Good afternoon, everyone. This is the monthly meeting of the Blackstone River Committee. It's Wednesday, May 20th, 2026. The time [snorts] is 1:03. We're in the upper level of the old town hall, 1111 Somerset Avenue here in
Dighton. This is a public meeting being video and audio recorded for posting on YouTube. We're just waiting to see if we have anyone coming in from Zoom. John, why don't you bring up the meeting and then we can keep going. And if you
keep an eye to see if Jim reading >> Meeting's going. I'm just trying to get the same as big screen. >> Oh. >> It's good. >> Did you say Jim is there? >> Yeah. >> I am. How are you doing, Nancy? >> We having a little trouble trying to get
the screen to be huge, but at least we can talk to you. >> [snorts] >> Yeah, I was having a little trouble getting the sign-on to work, too. That was uh uh on my side, though. Nothing that you guys did. >> Is there a box at the top that you click
on and makes it wider, larger? See Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I think we're in business. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for all. >> Thank you. >> [clears throat and snorts] >> Let's do a roll call. >> Mr. Phillips here. >> Leonard Hall.
>> Present. >> I'm Ferry here. >> D. T. Cooper, not present. >> Uh first [clears throat] order of business I have three days to welcome the newest member of the Storm Water Committee representing Planning Board.
Oh, welcome, Lenny. >> Thank you. >> I hope you've been inundated with a lot of emails trying to read all the stuff that's out there. >> I had a good morning, but that's okay. >> Uh if if you think we're going to go through what's in that black folder today, that isn't going to happen. I just want you to know that. >> Thank you.
>> Uh Mr. Ferry, would you take care of the usual welcoming activities, please? >> Welcome. >> Thank [laughter] you. >> So, I see you brought homework. >> [clears throat] >> Is that what Nancy gave you? >> No, Nancy gave me that.
>> [laughter] >> There's more. There's [clears throat] more. >> Uh-oh. >> So, we expect some of the information in here back next meeting. Also, some of this educational >> [clears throat] >> You're welcome. >> Most of it's educational component that we hand out at the events. That's your
mission. >> Thank you. >> You have to fill it out and bring it back. >> No, it's There's some exciting projects in the works. I'm super excited. It's really noisy in here. No one's ever found out. Such a such a good cricket. >> It's about [clears throat and snorts] time. >> Um >> I'm looking forward.
>> Okay, welcome. Um I'm going to declare all offices vacant because we need to organize the committee now that the elections have taken place. So, um I will call for a nomination for chairman.
I'd like to nominate Nancy Gullah as chair. >> Second that. >> Are there any other nominations? Hearing none, any discussion? Now, all in favor? >> Aye. >> Aye. >> I will now ask for nominations for
clerk. Mr. Ferry was the former clerk since day one. >> That was very stressful. >> I'd like to nominate Tom Ferry for clerk. >> We have a nomination for Tom Ferry for clerk. Is there a second? >> Here is a second.
>> Are there any other nominations? Hearing none, I will any discussion? Do we really want Tom? Is there any You can make a speech, Tom. All in favor? >> Aye. >> Aye. >> Congratulations, Tom. Okay. Um
I'm going to ask for a motion to take agenda five e, Hot Springs subdivision, stormwater permits out of order since we have >> [snorts] >> um Mr. Rodger here and we have um Jim Ridden on Zoom. Is there a motion to
take agenda five e out of order? So >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. >> Sorry, ma'am. >> Any discussion? Hearing none, all in favor? >> Aye. >> Okay. So, Mr. Rodger, if you want to speak,
just go to the Uh So, the reason this is on the agenda is because um in looking at the materials that came from the planning board and some information that was submitted from the
from the town engineer Weston and Sampson. Uh it's estimated that the area of disturbance is 50 to 60,000 square feet for everything, okay? Anything above 35,000 requires a stormwater permit, uh
which is $250 payable to the town. So, that's why this is on here. Actually, somebody should have notified the stormwater committee when your project went to planning and all that, but we weren't notified until just now, so that's why this is here. >> That total uh
square footage, including the houses that are already built? >> Whether or not they're houses there, it doesn't matter. If you disturb more than 35,000 square. Let's say you just decide and you're going to If it's a tree, please, you're just going to clear it.
If you disturb more than 35,000 square feet, you need a stormwater permit. >> Okay. >> Okay. Um does anyone have any comments or questions about this? Uh Mr. Ryder and Jim, anything? >> [snorts]
>> No comments or questions uh from me. >> Okay. So, what you have to do is go down to the Board of Health and see Elizabeth and ask her for an application for a stormwater permit. Fill out the form, uh tell her that the fee that you were
quoted is $250, and she will have a permit made out and approved by the Board of Health, and that permit >> [cough] >> will come [clears throat] up. Um on the front, it'll cover
the property. In other words, the the site location. And then attached to it are the rules that go with the permit, okay? So, that's what this is about. >> Okay. >> Okay, thank you. >> [snorts] >> Well, I'm going to go back to old
business, update on Horton Street homes. Uh Jim, do you have anything there? Has anyone been out to the site where the the three homes are on Horton Street? >> Um we we conducted a uh site review uh it was um
in February or March. Um and uh you know, found that there were a couple of minor things that that they needed to clean up as far as like soil erosion and sediment control went, but that largely the site was in pretty
good shape. Um we haven't been out there since. Um we did put together that proposal for uh review after um you know, uh significant rain conditions. I think we used to half inch uh as being the the
standard for um the size of the rain rainstorm before going out to review. Um but that uh that proposal, you know, remains um uh unapproved. So, we haven't done any additional review.
>> Well, no, wait a minute. What do you mean it's unapproved? He paid he paid the 9,600 or 9,800. >> I don't believe I've seen it. >> Nobody told you that? >> I don't believe so. Um did you did you
send me something to that effect or how would that have come to me? >> I thought I we did this at a meeting when I mean he paid it almost almost instantly. But the proposal that you submitted, I'm thinking is $9,810.
>> Going back to check the proposals. Give me a moment. >> What I can do also is I'll check with the town accountant because a special account had to be set up. >> Yeah, I don't think we've heard that. >> Okay. All right. I will get back to you
on that. >> Okay. If somehow or another I missed something, I very much apologize for that, but I don't believe that we've seen that. >> Cuz I know that in there there are I believe a site visit and some
inspections. So, I will look into that and get back to you. >> Okay. >> Okay. I don't have under item 4B I don't have anything on the calendar update. I haven't gotten a response from BP yet. My guess is they're probably buried this
time of the year with all of the stuff they have to do for printing. And um I also need a quote for the cost of the calendars. So, I will get in touch with her again. Um
I got a feeling they're going to tell us don't bring the pictures ahead of time because they'll get lost over the summer. So, I will get in touch with the person that handles this again. Send an email out to you and let me know where we are. Uh, I got some more pictures
um last week. I had stopped at the library to return a book and pick up some books and the photography group was there and they were taking pictures of birds and things like that
and they had a uh uh a woman who was into the spirit watching and she was like conducting a class, a photography class, but um I gave her my information and I've gotten emails with some pictures in it and they they were maybe six or eight
I'll call them students there and they were all interested, so uh we'll have a few more on uh to consider for the for the package. Agenda item 4C, uh 2231 Elm Street, this is the Eman
project, uh update on silted runoff at building one. Uh that email came in and was sent out to everybody. Uh I know that Lisa was in touch with them and they took action. This was This is at the first building site and I
drove by there a couple of days later and you could see where uh some silt had washed down from the rainstorm, but I believe that's been taken care of. >> [clears throat] >> I did see it, so it's taken care of. So well, the piles of stone then are too
>> Now, agenda item 4D is the second building at 2231 Elm Street. So, Mr. Eman has refused to pay uh to fund the proposal, I should say, that was submitted
by Liston and Samson. >> John, you got a copy of this letter by email. It's from attorney Michael P. O'Shaughnessy. Um The letter is basically saying that uh there's no need for these
inspections, so forth and so on. Um that the engineering reports that have been submitted by the engineers that were hired by Mr. Eman and BL Land Development um
are sufficient. Um and he keeps referring back to the Board of Health shall implement the regulations stated in that Well, we all know the Board of Health uh is the
committee that back in 2018 requested that a Stormwater Committee be set up as a subcommittee. And the Board of Health, other than issuing a Stormwater permit, doesn't do anything under the Stormwater Bylaw. So,
um what the Bylaw says and what is actually what is actually clear from day one are different. Um so, this copy of this letter is just for your information. I've got to go through this and prepare some kind of a
response. Um since there's an attorney involved, I will let the uh town administrator and the Board of Selectmen know what the situation is. Um I think part of the problem is that the
s- Planning Board uh chairman when Mr. Eman questioned the need for these stormwater inspections and they weren't necessary, well, that was a in- incorrect response.
Uh, the planning board does not get involved with inspections or [snorts] enforcement. So, and I've tried to make that clear. However, Mr. Eamon feels that the proposal from Weston & Sampson for 10,000 and change is uh an
unnecessary expense and evidently doesn't plan to comply because he has the majority now. But in any case, I'm just giving this to you this letter to you now um for your information. We've still got to inspect and we've still got to enforce the stormwater
bylaw. The Board of Health does not do that. And since we don't have a uh stormwater agent anymore and we don't have anyone trained, uh that work is uh obviously um under the jurisdiction or the
requirements or the whatever of the town engineer, which is Weston & Sampson. So, um >> [clears throat] >> Do you have anything to add, uh Jim? I will forward a copy of this letter for informational purposes to you. >> [snorts]
>> Yeah, no, I don't have anything in in particular to add. So, this was um this was uh uh you know, one of these projects where we were to be doing review after significant rain
events. And so, um so, we had put that together. We did feel like it was um you know, a pretty significant expense for for the uh for the applicant. Um but it does meet
the uh scope that you asked us to put together, that you folks asked us to put together. So, >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Does anybody have any questions on the committee? >> [clears throat] >> Uh let's see. You guys to this >> Yes, Glenn.
>> Is there a bylaw specifically stating what must be done? >> It's not a bylaw and in and um regulations talks about what has to be done as far as
uh the the responsibility of the project owner, manager, land owner, whatever. So they have hired MLB. The problem is without any inspection by the town
we have no guarantee that what was approved by the planning board when the plans were approved is really what's out there. >> Does the bylaw say that it has to be inspected? Okay. >> It talks about the bylaw, I believe.
But I'm the enforcement, inspections, and site visits are what we do. Interesting thing is we have a history of non-compliance. Wood Street solar, number one, okay?
MACS Arujo Farms, got a problem with that one because everything was fine until our storm water agent left. And after he left, there were no further instru- uh inspections.
So one of the things that's required by the planning board is that the as-built plans when the project is completed have to match or be extremely close to what was originally approved or what was
approved as amended plans. Whatever the last approval was the planning board gave, that's what has to be met. It doesn't I don't know how much time we spent on this. Um Weston & Sampson has been involved
trying to get the information. Um and the communication has been going back and forth although the end of last year, November, Weston & Sampson issued a report on that solar farm.
In December, this committee voted unanimously to ask Weston & Sampson for a proposal to go out there and to look at the site and look at what's out there, which hasn't been done since the stormwater H&L. There was no
response from the MACS who owns this project until March, which would have leverage [clears throat] over enforcing this. Somewhat.
But in this particular case, it's the planning board plans, which is that's that's that's the that's the gospel, all right? The engineer that builds this or the company, whatever, the property the
project owner, when they're all done, has to submit as-built plans. They got to come together. They haven't. So because the planning board is saying it doesn't match and what doesn't match is been basically
stormwater calculations, which triggered involvement by us. So a proposal was prepared. It's 23,000 and change. Uh they didn't respond until March. So we sent a proposal to them said that
we need this work funded. And um since then, since March, we finally got a response. And it's basically, we don't think we need to do that, da da da da da. So, does conservation have any role in this? No.
No. So, anyhow, um it's still before the planning board, I believe, um because I haven't heard any updates. Um Jim, do you know if anything's been submitted so that the anything new has been submitted other than the stormwater
committee asking you to look into it and you did a proposal? >> Yeah, so, um there were two proposals related to that one. There was one or two issues, I guess. Um one uh that was in response to um
or there's a proposal that we're putting together right now that it is uh that is in response to materials that they have sent that updated um their their application materials, I guess I call them, um from from back in the fall. That just recently got
approved. Uh or they just recently uh provided materials for review based on that comment letter. And so, um the planning board has asked us to put together a proposal uh to review that. So, um
you know, >> Okay, so that means >> that will get taken care of. The other thing that you mentioned, which was um uh post-stormwater review. So, you know, post wet weather event review, I guess maybe is better way to describe it.
Um that we have not heard any any approval or further information than what you just mentioned, Nancy. >> Yeah, so, >> [clears throat] >> so, where we are Lenny, where we are right now with with MACS
the request by the Storm Water Committee Excuse me, Weston [cough] and Sampson. And the proposal that Weston and Sampson prepared for Storm Water is on hold right here because
finally in March the town got a response from MACS. As a result of that, the Planning Board has asked for what Jim Redden is talking about now. Depending upon what happens with that request
the proposal that Storm Water has >> [cough and clears throat] >> could be revised or it could be no, we we really need this whole thing. So, the proposal that will that he's talking about will go to
MACS with a number for funding. And that if they fund it, will go into a special account which Carrie administers. If in fact the proposal that we have gets funded, it'll go into a special
separate account so that you don't have these things all mixed up. All right? So, right now it's at the planning stage and so we're just waiting to see what happens and what kind of um response MACS has to the latest response
from Weston and Sampson. >> Thank you. >> Does anybody have any questions on MACS? Um let's see. Okay. I don't see anything else here for Weston and Sampson. Does anybody else have any questions on anything?
If not, Jim, do you have anything plus stormwater that you want to question? >> Um just one more thing so as to add to an earlier part of the question or conversation, excuse me, regarding Horton Street. So, I think the proposal
that that you were talking about that was approved was approved back in roughly October for $9,800. There was one that was done for you know, was done at that time. Um we did put together
a comment letter and terms and conditions for that. The field review for that proposal, that one did include a field review that was done back in January. That's what I had meant when when I mentioned that before. I'm checking through the records and I
thought that that comment letter had been sent, but I am not seeing it immediately in my records. So, I'm that got held up in >> Are we in agreement that the $9,810
is part of the work you've already done? >> Yes. >> Okay, so >> Yes. >> Okay, do you know if the whole amount was billed or is that is that a part Did you do a partial billing? >> I'd have to go back and look at that. It was um
I think it was mostly billed out there. >> Okay, all right. And I'll check with town accountant and see what we got here on that. >> Okay. Well, so in other words, I might owe you a letter that we put together back several months ago that might inadvertently not have been sent. So,
I'm going to check in with that on that with with James Pearson. Cuz I might just just not be able to track it down for one reason or another. >> I drove by there uh, I think it was a week ago. And, um,
obviously the houses are in big houses. >> [laughter] >> The construction is moving right along. And, um, I didn't go on the property, but from the work, uh, that I could see from the road, everything looked good.
There was no runoff. Uh, the basins that, uh, uh, swales, whatever they were, where the rocks were, the rocks were all clean. So, I wasn't seeing uh, siltation. And we did have that one, uh,
uh, response when Lisa contacted them because they had been runoff. And, um, we talked about that last time because they did do work and then the runoff was clean because they sent the pictures and the water was clean. So, other than that, uh, everything seems to
be going along well up there. >> Yeah, I I do remember when James went out and took a look at it that he felt like it was in pretty good shape with the exception of some minor issues related to soil erosion and sediment
control. Um, but that, um, uh, I think, uh, I think Frank was out there when he went out, too, uh, and said that he would, um, you know, he would fix the stuff up that James pointed out. So, I imagine they took care of it.
>> Yeah. Dave has, uh, there been any more from Con-Con cuz I know Lisa monitors You guys know him. >> we actually drove by there twice last week in different segments. It's slow down stop. Everything looks >> Yeah. >> There's no no silt that was originally
running off. That's all taken care of. It looks It looks It looks pretty good. >> Yeah. He's and he's very quick to respond and he's, you know, he's on top of it and he's got a good engineering firm from what I can see. So, um, does anyone have any other
questions for Jim? Okay, Jim. I think we're all set. >> Okay. Thank you, Nancy. >> All right. Thanks, Jim. See you all. >> Thanks, Jim. >> Okay. >> Take care. >> Bye. >> You, too. >> Agenda item 4F. Planning board flowchart. So, um
some of the clock tonight is the planning board meeting. Uh this is not going to be discussed because it'll take too much time, and they really have a long agenda. So, there will be a future meeting with the planning board to go over this.
But, um this chart is really double the size, so you you know, it's like two pieces, but um if you really spread it out, this is this is kind of compact. Let me put it that way.
But, if you notice, um the if you put your hand and divide it in half, all of the boxes to the right don't have comments. And what this is about is Lisa Trahan and I at different times looked at this thing,
and the feeling was the stormwater committee needs to know uh when something is proposed, uh in the case of uh Hot's Memory, which was through stormwater permit we talked about earlier,
um we were not notified about that. Uh Cuz had we been and and we don't have to get involved with making decisions. That's the planning board. But, if we know about a project, for example, we would have
contacted uh the developer of Hot's Memory and way back when and said, "You're going to need a stormwater permit." And pretty much what happened today. You all know Well, Lenny does, but you know the story of the houses on Horton
Street. That was well underway before we know we were notified and that was because Lisa and Tom had gone out there. So, anyhow, um the comments that you see there
are just information for the planning board. We didn't go through the whole chart because we figured we need to know in the beginning and initially we couldn't figure out where the stormwater committee would would fell into this and really couldn't find a place.
But because of those two instance of not being advised of uh they happen to be two housing projects, small ones. Um things slipped through the cracks. Um the project on Horton Street was well
underway before we were notified and and we were notified because of the pond pond inspection. Um we didn't stop the project because that wouldn't be unfair to the people out there because
it's not their fault that we were not notified. But anyhow, so we had a chance to look at this. Basically all this saying is you got to get stormwater involved in the beginning. Um even if it's it's as minor as okay, they're going to build whatever and they
need to stormwater permit because they're going to uh disturb more than 35,000 square feet. So, just hold on >> I have a question too. >> Wouldn't permit uh permit link correct most of these problems?
>> PAC. Do you have PAC meetings? >> Who? The PAC was set up to deal with this issue. So, that when a project came before the building or planning, everybody [clears throat] at the PAC
meeting would know I got this project coming down the pike. That's storm water wet one away on this conservation wet one away on this. Is this something that's just a planning, I mean a building department issue?
That's what PAC is supposed to do. So, the people who are the building department commissioner who >> Here you go. >> Who stated when PAC was set up If I was the person at the meeting he quit. Storm water has never been represented
at PAC. Now you see why we have problems? >> Yep. >> A lot of people are unaware of that. People who need to be aware of it are aware of it. Okay? >> So, I helped to put dry up draft that proposal. >> Well
>> And what And when I was a selectman and that was storm water was a part of it. This was >> Absolutely. It should be. Um The first situation that really caused the problem here, which is now almost
two years ago, was when the first Eamon building was proposed. Somebody who is yet to be identified told me that he needs a storm water permit. Well, needless to say, Weston and Sampson went out to look at it.
And they said to him, it was Mr. Eamon was fighting with us about a storm water permit. And it was Weston and Sampson said, uh "You've disturbed over an acre, so you've even exceeded the federal requirement for a storm water permit."
So, anyhow, uh we did issue uh a storm water permit, which he he didn't want to pay, but eventually he did. Um And actually we saved him money because
when we issued the storm water permit, We permitted the entire site. Not just the site the buildings on. We permitted the entire site, which means he doesn't need a storm water permit to build building two. When he wants to build building three or build anything
on that property, he doesn't need another storm water permit. But there are requirements for inspections. So, that's that's a whole another ball game. So, anyhow um take a look at this this flow chart.
When the planning board is going to discuss this um >> So, they're not discussing it tonight. >> No. No. Um so uh I think tonight I haven't seen the agenda, but I think
Potts memory is there. Um MACS may be on there because of the proposal that Jim Reid mentioned. Um I don't know if they're still looking at um the houses on Horton Street. I don't think so. I think that's done.
For on there their end. So, um that's where we have it. Any questions on the flow chart? If not, just hold on to it. If you think of anything, just feel free to scribble your questions on there
uh so that when we do meet with the planning board to review this, uh we can go over this whole thing. Um So, my first thought with with permitting it would hit every dep- it would hit
every department. And then you'd see whether it qualified >> for ConCom or it qualified for storm water or Board of Health. Wouldn't that streamline a lot of this? >> Not if the the controlling it is a
permitting Well, I I know we've had many many issues, but if if it was if it was a perfect world and permitting was in, it would work effective. >> Which is which is something that's part of the discussion.
In the very beginning, it should be determined what kind of permits are needed for whatever it is they're going to do. Um and um and the other thing, too, is um This is just some information for you
later. Um We heard that somebody was clearing some land. Uh it goes from Center Street out to Lake Pine Street. And there were concerns about them not having a stormwater permit. Well, the situation is the person who's clearing land
because taking out trees cuz he wanted to make uh plant hay for livestock. Um So, normally we would have just said, "You don't need a stormwater permit. Agriculture is exempt." But because this had been brought up, we
just felt that it was a um a learning learning experience so that uh whoever made the statement about you need a stormwater permit um knows that it came before the stormwater committee and that we did just mention it um and the
gentleman that I was dealing with it owns the property. I told him ahead of time, I said, "You don't need a permit, obviously, because it's agricultural, but we are going to just mention this for informational purposes." But um So, that's just you you know, between
what you're talking about the permitting process and he's talking about the pack. >> In a perfect world, yeah, it would work. Well, that's why it was set up so everybody would know what was going on. You know, I I remember when I used to go I went to
pack two I went to two pack meetings and I really thought it was we were going it was a hit list of weak problems, issues that we had. And you know, we had this one, what committee needs to correct this problem? Or something to that effect. That's what
I thought I was walking into. And then by the second meeting it was like you know, the building inspector is looking at me like, what are you doing here? So I kind of felt a little slighted and nothing was invited back. >> There were other town officials >> wasn't what I thought it was supposed to
be. That's what I'm that's what I'm getting at. >> There there were other town officials appointed and elected who at one time attended the meetings and I'm not going back. That's a total waste of my time. Which obviously shows it wasn't being
carried out the way it was intended. It hasn't to the best of my knowledge Excuse [clears throat] me, it hasn't changed since the former building inspector left. I understand we're getting a new building inspector. So maybe they'll
maybe they'll handle the path the way they should. Who monitors permit link for stormwater? Nobody. Stormwater has been uh >> It doesn't >> left out of the process until there's a problem.
But the thing is by the time we hear about it, yeah, there's a problem. Project on Wharton Street I've been told we've been told about that when it got approved. Uh I will just say it would have been
handled differently from stormwater. Um by the time we contacted the owner of the I'll call him the the who's taking care of the project. Um the subdivision had been approved.
Um all lots had all been divided. Each lot in itself disturbed more than 35,000 square feet. So, with $750 for stormwater permits. Okay?
I mean, we we issue permits when we have to. By the same token, uh there are uh different situations that have to be looked at. Um and again, if we'd have been told in the very beginning uh we could have we could have discussed that further, but in any case, um
again, thank you. This is just for you to look at and write scribble on it, whatever you want, and when it comes up with the planning board, um we can, you know, talk about the situation. I truly believe a lot of problems can be
eliminated by putting stormwater, notifying stormwater. Again, even if we don't have to do anything. You know? Uh if the project needs planning board approval, but it doesn't disturb more than 35,000 square feet, okay. We're all set.
>> Check the box, move on. >> Right. Exactly. >> Okay. You know. >> Thank you. Um Friday, Taunton River Watershed Alliance, August 9th, 1 to 3 at Dighton Rock Park. They're putting on some kind of a program, and they contacted me, and
they're going to contact Jim Diggins because they wanted some people from the town of committees, conservation, and uh stormwater, to talk about the project. I think we're going to be there for informational purposes, and I think
um I'm planning to take some giveaway stuff. And I if anybody goes from planning board, I know you guys have brochures and stuff. >> Mhm. >> But it's it's supposed be a like a public information thing. So, I don't really
>> Uh this is out in August? >> August the 9th. I believe it was a Sunday. I think. Uh 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Dayton Rock Park. So, I just told her yes, somebody will somebody will be there from Stormwater. So. >> Well,
I'll go with you. >> General item 5B. >> Love common pocket. >> Uh I don't remember that >> [clears throat] >> pocket. Where do I? It 5B report on Bunny Colb Lane runoff. This was not a major problem. But, again, there were concerns and
somebody had contacted Tom and they contacted me. And um So, I said to Tom, this is kind of like the agricultural thing except that um it did not create a I'll call it um
stormwater violation per se, but Tom, if you want to just give a little information on the follow-up you did with the property owner. You went down and inspected the area. >> Yeah, went out there and [clears throat] the property owner was out doing yard work.
So, we had a good conversation what was going on. Um the railroad track to the south of the entrance to Bunny Colb. If if you're familiar with that property, it's kind of a big bowl. So, if there's any type of rain event, it'll
trickle out down grading of that you know, rush out. So, >> Yeah. >> Historically, I I've had these problems there, but it's not every year. Um it's not running now and when we were talking, it wasn't running then. Um and he was advised to just monitor
and if anything changes, let us know. >> Thanks, John. So, this is just another instance of we want people to understand if they contact the Stormwater Committee or Stormwater Committee member and I think this what we look into it. We we take reasonable action.
Um it's just not, you know, oh, don't worry about it. So, uh again, just information. Uh so, as I said, there's a meeting with the planning board tonight. Um the meeting starts at 7:00 and I believe there were two public hearings uh at the beginning. Uh so, if you're
available, feel free to show up. Uh I just wanted to get information on MACS. I want to talk about early notification as in the case of both Hawks Memory and Horton Street homes. Uh that would have
been helpful to us uh had we known earlier. I don't know if if there'll be anything else on the agenda that would it's relevant for us, but uh we're not posted, so if you want to show up, fine. You'll be speaking,
but we're not going to vote on anything. It's just a together. Uh 5G report on meeting with elementary school building study committee. Um I was [snorts and clears throat] asked to attend that. Um
I think every department head was here except Mr. Ferry. >> He had the nerve to take vacation time. >> Anyhow, uh I think the only person that spoke other than me was the fire chief. And um
the superintendent, the sewer department superintendent, Harold. But a lot of the questions concerned uh what's there, um the the old septic system, which Harold said as far as he
knows it was abandoned, just like I said, well, that's what they told me because my house is on the uh sir, in the service area and I asked when before we bought it, where's the old septic? Did they remove it? He said, no, I guess it's there. It's just there.
Uh so, they were trying to get plans to figure out where the old septic system was at the school. Um the Oh, and they talked about on they had the
the diagrams, the the plans and that that they showed. They talked about another driveway or something. And I said, that was studied and it was all looked at and plans were drawn up. One of the big problems is wetlands. >> I think it was the Army Corps of Engineers that was involved in that at
two at five five months ago. >> So, and money was the issue. So, um and then it was pointed out that um oh, Chief um Nichols said, you we worked out a whole plan for traffic, but when they built
those brought in the portable classrooms, that took part of the area we used but uh parking for, you know, people coming and going. That ended that. They talked about the um getting a school zone and I said, Mr. Ferry's working on that to the best of
my knowledge. Uh Well, yeah, we know that. Have you met with them to talk about that? >> Yeah, we met Friday before you guys met. >> Okay. So, I was a little surprised they brought it up and they were asking questions. Um the only thing I said to
them, um it took us over 50 years to get a stoplight. And the school department tried and tried and tried because we have the junior high here and the elementary there. So,
we wanted one from like the north driveway of that building to just beyond maybe down where the post office used to be. And we got nowhere with DOT. The only thing we were able to get
is, and I don't know if it's still out there, we got a yellow blinking light up there that says something about office and school buses or whatever. And it was one down there which did nothing. Um and when we finally get the stop light,
I think the one down the road was removed. >> They've they've both been removed, but those were there for the junior high school, not the elementary. >> So >> The alignment then that you're alluding to then makes sense cuz it was here for the middle school. As far as the schools on in Center
Street, the ball's in their court. They're supposed to determine the engineers. They're supposed to find out if we can extend the school zone that we just established with the Aggie at the intersection and continue it further. That That's on them.
And then we discussed several I think there was five different traffic flow patterns they They must have shared them with you guys. >> But in any case, um uh I explained to them the difficulty with
the school department. We had a local school committee and we had a region 9 to 12. We had two school committees in effect. Um but there was there just seemed to be I don't know, no interest. Um 50 years
to get the light at Center Street. Never have been able to get anything done on Main Street except maybe getting a pole moved. But if you're coming north on 138 entering that intersection, there's a broken line. You can pass all the way down almost up to
the karate studio. Into going into coming north. I looked at it the other day and said anyhow Um and they were not cooperative at all with the Agnes school crossing light. And the only reason we got that done is
because I was on the board of selectmen at the time doing the easements and um land takings. And they said they would put it in at the end. Obviously the school department and
want that light in ASAP and I said to them there'll be no land taking easements unless you get that light in before any equipment goes on that new bridge. And I was talking to the the temporary bridge. But anyhow it got done ahead of time but
I just a couple of questions for Mr. Ferry. >> Yeah. >> Um I'm on the elementary building committee. Is Mary Jo still district 10? This area. >> District five. >> Five. Yes.
Yep. We'll talk. >> Um the engineers anticipate the state to be the biggest hurdle of all. Um police chief spoke highly of you
and was an influence on the elementary committee. So your recommendations to them have been highly especially sidewalks. Also looking to work with National Grid if necessary
to move some poles. And they're going to reach out to Jonathan Gail to see if he could find some grants. As he did on School Street in >> So yes. So the question that engineers need to
figure out is if it's that if MassDOT will let us to extend the school zone, is it is it legal? It's not a matter of whether they'll let us do it or not. It's just is it something that can be done because of the length of it cuz it's the right now it starts at the
Berkeley Bridge, goes all the way to Vincent Sarcio, and we may be prolonging it all the way as far as the power lines, and that's going to be a long 20 mph. So, it's not it's not you know, twisting arm of MassDOT, we just want to know is it
feasible. They could look at 138, but I recommend not because we already have a sidewalk on Stanisbury. That's ADA compliant. And it is okay to have telephone poles in the sidewalk as long as you have a certain distance clearance, in which we do.
It just makes sense. There's There's a savings there. It's just the logistics of extending the school zone. If that's a legal thing. >> Thank you. >> But I I don't mind twisting Mary Jo's arm, either. >> I grew up with Mary Jo. >> [laughter]
>> She's wonderful. Um what was Who was the man before her? He was there for a long, long time. >> Oh, that was a couple weeks ago. Yeah. >> [laughter] >> Yeah, uh because um he was there when the bridge project started.
And um and then she came. Cuz it took longer than it was planned because of course they stopped the project to finish Somerset. Um The only reason we got those those
strange signs that were out there uh when the uh DOT said they would do it, it was we'll put them in, but you have to pay the electric bill. Fine. And so we went school committee had to go to the selectmen to say, "Hey, will
the town pay for the electricity for those blinking lights?" Because they weren't it wasn't something you could readily hook up to the elementary school where as they could hook it up to the town and the municipality will do it. So. But as we talked about, we hope we've
got there's 20 there's school zone done very quickly um when the Beckwith school was built. But the problem still is now for the two periods during the day when those lights are blinking, there's a
cruiser there to enforce it because people still go zipping through those 20 mile an hour zones. I mean, but so there's an additional cost. And Judge Nichols was at this meeting. So that there's a cruiser there twice a day. I mean
and and really 44 is just like 138 to state highway. It is what it is. But I'll tell you when they come down Center Street, if they get a green light, they are flying. And it's strange because before they go over what used to be the railroad bridge, it's 30 miles an
hour. No. Whatever. Are there any unanticipated items? I'm looking at invoices. Any correspondence? All right. The only thing I would list under correspondence is the copy of the letter
I gave you from Attorney O'Shaughnessy. Uh which we are discussing, but since it came in dated May 19th. So we'll just just note uh for the record, letter from Attorney Michael P. O'Shaughnessy regarding
um 2231 Elm Street. Any expenditures? >> Yes. Um, they finished sweeping the streets. So, the total for that is since the last meeting, $7,338.32.
Uh, superintendent salary, $2,043.14. Uh, equipment repairs and maintenance, we had to buy some brooms for the sweepers, $699.50. We had to fix a basin. So, we needed auxiliary police detail,
that was $788.16. And the people that were doing the basins, we have they counted 830 cleaned. The last invoice was for $3,993. And Wex fuel,
$631.89. >> Okay, where was the basin job? Was that still on 31? >> Yes. >> It wasn't really a basin, it was a cross culvert pipe and now pipe. >> Culvert. Oh, I've done them. Um, I do I do need to go back to
number six, unanticipated items. I had an email from Judy Schwartz. She wants to know if we're going to do the testing. Uh, there's $15,000 in this year's budget. Uh, did we already expend that? I don't think we did. Or did we do any
did we do any work in the fall that would have been paid from that? >> Test testing of reference for what? >> Well, last year if you we hired Weston and Sampson previous budget to do the testing work, which was the first part of the project she's working
on. She's doing the bylaw and reg revisions, but one of the recommendations was the testing and you know, there was field work done by Weston and Sampson. >> So the facing cleaning that gets that's part of the contract already. That gets tested before it's removed out town.
>> But I believe what they were doing was she had recommended money in this year's in the budget coming up. >> Mhm. >> [clears throat] >> Uh we asked for an additional 20,000. >> you you're talking about the the river water, the outflow water. >> Yeah, so
I don't think that's in the budget. I'm not sure. But in this year's budget, I believe there's $15,000. So what we need to know is she needs to know is are you going to have Weston and Sampson do any of that, I'll call it field work?
Uh and if it's not going to be finished by the end of June, we need to encumber that money to have that work done or we're going to lose it. >> Okay, you and you and I probably should talk offline on that. Yes. >> Okay. All right, I just wanted to mention it cuz I that email came in
yesterday. Um I've got to get back to her also because she's got to um wrap up the review of the bylaw and regulations because um at that meeting we had to talk about the
elementary school. When it ended Ralph notified me that the decision was made that now the absolute cutoff for the ARPA grant, which is what Jerusha Watters is working on.
Has to be expended by the 1st of September or we have to return it. So, um I thought we were going to have the meeting with the Board of Health to see if they want to have any input on the revisions she made. The meeting didn't take place.
Um >> We Maybe we we we >> I don't know. I mean, I got the email and I forwarded it to everybody and it was just we said check for the agenda. There was no agenda. No Nobody notified me and when I came down here, there was no Cosmo. So,
I don't know what happened. Um but but but by the same token, if they wanted to have input, they all got copies of that that printout, that whole report. Um but if they don't want to be involved, they just needed to say to us, "We don't
want to be involved in that. Stormwater handle it." But I I We're talking about making changes in the bylaw, which means you have to have a public hearing and you've got to go to town meeting. I don't want to go to a public hearing or a town meeting and have them stand up and say we don't
agree with this. Um so, anyhow, um I'll send you another email and ask, "Is there going to be any input from the Board of Health on the proposed revisions to the Stormwater Bylaw and Regs?"
Yes or no. And if it's no, the rest of it should be >> I I I I I I I just texted her because I think they are meeting tomorrow in lieu of Tuesday since it was reposted.
But I'm not sure and then second part of that, [clears throat] we don't need a quorum to be at that meeting to get that answer you just asked. >> I I'll even take it by email. >> Okay. >> I just need to know because I got to get back to her and say to her,
um >> Right, cuz the clock is ticking, right. >> And quite frankly, if they are not going to be involved, we need to in effect have the storm water my personal opinion
have the storm water taken uh not be a subcommittee of the Board of Health. Make it an appointed committee, a standalone, like conservation, which means it's under the Board of Selectmen.
But we operate independently anyhow. So, if that's going to be the case, we need to get that in the the bylaw changed, too. So, I just need a yes or a no, no honestly. And if it's yes, I just need to know from them. Take
Take the thing, mark it up, and say what you don't want in there. So, um but anyhow, I told you recently I'd check into it. >> [snorts] >> Turning to item 10, approval of the minutes of the April 15th meeting. Is there a motion?
>> So moved. >> Motion is there a second? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? Hearing none, all in favor. >> Aye. >> And the next meeting is Wednesday, June the 17th. >> So moved.
>> Yep. Okay. >> If nothing else, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor. >> Aye. >> And it's
2:08. That was pretty good. >> [snorts]