This is the Air Conservation Commission meeting. It's Thursday, June 25th, 2026. In attendance, we have Jeremiah, our member, John Schmidenberger, member, Andrew McGregor, our newest member, and
vice chair. George Bacon, our chair, just on assignment. >> Yeah. Uh first order of business is approval of the agenda. Uh there's >> no changes to the agenda. >> We have a motion to approve the agenda
as posted. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I I'll say I but I think officially I didn't get sworn in yet. So I don't think >> we can say it. We just won't come.
Approve of meeting minutes for June 11th 2026. >> Good to motion to approve the meeting meeting minutes for June 11th. >> So move second. All >> in favor? I I
Okay. The next item is continue public hearing for the notice of intent. So here may see >> So um Mr. Joe Patel has requested a continuation to the next meeting on July 9th. They still haven't heard back from
Natural Heritage to get their determination letter. Um we cannot uh accept any new materials if the public hearing is closed. We must keep it. >> Okay. Is this like a super long time for this to be dragging out? Those guys >> sometimes um just be happy it's not a
conservation restriction. We know those can take a lot a lot longer. Um so yeah, kind of I think it was there was difficulty in trying to figure out that whole conservation restriction in the whole plan because previously subdivision plan this was only for two
of the lots, not all four lots. So I think there was just some back and forth on that project the determination. >> So we have a motion to continue public hearing June July. Yes. >> So moved. >> Second.
>> All in favor? >> I 7:15. >> Great. First meeting. >> That's right. Next item request for determination of applicability 50 deer run. Daniel Richard want to come
up what you want to do. >> Um so our property line what I was told goes back to we have some cattails in the back of our property. We also have like a water easement to the left side. Um so the past it's been about three and
a half years where it goes through the town or through our HOA the company came in and kind of like brush cleared all of that overgrown um that overgrowth. Um but I I'd like to do
that and clear all that overgrowth out. Um just like cut it down to the ground just to kind of clear it out. Um, but there's four trees there. Um, so one and like the two oaks on the other side. Those front trees are all
great. I want to keep them. Um, we spoke with a landscape company company over in Harvard. Um, and he came out and he said that those two back trees in the back over Yep. That one. Um, and one's
already dead. um two of them he said they have like girdling roots. The top parts um are uh they're barren, they're dead. Um but there is still some growth on them. Um and then there's a mediumsized one that has the same issue.
Um between those trees where they form like that triangle, I essentially wanted to clear it out, make it somewhat level, remove the boulders, put them to the side, and make it more of like a leveled spot so I can move like my swing set for the kids back there. Um, that's ideally
what I'd want to do and put some grass there. Um, he mentioned that there was like a lot of like poison ivy in certain areas. Um, no like, you know, form structure or anything. Um he mentioned that those trees that he was going to cut down
because I mentioned we were like in the wetlands and um with conservation commission he said that he would have like a perpetual tree climber and cut everything down and just drop it so he wouldn't have any like big um
construction equipment back there. um >> what's the wetland? >> So the only thing to find on the GIS is that if you look over here, this green this thing here, this is a this is a drainage. It's there's a wetland further to the north. There is this the storm water basin, but that's not
jurisdictional wetland. So the only thing I can find on the GIS is that that's jurisdictional is the is the stream. So I drew the line showing that it's it's well over 100 feet away from the stream. It's it's basically just landscaping. Um that's work that's being done. So it's just a matter of in my
opinion would just be an RDA appro vegetation that we're just cleaning up. Um the only Yeah. And it's just it's within the drainage. We can't permanent structures in there. No. Yeah. Have >> you been out there?
>> No, I have not. I mean I I can't say I did when I first started this position. I did when we had to go through and do like the the COC for all of the the storm water stuff for Hill. I had gone out but I haven't been out there in four years.
You do go out when you get close to the storm it does drop down. It does. There's not much you can do. You get any closer to that system. That's basically it. The only thing I don't know is the boulders that are out there. I didn't look at the top. I didn't know if those
were there for the like do not disturb area or if they had signage there or if they were just like left over from when >> I think it was just left over because that's where all like that overgrowth stuff is. Um the only boulders that we do have is there's like a small like where um
>> the half circle is that you see there just up like at the 10 o'clock there's um like a boulder there but that's staying um better the sphere. >> Yeah. So >> shows a little bit better. >> Right. >> The picture you guys have.
>> So the the trees that are coming down are the ones that are marked one two three four. >> Correct. >> Correct. You can see the storm water bas are >> the b are the the trees. >> The trees diameter.
>> No, they're probably I mean >> the biggest >> Yeah. >> No, >> no, no. And the larger trees that you see in that picture there would stay those two on the right >> should be the closest one to the the stream.
>> So it's just to determine if it's RDA. >> No, it's an RDA. So you do the you know either positive or negative determination. Positive requires the notice of intent. negative just approves the project with conditions. It's it's within the jurisdictional area
but will not >> Yeah. It's pretty said it's typically mowed every >> So they never said anything in their HOA. Um but the last time because we moved in February of 2021 and it was
mowed um like 22 like in the fall I believe but it hasn't been since then. Um, so I wasn't sure who's like responsible for it if it was like through like the town um or if it was through like our Hway, but um I wasn't
sure. >> Okay. Else That's it. >> All right. So, have a motion to issue a negative determination 50. >> Second.
Hi. >> Hi. >> Hi. Sorry. >> It's a 10day waiting period >> of when it's issued to the state until >> you can do any work. >> Okay.
>> In case the state says otherwise. Can I ask another question? >> If um if once I get um the area cleared out in the tree that I definitely want, do I have to come back in and say that if I wanted to like put grass and and all that or is that
>> Well, I I have it written in here that it's for removal and and I can put I could add the replanting in there, you putting lawn in there. Okay. Um, I will say this one thing we we do ask and it's it's entirely just to you doing some grass in there since you are removing trees if you wouldn't mind if you wanted
to do some sort of shrubs or anything in there in the process to water you put blueberry or something in there. Low bush it wouldn't get too high. This high bush will get like 8 to 10 feet tall but you can do some little bush blueberry or something in that area and then just go >> put some more vegetation back that I was
taking. But that's >> just absolutely I mean, I was planning on having like a guard on one side, so that would be perfect. Thank you. >> So, you're all set. So, thank you. >> Okay, that's it. That's it. Awesome. Okay. Thank you. I don't know if I had
to do any more paperwork. >> No, I will I will get this all set up and I will um you can either come pick it up or you can I can mail it to you. >> Okay. >> If it gets mailed, it has to get mail. >> Okay. >> So, 10 days, come back here again. >> No, I will mail I'll mail it and it goes
to it goes to state the same time and then sent to you at the same time. >> Another cookie if you'd like. >> I will. >> Great. Thank you guys so much. >> Thanks for coming in. >> Conservation office and member updates.
>> Conservation updates. So um had preconstruction meeting for 12 well row created materials um throughout Monday and yesterday Monday was the erosion controls couldn't be placed in their
exact spot because of different boulders and old materials that were there um to verify that they made a pre-construction meeting yesterday. So, I don't know if they started cutting trees today or if they're going to be in the very near future, whether it's today or tomorrow. Um,
>> so that construction has started over at 12 Little Road. Um, the company that's doing the work, um, we put up cameras on there to do like a time lapse video of the construction. >> Yeah. >> So, I told you to share it with me because I want to see it when it's all
done. So, um, and it's, um, Kata is actually doing some of the site work there. So, That's nice. So, so we know and so they're close by. So, issues related with streets that their office is just down the road westward. So, that's nice.
Um, oh, and they I looked at some trees and stuff that were on there that may need to come out just due to their location um along the the clearing. Um, but they're um we'll do the one to one of
that's taken out of the area. a couple. One was leaning towards the building. It's two pines when that split. Just take the bigger, you know, leave the bigger ones. There was a couple, but they will do replanting if you requested to do that. Um we had some pocket forest
work days this week. Um one at um East Main Street on Tuesday with St. Andrew's Church. I do have to go over there and pick up some of the um weeds that we pulled. They're just in big piles. I got to go over them. >> That was Tuesday. >> This was Tuesday evening. Yeah. Was that
I thought I saw a front end loader dumping a big load or something there. What What was that? >> So I had the DPW bring a load of wood chips >> so we could reestablish a path that went through there that has been overgrown and they brought some usually we to put leaf debris down. So what they brought
was what the leaf debris typically is that's just been sitting for a while. So, it's more or less dirt, you know, with a little bit of leaves. She tried to spread that around the um the the trees and and shrubs that we planted to try to keep the grass from growing
because we did a very good job at we fixing the soil there that the grass just takes off. >> What's that one doing? I don't get down that way too often. So, we cleared out um because we just had about four or five of us down there and just the easiest thing I think for everyone to do is well just there's just
one weed these little the little sticky brown little wall things that Yeah, >> we had we pulled all that out and cleaned up the fence line. So, when you look down East Main Street, you can actually see some of the plants there. So, just clearing that out with just the huge piles that I got to pick up, it
looks a lot better because you don't have that viny there anymore. There's a ton of golden rod, a ton of milk weed in there, and some of the trees that were planted um towards the front on East M are a good 10 to 12 feet tall now. So,
it's doing really good. You have again, it's one of those things that you have to go in the forest to see it, which is why I'm trying to reo that path. I got I got halfway done. Um work again next week. Um but just clearing that up and and and starting that path and you can get inside. You can really see this. We
do need to do some more digital plantings in there again on the the the slope going up the hill to Main Street, but it's doing good. And then we were at the um middle school today doing some work and pulling some weeds there and
finding the and finding some of the plantings and giving them room and life. And then Monday we'll be going just for a quick take a look at the one on That one looks really good.
>> It looks really good. We mulched that one pretty heavily and it's really it's it's still doing well. >> Yeah. >> 3 o'clock on Monday. Um, we don't think it'll be there too long, but if anyone wants to come by and take a look at it,
it's myself, Beth, and the second school. Um, probably a list of things that we need to do there so we can schedule a workday there along with the high school. Everyone's on vacation. We had a North American porcupine in our
yard yesterday and I didn't even know we had porcupines here. So, it was pretty fantastic. I was like, "Oh my gosh, >> I've seen them, but I didn't my yard >> and I looked and I guess it's like we're a little more
because >> it was just like chilling too. Like nothing bothered it until a little kid came by and she started to go after and I was like, "Oh, we're about to get a kid see a kid get like working." But it just went exciting random fun. That's all I got.
>> I went by that lot at the corner of Right Road and Snake Hill >> and Yes, >> they brought home trees >> pine trees year and a half ago. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> And they got them all cleaned up.
>> Yeah. Jess told me that. >> She knows they were cleaned up and I I I know the I know the son of the owner of the property. I just have to call him remind him. He just needs to tell me when he's going to do these >> Yeah. >> do these things. He's a He's a tricky guy.
>> Actually, >> okay. >> Yeah. Oh, that's the other thing because I did go to Stratton Health last week. Um and took a look at the the post for the turtle nesting area that we move into that and see the storm water basing
good. The basin is huge. This is the big one. Um long is only they haven't fully constructed it yet because it's they want to get all the piping and everything but >> they got
I still think I hear people banging away at that Lincoln Hill time. Are they all done? >> They have they're um they pou uh they did two foundations already. They did binder coats. Um, and they did all the paving done.
They did binder coats on those. Um, I think they finished the storm water system. Do a little bit storm water as far as like the sides, but they were done this week. >> Any questions or comments?
>> Just always open to talk. Yeah, absolutely. >> For the past six months, but more realistic. Yeah. Well, glad to have you on board. Thanks, I struggled for a while ask
>> Oh, I'm happy to happy to work out. >> Questions that I ask to be common sense to me. Um, but it's not always other people. I feel like it's a tough question, but it's it's it's >> become sense people on camera or people
at home that are watching this and they don't know either. So you ask a question. >> So actually so my follow question is for the other. Yeah, it's it's just one of those things because um the conservation commission
has jurisdiction on 100 foot wetland stream depending on the amount of work that needs to be done court in the west protection act. I as the agent cannot get administrative. Um most agents do for simple things. Um
a shed that's on concrete blocks, a removal of a tree or two uh with a planting its place. Uh planting of shrubbery, planting of vegetation is exempt from protection. Um clearing is grading is not. So we have the the RDA
process for a simple project. Don't hire an engineer to come in and filing fees um to the state for permit. RDA isn't a simpler easy way that water can do something that's within that 50
to 200 of a stream or it's you know 75 to 100 foot of a wetland zone for simple easy projects that may require a little bit more not allowed to approve. So, we're not allowed to technically
approve projects as a most commiss a fence or a um shed or fire small patio that just creeps over the lot like it's just easier for us to keep an eye on it.
>> Yeah. becomes a problem then that's when we sent letter to I miss a letter to Park Street um on June 11th requiring notice within 30 days of request clients
andor notice when work would begin to fix issues out there and we haven't heard back so the next Okay. It's been a long time. >> Yes. >> The business next door will be coming first.
not doing anything. Anything else? >> Move. >> Second. >> All in favor? night and we're