the attention of the parties concerned and they would like to post a performance bond for the required restoration work so they can get the existing structure closed off against the elements. Kathy will get an estimate from Berkshire Engineering for how much the restoration work should cost and consult Richard Furlong as to the procedure for putting a bond in place. The commission will request the amount of the bond to be 150% of Berkshire Engineering’s estimate.

§ Kathy moves to issue a new Enforcement Order stating that once an agreed upon performance bond is posted work will be allowed on and within 10 (ten) feet of the existing structure. No work shall be allowed on the septic system until restoration work is completed and approved. Restoration work per the plan approved by the Conservation Commission on 1/5/07 shall be completed by 6/1/08 with a Conservation Commission site visit to inspect the restoration work to be done on 6/16/08. Barbara seconds. Unanimous approval.

· Richter: Kathy will contact mark Stinson regarding the CoC’s issued on both 102-290 and 102-296. A letter shall be sent to Mr. Richter regarding the dry hydrant.

· Open E/O’s: Reviewed.

· Annual Report: Josh and Kathy will compile and submit.

· Contact With DEP: Josh requests, as chair, to be kept informed of commissioners’ ongoing communications with DEP.

· GIS: Kathy reports that the application and training is much more complex than originally thought. Tom Matuszko of BRPC has told her though that commissioners can obtain any GIS data that may be needed from his agency. Kathy will ask Mark Stinson for a list of data that should be checked and then ask Tom if BRPC could provide this data upon request via email on an ongoing basis for specific properties which come before the commission.

· Shaw Pond Beaver Dam: The commission is in receipt of a letter from two individuals who are very concerned about the possibility of a septic system being flooded due to the beaver situation on Shaw Pond. A packet of information about this has also been received by each of the commissioners from Mr. Reel. Josh will draft a letter to all concerned emphasizing the importance of getting professional assistance and coming before the commission as a unified body with an NOI to deal with the issue. He will solicit comments/input from the other commissioners before sending the letter. Also, Kathy will be sure that copies of the letter sent last month to Mr. Farina are sent to Mr. Reel and to the Shaw Pond Association.

· Town Highway Permit: A meeting has been scheduled for 1/29/08.

<<8:45 PM – Barbara leaves>>

· Correspondence: Reviewed

· Guidelines Meeting: Josh will work on setting one up. He will contact Mark Stinson for available dates.

· Commission Opening: Josh and Kathy are both in touch with a couple of possible candidates. Mercedes suggested requesting that they come to a meeting to observe before joining, and requesting the Board of Selectmen get a positive recommendation from the Commission chair before making an appointment.

There being no further business, Kathy moves to adjourn; Scott seconds; unanimous approval. Meeting adjourned at 8:54 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

Blanche Lennington, Recorder

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Josh Lombard, Chair Date

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Mercedes Gallagher, Vice Chair Date

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