Hey, Beth. >> Hey, Scott. How's it going? >> Good. Fighting off a cold. Other than that, I'm doing okay. Uh >> oh. Must be from that site visit we did. We'll find out who all is sick now.
>> I feel all week I've kind of been Yeah. fighting something, but >> Oh, my >> Oh, good. >> Good. So, we're waiting for Bob. I suppose Mayor's not coming.
So, we just wait for Bob. Maybe I'll text him. I'll I'll text him. Beth. >> Ah, there he is. Hi, Bob. >> Hey, thanks. >> Was that you with the iPhone? Ah, I see.
>> Yes. I I don't know how to um make it have my name, but uh but yes. Yes, I'm the mysterious iPhone. >> Great. All right. Well, so then we have quorum. So, um it's 7:01 on February 12th, 2026. I'm
calling this meeting of the Shootsbury Conservation Commission to order. Welcome everybody. Um let's get right into the agenda. First thing on the agenda, comments from the chair. Um, I just wanted to update you guys with a
couple things. One is the Lake Wyola Dam. Um, all I know at this point, I guess I think GCA has finished a preliminary design to make the repairs. Um, and I think that's all kind of gone out to bid
and um, waiting to get a contractor on board. And the the five foot lowering happened a while ago as you guys know and I don't think there I haven't heard of any issues with that at all. Um and that's where that's at is the design is
all is done. Um and it's kind of they're trying to do it in a fast pace because it really is kind of an emergency and um they put it out to bid. Anybody have any questions on that?
No. Okay. Um the other thing is and you two were there. We had them the meeting in the community meeting in town hall about the covert assessment project that's going to happen this summer and I thought that
was very productive. Um, I've met with that group a few times since then and we're still going to have a meeting with DPW about that project and go over with DPW culvert locations and what's going to happen this summer
with the interns. Um, but that's moving along. But thank you for coming because I thought that was a good meeting. >> I think it was. >> Yeah. Um, and that's all the only other thing
I had. And I guess maybe this is a question for Matteo. Have you heard at all from the state about open meeting law annual reertification? If I got I got my notification at work in Ammerston. I went in and did my usual
training update and I just hadn't seen anything for the Shootsberry committees. So you're talking about the conflict of interest the annual uh online training. >> Yeah. Sorry, not open meeting a conflict of interest. Yeah,
>> I mean that is I mean that's I think that's sent out automatically by the state depending on when your appointment date is. So, um you should be I mean I would assume that members of the commission would receive an email to whatever um their
official email addresses on file with the state regarding updating that annual training. I just did mine yesterday. It was a lot of fun. >> Yeah, it's a good time. Scott and Bob, did you get yours?
>> No. No, I I've not seen it. And um this would be the first year where I don't have the uh you know duplicitous not uh duplicate training from from my town job. So I would certainly need to retake to to get it freshened.
>> Yeah. I haven't seen it. >> Yeah. I think so in Ammerst at my job I got notification from the state but then I also got what always happens the clerk's office always just sort of sends around a reminder to all committees and
stuff. I guess that's what I was wondering if Matteo if you had heard anything at all from the clerk and about sending out any kind of general reminder to to all committees and stuff, but um >> I I guess you haven't
>> No, I haven't heard anything. We're also in kind of a weird position right now because the previous interim clerk is gone and the incoming interim clerk is out sick. So, we're in this weird place where we have a clerk. That's true. >> We have an assistant town clerk. Uh but that's different.
>> Okay. I'll just forward to this committee uh what I got from in Ammerst that sort of it's got links and stuff to the web page you would go to to just check on your status um and see it's kind of every other year. One year
you do a longer training and then the other year you almost just sort of reertify very quickly. But every year I think you have to do one or the other. Um, so I'll send that to you guys so you have the links. Um, that's all I had. So, next on the
agenda is review and vote on the minutes of January 8th, 2026. Do I have a motion? >> I'd like to move that we accept those uh minutes, please. >> All right. Second. >> I'll second.
>> Great. Um, Douglas, >> hi. Khan >> I >> and Wilson I great. Um next is site visit update and mayor usually does that. She's not here. Um
but I think the only site visits we've done have been related to the projects we're going to be talking about uh later in the agenda. I don't think there was anything additional. So I think we'll just move on from that.
Um, next is land management update. Scott, you got >> I don't have very much. We're going to be talking about the bid openings um and the process forward for South Brook
Trails and um expenditures, those CPC grant monies. But that's the primary. I I think just a placeholder for uh the commissioners would be we I think in the past we've talked some about
regulations for some of our town owned con managed properties and um I I what I'd like to do is I'd like to start to move forward with drafting you some of
what that might look like. Um it's could be a little complicated to uh pull all that together. There are some, you know, historical um uh reservations in some of these properties that um may have prohibited
or allowed certain uses, but at least I'd like to start to draft those and um maybe present them here for consideration as a draft sometime in early spring. So, if anyone's interested in working on that with me, let me know.
Um, but that's all that I had and end of report. >> Thank you. Thanks for the report. Um, yes, I think that's a great idea. I think we we uh we don't really have any overarching regulations
that are just sort of general for our conservation land that I know of. And I think it would be really helpful to draw something like that up. Um, somebody brought up, this is just a question for you. Somebody brought up
during the last hike that we just had, um, trails in the uh, new conservation area offered off from Pelum Hill Road. What's called West what's it? West Quabin. >> West Quabin Woodlands. Yeah. Have we
thought more about that at all about trails there that were then going to connect to like the serious community trails? >> We did meet um so we I guess step one was get into the parking lot set and so we did that
>> uh this this past year. Um, I have talked with Stu and and met with him, um, and some others to kind of rough out a potential path of where a trail might
go. There aren't that many places to get in there. It's, you know, it's kind of steep as you go further north, but it'll be kind of entering the property on the southeast corner, which is where the parking lot is, and then making its way down. Um, so I think we have part of it
flushed out. I did talk with uh Stu from Kestrel about um potentially meeting again this spring, really trying to flag out a path and then we could um I think we'd be in a position where we could start to think about, you know, pursuing
other grant funding to establish a trail there, which would be pretty nice. But that's kind of the thought for this year. >> Yeah, that's great. I'm glad that that it's, you know, there's some work being done on it. I think that would be great. And that reminds me that the next hike
is before our next meeting. It's March 7th at the Pine Pine Hill P. What's Yeah, you know, there's Lake Wyola and then there's the there's just trails on opposite Lake Wyola
um Lake View Road area back there. this the rec committee chose this location. So, I suppose we would park maybe at the Lake Wyola parking area and hike from there.
But that's March 7th at 100 p.m. And I think you got the flyer is posted on um our web page. So, >> and I beg your pardon, you said March 7th at 1 p.m. >> Yep. >> Okay, great.
Yeah, the hike we just had this this past weekend um on the ETH was really cold >> and we didn't we didn't have very many people, but uh it was still fun. We the the few of us that showed up completely bundled
walked along New Boston Road Trail there, which is really a great trail. Um and we were out for about an hour and it was it was fun. It was definitely cold, but it was good.
All right, it's 7:12. I guess our public hearing starts in about 3 minutes, so we have a few minutes of if anybody has any other comments. I think we plan to hike for April also, and that's on the cal on the flyer
that's on the web page. I can't remember where it is, but we did one for February, March, and April, and we haven't uh figured out the next months, but we did already identify some a hike in April, too.
So, yep. Oh, Michael has his hand up. Great. He can take up two minutes. Go. >> I can definitely take up two minutes. Just an FYI, um, with the new clean energy regs that are coming out with DOE, >> um, one of the things that is going to
affect the every town, but, um, is the fact that DOE is requiring, you know, this consolidated permit with concoming board, etc. But we have to designate a local government representative, which is a role that no municipality has in
place. So, it I'm going to go to the select board meeting. I think it's the first Tuesday of March. If Beth, if you or someone wants to come just because municipalities can start accepting consolidated permits in July, we have to
do it by October 1st. Um, and so figuring out who's going to do it. Um, there's one person not on the screen who's in the meeting who might be a good candidate for it, but I don't know if she'd be interested. Um, but we have to discuss. You know, it if we get a proposal, it could be a lot of work. So,
um, you know, and you know, if it's someone like the town administrator, administrative assistant, they're not in the usual regulatory circles, but it's it's really about catching the applications, making sure everyone's meeting on time so we don't have constructive approval and we cross all
the tees and dot all the eyes. So, if you want to come, just check the agenda out. It should it should be whatever that first March meeting is, the third or the fourth or something. >> Okay. Yeah. No, I'd like to come. I know this this is all coming fast and we need to to figure things out. So, what was
the title of that person? >> That person is the local government representative. >> A local government representative. Okay. >> Yeah. So, they're appointed by the select board. It can be anybody. I I pitched enabling towns to hire a consultant to do it since no one really
has the capacity and have that be at the applicant's expense. But, as far as I know, DOA did not write that in. So that's a draft. >> Oh. >> Huh. >> That would have been a good solution. >> Yeah. I wonder what I wonder I wonder who they were sort of envisioning would
would would take on these roles and and then also you think did they think that the difference between large towns and small towns in terms of dealing with something like that? >> Well, when they presented at UMass in November, they're first floating this. Their idea was town clerks. and someone
raised their hand and said, "Our town has a five five hour a week town clerk. There's no way that's gonna happen." You know, >> right? Who are very very busy very very often. >> Yeah. It makes no sense. >> No. >> There's there's not a municipality in the Commonwealth who has extra capacity
for people to do this job. So, it's that's going to be the challenge is understanding that on the front end. >> Yeah. Okay. Well, thank you for uh keeping us up to date on all of that. It's very important.
Um, okay. It's 7:15. Um, so our our first uh public hearing is a request for determination of applicability from the Department of Conservation and Recreation um for a
shade project shade to conduct work on the accessible parking area, plant native trees, and construct pave paths and pads at Lake Wyola State Park. And I know there's a few people here who would like to present.
>> Hi, good evening Beth and good evening rest of commissioners. Um I'll go and introduce the folks here on behalf of Project Shade. My my name is Brian Kramer. Um with me tonight is Jenna Johnson. Um and my colleague Janelle Jackson also from NICH.
Um we have the pres uh the application materials. I'm happy to run through any questions the commission has on them, but we do have a a brief couple slides just to um run through and and um display a few of the graphics that are contained in the report. Um if you
wouldn't mind, let me share. >> Yeah, Matteo, can you >> Yep. I just turned it on. >> Great. >> Okay. Thanks. application window and then I'm hoping you are now seeing full screen.
>> Yes. >> Great. >> Yep. Looks good. >> Um so a little bit overall about uh project shade. It's a statewide initiative um that is intended to bring more um shade and comfort um to the state parks particularly in in
communities that um see heavy usage of our beaches and and waterfront sites uh as well as um heavy usage in the summer are also vulnerable to extreme heat. So the uh DCR has um selected I think nine
sites across the Commonwealth. Uh two are one's in Chipe uh and one is at Lake Wyola. That's the one we're uh discussing tonight. Uh to expand tree canopy as well as introduce new shade uh structures, pavilions, and you'll use both terms tonight. Um so a little bit
about specifically Lake Wyola. Um you're seeing is north is sort of 45° up there, but you can see Lake V Road um cutting across the bottom of the map there. Um the pink um fuchsia color are the uh delineated uh resource areas. The red
being the 50 foot no disturb and then the 100 uh being your the adjacent upline resource area or the 100 foot buffer. Um so the uh as we walked to the site on Tuesday earlier this week, what day was it? Um earlier this week we uh walked up
the slope and and took a look at the medium pavilion site that you can see at what what's labeled as the group gathering area. Um, I have some uh architectural renderings because I I recall that was mentioned uh while we were on site. What what is this structure going to look like? Um, as
well as the uh small pavilion grouping of three uh roughly square uh pavilions closer to the lake edge. Any questions on this before I move on? Okay. >> No.
So specifically, um those three pavilions are being served by a new accessible path. Um that's a combination of um asphalt as well as a replacement of the existing boardwalk structure out there. Uh the boardwalk runs north south on this plan. Uh the the proposed um
asphalt path is sort of meandering but running roughly east west. Uh connecting to those accessible parking spaces on the right hand side of the graphic. Uh and what we're um requesting determination on is the uh impact within the between the 50 and the 100 foot um
approximately 400 square feet of new additional impervious. Um and what you're seeing there, we recognize that um this area particularly in the spring has a tendency to um have some higher groundwater or you know water on the surface. Um, so we've been
pretty intentional and and uh detailed about the grading on the site, make sure that we're conveying water into u the swale. There's an existing swale in the sort of northeast of the map and we we um I recall looking at at that while on site the other day. Um grant that it's all covered in snow right now, but still
um the the intent of the grading and really making sure that the water sheets from that path into this uh new stabilized grass swale um conveyed underneath the boardwalk so the folks aren't um that the asphalt path doesn't impede that water flow um and that it's
uh cheating and directed to the northeast up to the uh stream which um connects into Lake Wyola. >> Um I have a question. And so is the the black dashes is that where the erosion control is going to go? >> It is. Yes. Yep. Um generally there'll
be a perimeter erosion control um sediment um you know straw waddles as well as um inlet protection where there are inlets. Um >> okay. And so a little to the right there
um I guess what if I move my pictures of people I can see it better on the right hand side then where the erosion control does go inside the 50 what's happening there that that's already uh impervious in there right
>> it is that just by nature of the sort of existing fence line up here without intending on disturbing that the hope was to allow construction vehicle access to enter through this. So really the the impacts to that parking area are largely temporary. They're during construction,
but that would be where our um trucks would be entering the the site and uh staging before you know constructing. >> Okay. So any like piles of of um material that you need, that kind of thing would would be in that area.
>> Um I don't know. I I think we'd actually be intending on storing materials outside of that area. So that that would just be a truck entrance um and sort of the gate access. Um idealized they'd be working sort of west to east and be staging and and storing material,
particularly earth material. Um you know outside of the pavilion pads themselves um and outside the existing wooded area. So obviously it's it's pretty tight. We're trying to limit our footprint. Um but no, I don't think they they'd be storing uh materials within the existing
parking lot. Um, >> okay. Thanks. >> Mhm. >> Um, additionally within buffer is across the street. I can go sorry back to the um overall plan. Um, what you're seeing here is is we recognize the the need for
additional um accessible parking um sort of access to to Lake Biola. So, there'll be some u minor upgrades to the parking area um just adjacent to the crosswalk. Uh this is actually where about where we parked when we were out there. Um
so these are uh this will include wheel stops and some new uh signage but no new impervious area um proposed within this. This is already a stabilized um stone dust um will remain. So um as requested this is the sort of view
um of uh what the proposed um small shade structure. This is the this is one of the three that would be down uh closer to the pond edge. Um I do recall sort of discussing viewshed particularly folks on Lake View Road ideally looking out towards the lake. Um we uh
architecturally tried to sort of mitigate that and and enhance that view by allowing folks to sort of view through so that the peak or the ridge if you will be will be aligned with the view from the road. Um and then the larger mediumsiz pavilion
which is um up the slope. So with that I'm going to um maybe head back to the overall site plan or happy to answer any go to any specific slides if the commissioner has any question. Um, I was uh I I saw that there is going to
be a little bit of tree planting right down by the lake, closer to the lake. Also though, I think outside the 50 or right a little bit of it is in the 50. Um, but it's right on that line. >> Correct. It is just on that line. >> That is that almost that's just
enhancement. >> That's correct. Yep. That that's the intent. There's uh I believe two two trees down there and then two larger sort of um woody shrubs, right? >> And there's an existing picnic table there that the shade would be
theoretically providing for the visitors there. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um so I guess yeah then my only last question really is what we kind of get into a little bit with um uh phasing of
construction sort of yeah how it how it's going to happen and and yeah where where is material going to be stored access that kind of thing. I don't know if you can >> Yeah. So construction and and site
access would would largely be off of Lake View. Um ideally because this, you know, would be being constructed from sort of the backside, the the uh new handicap ramp. Um and then ideally from there, we're working on boardwalk and
moving to the east. Um so construction site access is going to be from the existing parking lot. Um and the material will be stored certainly within um you know erosion control fencing. Um yeah, we we can set
some more parameters around um how and where stockpiling would be allowed or or not allowed. Um, >> yeah. I'm just thinking sort of protection of of loose sediment and if and if as you're going along, how much of it's going to
be um uh dug up? Um it sounds like you're going to you're going to move like you said from east to west. So you'll be phasing it in a way that you're not digging the whole thing up right away at first and then slowly going in and doing
and just leaving more exposed um open sediment for rainstorms. And then also uh piles of material that you may be using also needs to be protected during any potential rainstorms. But sounds like you have a good good
plan for that. Um, and then my last comment and then I'll let the other commissioners can comment too is I know you you did say there's four about 400 um square feet of new impervious and I'm wondering if I guess mitigation
for that. Are we are we thinking the the trees that are being provided both near the pathway and then also the ones down by the um the lake >> that that and sort of this enhanced
swale condition. I'm going to flip to >> photos. I'll be honest, it doesn't look like this today, right? It would but what you're looking at sort of on the view on the left here is from the parking lot looking in. So it is partially impervious today and we're really taking this alignment and um
the intent would be to take this and and run the asphalt path um continuous through the sort of thread the needle through the trees there. Um what you're seeing on the right hand side is sort of the end of an existing grass swale. The intent would be to pull that further
south and and um regrade and and really do some micrograding to allow for water to enter that swale as opposed to sit um in the lawn areas. Um so that that's sort of the mitigation package is is um yes, as you mentioned that the tree planting um sort of disperse the route
as well as the more intentional grading strategy, >> right? I forgot about Yeah, you're going to be um really doing some drainage work there that'll improve things. That's great. Um all right. Uh other commissioners, do
you have any questions? >> Could you Sorry, Bob here. Could you go to the o overhead view again? Oh yes, heavily. >> And just just for the record, um uh I am a Lake Wyola property owner resident and
um I think that just I don't see any conflict of interest. I'm not in direct butter, but I think I probably should be put in the minutes. Um yeah, the um you know, honestly, I think this is a uh
the accessibility, the shading, I think they're all all very good uh um additions. Um this is a this very revealing diagram. And then that uh up at the top of the screen that is that is completely the medium pavilion is
entirely out of the 100 ft then. Correct. It is. Yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Thank you. I I I honestly think this is a a very wellthoughtout project and the accessibility alone is a tremendous uh asset. So, thank thank
you. >> Okay. >> You know, when I think about that that field, like we were saying during the site visit, it's it's always been so wet, you know, that sometimes it just couldn't even really be used. I think kids still played, you know, frisbee and
stuff and got out there, but sometimes you'd try to walk across that from the boardwalk to the restrooms and you'd be in like 3 in of water as you tried to make your way across there. So, I think the um the drainage will really help and
make it just make it space that can be more used. Um, and and the accessibility is great, too, because the popular spot in the summer, that's for sure. >> So, all right. Are there any questions
from the public? Seeing no one's hands up. Um, all right. It's a commission. >> Edith, I think something. >> She's on mute though. >> Oh, Edith, I think you're on mute.
>> Uh, when will this occur? >> It's a great question. Thank you, Edith. Um, the intended bidding schedule would be in this spring into the summer. Um, ideally DCR would receive uh bids back and be moving forward with construction after uh sort of the high season of the
summer. And obviously that this um the beach and the lakes um heaviest use would be in uh the summer months. The intent is to um sort of begin construction or sta staging for construction uh shortly thereafter likely in September. Um that's how
things go to plan. Um, I don't know if Jenny, you have anything else to add there on um schedule, but that's the intended schedule. >> Will there be any effect to the fish in the lake or or wildlife around?
>> No, we we would want to stage it um to try to um enable our visitors to enjoy the property through Labor Day and perhaps a couple weeks um after. Um, uh, we did have our biologist
look at bats in the barn and they would not be impacted. So, we don't have to change our construction schedule to respond to a migration or reproduction life cycle. So, there were no recommended uh, construction schedule
changes to protect wildlife. >> Thank you. Thank you. All right. Um, if there's no more questions, um, I'll take a motion to close the public hearing.
>> We close the public hearing. >> Second. >> I'll second. >> All right. Uh, so we'll vote. We're voting just to close the public hearing. Um, uh, Khan, >> hi, >> Douglas.
>> I, >> and Wilson, I All right. And then next, we need um, as long as has no more questions or concerns, um, a motion to issue a negative determination. It be negative determination number three,
which is for work in the buffer zone that we feel like is not going to have any kind of an impact on um, the resource area. I'd like to make a vote. And we have a uh vote at negative three on this application.
>> All right. Second. >> I second. >> Great. Uh Douglas, >> hi. >> And Con. >> Hi. >> And Wilson. I All right. Thank you very much. We'll be um getting the
determination out to you uh next week at some point. And then um if you could just keep in touch as to your schedule and when the work's going to happen and all that, that would be that would be great. >> Thank you so much, commissioners. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Thanks for coming. All right, it's 7:34. Our next public hearing is a request for determination of applicability from Massachusetts Electric Company for Crack Corner uh road
reconductoring project. Um they're removing, replacing, and selling 36 electric distribution poles and overhead lines um on Brat Corner Road and I see Shila. Is that how you say it?
>> Yes, it is. Thank you. Hi Beth. Hi commissioners. Um thank you so much for having us on the hearing this evening. Um so yeah, my name is Shila Davis. I'm here with BSC Group and I'm here to represent the Massachusetts Electric Company uh presenting this RDA application to you. So for just the
project overview, the Massachusetts Electric Company is proposing to remove, replace, and or install about uh 36 electric distribution poles and the associated overhead line along the existing distribution line um along Pratt Corner Road in Shootsbury. And in
addition to the removal, replacement, andor installation, there will be some tree removals required for the work. Um however out of the 36 poles that are included in this project there are eight where either replacement removal or installation is proposed within the 100t
buffer zone to bordering vegetated wetlands or inland bank um and or the 200t riverfront area. So the majority of this work does meet the criteria for exemption under the Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act. Um both the provisions for maintenance work for
utilities and the minor buffer zone activities. One pole um however is not considered exempt under the minor buffer zone exemptions in the WPA given that there is one tree removal required and that is within the buffer zone and uh riverfront.
Further uh the town of Shootsbury wetlands protection bylaw uh does recognize utility maintenance exemptions but not the minor buffer zone exemptions as we understood it. So the poll that I mentioned not um being considered exempt with the protection act um that and five other polls so six total um would be
subject to the town bylaw. So uh that's the the scope of you know the jurisdictional work that we're here to uh propose to you and just as you know kind of a understanding of the procedure and everything the poles that will be installed or replaced um they'll be
augured um any uh erosion controls that are needed for the site will be implemented. there will be best management practices implemented that could be things like um straw bottles, straw bales, um you know, etc. There's kind of depending on the site condition.
I most likely would assume they use straw bottles. It's just what I see most commonly for this kind of work. Um but that could be clarified. And any of the Oh, the one tree removal that's within the um jurisdictional area uh and the
others that are outside of it will be cut flush. Um so the stump will be left in place and all the root systems for you know in terms of keeping everything from eroding. Um and any of like the large debris will be removed from the site. Uh so that's my overview. I'm
happy to answer any questions and we would like to respectfully request a negative determination from the commission. Um but again any questions I'm happy to elaborate. >> Do we want to look at the maps at all? Could do you have them Shila?
>> Yes. Yep. Absolutely. I will go ahead and share the maps. Maybe we can just specifically look at that one pole and tree location that >> is not exempt >> because well before we even get into that our bylaw does um does accept the
minor exemptions that are in the wetlands protection act except for one of them but the the one that applies to the uh utility poles um I don't remember if it's what if it's H or the list that talks specifically about it. We do
accept that under our bylaw. >> Okay. Thank you for that clarification. >> Yeah. >> Um yeah, so this um map should be up here. I didn't put it up at first just because I know it can be a little visually overwhelming, but for context, that uh poll that we did look at in the
field, 6-50 is what it's named. Um it is located just west of this uh culverted stream and the tree removal there. I know it looks very close on the map. Um the scale of the map is one inch is 100
feet. Uh so the pole itself is proposed about 25 feet from the edge of the stream bank and I have a photograph I'll switch over to um just representative of the area. So this uh this photograph here is representing the approximate
location of the pole installation. So roughly where my cursor is. Um, unfortunately it either hadn't been staked or the stake was buried in snow during the site visit I had with Beth last week. Um, and then for the tree um
there is this two- stemmed um red maple uh which this photo doesn't show quite low enough but the culvert is roughly between um these two kind of sets of two trees. So it' be the 17in um tree. So
this one here >> and you said there'll be erosion control obviously between that tree location and the bank of the stream. Um I know that there would be u erosion controls for the pole. Uh given that it's in the resource in terms of the tree they would
be removing any large debris. Um so there there is no ground disturbance expected from the tree removal process. They're they're you know cutting it flush. So there there will still be, you know, small um stump and the root system and everything will be in place and nothing's being, you know, dug up and
they'll be doing the work from the uh road shoulder. I'm I'm assuming all for all the poles and everything work will be done from the road in terms of like the the rigs themselves will will stay on the road, >> right?
>> Yeah. But for the poles that need to be the new poles, they'll be almost drilling the holes or >> they they augur them. Um it's >> they augur them. Yeah. >> Yeah. And that goes about six feet deep. Um there's an estimated four square feet
of um I guess disturbance, but any of the sediment that is removed will be backfilled. Um and anything that you know can't be for whatever reason is will be removed from the site um and you know not left in the resource areas um and as I mentioned the erosion controls will be used to minimize any of that
impact in the first place. >> Okay. And um can you explain you sort of explained it to me during the site visit that the reason why why there needs to be so many more poles basically along this line than there are right now. >> Yeah, that's a great question. So, uh,
the reconductoring project is there's a lot of, um, overhead lines. So, you'll see like these dash lines, um, you know, in red here or it's kind of like pinkish red is line will be removed and then line that will be um, installed to
replace it. So generally what we're seeing a lot of projects you know across the state and um you know I do a lot of work distribution projects is installing kind of a a heavier gauge wire and there's a very specific pole spacing
that's required to be able to support the wire and the distance between them. Pardon me because I'm not a designer for the utility work but the distance between them is important because the line needs to be supported so it doesn't
sag uh below a certain point and the distance between these poles can't exceed a certain amount. So, you know, for example, like 6-50 here, um, is being installed between existing pole 7 and existing pole 6 because with the newer wire that's being replaced, it
wouldn't be able to be supported with that existing distance. Hopefully, that can provide some more context. Again, sorry, not a on the design side. >> Yeah, it helps. >> Yeah, sort of the why, you know, why any
of this is happening kind of a question. Yeah, of course. And just, you know, to make sure that um this line can continue providing, you know, reliable service to everybody if there's, you know, sagging wires or these, you know, older poles, um, you know, they might be more susceptible to storm damage, um,
anything like that. So, it's it's really to, um, increase resilience. >> Okay. So, you said 650 is actually going to be 25 ft from the bank of the of the stream. >> Yes. Yeah, that's um for the pole installation. And then
uh that would be you know again erosion controls probably straw waddles um is what I would imagine that's typically what I see. So >> and do we know how how close the the tree itself is 10 feet or five feet or something?
>> Um yeah roughly. I don't have an exact measurement on that one unfortunately, but again looking at the location on the map, um it being the Red Maple, um the culvert, you know, is roughly around here. So it's it's a few feet away, but
again that your cat's so cute. Um yeah, it would be any larger to be removed and that stump would um remain in place to keep the bank stable. >> Okay.
Um, all right. Uh, commissioners, does anyone have any questions? >> You you probably mentioned it, but the timing of the work. Um, I I probably missed it, but when would you expect to be doing the work?
>> That's a great question. I don't think that I had mentioned. Um I believe that this would be you know the next couple of months um that they'd like to start and complete you know um I don't know if they have an exact I mean obviously that's contingent upon um you know this hearing tonight um but I would imagine
that this would be for you know the next couple months like early spring. >> All right. Um Michael >> Yeah I got a couple of questions if you don't mind Beth. Um I think in the department of why um my understanding is that all of proud corner got upgraded to
phase three a few years ago in preparation for the proposed solar project. So why are you doing reabling? I would assume that it was improved when they did that. >> So I I'll admit I don't know about the specific project that you are referring
to. Um, so I I can't speak exactly because I don't know what was included in the scope of that previous project. >> The whole Pratt Corner Road was rewired for three-phase power. >> Okay. >> Going down going down to the hold of the substation. >> Okay. Um, and it is that do you know if
that overlaps at this same um section of it? This is where it meets Leopard Road. Um, and then just >> it's it was the whole road from Lever Road down to the substation. The entire road. >> Okay. Yeah. Personally, I was not involved in that project, so I I can't really speak exactly to the difference
between the two um just without knowing more details on the scope. >> Okay. It just seems a little odd to if if it's been done once, why it's getting done a second time. Um and then I think the another question I have is just in terms of is this and this is again in
the wide department is this at all connected to the other project that national squid is doing out of the substation across the 16 towns for upgrading the infrastructure. >> Is there any relation or it just happens to be geographically similar? >> I think it may just be a geographic
similarity. Um I know that there is another project that's going on that's a much larger scale that I'm personally again not involved in. So I'm not sure exactly but this is this is specific to the roadside distribution. If I understand the other project as a transmission line project um >> yes
>> but this is just along the roadside just you know these kind of um >> just kind of standard wooden poles like telephone poles along the side of the road. Um, so that would be this is its own project in isolation from anything else as far as I'm aware. >> Okay. I got two granular questions for
you too. Um, one is actually a suggestion for the concom. But for the new poll near the stream that you guys were just discussing, Beth, it might be worth when we when you all did the uh that workshop
the town hall about a month ago where food reserved and we were discussing. I've seem to remember because I live in the let's see I guess it's Paul 7 or whatever just down from that one. So
>> Steve Yeah, that that house. So >> yeah. So Steve Sullivan was saying that the water for the culvert it creates problems. So before you go putting in a poll, it might be worth checking with the highway department just in terms of
what the water access is through the the culvert. It doesn't seem like the covert's affected from what I remember. Um I don't think the red the I'm not I don't think the road floods, but I think there's issues. Um so it might just be worth checking. Um
and then my last question, Shayla, is in terms of tree cutting, which is one of the things I care about most. Um, I would just say, you know, my sense of the utilities when they come is cutting more trees to be safer is sort of the mentality. Um, we want to make sure that
things are not getting in the way of holes or wires or whatever. So, when you're doing the cutting, and I'm assuming there's going to be crews that are on there, what's you said it's about four square feet of cutting. How much is that off the road? Is it around the And you're again, you're doing it not in the
same place as the poles, right? you're doing it you're you're flat cutting the poles and you're putting another pole next to it from what I gathered what you just said. >> Okay. I think there may have been just a small amount of miscommunication on my end so I do apologize. Is that the um the
square footage of um estimated disturbance for the installation of a pole is about four square feet. Um, for the trees, um, I did not have a square footage of estimate because that does vary based on the tree specifically and the size. Um, and that the poles
themselves, um, you know, for example, like this one here, this one, this one's just being flat out removed. Um, typically I believe that they do cut them flush with the ground. Um, >> yeah, the cutting flush is fine. I'm thinking about when you install the new
one, you know, how much how much distance around the new pole. I would assume that the old polls is probably less distance and the new polls are going to say, "Hey, let's be more conservative and cut more." >> Um, in terms of the tree removals, uh, is that what you're asking about? Okay.
Yes. >> So, for for the poll that is jurisdictional, um, there's just the one tree removal. That's the one that's adjacent to, uh, the culverted area. the other tree removals that are proposed are outside of jurisdictional areas, but
uh those ones they're only done as needed for the the alignment. So, uh like this page has some more examples. Um like this pole, they're they're the existing line is this dashed red line,
but with this midspan pole to support the new wire, they need to orient the line in a new direction. So, that warrants the tree removals there. So it's it's really just kind of an as needed depending on the orientation of the line and the existing conditions that are there. Um does that help?
>> Uh yes it's to some degree to be expected. Um what's the noticing for butters or for people on the road? I mean besides you know not the concom but when the work to the point of when the work's starting.
Um, do you mean the a better notification for this hearing or? >> No, no, no. When they come out to cut. So, in the past when you guys have come, I've made a point of being on my driveway um saying, "Please don't cut this." Um, so I'd like to know when we're going to get noticed to that
effect. >> Okay. That's something that I don't know exactly at this moment, but I can absolutely find that information out and um get that sent over. >> That'd be great. Thank you. >> Of course. Yeah. Thank you. Just on that same realm, how how many
trees total >> uh within the jurisdictional areas? Just the one. Um across the entire project, there's seven. >> Seven. Okay. >> Bob, you have your hand up. >> Yes, thank you. Um I uh I wanted to ask
just briefly related to cutting the tree. You said that you'd you would leave the stump. Will the uh sump be available to uh then do side sprouting and to uh restart up so to speak? >> Um that is a great question. I think
that is species specific if I'm not mistaken. Um, but you're talking about, you know, like the kind of reproductive style of trees where they kind of sprout back out of the same >> Exactly. the side sprouting. And this is a these are red maples, correct?
>> Yes. >> Yeah, you would see you would see that in that. Anyway, just curious. >> Um, yeah, I guess that's a great question. Um, I don't know that that was something that was specifically um kind of mentioned in the original
hering, but u it's a good point if nothing else. Um, or I guess are you kind of wondering what happens when it respouts? >> Yeah. No, I my my desire would be for it to um, you know, be be cut a few an inch
or so or more above the soil. it will naturally respout and then become part of the um the natural system. I always like to have uh some kind of trees, etc. on on roadsides. And so that's the
entirety of the reason for my question. >> Okay. So, you're clarifying that um you would prefer that it not be cut flush, that you'd rather it have some height. >> Yeah. And and that could even be a pair of inches. Uh um we we see that those th those often regrow. So, um,
>> okay. >> Rather than as the alternative being the stump ground, you said it was not going to be, you know, mechanically ground, but it was going to be the stump was left. So, that's that's that's really all I was curious about. >> Okay. No, thank you. I just I think I misunderstood your question at first and
that you were worried about the tree growing back, but you wanted to grow. >> Yes, please. >> Okay, I understand. Um, all right. So looking at the map there's within jurisdiction I see 550 is
just inside the 200 foot. >> Mhm. >> And then 650 is the one we talked about already because it's so close really to the river although it's 20 25 ft really from bank. >> I know. Yeah. And then over on the other
side, there's one that's right on the 100 foot uh line. And then there's 950, which we also looked at during the site visit. And that is also >> over 10 ft from the uh delineated
wetland. Correct. >> Correct. Yeah. Yeah. So the so 950 um had originally been proposed a bit closer. Um but you know the design team was able to reconfigure that design just to scooch it a little further away um
given that there was some concern with that proximity to that uh wetland system. So that was moved you know further um further out. So, it is over 10 ft now. >> And they're all within right of way.
>> 10 ft. Yeah. >> They're not no private property involved. They're all within the right of way of the road. >> Most of most of the poles um you know are being either replaced or they'll if they're being installed, they're being installed, you know, in line with the existing um the existing line that's out
there. Mhm. >> Beth, can I just say one thing? >> Yeah. >> So, the house where this the circle one is you're just talking about. >> You know, you know who? Yes. You know who was there?
>> I think that's Miriam's. >> Yes. I just thought I would tell you because you might be getting a phone call at some point. It's my guess. >> Surprised she's not at the meeting. >> He's saving democracy at the moment. Um, all right. Well,
yeah, I don't have any other questions. I, you know, if the commission has more questions. Also, I thought I could bring up the uh the minor buffer zone minor exemption language just so everybody kind of sees
what we're what we're dealing with with this application. Um, Michael, you have your hand up. Do you have more questions? No. Okay. Um, so I guess um, Shila, could you um unchair, please? >> Yes.
>> Thank you. Oh, Bob's Bob's got his hand up, Bob. >> Oh, you're muted. >> Uh, forgive me if this is where you were headed next, Beth. Um, I just wondered if if we were going to permit it, which
is what the applicant has asked for, or making a finding that it is exempt under our bylaw. >> Um, yeah, I will I want to show you I'll show you guys. Um, now we can talk about Let's see. Okay. Can everybody see my screen?
>> Yes. >> Okay. So, this is the state wetlands protection act. Um, and this is under the minor exemptions, the buffer zone. So, it starts off here with activities within the buffer zone that have the
minor activities exemptions. And there's a whole list. Um, and the one that applies here, there's two that apply here, but the one that I that is more important, I think, is H, which I'll just read. Um, installation of directly embedded utility poles and
associated anchors, push brace and grounding mats, rods along existing paved or unpaved roadways and private roadways, driveways um, and in their shoulders. Provided that all work is conducted
within 10 feet of the road or driveway shoulder um and is a minimum of 10 feet from the edge of bank or bordering vegetated wetland and is as far from resource areas as practicable um with no additional tree clearing or substantial grading within the buffer
zone and provided that all vehicles and machinery are located within the roadway. So most of the work for this project absolutely falls within this. I think it's it's um that one tree because
within our we looked at which poles are actually within um buffer zone um and they're all over 10 ft from the actual resource area. The only thing that is happening is the the that one tree that's coming down
within our um resource area. So, in terms of your question, Bob, it's it's almost very extremely close to being completely exempt from having to apply because our our bylaw and our regulations um have this have these minor exemptions listed as something
that we accept, including number H. Um, so to me, it's almost like the only thing that keeps it from not being exempt is the tree. if that helps. I just wanted to share that with folks.
Um, so that's where we're at. So, I feel like Shiloh described pretty well um how the what's going to happen with the poles and the trees within the resource area itself. And they, like I said, all the poles qualify for the exemption,
just just the tree and um that'll be taken down with equipment that'll be on the road. And now it's going to be left a little taller so that it can grow some vegetation so it can regrow.
Um, so I'm I'm okay with the project. How are you you guys feeling about it? Speaking just for myself, I think it's it's very solid. The uh proponents have done all they can to avoid, minimize, and mitigate. So, I I think it's a a
good project. >> Yeah, I I don't have any concerns. I think that one tree um where it is, there's plenty of shading for the resource area, and I I don't see it affecting the functions values of that resource area. So, I don't have any
concerns. >> Okay. Yeah. Um I think I may put in a condition that we that we do have a conversation with um the highway department just to find out about what Michael was talking about that if that covert
doesn't drain well and for some reason those banks are kind of soft, you know, in a way because there's flooding there or backup or something. um that would be important in terms of knowing taking out that that tree. Um I did note that during the site visit there are a few
other trees very close by for um stability of the bank. Um so I don't think it's much of an issue but I will just we should just put that in as a condition that there's a conversation at least with the highway department about that covert.
>> Can I clarify something on that? >> Sure. >> Just make sure I'm understanding. is that um that you're saying that that would be something that the um applicant would be having that conversation or that you would be having that conversation >> um as a condition. I I think you guys
could reach out to the highway department and just okay explain that the conservation commission was concerned about this and you were just um wondering about that covert in terms of the quality of the flow and the stability of the bank.
>> Okay. in relation to the tree removal. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Yeah, >> I'll put I'll put that in the condition. And >> and then you wanted the tree stump a little bit taller. >> We'll put that in.
>> Make sure I have it clear. Um, >> we can put that in, too. How How much taller, Bob? >> You're muted. >> Yeah, I would say at least two inches. >> Okay. Just so I I'll put that in the condition. That's good.
Um All right. So, I will take a motion to close the public hearing. >> I'd like to move that we close the public hearing. >> Second. >> I'll second. >> All right. Douglas, >> I Khan
>> I. >> And Wilson I. Um, and now I'll take a motion to issue a negative determination of applicability three again for work in the buffer zone that we don't feel like
is going to impact the resource area. You're muted, Bob. >> I'd like to move that we unmute me. Um uh the uh I'd like to make a motion that uh we approve the project as as a negative3 determination.
>> All right. Second. >> I'll second. >> Great. So, roll call. Con >> I. >> And Douglas. >> Hi. >> And Wilson. I. All right. Thank you very much, Shila. >> Yes. Thank you all so much. I really
appreciate your time and I hope you have a great rest of your night. >> Yeah, you too. And thanks for coming, Michael. Oh, he's gone. >> All right. Will we get the get the determination out to you um next week? Oh, she's gone, too. Boy, they just jump off. >> Yeah. And I'd like to just state for the
record, Beth. At >> I'm here, >> Beth. At one point, you did say number H. I just wanted to see that that gets put in the record. >> That it's a letter. >> Yes, it's a letter.
>> Right. Yes. All right. Good. >> Thank you so much. You have a good night. >> Oh, you too. Thank you. >> All right. Next on our agenda is the um
information about the bids for the South Brook project that Scott was talking about earlier. So, um I see um Michael McDuffy's here listening in for our Just
so you know, this project is something that we got CPA funding for. So, there's um South Brook Conservation Area that's um comes off of um uh what's the name of the road? >> It's off Wendle and it's off Fox Pond.
Well, what's what's the road that goes down to the um boat launch? >> Randall. >> Randall. That's it. So, you can access that area from all of those roads, but we got CPA funding to do some trail upgrades,
which is great. And we bid the project. Um and we we just opened the bids today. Teo opened the bids and we got four bids, which is which is great. Four different contractors. Yeah. are interested in doing the work. Um,
and so what I was thinking, I mean, we can Scott, Bob, we can decide how we want to do this, but um, I think you Matteo took a first look at the bid packages to make sure that they basically provided all the documentation um, that they were
required to provide and fees and all that, which it sounds like they all did. But what they also need is a review as to um you know does it look like what they're proposing really is doable? Um and maybe even calling references if
they provided references just to compare the four of them somehow. Um and I um guess I didn't feel like having making all four of us go through that process. So, I was thinking of just nominating
like who maybe Scott and then I I wouldn't mind taking a look at them too to go through them more closely like that unless Bob you'd like to also go through them. >> I would be delighted if you if you if you took it on.
>> All right. Good. Then what I was hoping tonight is we could just vote that um I don't know it feels like something maybe we should we should vote that uh Scott and I will look through those bids um and call references and eventually
choose the uh the winner. You you know obviously looking at the low bidder but you have to you have to check them out and you have to call references and make sure that they're okay. So, um, all right. So, I'll to take a motion to, um,
ask Scott and Beth to go through the bids and choose the, uh, best applicant. >> Uh, I'd like to make such a motion. >> All right. Second. >> I'll second. >> Okay. Douglas,
>> hi. >> And Khan, >> I. >> And Wilson, I Great. That'll be fun, right? Scott, >> do do um Well, absolutely. It'll be fun. I It will be great to get this awarded,
too. I'm wondering time frame. How long do we have to to do this and button it up or what are you thinking? >> I was hoping you and I could do it next week, one of the days next week. But but Matteo, do you know is there a time that
we need to make a decision and reply to these folks? >> Uh I am I'm not aware of a of a time. I don't know about that. I know that the posted date for unsealing of the bids was today, but I don't know how long after that we have to to contact the
biders. I can find out. >> Yeah, if you want better, right? >> Yeah, that's what I think. I mean, yeah, Matt, if you wouldn't mind looking into it and see if you can if there's an answer. Maybe there's really not an
answer, but but I feel like sooner the better. So, so Scott, what's your schedule next week? Uh, afternoons. >> Yeah. Well, the other thing to build into it while I'm put up my calendar is
do is there anyone else from because the town right is awarding this and so is there anyone from the town too that needs to look at it um or um award the bid or is
that the going to be delegated to the Hong Kong to do? Um, the way I see it is, and I see Matteo's got his hand up, is that we're the sort of technical, you know, it's going to be work that that we've chosen to do. So, we would be the ones to look
at those proposals and see if what they're saying they can actually do, like are they listing the right materials, like what are they and um and even calling references and really kind of judging them in that way. Do we think what they're proposing is doable? um the
actual reaching out to them and sending them may be more of a of a official town person to do. That's what I was thinking. But Matteo, what do you think? >> Yeah. So, the the the way the bid was was formed is that the commission is the
awarding agency. The commission is technically the co-owner of the property. Um Haley, the town administrator, is the I believe Haley is the is the procurement officer for the town. So she has to be involved but the decision is up to the commission.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. So she she'd probably be the one actually offering you know contracting with them obviously reaching out to them and maybe being somebody needs to reach out to the
losers also and let them know. But um well maybe we just get to that phase when we do. I think the first thing would be for you and I to go through them and really determine which one seems like the best. >> Yeah. >> I have is if we could get maybe we can
start looking at them if Matteo can send them to you and I and then are you thinking that we just get together Beth um either on the phone or in person sometime next week to go over it? >> Yeah. >> Okay. I have time.
Um, and afternoons or evenings work best for you. >> Yep. I can be anywhere by about 3:30. >> Okay. Um, well, I I have time on 3:30 on the 17th.
Um, and then after 5 on the 18th, and after 4 on the 19th. So, if any of those work for you, >> um, why don't we do the n the 19th at at 4? >> Okay.
>> And we could we can meet at at town hall if you want. >> Sure. Um, I I have a call that ends at 4, so I >> Yeah, I would be there like at 420 or whatever. I might get 4:15.
>> 420. Okay. >> 12:15. >> Great. >> Perfect. >> That works. The 19 put this in here. >> And Matteo, you'll be able to send the
um packages to to us sometime. >> Yeah. Um, so town hall is closed on Monday when I'm normally in, but I should be able to get there tomorrow and I'll just um digitize them and send you both the scans. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you.
>> All right. >> Sorry, Mateo, if you wouldn't mind copying me on that that as well. I just realized that um um as the leis on to the lakea elwac I might have some questions so if I could see that too I'd be be grateful.
>> Yeah actually it occurs to me that I should probably actually send it to everybody on the commission um just >> just in the interest of transparency so I'll send it to mayor as well. >> Great. Thank you. All right. And um Matteo, did you notice did they
provide references? >> Yes, all four of them did provide references. >> Great. All right, I think we're done with that one. Moving on to uh the next thing on our agenda, we have a vote for submitt
um to CPA for funding for the um portion of the footed property, the 9 acres that um is on the
east side of Windend Road. Is that right? You said west pond. Yeah, >> right. West side. >> So, >> yeah. So, you guys know what what what we're talking about there. Kestrel is
planning to buy the entire foot property on both sides of the road. And then um then they are offering to the town the 9 acres which would connect up with um South Southport conservation area the
butts southbook conservation area. So um it's time for submitting CPA applications right now and we've got one put together. Um it's all ready to go. So we need to just vote from the conservation commission that everybody is on board with submitting that CPA
application. It's for so the property was assessed at 82,000. I think the final CPA application is about 94 because it includes money for surveys and um recording documents and things like that. Um we've been working with
Kestrel and establishing that budget and um and yeah and that would be that they they are p planning to buy the property the whole larger property this summer really and would be ready it's not ready
to sell us the nine acres in the fall. Um so what else about the CPA? What else can I tell you? We got I um I asked Penny for a letter of recommendation from the open space committee and then I
asked the recreation committee for a a letter of support also to go with our CPA application. Um but anyway, it would be a great piece of land I think to pick up because it could be part of Southbrook. And then also I
think you guys know that um Rita Frell from the select board has been really interested in taking about a 2 acre portion of that. It's going to be more than nine acres in the end. It definitely is. We
keep calling it a 9 plus acre parcel. It because we don't the survey needs to still be done, but it's going to be more than nine. And then but this um potential lot for um Habitat House for humanity would be about two acres. Um
and so the CPA application talks about that too. That's all kind of still up in the air a little bit. The CPA application I guess covers buying the property property acquisition. It also does include, so it's got some money for
survey and things that have to do with the acquisition, but it also has a little bit of money in for a wetland delineation and a perk test, which would just help us eventually be applying potentially for CPA money next year to
do like a a site design for um putting a house a house or a duplex or something there on that two two acre thing. So, this application is really for the acquisition and then a little bit of um your due diligence work to get get a
little bit ready to to do that Habitat for Humanity um parcel. So, that's what the CPA application looks like. And the acreage that was going to be my question is it doesn't it's reading
variable enough that it's not I mean if it if it turns out being more than nine we're we're not beholdened to some number there is that the entire that entirety of that parcel that was the
footed land between Locks Pond and Wendle minus 2 acres. Is that what you're understanding? >> Yeah, that's Yeah. And in the application, I just keep calling it nine plus
so that we aren't locked into any number having to do with the funding from CPA. >> Y >> and what I understand from Kestrel is that they they don't want to reservey until they've bought the land because the appraisal and everything that
they're using for the purchase is based on the work that that they did and they're calling it the nine acres. Um so but then once they buy it, it's going to get reserveyed
before we end up buying it from them. So >> that's great. I mean my thoughts on it's going to be very a great addition to that entire piece of conserved lands.
Um, I do think, you know, that I was talking a little bit with Stu about land use and I think that also prompted my questions about how we, you know, uses would be authorized and where, you know, so it
it's less confusing for the public um, you know, to as we start to put some of these pieces together. Uh, but I I think it would be a great addition, very supportive. Yeah, we'll have to bring it to town meeting. US Concom
have to bring it to town meeting this town meeting this spring, right? >> Yeah. >> No. >> Yeah. I mean, Matteo will bring it as a CPA um proposal and but we would be there to answer any questions that folks have about it.
>> Will that be for our That's I'm sorry, Beth. that that would be for us. And would Castra also be bringing it for for the larger piece or or is that already >> uh they're not the No, that Yeah, that would just be us. They're not getting
CPA funding for for what they're doing. Yeah, this would just be for for our our >> the 94,000 that we are requesting in CPA funding to do ours. So, Matteo, you have your hand up. Yeah, I just wanted to
clarify I'm actually not going to be presenting on this one because as a dire um as chair of the CPC I have I have to recuse myself on this project. Um >> so who's going to present it? >> Uh I don't know you.
Uh but and know and and also our town moderator is going to have to recuse herself for this one too because she's my wife and also a direct abutter to this parcel. >> Okay, this will be interesting. >> It'll be interesting. Um, I don't think it'll be an issue, but yeah, I just wanted to clarify that.
>> Okay, thank you. No, that it's good to know, too. I was picturing I was just going to be there to answer questions. Um, and the other thing I just thought of to to tell you guys about it is that um, Castro's already offered to hold the
CR and there's um, money in the CPA application for a baseline report that would support writing the conservation restriction. Um, and and they it's amazing working with them. Like they're just they already so
part of what's in the CPA application is, you know, long-term management or well CR the the the money needed to do the um CR inspections every year. And that's again, we're not asking for money because Kestrel has a program already.
So they'll hold the CR and they have a way of investing they invest some of their own money in their monitoring program that they have already established for all the CRs that they do monitoring for. Um and and it would just get set up so that it's a growing
interest and and they would that they have that already all built into their world so it wouldn't be anything we would have to um worry about. So yeah, so that's that. So if you guys don't have more
questions, I um take a motion to what am I taking a motion for the uh conservation commission to submit a CPA application for the uh 9
acre footed property acquisition. So moved. >> Second. >> I'll second. >> Excellent. All right. Roll call. Douglas. >> Hi. >> And Con. >> Hi.
>> And Wilson. Hi. Great. I just >> what an outstanding project and what great teamwork between several entities and uh this is the perfect project for a
CPA to to uh to you know help out with. So congratulations to all who put this great deal together. >> I hope so. I I I think it's a good application. I think it's great. Um
All right. So, next is to hear from Michael. He's here interested in joining us, which is great. So, welcome. >> Thank you. I've I've already learned a ton tonight.
>> That's good. I hope it still interesting to you or interests you at all. >> Yeah, it definitely does. Um, if you wouldn't mind, I like I I wanted to say back what I heard tonight about kind of what the committee is responsible for
and the tools you guys have, if that is okay. >> Yeah. >> Um, so you're basically reviewing proposals from residents or organizations. That sounds like one of one of the main things and to see where the bylaws might prevent them or or there be exempted from bylaws. That's
the gist of it. A big part. Okay. >> Big part of it. >> Okay. Um and it sounds like a lot falls on um the discretion of the committee. Are there things that also have to go to the town to be like a big vote on with the town or other committees?
>> Um well um most projects not all not most but some projects will the work will fall under the jurisdiction of not just the conservation commission but may fall under the jurisdiction of the planning board or ZBA. So, so, so a
project may get reviewed by multiple committees. And then just permit wise too, um, if somebody's, they may come to us because they're putting a shed close to a wetland and we need to give them a permit to do that, but then they also
have to go through uh the the getting a building permit, that whole process, which is which is separate. So, I feel like most most projects go through multiple um reviews from different agencies, different committees and stuff
to get all the permitting that they need. Um if that's what you were kind of wondering about. >> Yeah. Yeah, that um that does answer. Okay. And it sounds like the committee also has responsibilities or or can do things like the projects you're talking about like acquiring land through the
CPA, um trail maintenance projects, uh those kinds of things like um is there anything I don't know what what other general buckets do you see as falling into the purvey of this committee? Yeah, I I just wanted to add um Michael that u and and this surprised me when I first
came on board with the with the commission is not only do we do the the town bylaw, town protection bylaw, but we also issue state permits. So the uh um the permit that that we sign collectively is not just a town permit,
it's a state permit. It can be uh appealed under under either or both uh both of those those things. So that that was a surprise. And and honestly, the the cool thing about the job is you've got two hats. One is you do the you do the regulatory, but the really really
fun stuff, and I'm sure Scott agrees with me, is the outdoor stuff. And we're actually the caretakers of hundreds of acres of awesome shoot land, um that uh you know, we can uh put trails on, leave leave to be or or or whatever. So it's
it's it's really great. >> Yeah, that's really cool. I I will say I've been up up and down Sumar Mountain many times in all the snow uh cross country skiing. So I definitely appreciate all the the outdoors that Shootsberry has. Um and then and it's good to know about doing state level
stuff too cuz um just doing some reading it sounds like Shootsberry has some stricter uh wetland bylaws than maybe Massachusetts does, but still you're enforcing Massachusetts wetland bylaw laws. Michael, I I'd be curious just to hear a
little bit about you, my background and >> how long you've been in town and your, you know, what brought you to your interest in the commission. Just a little bit. Anything along that line would be great. >> Yeah, sorry that um it's a great question. >> We can introduce ourselves too just you
know, but you go first. >> Okay. Uh yes, so I've been in Massachusetts since like 2009. I came here to go to grad school and then since then I lived in Boston for a while and then just kept moving further west and then probably about three years ago. Uh my wife got a job out in Ammerst. She's
a large animal veterinarian so that kind of brought us all the way out here. Um and yeah, and we have two kids so we're going to we're going to be here. This is it, you know, until they until they are done with school. We're going to be here. Um but I still work remotely for a company in Boston. Um, and so I I head
in about once a week, but um, thankfully there's awesome internet out here in Shootsberry. It's like the only reason that we can live here and raise our kids in the woods and um, all that great stuff. So yeah, >> great. Um, definely want to introduce I my name
is Beth Wilson. I'm the chair of the conservation commission. Um, I have lived in Shootsbury for 24 years at this point. Um, and I have uh I I have been doing wetland work since 2011 professionally
and um started as chair or well just joined the commission um I don't know six years ago or so I think but um it's it's great. It's it's really it's a fun I think it's a fun committee to be on. It's it's fun work to do.
Scott. >> Oh, thanks and Michael. It's great to meet you. My name is Scott Khan. I um let's say I was grew up in Massachusetts and lived here up through high school and then I I left and I've um I worked
for US Fish and Wildlife Service as a as a wildlife biologist and land manager. Um moved around the country, lived in, you know, Colorado and mass or North Dakota, Minnesota, other places. and I
moved back here about 14 years ago and um yeah I I I very appreciative of the work of the commission here when I was a resident before um I've been on I'm not exactly sure probably fiveish years
something like that um and um I work um with the rest of the commissioners on um some of the land management aspects that Bob mentioned and you We've tried to divide up the duties but um you know for
for primary roles just to try to help one another but it would be wonderful to have another commissioner on. So I'm really excited that you're interested and very nice to meet you now. I'll hand it to Bob. >> Sure. Super. Thank you Scott. Yeah Bob Douglas. Um I I grew up in Lever and
Shootsbury. Uh uh I won't tell you when that started but Lynen B. Johnson was president at the time and um uh and um uh I love Shootsbury, love Lake Wyola and um I love love love it and it's been
been great. I currently live in Harvard, Massachusetts, but I still have property in Shootsbury and get out there as much as I can. Um I professionally I I work as an environmental scientist and I was in the Everglades for for a few decades.
Um uh since then I I got married and moved back to Massachusetts. I was a conservation uh agent in the town of Wilmington, then the director in the town of Andover uh for about 25 years. Um and um uh it it's great to be um
rather as a staff staff end of it, it's great to be a commissioner and um I I I hope you do consider joining us because it's it is a really good group of people. Um, and I think so you you answered our questionnaire, right? I think I read through this.
>> Yeah. And I just want to answer, sorry, Scott had another part of his question. So, I was considering the ways that I can contribute to the town since I'm going to be here a while and I've always wanted to be active. Um, and I think this problem, this this kind of group is the one that spoke to me um the most just because I do love being outdoors
and I love um what Shoot Spray has done to preserve the natural resources that you do have. So, I think it's great. >> Great. Well, I don't know how much Matteo told you, but we we meet twice a month um for
part of the year and then once a month sort of during the winter time. So, starting in April, we'll go back to twice a month, and we meet on the, uh, second and fourth Thursdays, uh, 7:00 p.m. And then we have site visits, too. I you probably heard earlier when we were talking about the
projects for any project, anybody that submits an application, we're required to do a site visit, which is actually another kind of fun part, I think. Um, and so I guess the the commitment really is that you, you know, you'll you'll be willing to look through the applications
that come in um and participate in the site visits so that you really when applicants come to the meetings, we have good questions for them and um or that kind of thing. Um but yeah, that's that's about I don't
know what else what else could we tell them about the committee? We have one other member, mayor, but she's not here tonight. Um there's the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions, MACC, who
um provide trainings. They have um big conferences twice a year that that commissioners um can go to the conferences. the our we have a small budget. The commission has a has a budget and we have the money to send people to to those conferences if people
want to go and then also there's some free online training that you can do. Um you kind of you get membership if you become a con member you get membership with MACC and you can then go to their web page and uh and learn all kinds of things about being a conservation
commissioner. And we would also of course provide you with a lovely copy of the Wellins Protection Act and our town bylaw. Um so yeah, so uh and we're all here to,
you know, help you with any questions you have too >> in terms of the regulations. That would be the biggest thing to have to try to kind of learn a bit as a new member. But >> okay. And like do you have a a lawyer? Are any of you lawyers or is there
>> mayor? Mayor's a lawyer. >> Okay. >> Yeah, mayor's a lawyer, but there's also town council who we do rely on if we get in in sticky situations. Um we we actually we just revise our regulations. Took us a long time, but we did. And
then um you know that's the kind of thing that then then that's we always have town council review um and go through. But also um when we've gotten in rougher situations with applicants where there's that that's how we can
call town council to come to our meetings and to give us advice. Yeah. If if what you showed tonight when you showed the text of the law and went through it, if that's representative of the kinds of decisions you have to make, that seems pretty straightforward. >> Yeah. The regulations, I mean, a lot of
people say that they're long and but I kind of they're they really can if you read them, they answer your questions. They direct you, you know, in which way to make decisions. Um, so yeah.
So that's that's our story. That's what we do, twice a month. Um, but we have one more month of only having one meeting. So our next meeting is um March 12th,
and that's actually going to be an interesting meeting. So, if you if you choose to join us, um big project that might be coming down the line in the next year is this national grid transmission line that that kind of came up with the Pratt Corner. It's um it's a
transmission line that crosses Pratt Corner um Sand Hill Road >> um and then goes south through Palum and they are uh so National Grid has a huge project to basically upgrade that line.
So they they want to put in new poles, obviously, new wiring, new access roads, um do do a lot of tree clearing and they hope to um get their notices of intent, which is a big application with us, that's what
it's called, to us probably in the fall. But on March 12th at our next meeting, they're going to they're going to do a informal discussion with us. So, a lot of big projects come to a committee ahead of time just to introduce the project and kind of get a read from the
commission and stuff like that. So, um they're coming on the 12th. So, that'll be that'll be exciting. Yeah. And I think we already have another notice of intent for that night, too. So, the one that we did the site
visit for. thought. Um, yeah. All right. Well, if you don't have any other questions, Michael, our last thing is unanticipated business, and I don't I don't have any. Maybe just a a question
for next steps on filling our vacant position and certainly not to put Michael on the on the spot here, but I am wondering timeline and next steps that we're we're thinking about because it would be wonderful to have that position
filled here. And I know it has to go to the slug board, right after we like we have to make a recommendation. I I'm guessing that has to be noticed on our um to to do that and then we vote on it that goes to the select board, right?
To to actually make the appointment or not. Is that correct? Like process. >> Yeah, we do have to take a vote on it. That is that is true. So, um I guess I was thinking to kind of let
Michael, you know, after coming to our meeting, he can ponder it for a bit and and hopefully at our next meeting, which is March 12th, that if if you've decided that that's the way you want to go, then we would vote to um make that recommendation to the select board.
>> If that works for you and works for everybody. >> Yeah. And just just as as an aside, if it if it does look like it's going that way, I'd really like to get Michael to the uh Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissioners uh yearly meeting in in um at Holy Cross in
Worcester because it's like a smorgesborg of you you learn a lot in that that particular that that particular meeting. Um so and I believe that's in March. So, um, anyway, Madam Chair, if there's some way we could make that all happen, uh, even as an
interested party, if we could get Michael to go, I think that'd be super to do. >> Yeah. Yeah. If Let's see. MCC conference 2026. >> It's a It's a weekend day and uh, an
awesome lunch buffet is included. So, God, you d I'm sold. >> All right, >> it is Wait. Oh my goodness. It's not
phone friendly. Wow. No, >> I think it was the 28th cuz I I think I'm >> It was Wait, but but that's over. February 28th. Well, February 28th is not over, but it's not in March either. It's much sooner.
>> February 28th. It's at Holy Cross again. Yeah, it's Saturday, February 28th. So, yeah, if anybody if any of you guys are interested, if Michael decides to join us, um,
anyone can go to that conference. I'll have to look on my calendar and decide if I can fit that in to my life, but it is a great thing. All right, we'll we'll email and text more about that.
>> Yeah, if you have any questions too, Michael, or just want to talk more between now and then, if you know things come up, I'm sure any of the commissioners myself certainly included in that are happy to
talk to. So if excited that you're interested. >> Excellent. Yeah, I'm I'm like 98% sure. Just I'll give it a night and let you guys know. >> Sounds great. Thank you for coming.
>> No, thank you. Um, all right. Then on that note, um, no anticipated business, I'll take a motion to adjourn. >> Madam Chair, I'd like to move that we adjourn the meeting. >> All right. Second. >> I'll second.
>> Okay. Douglas, >> hi. >> Khan, >> hi. >> And Wilson. All right. Thanks everybody. >> Great. Thanks everybody. Take care. >> Have a good night. It was very nice meeting you. >> Nice to meet you. We'll be in touch with everyone before our next meeting
definitely about various things. >> All right. Thank you.