Evening everyone. This is the Air Conservation Commission meeting. It is Thursday, June 26th, 2025. Commissioners in attendance this evening. We have George Bacon as member. Jess Cuino, member clerk. Mark Phillips
is the vice chair. Jeremiah is not here. Heather Hamson, our agent, is not here. Uh John Schmullenberger chair to we confirmation of agenda. I think
the only difference is that we're going to continue the notice of intent uh on BL Street. Any other changes besides that? Yes, sir.
Motion to approve the agenda as amended. Amended. So second. All in favor say I. I oppose. Nay. Passes unanimously. Approval. Oh, never mind. You got that on there.
Um, approval of the meeting minutes June 12th, 2025. Everyone had an opportunity to read the What you got, Mark? Yeah. Any corrections? Nothing. You got nothing? Nothing. Jeez. Okay, George. Nope. All
right. I don't either. Motion to approve the meeting minutes for June 12th as written. So move. Second. All in favor say I. I. Oppose. Nay. Passes unanimously. First item this evening is a public hearing adoption of the flood plane
overlay regulation under the town of air wetland protection regulations. And Mr. Ruiz, you will tell us what's going on. Yes. Um so uh there was a meeting with uh FEMA about a
week and a half ago um because there was a we found out when we submitted the final approved document that went before town meeting um to FEMA to DCR that there was a section that was omitted in
um part of the uh regulations which I will actually get to in this which document precisely So in the flood plane overlay district. Yeah. Um in that bylaw there was a section that was omitted and as you on the um on the screen you can
see under section 8.28 variances. So section B the variances to local zoning bylaws related to community compliance with national flood insurance program and number one. So this section was omitted because
it was we were under the impression that a um another section was supposed to be used in in uh when we put in this variance. Um we found out through the re from the review of DCR and from FEMA
that the one that we used was only specifically for four different towns in Massachusetts and that one of them is included is is Boston. So it's this mistake actually is not the we're not the only town that this occurred to. Um
and so what we did was we met with FEMA to see what are the options on addressing this. Um uh we had initially we had KP law town council review it and they gave us some options. Basically ask FEMA to um allow it as as it is and then
change it at amend it at town meeting in the fall. hold a special town meeting or not do anything. We uh decided to have a meeting with FEMA uh to try to see what options they felt were was the best option. And because uh under their
regulations, the variance section is required for it to be a valid bylaw. Um they said that they couldn't just uh let us continue and then amend it in October. Mhm. Um
that they said that at that point people would lose flood insurance for coverage until that got submitted. And we didn't want to go down that route of there's about 45ish um houses and properties that have flood insurance that would be affected by
that. So we didn't want to go down that road. So the other option, the best one we found was to um just have the uh whole uh bylaw adopted into the wetland protection regulations that that is
under the uh conservation commission. This was the easiest route. They said uh it would cover um the regulations. Uh it would still be in it would be enforced uh by the conservation commission until um October when we amend it at town
meeting. Um the the way it would um so the way it would work is currently it would fall under your regulations and so I have it up on here on the on the screen. So at the end of your document what we did was just so that it wouldn't
uh affect your document in the long run. uh because I know uh Heather had mentioned that you guys were looking at u making other amendments to the regulations. So what we did was uh see appendix A for flood plane overlay district regulations and then just adop
just put the whole document into here as appendix A so that in October when we go back to town meeting and amend those the that section within the actual bylaw um that can be done and then we can resend
this from your regulations to remove it out of there and it wouldn't affect the way your document is uh so so that uh it if you guys do have any other changes for your regulations, it wouldn't affect anything. Okay, that's clear as mud.
Yeah, it's it it's not the best. I mean, obviously, uh it's not the best uh option. I mean, it's not the best situation. Um you know, uh it was an oversight on my piece on my part. Um, and DCR's review uh caught it at the
end. I'm glad that it did get caught. Um, but uh, you know, this is kind of the best option we have right now. So, what is it that you want us to do? So tonight it's the uh you guys would be
voting on adopting the new wetland protection regulations as they are presented which it includes the flood plane overlay district regulations. Any questions?
So the only question I have is I'm assuming you've done a search of the document above. Mhm. Is there any reference to the old location where it was where it was incorrect? No. So, it's not even
within your regulations. It was only originally within our by the the general bylaws or the z um the the zoning bylaws. It was not within your wetland protection um regulations, but we can put it in there because the WPA references flood um you know, flood
compensatory storage and all that. So it can be put into your regulations but the rest of your document does not have reference of the uh flood plane overlay district in section 8.2. Okay. Mr. Chair, members of the commission,
good evening. Mr. Ruez did a fabulous job outlining it. I just want to thank the commission for uh considering this and I think this is a successful um interim plan so we don't lose any of the flood insurance and then in October um we'll just correct it through town
meeting and we just appreciate your time and support. Thank you. Did you get all that? Would you make the motion? [Laughter]
Um, so I can I can help you out here. So motion to adopt the flood plane overlay regulations into the conservation uh regulations, local bylaw regulations. One thing the
uh and uh resident wants to speak. Oh, I'm sorry. Is it okay if I ask questions? I'm sorry. Is it okay if I approach her? Of course. Okay. Yeah. I I didn't see your hand up. I'm sorry. Second first and then we have discussion and then we can vote. Whatever. Yeah.
Before you motion. Hi there. Hi. Rachel Kazera 30 Graten Harvard Road. Um I was just wondering um with this adoption is it like the wetland bylaws would still be governed by the conservation commission and the
whoever is interfering with this particular bylaw wouldn't have any say or modifications to uh the bylaws. anyone who's interfering. Well, not interfere. I'm sorry, I need to use a different adjective. Um, modifying the current bylaws to to accommodate the
discret what is it called? The discrepancy with adopting the flood plane bylaws. Do you know what I mean? Am I Can you say that all over again? Because I didn't know that this was like I didn't see this document on the um portal. So, um my question is is that
when this comes to town hall, is it like up for like are other portions of the bylaw up for debate? Like could or town meeting or town meeting? Sorry, I don't know what I said. Um and so, uh would it
be possible like like would someone else be able to modify those bylaws like within this or is it just a conservation? I don't. So I cuz this is we're adopting this into our regulations. Okay. If we were changing our wetland bylaw, that would also have
to be a town meeting vote, not us. Okay. But our regulations we can do through a public hearing outside of town meeting. Gotcha. Yeah. So just to explain also the so the bylaw is still going to be shown in our zoning bylaws as 8.2, too,
but because it it's missing that important variance section, it's not a valid bylaw. So, what is going to happen is it goes under the wetland protection regulations which is enforced through the conservation commission. Mhm. So, that same exact document but with the
corrected version is under their regulations until um October when we bring it to town meeting. So that bylaw in town will be amended in town meeting and then once that's approved, it will be removed out of this regulation. Which
bylaw? The flood plane overlay district. So it would just you would just come here and say we're removing it from here. It wouldn't be like a town vote. Okay. I just wanted to clarify. I'm sorry. I didn't mean just a temporary temporary housing. Thank you. Yeah. I just want to make sure
one more time. Motion to adopt the flood plane overlay regulations into the airwind protection bylaw regulations. Second. All in favor say I. I. I. Nay. Passes
unanimously. Thank you. Our next item this evening, public meeting close the hearing. Oh, I'm Oh, sorry. Uh motion to close the public
hearing. Uh the adoption of the flood plane overlay regulations under town of air wetland protection regulations. So move second. All in favor say I. Hi. I was going to do it right by me, too. But you all got my back, though. I
appreciate it. Thank you. Have a great night. Thank you. Thanks. Thank you. For me, folks got to stick together. All right. Wonder Twin Powers.
Never remember that. Wonder Twin Powers. Yeah. Next item this evening is a request public meeting request for determination of applicability department of public works drainage outfall improvements along Snake Hill Road and Calvin Street.
I know where that is. And Barnum Road, are you going to join us this evening? How are you? Good. How are you? Been in a while. Yeah, it's been a while. What do you got going? Yeah. Um so this
application is um it's an RDA uh for uh drainage healthfall improvements. Um this is more of a maintenance activity than I'd say like a a project.
Um so what public works is trying to do uh we inspect our outfalls usually each year. We try to we're supposed to do it once every five years at minimum, but we try to do it every year. So, um these outfalls were just a
couple that were flagged um from our recent inspections that um clearly had a lot of erosion. Um and we're trying to basically prevent that from happening uh in future. Um was
there one on Snake Hill? Yes, I think I think we did one a year or two ago. Um I might have even went here uh for an RDA for that one, but this is a different uh probably close. I'm trying to remember
where that one was on Snake Hill. Um but um yeah, really what we're trying to do at at these four outall locations is remove um any any accumulated drainage sediment um and
to install a rip wrap apron which helps slow down the water and prevent u future erosion. four locations. Um, under this application, I have
sketches that show just rough locations. There's four uh there's one on Snake Hill Road, one on Calvin Street, and two on Barnum Road. And all the work is you're just um cleaning up the outfall and
installing the rip wrap or you are you going into the actual storm drain like into the drain too? Um, we're just working from the end of the storm drain out toward the ponds. Okay. All right. Um, so there's no just at the
outfall end. Exactly. Okay. Yeah. How much disturbance? Um, so I didn't actually calculate that. Um, so each of these I can give you I guess a rough approximation. So for each outfall
usually it's like a 5 foot wide uh apron and it goes at least between the the pipe end and the um edge of pond. Mhm. So that's the I guess um disturbance
area where we'd actually be installing the rip wrap. You know what kids do a lot is they just grab whatever is loose and throw it in the pond. Yes, that's definitely something that How do you
stop that? Um, well, we we try to use fairly large drainage stones and make sure they're actually embedded in the ground and not just installed loose, if you will. Yeah. Um,
okay. I'm just Yeah, but we have Yeah, we've unfortunately seen that before. So, every improvement there's a a possibility for unintended consequences. Yeah, it's true. Which is Any
comments, Jess? Nope. No. George. Mark. No. Outside of you're going to put wobbles or something there as your right protection and all. Exactly. Um Yeah,
we'd put erosion controls at least during the install. Um right, you know, right up to the edge of the uh pond for each location. Yep. Any comments from the gallery? I don't really know what you're talking
about because there's no visuals. So, I'm sorry. So, you have like a pipe going under the road carrying the storm water. Then there's a pond and then right in between it's eroding. So, it's just removing the sediment
buildup and putting in rocks. Rock so that the sediment doesn't go in hopefully. Yeah. Any other discussion? Is there a motion to issue a negative determination
for the uh RDA, Department of Public Works drainage outfall improvements along Snake Hill Road, Calvin Street, and Barnum Road? Second. All in favor say I. I. I. Oppos? Nay. Passes unanimously. Thank you. Hey,
question. What's the What's the latest on the West Main Street Bridge? We have uh public works been asking for a schedule for about past two or three months and we're still waiting on that. That's really step one to get started um
from the contractor from the contractor. So, what's interesting with that project is it seems like the contractor believes they can get on quicker than I guess we had thought, which is a positive, but I think in the same uh way they're they're
taking their time to get started because we gave them so much time from their perspective. That's kind of where we're at. So, we're still waiting on that um schedule. They've um they've had a couple of material deliveries um but that's really all the progress they no
actual work and Heather had mentioned there was a question of where to stage materials whether remember it was I do remember that yeah it was going to be staged coming what was do you remember Mark or George
yeah over in the GPW when you'd come through the high path through the Susan Marsh. Yes. Um and that that was the contractor's plan and we told the contract that they would have to come before you all obviously um
that's alongside wetlands and that's an area. It would actually need a temporary improvement um to actually make that work. So yeah, I think we suggested just going down the street to that open area that's trying to turn into a little
apartment complex/ retail space and just rent rent a little bit of space out over there and and be done with it. Okay. I don't know where that's at. Well, I think we had differences of opinion on whether that was necessary, but that was why it was necessary to come before us if you were going to. Got it. Yeah.
Whereabouts is that? Uh once again um across from the donut truck Ruby's car right right there. Yeah, that would be that would definitely be better in terms of
not a big wide open space, you know. Okay. Um guess there's pluses and minuses too have to deal with traffic. Yeah, at that point getting in front detail regardless. I suppose. Yeah. Right. Because it's
it's going to be one way in each direction, I thought. Right. One way each just one way with a light or something. Exactly. Right. Or one lane. That's what I'm trying to say. One lane. So, it has to be controlled either by a light or by a cop of some sort.
Um but that would be something our contractor they know um if they were actually go through with that plan to go back and forth to DBW across that little car path uh adjacent to the wetlands, they would have to come before you all and possibly
even submit a notice of intent just because that would require a permanent improvement. Um because my understandings there's a an old culvert pipe there that is no longer there that collapsed or washed away and it's
nothing's happened since then. It's a dark story from predated you. So I guess more to come on that but um I'll also bring up that idea of the West Main Street um to our contractor. So
very slow but but some progress with that project. Yes. Thank you for coming. Thanks. Nice to see you. Next item this evening is the continued public hearing notice of intent D file
number 100. Is there supposed to be a zero in front of that? Yeah. Okay. 100-0498. And we have been asked to continue this until our next That's continued too. That's the one, isn't it? That was BL
Street. BL Street. Did Heather the one that we Oh, this Yeah, we just have the orders, right? Yeah, we approved that. We just have to approve the the conditions. Orders or conditions. That's why it says Oh, wait. There's that little Is that what it
says? I see a little yellow sign. So, any comments? We went over these before, right? But I'd say just to clarify, just maybe do a vote to sign that sign the document and close the public hearing all at once. Right.
Sure. Yeah. We have to close the public hearing anyways. Okay. Okay. Is there a motion to to issue and and uh approve the orders of conditions
D file number 100-0498 and also to close the public hearing. So move second. All in favor say I. I say nay. Passes unanimously. What is that going on? Upstairs.
Back door is open. They're feeding people. Yeah. Yeah, that's right. There's a movie troop here and they're feeding the people working on a movie. They're filming him. I think we were in
the is it Norwood area the other night? I guess they were filming like in Shirley Air and Graten some different locations. Is it in Netflix or something? Yeah.
Anybody famous upstairs? We had a movie, big movie filmed just around the block block from us when I lived in Actton and it was cool for like three days and then it was a pain in the neck. When I worked inoston got to sell a DH Lawrence novel to
Joanne Woodward once in Boston when I was working at a bookstore. Yeah. I almost asked her if she was an understudy because they were filming. I said, "Were you filling in?" And then I was like, "No, it's her." You lost your nerve, didn't you? No, I mean Oh, no,
wait. I did recognize her. it was her co-star came up first and I thought um I almost asked him some stupid question like who are you are you anybody
so anyway anyway our next item this evening is the continued public hearing notice of intent D file number 100-0499 and ask to continue this until our next meeting at on July May 10th, 2025.
So that's that's that we don't have to do anything, right? Just you have to vote to continue. Yeah. Motion to to continue the public hearing notice of intent D file number 100-0499
until our next meeting which is July 10th, 2025. Second. All in favor say I. I. opposes unanimous any conservation member updates.
Just observe the town beach. Looks like it's closed up till Sunday for high bacteria levels. Did they treat the ponds today? They were supposed to. They were supposed to. I didn't see them, but do they do that if it's in if it's
Yeah, I think they can. It's It's If it's an algae bloom, they couldn't. Yeah. Okay. But I don't see them out there. Well, on Sandy Pond, I think they're only doing spot treatments
this year. Yeah. But I didn't see anybody out today either. Anyway, No, but I did hear from Carolyn McCreary that there was a little green algae spot over at the end
of um Hedgeway at that end of Sandy Pond. Very tiny. And uh so I think I think the residents just pulled it out of the water or scooped it out. So there seems to be a green algae
uh advanced scout activity checking on our ponds. Anything else? Now's your chance. Public input. I have seed dumplings that I was going
to try to share with the things, but then forgot who I emailed or tried to reach out to. They never got back to me. So, I have a whole bunch of them. What do you have? I don't normally you call them seed bombs, but I just feel like that's too aggressive. So then
I heard that you call them sea dumplings and it's just clay and wildflower mix from England and dirt and then water and then you make little ball and then you toss it places that need flowers and then the
pollinators benefit and we benefit from flowers. So I have a whole bunch not too exciting but you know I think Can you take those to the the library and put them like in their seat thing? Oh, that's a great idea. I could
probably put them underneath. I would just be nervous to like you mean the book drop or something? No, no, no. Um, actually in the library they have a seed like a card catalog with seeds. Maybe ask them maybe that's something that you know put them like in a ziploc
bag or something and Yeah, I have paper bags. I was going to write the recipe out on the bag and then put them in there. So, I don't know. Okay, that's a good idea. Thank you. That's a good idea. Anything else?
And just for the record, I'm putting Barry's atmospheric comment. I got nothing into the minutes. Seems too early to leave. I know. What do you think? Well, look at all we accomplished.
We amended our regulations. We signed an order of conditions. And we continued a public hearing. And we approved an RDA. We approved. Yes. Well, we gave it negative. Yeah. Well,
yeah. Got approved. It's a negative. Okay. Anything else? Actually, can I ask more questions? Please come forward. Yep. I hate I hate approaching. But why?
Scary. Oh, no. I get scared. We're very scary, too. No, I know you're not scary, but it still makes me nervous cuz everyone is Anyway, um I just I guess I'm just concerned about all of the developments that are happening in town. Um, I know it's an inevitable
situation, but just just looking out it's just, you know, I just um I know that we have the sustainability committee, but I looked at their website and it's just it's a little aggressive.
It's all caps and the description is like this will follow the suit. Please don't write it as aggressive. I didn't mean to say that. It's just all caps are a little bit much. Well, um, anyh who, I was just, um, it seems like it's it's
moving in line with the vision of the micro city, but, um, yeah, I just wonder if, uh, we're missing opportunities now to, um, set up foundations for animals to
find different homes, I guess, when different times come, when development happens. and you know they get displaced and um you were talking about the bats last time I saw you know normally I'd see about like 15 or something at night time and they're super helpful with the
mosquitoes um but you know I only saw like three um lately which is pretty low but also the dragonflies you know normally our yard is like covered but what inspired me was that last night I went outside and I don't really want to
talk cuz like I feel bad bringing up like being upset about developments because everyone wants developments, whatever. Well, thank you for saying that. Um, but it was just everywhere was covered with fireflies and it was just like fireflies
are um, you know, they're going the way of the dodo just because their environments are being taken away and people don't practice. Um, I don't know. You know, people like their lawns to look pristine and kept and all that stuff, so they don't have
their normal homes, but um bug zappers also drive me nuts. Oh, yeah. They're indiscriminate. They really are. I have So, I use mosquito dunk rings. Are those bad? You put them in a bucket of water and then they kill the mosquito larvae
and they they're supposedly don't kill anything else except for mosquitoes. The basillus, they're okay. Yeah. Oh, okay. Well, thank you. I'm sorry I asked that in this moment, but anyway. Um, but so yeah, I was just inspired to like ask uh
what we can do, I guess, as people who, you know, people who do care about um, you know, where these critters go when their trees are cut down and their land is taken away from them. Um, you know, it's inevitable. I understand. We live in Massachusetts. But at the same time,
um, there's a balance here that I think is just kind of being super disrupted. So, yeah. So, I just don't know if there's I know whatever the state sustainability committee is doing is for
the micro um city, but um I didn't know if the conservation commission had recommendations or um resources to like accommodate, you know, the future problems that might be presented by these modifications to
the land. Well, a lot of a lot of the animals are very adaptable and they can find a new home. Some of them aren't clearly are not. And you're preaching to the choir here. We all I
mean I I'm not opposed to development. That's not our job here to be to stifle development. We just need to make them be as responsible as we can make them be. And
one of the really good things is the OSRD. And that's big development. They give up half their their land for conservation in perpetuity. It's that's a good thing.
How can we I don't know. They're going to go down some ethical wormholes here. Um, do you does anyone do you all know of any type of organizations to assist
critters? Yeah, that would be an inter um I don't know of any per se, but no number of years ago uh the state held a forum on
the two needs to provide housing and to protect open space and there are two priorities in Massachusetts that are also clearly in conflict and that you know and I think unfortunately ely in the last few years
it seems the pressing more pressing need is for that many feel is for for for development for housing um so I you know for myself I just like to
take the open space side because there's louder voices on the other side right now but try to what we can or slow down what we can but um You know the issue the town always faces dealing with development is
private property owners have right have constitutional rights and the town can't say no you can't do anything with the property that you own and you're paying taxes on. So the best thing that most the town can do is try to shape things
so it's like you say more responsible. But um yeah, there are limits to what even local government can do. Um and we all grew up Yeah. I mean, maybe I shouldn't say that, but I grew up in the
subdivision where everybody had a beautiful lawn. My mom was out there with this can of weed killer waging war on dandelions. And you know, that's the that was the culture for a long time. And hopefully,
you know, people's perception of what their property is will change, you know, more more of a natural have some grass for kids or whatever and then have have a natural spot for the the rest of the critters. It's going to be an educational thing.
Oh, I mean, I'll try to research. I know last time we were talking about bat boxes. I know that there's a million other things that take precedence. Um, but I think it's just a Yeah, it's just a concern because um, you know, they're my neighbors who you might try
contacting to see what their thoughts are. Have you heard of New House Wildlife uh, Rehab and Chelmsford? You would love them. Are you on Facebook? Yes. Look up New House. Okay. wild and they
have a Facebook page, but they it's all specifically for wildlife rescue and rehabilitation and I would wonder what they would say about if there are organizations that help try to help if there's any way in in
that's feasible to try and persuade wild animals to go from here to here. But yeah, I just mean like um I think when we uh start to um you know when when things I mean I I
don't know what's going on in Strat Hill. I'm just scared to go over there cuz I I don't actually know where it really is. But um if we preemptively like if there's a old I don't know area that would be able to be used for
some sort of like rabbits or I don't know what you know if it's little maybe something like that but just finding little nooks and crevices to like preemptively set up just to have a refuge for animals that are like what's happening to my house? I don't know where to go. Um kind of deal. But also,
I guess education for people who are abuing um developments to like what do I do if there's a bear in my backyard all of a sudden, you know, and I'm sure a lot of people already know kind of to do that, but just like, you know, they're just trying to figure
out what's going on and to I don't know if I communicated that correctly, but I think just trying to understand how to help nature as opposed to freak out. One of the things that um there's more interest in doing for
projects and I think the planning board asks for this on new developments now too is dark sky compliant lighting which is aimed downward but its intent is to not disturb wildlife around the borders
of a development. So there are um act actions like that. Heather Heather also said the select board recently approved something that bans the use of a certain kind of uh redundide I can't
remember the exact type on municipal property. Those are things that towns are starting to do too to try to discourage um you know throwing in poison into you know mice and then rats and then raptors and so on. And this is
the first step, but I think eventually hope to move it to townwide. Um, but makes sense. Stratton Hill is half of their over half, right? Way over half of the property that could
be developed is in conservation. That's actually a I I Yeah, that seemed like it was a really good thing that happened. like under 12 acres they're developing and the town's getting over or over 130 acres has now gone into permanent
conservation mostly under fish and wildlife some under the town but won't be developed and property conservation land and ground so it's a big huge chunk now good corridor
trying okay well thank you so much and I hope I communicated correctly so But if you really love wildlife sto good stories, check out New House Wildlife on Facebook. I will. They're the ones we went to see that. Yeah, they were
awesome. Yeah. Um, shall we go? I don't know. Um, what am I trying to say? Is there a motion to adjurnn? That's the word.
Second. All in favor say I. I. Post nay. Passes unanimously.