get started. Good evening. It is now 7 o'clock on Tuesday, June 24th, 2025. I'm calling this meeting of the Chumsford Conservation Commission to order. My name is Carl Bishoff. I am the chair of the Conservation Commission. We will be following the published and posted
agenda. This meeting is both in person and through Zoom. Uh nobody here in the room other than us chickens but it is it is uh we are holding the meeting tonight. In the case of the zoom not working properly we will continue the meeting in person only. The meeting is
being broadcast and recorded by Chelford Tele media and will be available on their website and on YouTube. And we obviously have a quorum and we are ready to go. Are there any concerns from the public that are not on our agenda?
Anybody online? David. Um, nobody's no members of the public. Okay, let me put it that way. So, we can start with an update from our planning board liaison. I did get an update from Chris. He is not able to make it tonight, but he said at the last meeting, they closed Kate's Corner
discussion in preparation for the zoning public hearing sometime in July. They started informal discussions on 5155 Middle Sex Street area reszoning and they talked about an open and they opened a special permit public hearing
on 300 Bill Rucker Road recovery center. This week which I presume is tomorrow night. They have the old Westford Road ANR updated lot lines since the initial hearing due to the wetlands changes. They will continue with special permit
public hearing on 300 Bill Ricker Road Recovery Center. And uh oh, couple more. Decide timeline for public hearings for fall town meeting zoning articles. Discuss minor revisions of ADU bylaw proposal for fall town meeting from the
AG's recent review. And they are planning for the task force for the managed growth strategy. I'm not taking questions from any of you because Chris isn't here to answer. So, we'll just move on. Um,
okay. First hearing is the request for determination of applicability. Freedom Forever MA LLC, 40 Hazen Street. Caitlyn Rogeri, Freedom Forever Massachusetts LLC is the uh is is representing the
applicant. Um, and do we have a notice? We do have a notice. Chris, if you can read the notice. Yes. Legal notice. Pursuant to the provisions of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, Mass General Laws Chapter 131, section 40, and the Chsford Wetlands bylaw
Chapter 187, the Champs Conservation Commission will conduct the public hearing here in room 204 at the Chamsa Town offices on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 to consider the request for determination of applicability filed by Freedom Forever
MA LLC on behalf of property owner Robert Harvey for proposed work within a 100 foot buffer zone to bordering vegetated wetlands at 40 Hazen Street. Further identified as assesses parcel map 1112
11 12 block 425 lot 6. The project entails installation of a 12.040 kW, 59850 square foot ground mounted photo voltaccar array. Mr. Chairman, thank
you. Chris and uh David, do we have a uh presenter online? I hope. Uh yes. Yes. Anthony Kogo with Freedom Forever. Hello, Anthony representing Robert Harvey. Thank you. Can you tell us about your
project? Yes, sir. Um so we're proposing a concrete ground mount installation uh for a 28 panel array. The panels are black on black. Uh we are requesting a
45.3 foot setback from the zoning limit. Um the peers themselves that would be holding up the array. Uh we would pour concrete sauna tubes. Uh which are 2 ft in diameter and 4t deep. Uh and then the point of interconnection to connect to
the grid would be via line side tap. Okay. David, do you have any anything else you want to add? Um, just based on the the overall landscape and needing um the production to meet the customer's utility bill and shading that kind of goes into it.
That's why we've proposed this location uh to meet the customer's utility bill needs uh to offset the their energy usage. Okay, David, do you have comments? Um so yes um I had uh my main question was and
Anthony just answered it you know what what was involved in the actual construction you know the work sequence so it's it's going to be I think Anthony you said uh big feet that's correct there would be sonitude peers uh and they would be 2 feet in
diameter and 4t deep and and how many of those um if you go down to page PV3G. Uh there would be four of them, four sonitude. Okay. Um so the only issue I
have with a potential issue and my apologies to the applicant, I only just noticed this. Um and and just even before I say what I what the issue is that, you know, I think this is a great project. I think you know the commission should you know en encourage these
projects maybe even consider putting an exemption in some kind of an exemption in the bylaw or regulations for them but in this but don't have that now in this particular case. So, this this plan
right here shows the array um uh well 150 ft away from the pond and 53 feet away from the stream. Um and and if that's actually the case, I think that
the commission can approve this very easily. However, there there's another plan that was in included with the filing and that's this one right here up on the up on the um screen and and actually it
has a shows a different wetland delineation. I guess actually comes from uh 2008 according to the according to the plan. um the the label on this plan, it says for the building permit application,
but on that plan, you can see down here where the proposed array is. It's uh and and okay, so this um this funny dash dot dash dot this is the the wetland delineation right here.
And this is and then this dashed gray line is the 25 foot no disturb. So according to this plan, the array is actually goes comes within the 25 foot no disturb setback. So
um you know not really sure you know how the commission should deal with this. Again I think you know it's a great project. The commission should encourage these. on on the other hand, you know,
would require a waiver um to the 25- ft no disturb setback. And maybe there's a good reason to do it if if there's, you know, absolutely no other no other alternative. Now, I don't know. According to this, it it it looks like
it it if the array were just rotated maybe 30° counterclockwise, you could get it out of the the 25 ft no disturb. But I know that these arrays can be very very sensitive to the positioning depending on you know its
relationship to the sun. So would that So Anthony, would it be possible either to move it the whole thing slightly farther away um than what's shown on this plan or
even just they say ro rotate the end that's in the 25 foot no disturb rotate that out of it. Is that be something that would be possible? Absolutely. Due to the nature of a ground mount, we can set the array tilt to a different uh you know, a different
pitch. That way, we can capture more of the sun if we did rotate the array away from that uh setback. Okay. Well, I I think you know, otherwise it's in an open field. It doesn't require taking down any trees. Um I I think it's think it's a good
project. Okay. Let's see what if we have questions from the commission. John, do you have anything you want to ask? No, I'm I'm good with this. Okay. Yeah. No, I'm fine with this. So, u your your statement was if they changed the angle
of it away from the wetlands, it'd be more efficient. Is that Is that what I heard him say? That's what I thought I heard. No. If we rotated the array Yeah. uh left, kind of uh turned it counterclockwise. Yeah. um
to to be away from that setback. Then we can change the tilt of the array itself to capture the sun. All right. Do this. So it it wouldn't it wouldn't be a a detriment to moving it. No, sir. Okay.
No, as long as it gets the same efficiency, I have no problem with that. Okay, Chris. Yeah, I like the idea of conforming to the setback requirements. I think I like that change. Other than that, I would be good with the project. Okay, Ellie, I'm good with it. You're good.
Peter. Oh, yeah. Just echoing I like the setback idea because this is part of, you know, one of our wersheds and as you know, the uh uh property owner a couple of properties downstream just planted a bunch of trees to help restore part of this watershed. So, I'm in favor of and
and I like what um uh I'm sorry, Anthony. Thank you, Anthony. I like I like your willingness to just move it around. That is my understanding. these things. And I also want to just make a comment. Um, what I like about the project, I like to think of net environmental benefit.
So, if you're cutting down carbon emissions, there is a net benefit to all the interests we're trying to protect. So, to my way of thinking, that's that, you know, it's a good project. Okay. Um, any further questions from anyone? Anything else? Um, it sounds
like we have a condition to make a change. um uh per David's guidance uh what whatever the degrees is, but the the ultimate goal is to get it out of the out of the the setback. So So there's a couple ways you could do this. One would be to continue the hearing
pending, you know, uh revision to the plan or you could close the hearing and then just have Anthony work with me on, you know, revising this plan according to I'm comfortable with that. Yeah, I like that approach. Same reason to continue. Simple. Yep. Okay. And and if
I could make a comment, it's my understanding that there are solar incentives that either are or may go away at the end of this calendar year. So to me, that's be a good another good reason to try to move this thing forward so the owner doesn't get into a okay
time crunch. So I'm looking for a motion. I make a motion we close this public hearing, Mr. Chairman. Okay. Motion from Chris. Second. Second from Bill. All in favor to close the hearing. I motion's unanimous. I make a motion then that we approve the project with a
negative three determination with the condition that the applicant work with our conservation agent to make sure the setback is uh appropriately respected. Uh standard conditions otherwise. And standard conditions otherwise. Motion from Chris. Second. Second from Bill.
All in favor? I I Okay. Very good. Thank you, Anthony. Very nice. Nice project. Y keep Thank you, Anthony. Appreciate it. Thank you, board members. Okay, thank you. Hey, that vote was easy. Okay, now next on our agenda, we have a notice
of intent from Abrao Construction, Abrao Construction, 9 Jesse Road, Kenneth Lania, Cornerstone Lands Associates LLC, representing the applicant. Uh, and again, we have a notice,
Mr. Chairman, pursuant to the provisions of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, master laws chapter 131, section 40 and the Chumps Wetlands bylaw Chapter 187, the Chsford Conservation Commission will conduct a public hearing here in room 204 at the Chsa Town offices on
Tuesday, June 24th, 2025 to consider the notice of intent filed by Abu Construction on behalf of property owner the Edinburg Center, Inc. for proposed work within 100 foot buffer zone to bordering vegetated wetlands at 9 Jesse
Road further identified as assessor's parcel map 96/block 376/lot 13 could you slide it down a little bit further oh sorry the project entails construction of a singlestory addition
to an existing single family house installation of associated drainage infrastructure and utilities grading and landscaping Mr. Chairman, thank you, Chris. Uh, we are looking I believe we're going to continue this hearing. Yes. To two weeks
uh or our next meeting, whatever that date is, which that's July 8th. July 8th. Yes. So, received a request for a continuence pending issuance of a file number by D. D. Okay. All right. So, that makes sense. I think we can So, Mr.
Mr. Chairman, I move then that we continue this hearing until July 8th, 2025, which is our next meeting. Motion from Chris, second from John. All in favor of continuing. I Okay. All unanimous. Uh
thank you very much. We will uh see the applicant on July 8th. Could be at risk. We now are looking for an update from our vice chair, Mr. Garahan on the uh wetland and bylaw regulations
subcommittee and our status there. Yes. Just a quick update on our subcommittee taking a look at the wetland bylaw and regulations. So we met again last Tuesday. We had um Carl, myself, Peter and our agent Mr. Coons. So we met and
we met for about an hour and a half kind of went through the regulations looked a little bit kind of like what we had talked about in the previous meeting. So the focus is really in three areas. One was possibly uh changing the definition of flood plane um which is kind of based
on some old rainfall data. Um David was suggesting he's had some experience in his local uh town that there might be a bylaw that's already passed you know Attorney General Muster. It might be something for us to consider that would give us a little bit stronger powers around flood plane with flooding being
like a really key issue with town doing a lot looking at flooding issues. it might be something that we might want to take right to town meeting and have a you know a good good success there. So we're going to look a little bit further into that. David, you want to talk about that a little bit more or um Sure. I I
just briefly summarize. I think the main component would be to add for regulatory purposes to add a 100 foot buffer zone to the the bordering land subject to flooding wetland resource area. Um, and the town I was in before this, which was
was Lancaster, I thought that that they had that. Um, so I think I think it's legally allowed, but it was very very helpful in a number of projects. So right now we've got the 100 foot buffer say for the boarding vegetated wetland. So we kind of now house will have that
100 foot buffer zone for the land subject to flooding. So really expand our jurisdiction and our ability to, you know, control impacts around flooding. So, Peter, I'm sorry. I I'll save it for the subcommittee. I had a question, but
yeah, let's keep going. Let's keep going. All right. So, that was one issue that we we looked at. And then the other one was trees came up. Um Peter really brought the issue of trees. Is is there something more that we can do around regulation around trees? How do we preserve the tree canopy? You know, is there something we can do around buffer
zones? Is there some sort of, you know, impact or inter relationship between trees and lawn as well? and kind of what can we do? So, we didn't get really specific yet, but we're like looking at, you know, trees and lawn. Is there like some setbacks on new construction where
it might make sense to have lawns go, you know, be pushed back from the wetland lines somewhat? And the question is, if we did, what would the be the appropriate distance or not? Would it be like 5t, 10 feet, 50 feet? I mean, what would we as a community be comfortable
with? So, we spent some time talking about that issue and that's uh let me see. I think those are kind of like the highlights of what we really talked about. Fencing came up a little bit kind of um and how that inter reacts with trees. But just to sum up like our hour
and a half meeting, that's kind of where we're at. So, I mean, I think we're getting kind of close to having maybe some recommendations for the committee to consider and maybe wrap up. I'm just getting maybe one more meeting of subcommittee and then just bring it back here and we can kind of have a discussion about what we want to
do. I can tell you it won't be the next Tuesday. Yeah, I mean we're heading into the summer months as well. So, it might take us a little while just cuz it's summer, but um I know but yeah, I know. And you know what? I might zoom in myself that Peter zoomed in for the meeting. Not to blow your copper, but it worked out really well. And I might do
the same thing honestly. Although we did get to see he came in on the screen and it was like a it was scary like it was like it was a little scary. It was it was a big Peter spun. I'm sitting I'm I'm I'm sitting in a dark bedroom in my father's house happy to have internet
and I think I'm like being discreet and after about You guys didn't tell me. Yeah. After about 10 minutes you say, "Peter, you're as big as the whole TV." There's like a whole wall. I'm so sorry. You guys have to look at that. Oh, don't pick your nose. Anyway, that's my
reason. Carl, let's move on. I'll just say just add one more thing. So, one one one of the issues I think that we need to discuss as a subcommittee is uh and we talked about this a little bit already. You know, some some of the proposed changes might need consultation
with town council. I think we probably want to do that first we before we bring back any proposals here. Yeah. To the contract. Good point. Yeah. If it doesn't pass that, no point. I mean, and and if I could mention, I don't think we really discussed or maybe you guys
understand which of these ideas fit in regulations, which does not need town meeting bylaw approval and which is a bylaw and that's probably part of the council on which way. Yes. Yes. Yeah. because we have to be careful because we can't have
like, you know, we can't be like, you know, have a certain standard in our bylaw and then kind of go down to the regulations and kind of make it like super tough versus what we have in by we got to be careful how we we do that. But anyway, all right, moving right along. Thank you very much. Thanks,
Chris. Appreciate it. Um, David, do you have an update on Freeman Lake parcel boundary survey? I uh I sent a request for a a cost um of put putting in the granite bounds and doing the staking
along one property line. So then we could we could put up a fence. Haven't heard back from the surveyor yet. So Okay. All right. Thank you. Um, in a couple of other areas in the continual business, um, if you remember
a few months ago, um, DCR came before us to take some trees down at the top of Robin Hill. Um, I did go out and look at it. I don't know if anyone else did. Um, my I think we talked about it even. I think I came back and we talked about it and I said, as much as we don't want to lose 30 trees, it makes sense and it
really wasn't that big a deal in the in the canopy of that area. And so meanwhile they are going to be there this Thursday. Uh the DC the holdup that we had was we thought or they gave us the impression we were paying for it but somehow they did they said that. Yeah.
Yeah. They did say it and then um uh they came up with the money at the state level which makes sense. It shouldn't be something we pay for the town because we just host the tower uh on behalf of many surrounding towns. And so they're going to be here Thursday, uh I think it's
Thursday, um take starting a two or three day project to take down 30 trees. Um I know Christine u is involved in that and Gary um the fire chief is involved. So um I think you know I'm okay with it. I'm fine. Did we vote on
that? We I don't know that we we didn't say go ahead and do it because the money held us up. That's a good point. Well, we we probably should because it's our land. Well, and just one other thing is there should have been better communication on this. I mean I mean you were you were blindsided. I didn't know
a thing about it. I heard about it on social media in the last few days. Payment, huh? The payment when was that? No. That they were going to start next week. They notified neighbors, but they didn't notify the owners. Oh, right. How how many do you know the extent of the
neighbors? Like is there is there is it is we have any sort of obl should we you know I don't know if it's a town website news flash or something but should we there was something that went out there it's already gone out but just to the immediate of butters do you know uh I think there was within the 300 something
else I thought I saw something on the town it's already there okay I'll look while you're I think so but I think Mark you bring a good point up we should we should vote on it um to because we should have been asked to vote on it and I think that's a good point. So, I'll take a motion. So, let
me let me just Well, we talked about it and one of the things we were talk I mean, we had a lot of questions when they were in here and one of the things was we were talking about having some sort, okay, if we're going to take 30 trees down, we'd like to make sure we get 30 trees back planted somewhere as uh compensation, so to speak, for the
loss of the trees. Is there anything going to happen on that at all, David? You know? No, haven't heard that. Well, we talked about it as an idea when that came up. Yeah. Yeah. I'm disappointed, too. I mean, you would have thought they would have had the courtesies to come back and let us know, hey, here's an update. You know, one would have thought
that. Yes. I mean, it'd be nice if we could get uh DCR to kick in some sort of funding and our DPW knows how to plant trees, although I don't know how easy it is up there. And then I just thinking this through,
you guys know this as well as I do. If we don't plant anything, something will grow. And I know in my yard where I leave it alone, I get some good I get some good things growing along with the bad things. So maybe, you know, I'm not What What are they actually doing? Are
they topping? Are they taking the trees down and cleaning them up down? I think they're taking them down. Well, they said they were going to taking them down cuz they're mostly pines, right? Yeah. Yeah, they're all almost all pines. Yeah. You're not going to cut that off in halfway, right? No. Right. Maybe even the stumps. The stumps should be left.
And what about the wood? I wouldn't be I think they're going to chip it, but I wouldn't say for sure. I don't know. They'll log it and yeah, chip it. Yeah, Carl. Not comfortable given voting on this until we know what they're going to do. Well, that's true. Carl, if I could just mention one quick thing. We're on
on the tree side. We're working on another grant from the state and they're really emphasizing uh canopy trees, leafy trees, deciduous trees whenever possible. So my point is if if if we ended up as a town changing
emphasizing like the importance or the like cut them down or what? Oh, I'm sorry. If you're going to plant trees, the state people are recommending the climate and tree people are recommending deciduous. Deciduous and not ones that are going to get like an oak tree or something. Oak tree and not a not an ash
tree. Not a willow, of course. No willow, of course. We could do a will, but absolutely not a pine. But not a pine. So, I mean, because because there's more um habitat and carbon value. So, all I'm saying is while it sounds like nobody likes the idea of losing all the trees, if that thing ended up in 20 30 years being populated
with big shade trees, if you did the math, that'd be a net benefit to the town goal of improving tree canopy. That's all. So, the other thing, David, when we talked about this yesterday, um, now I'm remembering you also said it's we're still in nesting season. Yeah.
And, um, that's 30 trees that are likely to nest something. Yeah. Between critters and birds. Um, so maybe we um, you're not comfortable. I Yeah, I'm I'm not hearing you. We ask them to just come back and give us an update on what's going on. Well, but if
they're scheduled for Thursday, they're going to have to be told not to do it. Yeah. So, well, the problem is you can't put them back once you take them down. That's true. You don't know what they're going to do with the logs. They're going to chip the brush. Yeah.
I don't know. How would you assess the critter, you know, birds nesting and whatnot impact in pine trees? Um, well, I it's probably primarily owls and hawks. Um, but it's, you know, should at the very least wait until July 1st to do
it. Um, that, um, I think the commission has had that kind of condition before. Um, but, you know, it's a matter of, you know, te telling them that they can't do it. And, you know, when are they
supposed to do it now? Thursday. Shouldn't DCI know this information on I think they felt that they talked to our tree warden and our fire chief and that was the okay but the guy that was
here we knew I mean the conversation we had was the last we left it was uh they they needed money for you know funding it and we were going to look into how how could it be funded. We never really chased it down. That's right. And we and Christine was here that night and we had
a she came in and we talked about it. Yep. And then we never heard anything else until this, right? Yeah. I mean there there wasn't even any communication. Well, we we don't need we found our the funding ourselves and this is when you know it's scheduled even
nothing like that. Um I I don't want to speak for Christine, but although I got the sense from her email you received from her that she's very much in favor of this. I mean just as is the chief is and I think in the end I am but I I'm I'm agreeing with the fellow
commissioners that the approach and understanding the details are important and perhaps delaying it a couple more weeks for nesting. So and I think the point is um question who's the legal owner? Yeah, it's us, right? Yeah. Well, the
town I think we're the owner of I think it's on our we are the legally responsible. So, they basically are doing a project without answering our questions on legally speaking our land. I mean, obviously, it's public land, but All right. Well, I'm going to make a
motion. I'm going to make a motion. We We'll try one motion. I don't know. We got votes for it, but I'll make a motion that we approve um the work. Um um but you know, number one, we express our disappointment that we've found, you know, finding out so late about this and
and uh you know, so I think we want to express our disappointment that we didn't hear back from the the people that presented to us. Number two, I think we want to um request that there be compensatory trees planted, native trees planted um somewhere in the the
near vicinity to compensate for the the 30 trees that are coming down. So, I think we're going to make that request. And um I think thirdly, we want um let's see what else do we say. Anything else? Yeah, if if you were
trying to make a point, you could say we don't like the idea because we have a number of questions including habitat and replacement trees. If you wanted to push that idea and the disposition of of the wood of the trees, it ought to be left on site. We don't know what they're planning.
Yeah. And and then we requested a prompt update as to the plans for um you know maintaining the habitat as well as what's going to happen to the trees that are cut, how are they going to be removed. So we need a prompt update uh from DCR on that. I I think we should
look approach it as a private citizen set up a little bit. Oh, sorry. Is approach it as a private citizen coming to us. We have the same questions and the same concerns. So you made a motion to approve, Chris. Yeah. So we need expressing you know our regret and disappointment that we were like left in
the dark so to speak and not informed but then also you know making the the point about the compensatory trees and then we also would want an update from DCR as to what the plans are as far as the removal of the trees and what's going to happen on that site because it is in and note for the record this is our site our land you know this is
conservation land so something like that. So we're approving but we're not particularly happy about how it played out. I'll second the motion. Okay. Motion from Chris. And this is an affirmative uh uh motion. A motion from
Chris, second from Bill. All in favor? I'm going to say I'm in favor. I'm in favor. Somewhat reluctantly to be honest. What? Let's say again two. We got three. Okay. And opposed.
One, two, three. Uhoh. Abstain. You can abstain. Yep. Yeah, let's not put out the last meeting. I wasn't here for this, so I apologize. Okay. I mean, it wasn't a hearing or anything, so but that's okay. So, we have uh three 3 to three and with an abstension.
So, I'm not sure what we do with that. Does not carry. The motion does not carry. We can make another motion, but can we have any brief discussion? I don't know how you want to do that. It's It's too late. We can can we after the is taken? You can you can make a different motion. Yeah. Yeah. You know,
you do a motion to reconsider. You could or or you can make a motion that um because it's our land, we agree with a couple of conditions, including if you want to incorporate after July 1st. Not that that makes any real difference if you think about it, but that's sort of
making a statement. Look, don't do stuff on our land without asking us. And that would cause all I'm saying is just a non-gender item. With the current motion, don't we lose all leverage to get more trees planted? Yeah, there's not even at least from DCR, we could put that puts pressure on our tree warden to
think about planting trees, which maybe that's the right approach. But do we want to just give in easily and give up our position or do we want to Well, but dig in a little. Well, but the motion didn't pass. So, the work is not approved. Yeah. Theoretically, they
cannot do it. Oh, I'm sorry. I maybe I don't understand. Can't we make a different motion with different conditions? Yeah, you can. That does approve it on, you know, whatever. Yeah. July 1st or something. Are you making that motion? Well, if it was after July 1st, then I would say we ought to have
them come here July 8th and put it off. I think we're getting ahead of ourselves. Yeah, this is a non-aggenda writing. We can't be voting on it. Yeah, that's a good point, Mark. It's not on the agenda. Well, but it's kind of kind I think you could do it under an emergency. Again, we just found out yesterday, right, that they were doing
this. We certainly couldn't have anticipated this because Well, it should have been on your agenda. They should have. It should have. It totally should have. Yes. Yes. It should have been on. So I don't I don't think I don't It should have been on weeks ago because because they if they had a quote from Meyer that was weeks and weeks ago, I'm
sure. Of course. So we Yeah. Okay. So the current motion we're not approving it. So now we're not approving it. Yeah. We took an emergency. The way I see it, we took an emergency vote and we did not approve it. And so we can let Christine
and Chief Ryan and DCR know that we didn't approve it and that we're amendable to making this happen at some point, but they should come before us with some more details and uh and answer some questions. Um I I'll I will just
say one thing though. They may go ahead and do it anyway. My experience with state agencies, that's what they're going to do. Really? Absolutely. state, they couldn't they couldn't care less. You know that new sidewalk on Turnpike Road that the state filed the notice of intent for received an order of
conditions? Yeah. Never heard a thing from them. They did not comply at all with any of the special conditions in that order. The state the typical state agencies, they simply do not care. They will do what they want. But but there's also a second issue that I should have
the answer to. We've been discussing this with Christine in the tree committee. It's not entirely clear. Christine is our tree warden. It's a Massachusetts program. It's 100 years old. The tree warden has legal authority for all public trees. There is some
question whether that extends to like conservation land. That that's where I we need some counsel in. Well, the last time we spoke with her about this, she feels her jurisdiction only extends to the rights of way public roads, not to town conservation law. So, I I think
what we do is we can we can send this. I think you're probably right, David. Um, we we made our point. I think that's as far as we can go with this. We'll see. I mean, maybe they'll say, "Okay, we're going to put it off and we'll come before us." Okay, that would be great.
We're disappointed. Um, Okay. Um, we made a point and I I think the vote speaks for itself, honestly. Yep. So, I I'm I'm I'm not pleased, but I'm okay to move on from that and let it go. Okay. I'll I'll send an email an
email tomorrow. Okay. Thanks. Will you be monitoring this, Dave, at all? Uh, I know you got a lot on your plate, but not planning to. I might get up there Thursday. Okay. I don't know.
Okay. Well, I'm just I I I will try. I'll do the best I can. Well, let's see see what happens tomorrow. Let us know if you hear back. So, you're not going to chain yourself to any pine trees, are you? If you come with me, I might No, I think
Peter just volunteered to curiosity. Are you talking about the fire tower over there? Yeah. Yeah. So there's a and I don't want to speak out of scope because as you know I work for the police department as a dispatcher, but there is a repeater up there for dispatch which controls the radios down there. So I'm assuming someone from the fire
department would be there for this if they're cutting trees down and they have equipment up there that involves their communication. They would the state police had something and they took down they topped trees like two years ago for for that um for the state police repeater. It might have might be the
town as well. Yeah. Yeah. It's a shared frequency. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. The trees are marked. Sorry. The trees are marked. Yeah. Yep. Yeah. When I went up there in the spring, I mean, it was two months ago, they were it was easy to see which ones. I was
like, it's not it's not that big a deal. I mean, it sounds like a lot, but it's a pretty good size area. So, you know, it's like it thin it's just thinning out the forest a little. And, you know, and and I just remember what you you said when we talked about this a month ago. If you think about it, the goal is all
as it was presented to us was for fire because you couldn't they couldn't see into Andover and there's some forest that burn. And you made the point, Chris. Well, that's probably a net ecological benefit if you can reduce, you know, smoke from fires. Although, yeah, maybe that's debatable. No, I mean, I think it's Yeah, I I saw the
benefit of doing it, but it just procedurally they just really dropped the ball. Yeah. Yeah, that's that's kind of where I'm I'm at. And I and I would like to know like the disposition and whatever. So, okay. Um, next thing I had a couple more things is the gap analysis um update. Um, David, you and I talked
about you want to provide. I know we saw Donna yesterday. Uh, yes. So, the consultant Larry Lassard uh has been working on this. Um my understanding uh from Donna was when we spoke with her yesterday was that he's he's coming up
with a list of recommendations um a list of ways we know this should be approached moving forward that that he's going to then approach um the individual boards with which which mean this board planning board and conservation
commission and then once once he submits his recommendations to those boards then it needs to be decided where it's going to go from there. Whether it's whether it's you know every the entire board each board uh meeting together to to
discuss it and either approve it or not approve it or whether again it will be you know a sub set of each board that does that. So is that consistent with your understanding? That's what I heard. Yep. Yep. So we'll hear more in the next
few weeks. Yeah. Yeah, probably in a month from now we'll hear something. Um, she was pretty encouraged by that from Yeah, it sounded like it from her interaction. Okay. Um, let us jump to land management now and um if anyone I'm
just going to popcorn go around. Peter, do you have anything on Thanksgiving forest? Uh, yeah. I have an update that comes from our two land stewards who communicated to you because you and Bill Vines, I guess, have been out there. Yep. Um Jeff Bootin and Michael Bell. I I've met Jeff, not Michael, but um
they're paying attention. Yeah. To it. And you guys saw it. I went over and looked at the work they've been doing. You and I went we all went there to the kickoff meeting, but it looks great. And I love what they've done uh with the kiosk and saying this is not just a bunch of plants here in their little
garden. It's here's the ecological benefit. So that that's great. That's kind of we've talked about that, right? interpretive plaques and the neighbors just did it and their fence is really that's pretty impressive. I like that fence. It's not it's not going to keep deer out but it's a it's a nice setup.
Well, the deer if you pick the right plants the deer because I have firsthand experience they're not likely to eat them. Yeah, they might. But but that f that fence looks a lot better. You remember when Jeff had a sample that he had made? Yeah. You know, I I had a little bit of trouble picturing what
that would really look like big. But he was spot on. It looks great. Yeah. Yeah, it's nice. Okay. Thanks. Uh Chris, anything at Crooked Spring? No, it looks good. Okay, Mark, you got anything? Nothing new. Yeah. Uh John, anything at Russell Mill? No, except the speed bumps
on Mil Road. Those I go down. There's three of them. I didn't know there's three or four speeds. People ask me, are they going to put them in around every conservation area? I think they're just digging me a little bit. You think? the thing. I
mean, they're unbelievable. Unbelievable. Whoever came up with that plan. Who engineered that? I don't know. But a little overengineered. Overengineered. I heard they're putting a few more down the street right by your house. Is that by the school entrance, right? Is that
okay? Speeding. I don't speed. All right, let's do Yeah, but that and it does. We're digressing. You can't speed. That doesn't help. That doesn't help at all. Let's keep going here. Full throttle. Take us away. Anything else? Any Deep Brook Oill coost? No, nothing
on Deep Brook. Uh, speed bumps. That's right. That's right. The water district on coolers. We uh sent an update to the select board
uh to keep them apprised of where we're at on the site and getting all the deliverables that we need for Sudbury Valley uh trustees. So, excuse me. Um, I'm going read it word for word, but
I'll give you the highlights. Uh, so the deliverables deliverables we're in the process of getting the baseline document report, uh, phase one environmental site assessment and a site survey and
boundary staking, which uh, K got approved last night at town meeting. So, those things are in the process of being done. so that we can have that for the state and for the Sudbury Valley Trust. Um we've also met with DPW and have a
commitment from them for to remove the uh remaining concrete uh pads, the utility poles. Uh there's some other debris down there and uh so that's in the works. And then uh site
improvements. We're still waiting for the uh Eagle Scout to install the kiosk. Uh I think the rain has kind of slowed him up last few weeks and and getting some help to install it from other uh scouts. And
he's also got two picnic tables, handicap picnic tables that are going to be uh placed down there. Um, we're also looking at an ADA compliant trail from the parking area out to the
field on the left. There's a nice tree that we're going to put a picnic table at, nice area to sit that's be handicapped uh, compliant. Uh we're also looking at improved signage for the trails and interpretive signs explaining the
history of the site, the nature part of the site, you know, different things with trees and plants and different things like that. The vernal pool. Um also there's a uh there's a need for a raised walkway on the main trail and uh
that'll be done similar to the right reservation walkway that we did. Um, we've got volunteers regularly maintaining the trails, cutting the grass, uh, up to the picnic area, picnic table area, and up to the trail heads.
And, uh, that's being done every two weeks, I would say, depending on the weather. And, uh, we've got volunteers that are down there every day, uh, watering the trees. The DPW planted three trees. And uh John Ray is one of
the volunteers. He he's watering the trees every day for us. Um we're also looking at a long-term invasive management plan because there's a lot of invasives out there uh that need to be dealt with. And uh so that'll be
part of uh long-term plan. We've also uh agreed to two annual license agreements. uh agricultural use, one for uh uh Caroline Parley for haying the field across the street and one to
Mike Rayback for planting pumpkins um on that parcel which is part of Coolis. Um, so I guess uh let's see what else. That's pretty much it. But we've uh we want to keep the the
select board up to date on what we're we're doing so that they uh know that there's a lot of things in the process of being done and and we're working on that site. That's about it. Good. Just one question. Um, so where do things stand with the uh the granite assign and
the I have a I have a document I need to send to you this so we can get it sent out for a request for quote. Okay. I looked at it today and I I got to spend like 20 minutes and there it should be. So So this will be both the granite sign and the CPA acknowledgement. Yeah. I'm thinking we just put like the the
welcome sign on the front and the CPA thing on the back. You put it near the front and as you're walk as you're driving out you'll see the CPA part. M it's one sign, one granite thing. I think I think that makes sense. Yeah, as long as Lamaser can do that. Yeah, they
can. Okay. Make sure it's thick granite. Okay. Thanks, Bill. Appreciate it. You're welcome. Um and uh I don't really have much on Warren Pole Wright or Cranberry Bog. Did No, I've been out there all three of them lately and they're all in good
shape. They're all doing good. Um can we Yep. Um, Cranberry Bog, you and I talked about this a long time ago, but as of about December in the Carile newspaper was an article about they were taking a fresh look at
the dam, the same their their side, their dam. Yeah. About removing it because they were the thought was it would be cheaper and it would support the restoration they're doing in the bog. You know, the converting the bog to well, kind of like a Warren Pole, kind of like a wet meal. Wet meadow. Um, but
I think that would impact the pond on our side, I think, wouldn't it? Or potentially, depends on which dam. But anyway, there's a question and I don't know if there's any sort of one of us should call over there or
Sylvia retired, too, I think. Yes. Didn't she? Yes. And I don't know if they have a new agent or not. Okay. I know who I could speak to to Yeah. I mean, I I don't know if it's worth worrying about at this point. I I don't I I um I don't have a problem calling her. Yeah. That I actually have another
question for her. Okay. So, you're not talking about Sylvia? No. Yeah, I know. I Okay. Yeah, I'll let you I'll let you do that. Okay. We'll see what we can find out. Just a thought. Yeah. Okay. Don't want to be blindsided. Uh David, anything else on agents
report? you talking about? Oh, the beavers uh over on Canal off near Canal Street or near So, let me bring up this. So, um hopefully everyone's aware that the commission owns this parcel right
here in in the middle or in between the L connector and uh route three. Um, so, uh, if you if you you see this thin area up
here, um, it's not really even a stream, at least according to this. But Beavers recently built a couple of dams up there. The the the water flow goes in this direction like that. And so, uh,
beavers built a dam in this location and another one down here so that it was backing up in this wetland and that was causing flooding issues over on McFarland, which is this road right
here. In in particular, this last house down here was having, you know, uh, really bad problems with rising water. Apparently, there are a couple of culverts underneath Route Three that not shown on this, but they're there and
that's how they're hydraologically connected this property and that property. So I um just sort of on an emergency basis, I signed off on um permits per permit applications to the
health department from the DPW to to both uh take out these dams and trap beavers. And that seems to have done the trick for the time being. The the water level down here has gone way down. But, you
know, DPW is making the assumption and I think it's reasonable that the Beavers will come back. Um, again, who knows why? Again, they may they may be just really desperate because not really a stream, but in any case,
the likelihood is they'll be back. So, so because it's commission land, the the DPW is asking for uh standing approval from the commission to authorize me to
sign off on um a beaver uh trapping and dam removal permits on an as needed basis. DPW says they're happy to monitor it regularly, but they that's what they are requesting.
I'm comfortable with that. So, I think we should probably vote on it even though it's not on the agenda to vote. But, um, can can we ask a question? Yeah, let's take some questions on this. Um, we've talked about some conservation
commissions, I think, have success in certain cases with the I hate the word beaver deceiver. You know, the you've seen them. Yeah. And I have no idea what that cost. But any idea if this would be even
physically suitable? It's not really a stream. Right. Right. Not not in those locations. I mean, I don't know. I don't know what it's like uh further back here. And that is another concern of the DPW is if the if the the beavers were to build dams way back here. I mean, this
is so thick. This is so difficult to back get back here. If if it if it turns out that again there are flooding problems at some point on McFarland and there aren't there aren't beavers or there aren't dams in in this channel
quote unquote and I I should have I'm glad you asked because I should have mentioned this. The DBW was also requesting that then the conservation commission you know deal deal with it on on its own. So it would be it would be a matter of of the commission then hiring
somebody to go out in this area look for a dam uh or dams and then and then the commission dealing with it. Um it is sort of and and but and one other quick so but the fundamental logic is to
prevent flooding. Yeah. In McFarland, which is one of the things we're supposed to right balance, right? Yeah. Got it. I mean I mean really uh and I and I've been through this in other towns. If if it's flooding on commission own land, the commission is legally
responsible for damage done to private property. So really don't think the commission has a choice. But but anyway, back to your question, Peter. Yeah. No, this is not suitable for a beaver deceiver. You you really need at least three feet. Better to have like closer to four feet uh deep um elevation
change. Yeah. Drop. Yeah. So there's there's no way that would work here. Got it. Yeah. We we ran into that over at Crooked Spring and the the expert came in and he said, "Right, you're not close." Yeah. Yes. Yes. Yep. So, um, any
other questions? Ally, Chris, excuse my ignorance, but I mean, in terms of trapping these things and relocating them, is that kosher or what's the deal with that? They have to be destroyed. Yeah. They're they're relocated. Wink wink. Like the
problem bears are relocated. I I mean I guess I'm looking in more terms of like the legality of it. It's not legal. No. Not in the state. It's not illegal to transport a wild animal, right? Yeah. Is is that's the law. I I don't know exactly, but you can't you can't
relocate them. And that includes like a mouse or a chipmunk, too. That was my understanding of the law. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Yep. Good question. Chris, you have anything? Yeah, I'm good. Mark, no. I'm I'm in favor of it if it needs to be. Yeah. Bill, anything? I'm very comfortable with David handling
it with DPW. Yeah. Okay. All right. So, let's just take a quick vote just so we can say we got a vote on on this. Okay. All in. Yeah. Do we need a motion? Go ahead. Move to approve. Yeah. What are you approving? Yeah. So, I'm moving to
allow David policy. Yeah. that allows David to approve the authorize me to sign off on uh trapping and dam removal permits as requested by the DBW for this site or yes for for this area in the 495
uh I'm sorry riverneck road parcel map 64 parcel 283 lot I second yeah okay motion from Chris second from our call in favor I okay unanimous Vivian, let the record know we
appreciate you keeping us honest. For that, what are we voting on? And if anyone is looking for something to do, this channel is full of tires. Yeah, DPW there there's there's a few. Maybe I missed them. I didn't whack it up and down. Well, and who knows what else you
might see out there, but DPW says if volunteers want to bring them up to the side of the road here, they will haul the stuff away. It's not great traffic, though. It's a busy road and it it is. It is. Yeah. All right. Thank you, David. What else? Anything else on your
report? Uh, yes. Um, so let me just get rid of this. So I, um, I approved a total of four events over at Russell Mill. Um, two in July, two in October. This is
This is by Ninja. The Ninja Mountain bike. Number. No, not Na. It's Ninja. Oh, oh, right, right, right. That's right. You're right. Um, so there, yeah, there are two uh in July and two in October. Um, and while we're
on the subject, Carl, just remind me where things stand with NEA and did you did you sign a newou? I will be signing it tomorrow. Okay. Is are they aware of these other I was just going to ask you, does Nima know about these are they
aware of these events from Ninja? Uh, I I have not informed them. So, I will I will be seeing those guys tomorrow, Chris and um Barry, just so that Yeah, I'll make sure we hear that. Can you send me the info on those? Sure. Yeah.
Yeah. Because I think in general if someone's holding an event on that site, especially a mountain biking event like Ninja Yeah. and they may be working through NEA, I don't know, but NEA should know. They should be aware because they may plan something of their own at the same time and then well
although they would have they would have let me know. Good good point. But but yeah, I I will I will forward those to you. They're they're the steward for that site. So I just think it's a good courtesy to keep them up to speed. Yeah. Okay. That's that's good to know. Thank you. Um just the last thing is um I I
did reach out to Mr. St. John about Littleton Road. Um he said that yeah, it's a camper. he's got there that he is will be planning to use from time to time. Um he he did uh I I did ask him if
he would be willing to come to next conservation commission meeting and discuss the issue with the commission. He said he would come to the July 8th meeting. So we'll see. We'll see if he does and if if he does, we'll discuss
it. Um, you know, I think there are some potentially, you know, non-wetland issues related to camping on the property, but we'll we'll have to talk about that with him. Okay. All right. And then we have that's it. I
think we have meeting minutes for April 22nd. Um, from Vivian. Uh, did we I don't think I don't think we Yeah, she sent them out Friday. Yeah, Friday. That's okay. I'm sorry. We can
review them and approve them next time because I'm sure we'll have the other ones all caught up. Yeah, if you stop talking. Oh, wow. This is a quiet This is a short meeting. We're in inside of an hour. We didn't hit a Chris Ghan record here tonight. We got 11 pages on the first May meeting.
We got 13 pages on the second May meeting. I don't even remember what the last one did. Well, wow. We're up to five pages already today. Five pages. And this is a short meeting. Four pages with Peter, right? Yeah. I'm sitting here wondering why you're picking on
these guys and not me. I think we should take a motion to adjurnn. Yeah, I'll take a motion to journ. Motion from second from Peter. All in favor? I. Thank you very much. Chel media. Good night everybody.