Recording in progress. Good evening everyone. I'm Chuck Baron, the conservation administrator. This meeting will be held in person and remote format consistent with chapter 2 of the act 2023 uh which further extends CO 19 measures
regarding remote participation in a public meeting for June 30th, 2027. Please note not All items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law. This
agenda includes those matters that can be reasonably anticipated to be discussed at this meeting. Uh please note the meeting will be recorded. All materials are available at the conservation uh division page on the town website. Brian B commission chair
will facilitate this meeting. Please note that there will be a public comment period at the end of each hearing. Each vote will be taken at this meeting by roll call. We'll begin with roll call attendance. Brian, can you please review the agenda and take attendance?
>> Sure. Uh guess we'll start with attendance. There's nobody online. So Walter >> Walter Talbot present. >> Tim Michelle member present. >> No. >> Joseph Flurry associate member present. Rio member present.
>> Martha Moore vice chair present. >> Ryan bro chair present. Okay. Now we'll go over the agenda with three hearings tonight. The first one 281 Main Street continuation that will actually be continued when we get to well
continuation that will continue further once we get to it. Uh then Zero Track Road, a continuation of a public hearing on notice of intent, followed by um Oakland Road in Birch Meadow, which is um
continuing a public meeting for request for determination. Then we have uh some discussion, vote items, and some old new business. Having said that, um, let me get right
to 281 Main Street. Um, at the applicant's request, they want to continue. We need to, uh, choose the date of continuence, July 8th. July 22nd are options. Chuck
won't be here on July 8th, so I would like to see it go to July 22nd. If people agree, can I have a motion to continue to July 22? >> I'll make a motion to continue the next meeting to July 22nd. >> Walter Talbert seconds. Walter Talbert's in favor.
>> In favor, >> Rick Kio in favor. >> Martha Moore in favor. >> Ryan Bo in favor. Okay. Thank you. Moving on. Zero Track Road. Is there anybody online for that test?
>> Yes. Uh Heidi is here and can you hear us Heidi? >> Yes. Hello. Good evening. >> Hi. Uh who else is here with you? Just so I make sure I let them in the meeting also. >> Uh yes. Also on the call this evening is um the project manager Jeffrey Dana
Census. >> Okay. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. So, could one of you uh briefly cover any new developments? We don't need an overview of the whole project, just anything that's happened
since we met last. >> Sure. If I can share my screen. Oh, go ahead, Idy. >> No, go ahead, Jeeoff. You got it. >> All right. Um, please let me know if you can see my screen. Not yet.
Coming now. >> Okay. So, >> um so following the last meeting when we met um on May 13th um the hearing was continued um and there were um a number
of action items for ACOM. Um we did uh submit this uh memo summary on June 8th. Um I can run through that now. Has the committee had a chance to review the memo that was submitted?
>> We have had time. Uh if you go through it but quickly and we don't need to read all the text. >> Just a quick summation. >> Sure. The first item um further justifying the project need. So to support this item, the Reading Fire Chief, police chief and DPW have all
provided letters of support for the project. Um those were attached to the memo. >> Yep. Have that. >> Okay. Uh item number two, the project should be filed under 310 CMR 10538.
Um replacement of an existing stream crossing and not 310 CMR 10533, improvement of an existing public roadway. Um this has been refiled under um 310 CMR 10538 as requested.
>> The next item was a request to regrade the proposed compensatory flood storage area to protect the existing 20-in tree. Um so this is something we've done. Um we've we've redesigned the grading. I can share the plan here. Um, you may
recall previously the grading envelope encompassed um the um the the 20-in um maple shown here towards the bottom of the screen as well as the 6-in elm here.
We've we've reconfigured the grading to save both of those trees. Um feel that our limit of grading is sufficiently away so that those trees and roots won't be impacted. um to satisfy that request.
>> Uh can I ask a question before you move on? >> What are you doing for tree protection around those trees? >> We initially were calling to um I believe reset the um remove and and
reset in place the 6inch elm um and in and the um 20in um I'm I'm sorry. I think I I I was pointing towards this one. It's actually this uh 20-in um deciduish. I I think out on site we we
didn't determine the exact species, but um we're not currently calling out um specific tree protection details. Um I think uh ju just generally um retain
sometimes um if if required we would call out um a specific protection method like a a fencing around it. Um I don't think that was something we had um specifically discussed last time. Um I
think our our plans and specifications um simply call them out to be retained. Um, we could, um, if if protection is required, that's something we could note in the specifications. Um, if there's a a method such as fencing that the commission would
require. >> Yeah, I I think you should put something in there. You can assume that people will avoid the trees and the roots, but it's better to ensure that they do because you can't go back and fix it afterwards.
>> Okay. Okay, go ahead. >> Uh the next item was provide turbidity curtains uh details uh specs and requirements. So we've provided a copy of the special provision um as well as a
detail um in the revised plans. I'll go to that now. Um so this this detail was provided. This detail is also part of the construction plan set. Um,
and I have a copy of the the specs that were provided here if you if you'd like to take a look. I'm not sure that that um if we'd like to go through those in detail. In addition to the the turbidity barrier specification that's specific to
that item, there's additional mention of the turbidity barrier requirements in the um concrete excavation specification. I highlighted relevant portions here just to um I don't know that we need to read through these in detail but just to show
that they are included. >> Right. So let's leave that for now and perhaps there'll be a question on it but we can move forward. Oh, bring that down. No, hold on a second. Can you bring that down? Uh, just to see. I saw I was just moved it just before I was reading
>> um the review I saw engineering department. I was looking for said conservation department also. It's going to have some say over whether they agree with the trebidity curtain. Yeah, it's not there. It's one of your
highlighted areas. >> Sorry, you I'm sorry, my uh audio wasn't great tonight. You were asking for the turbidity barrier specification. >> Yeah, and it was highlighted. Um, so guess keep scrolling until we find that
spot. >> It was something gaining the barriers. It was that page >> indeed, right? right here. Right there. Right there. Right in here. >> Um >> so this is the part that's part of the
um I'll scroll up here for a second. The concrete excavation specification. So just um noting within that specification that turbidity barriers will be required associated with that work. Um, so there's there's some mention in detail
here, but then the specific turbidity barrier specification is is the separate item. So this is is calling out where it's required, what work it's associated with. >> Go down just the next paragraph. >> Sure.
I think this is um part of what was discussed um previously. So calling for the contractor to maintain turbidity curtains and or barriers in good operating condition um acceptable to the engineer and department of environmental protection. Um calls for repair
replacement um if required. >> Yeah. So, you're gonna add in the uh Reading Conservation Commission and take out you can take out D if you want if you need the room, but uh you can
leave all three in, but I don't think D showing up to review the turbidity curtain, but uh yeah, I'd like to have uh conservation in there. Have you put in um engineering review anywhere else and
skipped over conservation review in this? Um now that I see that we were missed here, >> right? I I'm thinking if there's anywhere else where that would be mentioned. I I don't believe so. I don't believe there is any
other instances where it's >> check. >> You can check quickly by doing CtrlF and enter an engine here. >> And theoretically that should show this pretty quickly. At least we can see how many instances. >> A lot of engineers.
>> So this is >> instead of going through this, we might want to >> Yeah. I was just hoping it' be a small number. Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. Never mind. We can go back to where we were. >> Should be a condition to review it and make those changes. >> There's a total of of 17. I believe
we're within the um yeah, the same the same couple of So, this is only an excerpt from the the entire special provisions here. Um with just the mentions of um turbidity barrier.
Um I can make a note to review the entire project specifications and anywhere where we do call for engineer review approval um to to make note to also include the conservation commission.
>> Yes, please. Okay. >> May not have heard, but we're going to make that a condition. So that'll help remind you. >> Okay. um provide other mitigation options besides planting of new trees or shrubs. Um the point was made at the last
meeting that the new there was concern in general with new trees or shrubs um plantings and that the preference was to use a seeding mix. Um so we have removed um proposed trees and shrubs from the project and replaced with New England
wildflower mix um for seating and the plans have um been made consistent with that that revision. >> I'm curious which trees and shrubs you're removing. So we had proposed um just a handful of
plantings um top of slope and um I'll refer back um so we'd had we had these areas with the um the um stepped slopes and we had
shown some plantings there. Um I think it was noted previously that on the other related project and and similar situations that there those plantings weren't at least initially successful. There were some issues with with
maintenance and and getting them enough water. Um so we had talked about um generally in the vicinities of on those step slopes and at the top of slopes we had previously shown um some some plantings and those have been removed.
All right, you can go ahead. >> The next item was provide a detail in master art standard spec for remove and reset tree. Um we have included um we we do have a specification and we do have a detail um and essentially that that
detail is um very similar to the planting of a of a new tree but we also note um if required. So the the plans no longer um call for removing and resetting of a tree as we mentioned. we're now able to to save the one tree that that this
would have applied to um by grading around it for the compensatory storage area. Um but as a contingency um we are including it in case there's some um issue during construction and um removal and and resetting is required.
Um, so we do have this um transplanted tree specification that was provided. Um, and we do um have a a detail for it as well that's included in the plan set.
I noticed that you put shredded black mulch as a option there. Um, I prefer not to use dyed mulch if we can avoid it. >> Okay. I'll make a note. >> We can make that revision.
>> Okay. >> Um the next item was provide the hydraulic report. Um a copy was provided for reference. Um I'm not sure if the commission had any follow-up comments or questions.
Um, section 8, I believe the tree policy requires three growing seasons. Now, >> we're still on seven. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> That's right. >> Okay. Um, it sounds like there were no comments or questions on the hydraulic report. So, um, we can move to to read.
>> Um, the the tree guarantee policy, one year versus three. Um >> uh the tree policy was just recently updated. Uh it requires three growing seasons. >> Okay.
>> Um I think we can't use that one because that was >> issued after this was submitted. So I think we have to go with what was in effect at that point.
Okay, you can go ahead. >> That brings us to the end of our list um of the the continued items. Um if the commission has any additional thoughts or comments on the the um documents that were submitted.
>> I'm looking Do you have anything? >> I I uh I don't. >> Okay. So, it sounds like there's no additional questions, comments from the commission. Uh is there anything from
anybody in the public that's online? Doesn't seem to be. Um, so at this point then can I have a motion to close on Zero Track Road? >> I move to close the hearing on Zero
Track Road. >> Walter Talbert seconds. Walter Talbertson in favor. >> Michelle in favor. Rick Kio in favor. >> Martha Moore in favor. >> Ryan Bow in favor. So now we got list conditions.
Um there was the one about um adding tree protection explicitly in the plans. There was one about reviewing throughout the plans or any place that you involve in engineering.
You need to be sure to add conservation commission to those instances. And then um no dyed mulch. That's all I had. And I also have any the in our last meeting we discussed
daily inspection of their curtains by the project people. Yeah. Anything else? Chuck did anything else you had? >> Uh no not at this moment. >> Okay. So that's conditions. So then this
is >> Oh, I do have one more. Sorry. at the time. >> Um there there was a question sent to me by a member of the public about whether there will be uh room for wildlife to
pass under the bridge above the um water line so that they don't have to go up and over the road to cross. >> Yes. Um >> part of the plan. >> Yes. Um the bridge doesn't meet all the
stream crossing standards. Um however, there is sufficient um height and width um generally for wildlife to to pass. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um then can I have a motion to
>> So uh it's this is also subject to our boilerplate conditions which cover erosion control and things like that which >> um I just want to add it to the record. >> Yeah, these were just the special conditions I guess. So I have a motion to issue order of
conditions for zero track record. >> I move to issue an order of conditions for zero track record. >> Walter Talbot seconds. Walter Talberts in favor in >> favor in favor. >> Martha Moore in favor. >> Brian B in favor. Okay. Thank you.
>> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Good night. >> Good night. Okay. Moving on. Uh Open Road and Bur Meadow and RDA. >> Anybody online for that?
>> Yes. Um I'm just waiting for this uh screen to be cleared and then I can Jeff, you working on taking down that screen? I >> Yes. I apologize when I shared my other screen. Um >> I was afraid you had just left. >> Yeah.
>> Is someone else able to retake control? Uh, let me see if I can uh >> I apologize. I'm looking for a way to do this. >> Stop sharing up in the top middle is usually the answer.
>> Sorry about that. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. So, uh, we're gonna bring in lively and we're ready to go. >> Are you there, Michael? >> Yep. Can you hear me?
>> Yes, we can. Okay. Um, can you briefly cover uh any changes since we met last? We don't need a full recap. And before you do that, but anyone else here with you tonight I need to let into the meeting. >> Yeah, I was just gonna say Michael Joah
is here with Mass. Environmental. >> Sure. Thank you. >> Apparently was just trying to cut him out. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Go ahead, Michael. >> Awesome. Um, yep. So, since uh the last
meeting, I followed up on a couple of items that were left over from the first hearing. Um, and we also had a meeting in the field on Monday, June 22nd to walk the site and discuss
some of those items. Um the first item was related to uh the maintenance and sediment um management of the existing drainage system throughout the project through
the outfalls. Um, so I responded to that uh question stating that since the project's located on town own road roads and maintained by the town um removal of sediment is a general responsibility of town maintenance practices. Uh the
contract will carry items for sediment removal through the contract uh in the event that the town does not um do the sediment removal themselves and that will uh cover the removal of sediment throughout the project limits for the existing drainage system. Also before
any earth disturbing activities, um the contractor will be placing sediment erosion control measures such as silt sacks and compost filter tubes throughout the project limits to prevent any sediment from entering the system. >> Okay.
>> Um two that was disc talked about this on site. Is there a note in there that they're they will they're responsible for removing it >> for removing? Yeah, we can >> Yep. We will include a note on the plans
for the removal of the erosion control at the end of the project. >> Do we want to set a duration at No. >> Go ahead, Michael. >> Well, I would assume the town's looking for a certificate of compliance, but you know, prior to the certificate of compliance being issued, you know,
something like that. We would put that in the order of conditions that uh remove the erosion control. >> Okay. Um yeah, that shouldn't be an issue as an additional condition.
>> Wait a minute. Actually, it was uh sorry, I just um want to make sure the commission's on the correct page. This is a request for determination. So, we don't have that same kind of review at the end. >> We can do some >> Yeah. a full set of conditions.
>> We can't hold it over the head. So, as if Mike puts it in uh his contract, that would be best. >> Yep. We'll include that. >> Okay. Go ahead, Mike. >> Yep. Um the second item that we discussed was regarding the management
of invasives adjacent to the project. Um and we had noted that we'll carry uh notes on the contract for the contract to dispose of any soil adjacent to uh locations where invasives are present for that soil to be depos disposed of offsite and not to be reused within the
site. Um those locations will be identified on the plans so the contractor is aware of them. Um and those notes will be carried on the plans for the contractor's awareness. Okay.
No drinking allowed. Caught me there. >> Go ahead. >> Um, and I think the one other item we had discussed on site was regarding the uh protection of existing trees within the project limits. Um, those that are
to be retained within the proximity of construction. Um we'll be carrying the standard mascot pre-p protection items throughout the project. Um and then we're also as discussed identifying uh the types of pre- protection. So if it's
armoring or uh fence along the drip lines that will be identified within the contract documents as well as um the maintenance of pre-roots where excavation is present within the drip lines of um
uh the existing trees. So we'll items to carry things like air pruning um and notes to identify hand excavation in those areas where roots are potentially present. Michael, can you cite the uh cite the section in the matt mass bots um
policies um for this um tree protection? Is that possible? You can send it to me. I just wanted to um document that. >> Yeah, we can send you um they're all standard uh mass. Landscape specs, so
they're they're standard to most contracts. I can send you the language that's included with those. Um, we also recently >> the question is how to how to pinpoint it in a condition. That's what my the reason why I'm asking. So like as per
mastrot uh tree protection specs seems a little vague, but as far as looking for a little >> be better if you had a a section paragraph, whatever format it is. >> Yep. Um,
>> one second. >> Yeah, there's several items that cover um the tree protection stuff. It would be section 102 in their standard special provisions. There's 8 to 10 items that uh we'll be carrying as is throughout
the project. Okay. Anything else? >> I believe those were the those three items covered uh most of our discussions for this one. >> Yep, that's what I had too. Um okay, any questions, comments from the commission?
just to say at the site visit we were able to see where the um drainage system empties and it empties into that stream that's just on the far side of Birch Meadow Drive and we had a discussion of
the um the new deep sumps are going to have patches in them to prevent plastic bottles and stuff like that from washing into the stream and sediment will be able to be cleaned out of those. They're
the new design are going to be what they're putting in, right? >> Yes. All new structures will be installed with deeper sumps uh per the latest regulations. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, it's just deep sump. I don't
know where the plastic part comes in. I don't remember that. So >> I was assuming somehow they would catch the >> just from the storm being drained. Great. Maybe I'm not sure. >> Okay. Well, there's another
>> we can have um sorry there are hoods also as part of the structures which um as the water fills up prevents surface elements from flowing through the system um that are
part of the current design. So those will be installed within the structures. Okay. So it does include straining the surface floaters. That would be >> Yeah. Shifty float. >> Okay.
>> Okay. >> Okay. Um looking any other questions from the commission? Do you have anything? >> Yeah. As part of this policy, we would we um be notified by the contractor 60
days before they start. Is that part of the contract also? I mean, we would like to know that. I 100% you're going to let the school know. It's just that I just want to make sure the conservation commission knows about the start of this project.
>> Yeah, we can we can include that. The town um will be notified so through DPW, town manager um and all the like we can include the commission on the list as well in terms of contacts. Um but the town and
we'll will be requested to be part of the pre-construction meeting because this is on town roadways. A lot of times that includes police, fire. So >> generally that's just more than just the the town manager DPW. >> So if you have that list of people to
contact written down somewhere, can you write in conservation so it's not something that has to be remembered? It's just part of the process. I think he's he's also talking about our DRT meeting, which would probably be one of the first things that happens. But
beyond that, if there was uh prior to the DRT meeting, this is coming up in the next couple of months. I I want to be on that list. I want to know. >> So, I just want to document it as opposed to >> expect things to come in. Yeah, we can include the commission on
the list of um people to contact. >> Thank you. >> Generally, we have a list of like I think town manager, DPW, police, fire. So, there there's several people on that list for the contractor to coordinate with. Um the only other question when we
talked out there you we talked about the soil and I understand that any soil that's removed um will be tested and then will be uh taken off site and the Japanese knotweed that's all over there. Did was there a note needed to put in
the contract that um any cutings from the Japanese knotweed will also be removed from site? uh we can include that in terms of including it with the soil removal as well. Um yeah,
>> just in case it's uh done at uh kind of flowering time of year. So, >> yep. >> All right. >> Okay. Chance, anything from the commission? >> Any comments from the public online?
>> Chad. uh you use your raise hands function. So there's uh reaction tools and you can use the raise hand function to get our attention. Um seeing none. >> Okay.
Uh then can I have the motion to close the hearing on Oakland Road in Birch Meadow? >> Oh um Oh yeah, it's under conditions. Um I move to close the hearing on the project at Oakland Road at Birch Meadow
Drive. >> Walter Talbert seconds and Walter Talberts in favor. >> Tim Michelle in favor. >> Rick Kio in favor. >> Martha Moore in favor. >> Ryan Bow in favor. >> Okay. I realize this is an RDA. We just
have a few things we'd like to uh request you to do. Um so First one I had was a note on erosion control removal before the certificate of compliance.
Um, do you need more on the tree protection check or is that section 10? >> No, I think that's covered. >> And it's not before certificate of compliance. It's just upon completion. >> Fair enough. >> Because there is no COC. >> Good point. Okay. Upon upon completion.
Um then a note on removing the cutings of the uh Japanese naweed. That's all I had. Anybody else have any other ones? >> I have a note that I made at our site visit that we should also ask them to contact the tree warden about the
project. >> Right about >> So we Yeah, then we were talking that over. So specifically the free warden may not need to be contacted but if they contact DPW that'll go that's where we fell on that. >> Okay.
>> To make sure the DBW knew. >> And the other condition I made a note of at the site visit was that the sumps would be cleaned out by either the DPW or the contractor before the project starts. >> And they talked about that >> the sumps will be four feet. And I think
we talked about that as well. So do those need to be conditions or just we discussed them? >> No. Uh Michael said as part of the contract with the contractor or the town will remove all the sediment in the system prior to >> starting. >> Okay. >> And they're responsible for it.
>> Okay. Anything else? >> I think the way it worked was if the town doesn't do it, then the contractor will do it, which is which is great. >> And then soil will be removed to offsite from near the invasive. >> And I heard that was a condition also
that be So we seem to have only have two >> to do anything extra. >> No. Um, >> no. >> Um, then can I have a motion for a
negative determination for Oakland Road? >> I move that we issue a negative determination of applicability for the Oakland Road project. >> Walter Talbot seconds. Walter Talberts in favor. >> Michelle in favor. Do you in favor? >> Martha Moore in favor.
>> Ryan Bow in favor. Okay. Thank you. >> Thanks, Mike. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. Have a good night. >> Okay. So, Nick, that's it for hearings tonight. So, next
um >> that's just a a reminder. Number four is just a reminder. >> Yeah. Okay. Um, so this has to do with the uh certificate request for certificate of compliance which has already been continued to August 12th.
So we don't do anything on that tonight. Uh, next one is uh we need to approve um the purchase of lumber from reading lumber in the amount of E493. >> Can you say from the uh from the
conservation donation account? >> Correct. So, that will be paid out of the conservation donation account. >> I'll make a motion to approve the $84.93 from the donation account. Conservation donation account. >> Yeah. And uh just to let everyone know,
it was for uh hose connections and hose to water the habitat gardens in Bear Meadow. >> Walter Talbet seconds that motion. Walter Talbotz in favor. >> Tim Michelle in favor. >> Rick Q in favor. Marth more in favor. >> Ryan Bow in favor.
Okay. Next is old new business. Um so the first trunch of appointments have gone out. Um I still want to point out that we always are looking for more
because we're greedy. Um, so if there's somebody out there and they have an interest, especially if they have skills such as anything environmental, environmental law, uh, anything like that, it would be greatly appreciated.
Uh, if in fact you wanted to join, I would gladly make room for you. Um, but seriously, we always need some more um energetic uh, people to add to the commission >> and I think there are still openings for associate members. That is correct.
>> You don't have to kick anybody off. >> I was hoping that was the way out. Um so anyways, yeah. Yes, we do have two current openings for associate members. Essentially, an associate member um partakes in the same activities as full
members, just they don't have a vote. Uh it's actually good training, good way to get people involved and then they can decide whether they want to step up or not when the time comes and they get a sense of how we do things. You have a question. In light of what
I've heard, which my hearing sometimes stinks, do we still have an opening for a voting member? >> No. Um that was filled. I'm not going to say the name until at least I know it's official from the town. But our one opening we've had an
appointment and the term starts the first meeting in July. Okay. Um so then uh friends and family day
I will do a quick summation and then ask for input from the people who were there first rubination windy. >> Yeah seems like it's always true with that feel windy. Some tents did in fact
blow over. Ours did not this year, which was good. Uh perhaps because of the extra water jugs that Martha brought to give us some extra ballast. Um I also will point out that we had a good number
of members to show up for at least part of the time to cover things. Martha, Walter, Joe, Shurog, and and I were there. I must also confess I arrived late for the setup. I won't go into
that. Um, we did have uh better traffic than we've had in the past. Um, at least in part, I think to the exhibit, if you will, that Martha put together. She had five
different kinds of invasives plants with a piece of paper identifying them and asking people to to match. Uh that was good for po in people po in kids but also pan in adults and then you have a
chance to talk. Um we did have a few pretty indepth conversation with residents. One or two of them may in fact have an interest in joining us. We'll see. Conversation of friends and family day
is one thing but still uh good conversations. Um, >> the tattoos were popular. >> Well, the tattoos were popular. They are really good tattoos. I must say they give a really sharp image. Although
everybody for some reason resisted my suggestion and put them on your forehead. But um, no, that was that was good. Anything else you want to add, Martha? >> No. Walter Joseph, >> we had a couple of good conversations
with the Mystic River Wershed Association as well. Um, they were looking to take on a bunch of storm water drainage projects in town locally and I was talking with one of the representatives there. Might be worthwhile having him in for 15 minutes just to kind of give an overview of kind
and how they're very tackling storm water management in New Orleans. But, uh, >> no, it was it was a good event. Very windy. I think Trails almost lost their tent a couple times, but uh that was good. >> I think. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, it was windy. Enough said it.
>> Yeah. >> Um so I'm going to put in requests next year for zephers and not freezes. Okay. Uh anything else on that before we move? >> Just make a note. I'll bring more jugs next year. That really helps. I'll bring
more water. >> Okay. Um, Chuck, anything you want to say about the DPW coordination meeting? >> Uh, yeah. No, I think the coordination meeting is going well. Um, it's turned
into a just kind of show up at the other guys desk and talk about um whatever happens. We're still having the meetings, but uh it's it's more of a anytime a problem happens, we'll just find each other at at one another's desk
to talk it over. So, it's it's moving good. I I don't see any issues. I mean, it I think one of the issues way back in the day and it's still here is that, you know, we never hear about the DPW projects. It's like it never it never
comes up. And that's still the case. Um and so they're you know, I don't know if they're not planning these projects, which I would suspect is not the case. Um but um the ask is um that we know about the projects that are kind of in
the pipeline for the next couple of weeks or at least till the next meeting so we can be aware of them and no one's surprised when they're driving around town or uh we're called by residents. So, uh outside of that, uh it the things the other things about helping each
other out and and allowing permits and and um uh getting things as small as wood chips. Uh you know, it's been fantastic. And I I I think Mike Hannerford's been very
helpful this year. He's always very helpful with the um volunteers. And um there's a little bit more about Mike coming up later, so I'll just save the rest. But uh no, no further comments about that. >> Okay.
>> Then we can get the violation notices. The one in particular I want to talk about is 38 Bond Street. You know, that's been on here since before you people joined. Um so some background, some context. uh 38 Bond Street previous
commission so before Martha or I were on it there was a violation noted um that person's shed is actually on conservation land and so at that point um the agreement with the property owner
was that it could stay there until he either sold or passed on or he has now passed on um last year in So, it's time to uh follow up on that. I
went by a week and a half ago at this point, a week ago. Um, knocked on the door. Person came to the door who was not the property owner. He's a renter. Um, so I explained why I was there. We
went to the backyard to look over the situation. There are a number of things. First of all, the shed is there. the idea of moving it. It's up to them, of course, but it's gonna be taken down because it's already falling down. But either
way, it can't stay there. Additionally, um if Chuck were to bring up the aerial view, you would see that in front of the uh shed, there's grass and it's being moaned. Additionally, the renter just
two weeks ago now put in I'm going to call it a lawn structure. It's like a little bird bath with some mulch around it and what have you right in the 25 foot. He clearly didn't know. So, I talked to him about the fact that he
would have to remove that. So, while I was there, we did find the uh granite bound. It actually is on the property for the next door, but it's still right on the property line. You can see it very clearly. Um,
and there a few other things that I noted on the back right there's a fenced in garden plot, if you will, which extends too far towards the wetlands away. So, at least the back few feet of it, I didn't measure it, but the back
few feet of it are going to have to be addressed. So I think at this point uh we need to figure we have to decide on next steps. I'm going to recommend the next step is to send the actual
property owner a letter um reminding him that is time and um I would like him to come here but things have just went through uh we can talk to him face to face. Additionally, that 25 foot
indentation, I think that should be have a a buffer put in for it where it's currently mowing the grass to actually get back the 25 foot buffer for the no disturb zone. But
these things I think are better talked about in person. So my recommendation would be that we ask Chuck, send him a letter and have him come in to talk it over at a future meeting. Any discussion? Any other ideas on that?
That's like a reasonable approach with >> So this this what you're looking at shows the property, but if Brian didn't let you know that not only is this wetland on the other side of the green line, which is this property, um it's
conservation land. So that's all uh yeah, and this is something they agreed to. Um so I think Yes. >> Sending sending a letter and just asking
to revisit this situation is appropriate at this time. >> Did the property change hands or is it same? >> It's now in the sun's hands. >> Okay. So, they have an idea of you would think. >> Yeah. And I believe Chuck said the son was involved back when they had the original discussion. So,
>> yeah. The son came to the meeting with his with his father. >> So, it's not a completely new owner and he had no idea. This guy knows. >> Yes. It's my understanding. the same owner would be the same son that came that to the meeting that night. >> And does this piece of conservation land
have a name? >> Yeah, this is the wetland to the Mlets Morgan property. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> So, is that all right? >> You don't need a vote or anything. Just
>> Good. Thank you. Um, that's all I have on violations tonight. Uh, the next item is one that's actually not on here. Um, a quick recap of our
site visit to the trail uh on the property at Johnson Woods. This will be part of a future certificate of compliance. At this point, we were walking it over to check
it out and giving feedback on how they're doing so far. So, a number of us showed up. Chuck actually started uh at an end where we didn't and he met us basically partway in. We met um the
representative Jim Davidson. I'm going to call it a third of the way through. We went down to where the trail crossed over and walked the rest of the way to Chuck. There are a few suggestions. Um there are some signs that need to be clearer. Um we want additional wood
chips to make the trail more obvious. This obviously is going through a condo. I know condo town houses, you know what I mean. it goes on uh common property, but it does in cases look like it's
somebody's backyard. So, we want to make sure it looks like it is official, like people are allowed to walk on it, they're comfortable walking on it, and they don't feel um discouraged by where it appears to run
in somebody's backyard. Additionally, when we walked to the end of it, it comes very close to land owned by Reading Open Land Trust. Uh so we had a conversation about bringing it a little bit further to the end of the
property where it could connect with existing trails over and reading Openland Trust would be a big win. Um, so at this point they took notes plus whatever Chuck took on the things that
they need to do to get it in final shape. And at some point when that's done, I presume there'll be a follow-up visit. I actually I don't know if that would be separate like this or in conjunction with some kind of COC, but
either way there will be another visit. >> Anything else I missed? >> Yeah, but So, I think we should keep this conversation to you and me and not get any input. Yeah. Because it's not on the agenda. That's why we want to be careful with uh where we're
going with this. >> So, >> so I I suggest that uh notes did come in. I thought I sent them out to the commission, but let's get this on the agenda, review the notes at that meeting, add some edits and comments,
and send them back. and um if there are any, you know, >> and then uh go go go from there. But I I do think that we should look at this and review the notes. The notes just came in, you know. >> Yeah. Yeah. We're going to walk Monday.
>> I'll put this on the next agenda. >> Okay. >> And uh go from there. >> Then that is that brings us to item 10, administrative report. Back to you, Jeff. >> Yeah. So uh we had noticed last week that a tree fell down at Mlette in
Morgan. This is the biggest uh a big tree significant tree that is probably um first thing that's happened at our uh flagship park and uh conservation area since it was opened.
And um I got a call around 6:00 in the morning from our pollinator guy letting me know that there was an issue and I put in a cclick fix. I think others did also but I only uh we communicated on mine because I
have an internal uh route to uh forestry and um let them know what was going on. Put in a few pictures. Went there first thing. Um Mike said he would develop a plan which he had available by Monday,
Tuesday and uh he this Wednesday. Yeah, it was Tuesday. So had that plan together on Tuesday that had uh what he was going to do, the times that he was going to do it and just about how long that the uh uh
the work would take. So we met out on site. We reviewed what he was going to do and I went back this morning because there was some other uh trees that needed to be discussed. It was brought up uh by Joe as a reminder and I showed him those trees. He was able to take
care of did some took down the tree that was hung up um the big tree the original issue and then he trimmed up some other trees and took down uh at least the one was there or was it two
>> two saw the one at the end of the long boardwalk >> and there was two separate >> Oh and it was the one next to it. Yeah, he mentioned there was a smaller one that showed some uh decay and he wanted to take it down, but this was this was like a three or 4 inch tree. Um it
wasn't a very big tree. Uh and um I think they were finished by noon and uh cleanup looked pretty good from what I what I heard. uh he reached out to me and Jane at the end of the day and I ended another conversation with me,
him and Jane and uh I was very happy with how this went, how the departments uh communicated with each other and uh how this proceeded I think as quick as it possibly could have happened. Uh there was even an incident where I was
running down to the DPW to get some something to block the trail and some caution tape and I got an I got a uh email from Mike saying that he had already done that or he had he just finished doing it. So I was like, "Oh, wow. Great." So uh that's my report. I
just want to say thanks to the forestry department and uh thanks to Mike Hannerford for uh you know helping out and uh you know taking care of this so quickly. >> Okay, >> questions, comments? >> Just one additional comment. So he did
leave two of the trees, the smaller trees um kind of off to the side in the wetlands. So that will decay, you know, naturally. And then I think the large tree, I believe that was just ground down. They were taking it in chunks. Yeah. You know, offsite. So,
>> um, but they did leave two of the >> Is that a question about whether to leave them or take them out of there? Because we >> just it comes up in a lot of our other discussions of whether or not they leave the trees in place or have a snack or something like that. But those two smaller trees are just going to decay on site.
>> Are they are they in a good spot or should we evaluate them to see if they need to be moved or move? >> We may want to move them away from some of the new plantings that we had. Um, but they're in a pretty good spot. >> They're small enough that we can move them or you can move them yourself.
>> I would say one or two volunteers could probably at least roll it or move it. >> Yeah, they're they're relatively small. So, >> okay. So, we don't need the >> Everything else looks great. >> Right. Good. Uh, I'm going to just give a shout out to our Nextstep
Ministry volunteers. They're uh over at Warren A right now. We have a kiosk up. We have a trail head by the DPW that was done last year. We have 100 feet of boardwalk, a bridge that's over 20 feet long,
and we're going to be putting in a another I'm going to call it a bog bridge because it's elevated on top of um those uh black corrugated culvert pipes and um they're going to be
building that. So, that'll happen by the end of next week. we should be pretty close to being finished with that bridge and then on the trail. And all all along they've been wood chipping and clearing trails when they became bored with other things. So they've been able to walk
through a few of the trails at Pine Veil and cut back some of the brush. So, you know, it's it's an incredible uh group of young people out there doing some really hard work and uh they never say
they never say quit. Even in the rain and in the heat, they're always out there. Uh so, I just want to say definitely thanks to them. And I asked him to send us in some pictures for our F Facebook page. I was going to say FB page, but >> so he talked about a Facebook page. Our
intern is currently putting the Facebook page together. The first draft it's available. Um, but it has to be populated more. Um, how how are we doing for wood chips on site more?
>> There's a we we went through uh two dump trucks. This is 10 yard 10 yard dump trucks. 10 to 14 yards. So, we went have I've had two of those dumped off. There's still at some at Maple Street. I'm not asking for any more because I think that will finish it up.
>> Okay. >> Uh they're not they're not doing the entire trail. We're just doing the little area that we're doing and a new entrance in from Mabel is what we're going to do. Um the last thing that I'm going to talk about is that um we've
I've been saying this a couple times. We've lost some turtles uh over at Mil Street and that's where the Abigana crosses the Mil Street and we ordered these signs, you know, careful turtle crossing. It took three weeks to come in from Amazon. It was uh it was uh
unbelievable. I think we lost two turtles during that time. I'm not saying signs always help, but we did lose two additional turtles during that time. So, I was able to uh work with one of our trails committee members today, Will Finch. Sign came in.
I went out with one. That's all I had. And I got some uh poles and we put them up. One on one side of the bridge. I went back um and I was going to meet him later. The other signs came in. We put the rest of them up. So now there's a sign on both ends of the bridge very
visible letting people know that you have to be careful because of t turtle crossings. Apparently there's just too many rocks underneath the Mil Street Bridge and they can't manage that. So, they're just they're just actually you can almost see a trail. They're coming up um the bank.
They're crossing the road and it's on a curve so it's hard to see. >> Are we allowed to do anything but the rocks under the bridge? >> Um uh you know what we we >> it it might be it could be the rocks. It
could be just, you know, where they feel like they need to go. >> Sure. >> But yeah, I mean, I think you could you could move some of the rocks. I don't think you could take them out of the stream. >> But, um, >> I think we'd have to, you know, see a turtle and see where it's going. But Will might have some more ideas on that
since he lives very close and has >> at least if we made a channel easier, at least gives them the option. They may still choose to go up, but >> like what I was asking about for track road, a a path under the bridge that the
wildlife could travel. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, they they swim up, they hit kind of a shallow rocky area and maybe the current isn't uh working for them. So, I'm not sure. I >> Well, talk to Will a little bit more.
>> I'm going to talk to Will. Might as well think about that. Check them up on the road is one thing. Trying to find a way they don't go on the roads. >> Yeah. So, we would have to reach out to the uh conservation agent in North Reading also just to make sure we're in tune with uh the bridge is like half
north reading, half reading. >> Do we need to contact River? >> Um not for this. >> Okay. Now, I'll put that aside for now. Anything else? >> Uh no, that's it.
>> Okay. Uh, minutes for approval. We have the first one, 527. That's it. So, can I have a motion to approve the minutes for 527? >> I move to approve the minutes from May 27th.
>> We just got them. >> No, we just got June 10th. >> Oh, we just got to be we got revised already. So, we straighten it out, which was those were the ones I got yesterday.
the true June 27 or May 27. Yes, there was that confusion. >> It was that confusion, but you straightened it out. Right. >> Right. She changed the uh >> she changed it and then sent them back out. >> Okay. >> Along with other comments. I second the motion and and I approve.
>> Michelle in favor in favor. >> Martha Moore in favor. >> More in favor. >> Okay. And ask you on behalf for approval. Well, because June 10th has come, but just recently, >> so we need more time to read that one. >> Yeah. And then she's going to have to
update it anyway, depending on what it is. Okay. So, is there anything else before we adjourn? >> No. >> Oh. Uh, we have zero money left in our account. We happily spent all of it and
the trails committee spent all of their money also. So, this last two weeks have been really, really tough >> because you have a project you're working on and no money to spend it. >> Well, we had we had the material cabin
was chock full of supplies. We had 4x4s and 2 by sixs and 2 by12s and all these, you know, fasteners and things like that. We had so much and then we had a donation of uh decking which is outside
and we and we had decking also. So we had purchased. It's going to be all cleaned out. It's going to be amazing. That place is going to those shelves are going to be empty. >> It's the only downside of a volunteer crew that works fast. >> I just think we have to keep it in mind.
I mean this you're the conservation commission. Uh I've asked before for you to help me fill the gap. you've done that last year, you didn't need to do it this year. You know, it's a conversation that I need to have with the trails committee, but I'm having it with you. Also, have to make sure that we have
supplies. You know, it's a combination of end of fiscal year, can't have any money, need to spend it all, but have the have the supplies available. We had a a safety project, but we never got to it because we really haven't run out of supplies, which is they are um they're
going to uh I don't know if it's like restaining or waterproofing, but the pavilion is going to get a new coat of waterproofing and that material because it's a town building is paid for by facility. So, I only needed to provide labor. So that
was my stop gap, you know, project, but it I'll get it done, but it doesn't have to be, you know, I only have two days left, actually. >> So is this where a donation fund might come into play? >> This is where the donation Well, we only
needed that $83 for the for the um hose stuff >> for like a lock, for example, on a kiosk or something along those lines. >> Even just going forward, >> that kiosk was was able to be fixed. So that like in general though can that donation fund be used to cover
>> 100%. The donation So the donation fund is someone donated us money to do conservation you know anything that's for conservation purposes. So as long as I get the chair's approval and then followed up by the commission's approval
we're all set to use that money also. And is that process identified that like if anybody in town wants to donate to that fund, they know clearly where to go to donate? >> So that's a that's a great point. I think we're we're stuck in a discussion
about how vocal we can be about our um our gift account and our donation account. So like the League of Women Voters always gives a gift to the Trails Committee and uh and
So, I don't know how they connected and and why that happens all the time, but you know, they appreciate that gift. They're able to use that gift for trail building and so that's what it was meant for, but um we are working on that
process and don't know where it's at at this point. Um it's off my hands. I made u I put something together and I sent it to Jane, but that was only to kind of say we're
moving along. There was a a discussion about having someone put some graphics on it, which I know is being worked on. Um and so it looks like the graphics could go together. It could be approved. It needs
to go to town council and then it would have a spot on our website. I don't know. There's a little confusion about listing things and not listing things because directing people creates a problem um about um the request doesn't
seem voluntary, you know, and then having them. So, these are some of the conversations like having someone say this money is specifically for X creates a different problem. So generally donations
um uh would be best but those are the questions we're working through and that's really not in my in in my wheelhouse that's going to be for Jane and for >> this donation is one for conservation things in general and then we would use
it as appropriate so not earmarked if you will. Yeah, for for all conservation purposes would be would be great. But um yeah, it is moving along and you know that Jane even mentioned it at the select
board meeting. So she is on board. >> And did our budget for next year get approved? >> It did. >> Okay. So you'll have money to spend as of July 1st. >> I I will. Yeah. No, I'll have I'll I'll
have all that money uh to spend on projects um as allocated in the and you know in the budget >> request. >> Right. So we had a number of items. >> Yeah. Right. So this this you've used up all the money and next step volunteers
have used up all the materials is about a oneweek issue because after July 1st there will be more money. as of today is about a oneweek issue. It's been about a three-week issue. So, I I really want to do some planning next year and make sure
that that, you know, we have something to fall back on. It's tough to drag the kids off a building project. They love it out there. And to say, "Hey, well, I want you to spread out, you know, wood chips instead of coming here tomorrow." Uh, isn't the greatest. I mean it would
be it would be the best if it was well at the end of this week that group goes away and the beginning of the following week we're spreading wood chips because you know there's there's no money but I I would prefer to just buy the stuff in advance like we my
conversation with the trails committee would be I think we need about um you know maybe another 50 feet of building supplies 50 to 75 feet. Um, so that's how they purchase things. >> So will they take wood composite? What
will they take if people wanted to donate it? >> So all donations have to go through the town manager at this time. So we had a contractor that was donating um either leftover he was a he built houses
leftover composite material or pieces that they couldn't use. So five feet or less. and uh he would always call the town manager and the town manager would let me know and I would go over and pick it up. And so um the process that the town manager took I believe was just
declaring it surplus after he got it and then we could get it. But uh it does start at the town manager's request. But um uh so I can tell you what's come in from the as far as composite. Yes, anything composite we we wouldn't mind.
Um, and we've even taken uh used wood. So, when you're changing out the deck, uh, we only ask that you take the time to pull the screws out of it. And so, as long as >> usable material, >> yeah, >> usable material, >> anything over four feet. The size, we
always cut everything down to four feet. So, a little bit over four feet or four feet exactly, we can use that material. >> Yeah. So, >> so you're talking decking boards, 4x whatever, 2x6,
>> 6 by sixes, 4x4s, whatever. As long as they're still good. >> Yes. If they're not if they're not like all twisted and stuff like that. Yeah. We can take all that kind of material. Um, we generally use at least uh eight footers. So, with with the with the wood pressure
treated. Um, yeah. >> Right. any feedback from our application for the recal trail. >> Uh not uh as of this meeting. >> I expected any
>> at the end of end of the month, right? >> Oh, I didn't know the exact date, but >> I thought it actually said June 30th. >> I have to go back and look, but certainly the end of the month. And I don't I just don't remember if it's by the end of the month or at the end of
>> Yeah, >> it's two letters either way. >> We have two two uh two applications out there crossing crossing our fingers. >> One for a vehicle and >> Yeah. >> for the trail. >> Anything else? Do you want to make this
a record? >> I I think you already beat this time. Um I have nothing. Close. >> Okay. Have a motion to adjurnn at 8:15. >> I move to adjourn this meeting at 8:15. >> Thomas seconds. Walter.
>> Everybody in favor. >> I forgot that anybody. >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. Good night, everyone. The shutting down. I get the call.