MINUTES OF MARCH 2, 2000

[approved 3/16/00]

Present: Robert Boisselle, Paul Locke, Nancy Naslas, Bruce Rider, Peter Mortimer, David Valade

1. Minutes
   Voted: To accept the minutes of February 17, 2000 as amended.

2. Secretary's Invoice
   Voted: To pay the secretary $52.39 for services rendered in February.

3. Correspondence:
   Where to find information about contaminated sites in MA and other related information. There is a web page put out by the Massachusetts DEP. The site is: www.state.ma.us/dep/bwsc/sitelist.htm

4. Whittier & Cutler Sts.
   Concerning Whittier & Cutler Sts., basically a lot that sits off Cutler St. There were three lots and they were combined to make two lots. The Planning Board was looking for some Conservation Commission approvals before they came before them. They are considering some sort of a flood problem in that area. It may be a situation similar to the Burnett & Granite Sts. area that we had last year, but nothing has come before us and the Planning Board is requesting core samples because one of the neighbors in the last house on the street had a Cease and Assist Order from the Conservation Commission about four or five years ago during the addition to the building of this house. When he went down 12 inches he reached the water table. The Building Dept. or Engineering Dept. has also conducted preliminary reviews, indicating that the foundation should be 12 inches above the water table, so if that is true they are going to be on the surface, plus an extra minimum with 2 ft. of fill just to start their foundation. The elevation of the land will probably change almost to a pyramid shape, take the top of the pyramid off and then establish the base of the foundation. The question comes up where is all that water being displaced, and there has been some discussion that there is a lot of peat in that particular area. This is off West Wyoming Ave., right behind Cefalo's elderly housing property. The stream goes underground into a culvert about just 100 ft. from the end of the new street they are building, and that particular end of the street comes within the 100 ft. buffer area. A portion of the lot may come under our jurisdiction, but not the whole lot, and the first lot doesn't come in at all as it is so far down from the stream. The question comes up "is flooding occurring at this property" and everyone wants the area tested for vernal pools. Bob mentioned at the Planning Board meeting that the Conservation Commission will be limited in the determination if there is no water on the site and vernal pool examination is usually done late March and the month of April. Mid April is probably the prime time for an evaluation. The Commission has not received anything from the property owner. The Planning Board was a little displeased that the contractor wasn't running parallel, especially with the wet area that they were involved in. The culvert is at the end of the property of both lots and the concrete structure is about 6 or 8 ft. wide that runs the entire length of the property.

   David: There were floods at the lights by Grimsby's, and I think that's where the stream comes down off the hill and goes back behind Cefalo's project.

   Bob: The stream comes under the West Wyoming Ave. Just after you pass the driveway of the condo section, you will see at your left all of the cattails in the wetland area, and then I think it snakes behind and then it goes underground.

5. Vernal Pool 2000 Workshop

   The Association of Massachusetts Wetland Scientists offering a Spring 2000 Workshop "Vernal Pool Ecology and Conservation" - April 7, at Earth Tech, Concord, MA 8:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. Topics are: Vernal Pools, where they are and what to look for"; "Vernal Pools only in Wetlands"; "Vernal Pools, are they all the same?" There will be a field trip to two nearby certified Vernal Pools in Concord. The cost is $85 for Conservation Commission members and if anyone is interested we will pay for registration.

6. Wetland Wild Life Ecology & Regulations

   The Association of MA Wetland Scientists is offering Wetland Wildlife Ecology & Regulations at the Holiday Inn, Saturday, March 18. Topics are "Important New Vernal Pool Regulations"; "Habitat Evaluation Techniques"; How to Make the Most out of your Wetland Replacement Projects"; "Vernal Pool Protection - too much or not enough"; and "Wildlife Habitat". The morning session, 9-10 :30 a.m. appears to be the most helpful topics. This is $60. If anyone is interested, we will pay for registration.

7. Adjourn

   It was voted to adjourn at 7:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Nancy Pritchard Secretary