Yeah. Oh, unbelievable area. That most my favorite place. All right. Well, it's 7:02 and there's three of us, so we can uh we can get going. Um, I'm calling this meeting of the Shootsbury Conservation Commission
to order. It's November 13, 2025. [snorts] Yep. >> Um, and this meeting is being recorded and hopefully Bob will join us. Let me just see. Hasn't responded. Um, okay. Well, first on the agenda is
um comments from me. And I wanted to say a couple things and then possibly we could actually do Mark's what Mark's here for, which would really be under unanticipated business. But I think after I say what I wanted to
talk about, then we can probably go right to that because we don't have anything on our agenda with a time set to it. So, um, but anyway, I just wanted to mention a couple upcoming things. the covert grant that we got, the regional covert, the MVP
grant. I talked to you guys about it before. It was a multi- town application that's >> right. Yeah. [snorts] >> Um, so we got that which I think I told you guys that and um it's for these
Culvert assessments and it's for all the towns that are within the Fort River wershed. Mhm. >> Um so anyway, the first thing that we need to do, so each town kind of has some responsibilities under the grant. And the first thing is a community
meeting, um where we have town officials and town staff come, but then we also advertise it to the public. Um, [snorts] and it's really just to get people's opinions on which coverts people have found to have issues
with, you know, because sometimes DPW doesn't even know and somebody who happens to live close to a covert might say, "Oh, yeah, that, you know, blocks up a lot and DPW doesn't even know about it." So, it's sort of a mapping um exercise. And um, so that's the first
thing we need to do. And I I met with the select board last night and mentioned it to them. and I'm going to work with Haley to find a time and to advertise it and all that, but I really want people to come. And um PVPC, who's
behind a lot of having to do with this whole grant, um they said they were available the first and the third weeks of December. So, I wanted to just check with you guys if either of those two weeks would work.
It would be an evening meeting. Um either Monday through Thursday, one of those four days of those two weeks. Are you going to be back, Scott? >> Yeah. Do you do you say the first two weeks of December?
>> The first week or the third week? >> First or third? Um I should be back later in the first week. And um and then I and I think for third week I
got to check my calendar. Um but I I know I'm around. It's just I think it would be day specific whether or not I had something. >> Okay. So you won't be back for the whole first week of December. You'll be back at some point during that week.
>> Yeah. I think I leave right after Thanksgiving and uh start making my way back. So, it would be sometime that week. Um, >> so maybe the third week works better for you. >> How about you, Mayor? Do you have
anything those weeks? >> I I don't have anything the 18th, which is a Thursday. Um but or the 16th. So it would be like anytime after like
five or something. Is that okay? Yeah. >> The 16th and the 18th work. Um otherwise I could move things around if if that's the only time other people are free. Um
>> okay. Okay. No, those will be that's two good days. Um, and I'll I'll suggest those to PVPC again and actually check with I have to check with Haley and talk and look at, you know, meeting schedules and stuff because we probably do it in the >> basement of town hall and
>> that's where they have a lot of like the select board meeting at least is always there. >> Y >> um, so but Okay, good. Um, >> so is it just us like Concom and PVP or or is it all the other as well? All the
other boards >> everybody would would be invited. So like the select board would be invited. The planning board would be involved. Definitely DPW. They're kind of like one of the most important. The second the other meeting that is uh required under
the grant is we do this meeting first and then we have a much smaller meeting with just DPW to talk about um kind of what the assessments are and the database that all the info is going to go into so that down the road they know
how to get the um all the data because the idea is the assessors they go out they almost are going to rank the culverts and give a real um you know inspection and details about what's wrong with each cover and but all that
info eventually just comes to the town and it would be DPW and even us who might >> you know like go for grants >> based on that data. >> Um >> didn't they have didn't they do that this past summer like
>> to kind of get ahead of it? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. A group it was Vercog actually did did And I think they did most of the cohorts in town. They didn't um kind of follow this procedure that's all set up and they didn't enter the data into this
u database that's um it's called the North Atlantic aquatic conductivity database I think and it's a it's a multi-state database and process for inspecting coververts and it has this whole
procedure on how you inspect >> and forms and stuff. source. Um, yeah. Uh, yeah. So, okay, great. >> Hi, Beth.
>> Yeah. Who Who is the iPhone? >> I apologize. Bob Douglas here. >> Hey, Bob. Um, just quick ask you, Bob. Um, we're trying to potentially plan a community meeting for the Covert Grant. um that we
got and we're looking at the first and third weeks of December. Are you available? This would be in the evening. Uh Monday through Thursday, one of one of those days. >> Um yeah. Yeah, that that sounds great.
I've I I retired last week, so um I've got a lot of free time, so any of those likely would be good for me. >> Congratulations. [gasps] >> Look at all you retired people. >> [laughter] >> Must must be nice. >> I'll let you know what it's like later
on. >> All right. Well, let me know. Um Okay. We were thinking the 16th or the 18th and we just have to kind of coordinate it with a whole bunch of people and I I just wanted to throw it out to the Hong Kong first because I'd love it if if most of us could be there.
>> Yeah, I would I would certainly like to be there and both those dates sound good to me. >> Okay, great. Then the other date I have is um so there's two big two big transmission line projects going on. These um
widening of the cleared portions of these two transmission lines that go through Shakespeare and Pelum and everything. And one of them we're kind of calling the National Grid line and the other one is really being called kind of in general the Eversource line.
um they have more technical names, but that's how I pick to keep the difference. The National Grid one, there's going to be a site visit on November 20th in the morning from 9 to
11, no 9:30 to 11 a.m. And I can't go. I have something going on at work. Uh Michael Dier has been doing a lot of the communicating with natural national grid. um and is will be there along with um some
other folks from town. I can't remember I think like Eric Stalker from the select board. >> Um possibly some other people >> and um I think Bob you had said you might be available. If anybody's available um let
me know because I need to let them know who would come and it would be great. So both projects had to apply to MEPA, the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act people, the MEEPA program, and the
National Grid one is in the process of um they filed their ENF, which is the first step, which is an environmental notification form that gets reviewed and then you get comments back from MEPA and then you write then if it's a large
enough project, you do an an EIR which is a environmental impact report I think and both of these projects qualified for that and national grid I think has written its draft EIR I think I
forwarded you guys these emails um so the draft EIR is out there Michael's been starting to take a look at it it's like 278 pages long um but that's where that one's at is in this MEEP review And
with MEPA, you can always submit comments and letters at each of the review phases of these documents. Um, so anyway, this site visit is a Meepa thing. So there'll be people from Meepa there, but some state state people and I
don't know how far along the transmission line you'll walk, but the site visit is an hour and a half. Um, so just letting you know what it will be if anybody can make it. That's a week from today, right? >> It is the 20th of November.
>> Is that a week from today? >> It's next Thursday. Yeah. >> Yeah. A week from today. Um I think I sent you an email about it, too. But >> we got something from Michael. I think I was on it. Yeah. But >> I just forwarded you I forwarded you two things from Michael today.
>> One of them is about that site visit and it has the address, but I I can tell you. >> Okay. Yeah, I get 487 Pratt Corner Road is where people are meeting. >> Um I think that I sent you the email that was about the site visit and I sent you the one that actually has the DEIR in it if anybody's interested in looking
at that document or starting to. That's another thing I kind of wanted to express to you guys about both of these projects is if anybody has the time to start looking at these large applications um that would be great. the
national grid one, no like comment letter from Chutesberry or Palm or anybody has been put together yet. The other one which is actually on our agenda, we can talk about later, the Eversource one, there was a letter that
I think I sent to you guys at one point that got submitted commenting again on the DEIR, the draft environmental impact report. Um, so that's the national where we're at
with that national grid one is there's that draft document. I send it to you guys. Anyone who wants to look through it would be great. There's the MEPA site visit a week from today. Um, and just email me or text me if you think you can go to that and I'll
let National Grid know that you were planning on going. Yeah, I I I would like to go. I have it on my calendar. Uh I can't I can't say for sure, but I would like like to come out for that.
>> Great. >> I I would I will know better. I have a multi-day trial, so it's um I'll know tomorrow if my trial settles, then I can go next Thursday, but if if not, I I
won't be able to. So, um, I'm a maybe. >> Okay. And Scott, you're not around. So, okay. Well, mayor, let me know because I >> Okay. >> I think before Bob had said yes, and I did put him on this like list. They just
wanted to know the names and the >> that you're a commissioner or whatever. So, yeah, let me know. Can can you kind of say what it is that we would be um like our role in terms of it because
I mean I have been keeping up on some of the things that Michael had said about you know he didn't think it was he didn't like the way things were going and that he wanted them I'm not sure which project it was but that he wanted
them to go tree by tree and and give them examples of so is that is that how it's supposed to go? Like I guess that's the part I don't know like what what would I be doing on this other than obviously
looking for things that had um you know >> so yeah that was that was the letter that was the response to the uh DEIR for the Eversource line. Um, >> okay. >> You know, and that that was that they
had submitted their ENF and gotten over 300 comments, I guess, and a lot of people said that kind of thing, like, why this seems like clear cutting. Can could you could you do cutting that's more selective? Um, and then when they
responded in their DEIR, I guess they didn't really respond to that well enough and and come up with alternatives. And in that letter, they mentioned a lot of like that that Meepa had actually said in in reviewing their first ENF that they were looking for
them to provide more alternatives and they didn't really provide enough both lines. It's the same kind of work. Um, as far as I know, I know more about the Eversource one, I feel like, than the National Grid one, but that's just
because I haven't looked at the DEI either. Um, but I'm assuming they're the same in that they want to widen the cleared area by 50 feet on either side. [snorts] >> They're still staying within the right
of way, but they're widening the cleared area >> and they definitely they go in wetland areas. Um, and so what's going to happen with this is once it or I think it'll eventually get through MEEPA, they will have to come to
us too. They'll have to submit a notice of intent for any wetland that they're within 100 ft of in the town of Shootsberry. they'll have to do our they'll have to come to our concom um which again at that point we'll have an
opportunity to ask for mitigation and to >> okay >> and to talk about how how they behave around our wetlands that's really our um so this site visit for example you're meeting on Pratt Corner Road I'm
assuming they'll kind of describe the work that they're planning to do and you'll probably walk and and you you can certainly say right away, well, you know, where are the wetland areas in the town of Shootsbury that you're going to be going through because I'm sure they'll bring maps. They'll bring the
maps that actually if you looked at the DEI, I'm sure there's the maps are all there. The maps will show the wetland delineations, but when you're out in the field and they have the maps, you can talk to them about where are the wetland areas, what are you planning to do um
for the wetlands, you know, to act to to get to get, you know, yeah, what's your plan? And um I know they always do a lot of matting over wetlands to get to areas they want to clear. Um
so those are the kinds of things >> and um we we can have control over things like if there are wetlands or vernal pools, we can make them do the span which is to say stretch the wires over the very sensitive areas and protect those areas uh that we want them
to protect. um that way. So we do we do have a certain amount of power. Um >> Oh yes, >> pun intended. >> Yep. Any resource areas that are in Shootsberry and the buffer zone, we certainly can say whatever we want. Um
there's also just sort of the the general idea which is the whole Meepa thing which is the entire line going from Northfield is it all the way down to Lello. um you know the huge environmental impact in general of that
whole thing even upland areas not necessarily wetland areas um [snorts] yeah so that's what it is I I want to spend some time looking at the
deirs too I haven't really done that so great that'd be great if Bob if you can come and mayor maybe you could go to the site visit too. Um, yeah, I think that's all on that on the National Grid one that I wanted to say
and we'll talk about the other one, the Ever Source one, when we get to it on the agenda. Um, so let's jump to uh the unanticipated business for Mark because it's a pretty simple thing. So
um Mark's uh the CR has been um finalized which is very exciting. [laughter] It's been uh all comments that were um you know provided by the state we've responded to. Um we sent back to the
state a couple times now and they finally sent it back ready for signature. Um, so tonight what we need to do, Mark, did you want to say anything or should we just >> No. Oh, you're muted.
>> Mark, you're muted. [laughter] How about that? >> Yeah, we can hear you fine. >> Yes. Hey, >> no, nothing to say. [laughter] >> No, I'm just No, I want to thank you all again. It's uh it's been a long process as you well know. I made sort of a joke
yesterday to uh Beth and Don and everybody that it's, you know, we're to the point where it's backs slapping and hand shaking because we've gotten through all the muck and now we're just finishing it up, which is wonderful. And after this um the anticipated uh approval tonight, no pressure. And then
uh we go on to the planning board December 8th. They don't have to approve the CR as I understand it, but they do want to app or excuse me, they don't have to sign off on the CR, but they have to approve the CR as part of my um my special permit. So,
>> it's sort of a I think the right term is a moot point because it's already been done. It's that it says that they have to make sure that it meets the requirements of Master Law 184 sections 31 through 33. And that's what the state does is to make sure that it meets that requirement. So, now that the state has
approved it and uh we have the conservation commission hopefully after tonight sign well not signed but voted to approve it um you'll have to sign it as Matteo said everybody will have to go to the town hall and make sure there's a notary there to be able to sign the
document um officially once that's done and the uh select board signed last night so uh we'll be able to ship it down to the date. Uh the two buyers, I'm surprised Miller is not on right now.
She's they're ecstatic. I mean, they've been coming up here for years because they love shoots very so much. She has a sister that lives up here. She's been sculpting in a artist studio her sister has for a very long time. Uh Dave, I looked up online actually. He's a
illustrator and writer of children's books and I guess pretty prolific. So, >> uh they're looking forward to having this beautiful piece of land, you know. I don't know how many of you actually walked. I can't remember over the years how many I've brought out. But you you go back to where the building site is
and it could be the 1600s back there. You know, it's it's amazing. The only way you would not know or you would know what what year it is is the planes going over every once in a while. Um other than that, it just it could be any century. It's wonderful back there. It
was hard to pass up and not build, but I'm just getting too old and tired to do another one. So, I wish them the best with it. I think they'll uh they're looking into build as they call their forever home. I know they've been looking at post and beam and um they've given me a real treat because I get to uh visit anytime I want during the
construction process and not have to be involved. [laughter] I said I'm happy to consult and I'm the cheapest you'll ever find at $0 per hour. I just really love being around it, but not having any responsibility or any economic requirements is uh is going to be real enjoyable. So, you're going
to have great neighbors. It'll be an expensive home. I mean, you know, the cost to build these days is between $350 and $400 a square foot. Don't get me started, but um you know, any house of any size, uh 2,000 ft, 800,000 bucks, you know, and then of course you got the
cost of the land and you got the driveway and the infrastructure being this the well and the septic system. It's it's a substantial investment and uh and Shootsboro can use the the economics. I don't believe they have any children. Uh, so it's not going to impact the school system. It's just
extra money in the tax coffer. So I think it's a win-win for everybody. We get 14 acres of conservation land. We get a house that won't be seen from the road with people spending a lot of money to live here and um very appreciative of where they live. So I'm very excited for the whole thing and I'm really happy it
went to them. >> Great. Yeah, I know um Nancy, the sister, pretty well and so I'm happy that they're moving here, too. It's going to be great. And I'm glad that they're the ones getting this really special piece of land.
>> It's very, very cool. I mean, I just I'm pretty optimistic in life these days, probably because I'm retired. [laughter] It helps a lot, believe me. I mean, I have, you know, I have to take care of investments, but that's about it. And I, of course, I have seven units in Shootsbury still, but I'm going to
hold on to those. >> But, um, yeah, I think it's a it's a really positive sort of thing. It just feels great. It's funny how sometimes, you know, there was a a game years ago, I'm not a video game person, but there was a game years ago where you filled the holes in, the blanks in, you know,
and it feels like that now. >> Tetris. >> Like it >> Yes, that's what it was. Tetris. It just feels like this is dropping into place perfectly. So, >> very excited. >> Good. Good. >> Congratulations. It's all working out. Yeah, congratulations. And thanks for
working with us and the whole process >> and vice versa. It's been a wonderful process and >> you guys put a lot of time and I always say this every meeting, but it's true. You guys put a lot of time in for free and uh volunteering your time. I don't think I could do it. I'm just really impressed by what what you guys do and
I'm glad we were able to work together and I'm glad you guys are going to be the holder of the CR and I'm glad I was able to come up with 7,500 bucks. You know, it's I'm in a place in life where I can do that and that allows you guys to have the money to be able to make the interest to be able to do [clears throat] the reviews of the land if you so desire to pay somebody to do
it. But maybe you're going to accumulate that money for a few years and do it yourself and then eventually uh you know as as time goes on maybe have people going out there for you. So it'll be fun to see. >> Great. [clears throat] Well, thank you. Thank you all for everything you've done with it.
>> And so let's vote on it. Um so I need a motion to accept the conservation restriction for is it is it is the address 101 Le Road or is it lot 101? >> No, it's 101. We got an address. Yeah.
>> Okay. So, vote to accept the CR conservation restriction for 101 Lever Road. >> So, moved. >> I'll second. >> All right. Roll call. Uh Con >> I. >> Fox.
>> I. Douglas. >> Hi. >> And Wilson. Hi. All right. Great. And like Mark was saying and like you guys saw from Matteo, we all have to go sign it and the notary has to be there. So,
um I think Matteo, did he send the hours that Lesie's there? I I saw his email with a little description of how everybody can get up there and get it signed. Let me see. can't find it, but I have too many emails. Oh, wait.
Here it is. She is in on Mondays and Tuesdays from 11 to 3 and Wednesdays from 10 to 12. or you can try to reach her and set up a a private a separate time so that she
might be able to come in. But so and it'll the document will be in the conservation mailbox there in town hall and we should all sign it. >> Day on Tuesdays and Thursdays. >> What time I mean?
>> Um Mondays and Tuesdays 11 to 3 >> and Wednesdays 10 to 12. Okay. >> All right. So, we'll get that signed for you, Mark. And uh >> and I'm sure Matteo will keep you in the
loop as all the signatures and and you know, the final document will get sent around. >> It'd be great. And as soon as the all the signatures on it, then I'll bring it over to the planning board or send it over to the planning board so they can review it before their December 8th
meeting. Um and we should be in good shape. Um, I a side note, I put the sale pending on the real estate sign in front of the lot this morning and that made David and Miller much relieved. >> Y [laughter] [clears throat] >> Yeah, I told them we're all set, but you
know, it makes him feel better. >> So, thanks again everybody. I really appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> All right. Good luck on the ETH. >> Thank you. Have a good night. >> All right. Good night. >> All right. Um, can I just uh uh just when you since
we're un unanticipated business, can I just like throw something out just to kind of get on everybody's radar? Um, I went down and [snorts] um talked to the damkeeper because I was
talking to him about just about the the beaver and the whole thing and but he was at the dam and and I was just asking him questions and he said um with that new grant that we have
for the dam to fix it um that when so if you're looking at the dam the house to the right and you know where he parks right there. Um uh he was basically saying that there's
no way to get the equipment to the dam. Um because that when the people So when the people to the right of it, they had the property surveyed and that's when they put up the no trespassing and people basically ignore it like especially you know
people that are local. Um and they left the space for him though to park when he comes to check on the dam and people kind of go around. But they own that land. So um uh in order to but what he
was saying is that when it comes time to actually do the work on the dam, which at some point may involve I assume will involve us. Um [clears throat] there is no way to get the equipment because nobody has kind of negotiated that with
the land owners because the town doesn't own enough property to get the equipment to the dam. >> You see what I'm saying? >> Um well I think the grant is is only for design and permitting at this point. So they have money to do the whole design
of what >> right >> you know what needs to be done which that would be helpful to have you once you have the design then you can kind of look at it and see where would we need to come in you know what what how would we get access and
that kind of thing. And I can I can see that they would want to wait like the town basically might want to wait to start talking to land owners until they have the design done. Um >> just so that they even know what work needs to be done, >> right? But
>> we don't even really know. >> I don't know. He he seemed to be worried about it. So that's all raising it. So >> yeah. No, that's Yeah, that that's good to know. You know who you should raise that was Mark Rivers because he so he wrote the application for that grant and
got that grant and he's sort of always been the town guy with with the damn improvements it seems like. >> Yeah. >> Um and yeah it will the permitting will have to come through us. I'm pretty sure that grant was for both design and permitting. And I can't remember which
consultant, was it Fussen O'Neal? Somebody helped with the application and is most likely going to be the consultant who's going to do the design >> and permitting and then they would bring the permits before us and we would have to approve that file a notice of intent. Um, but I guess yeah, I can kind of see
that you wait until there's the design before you approach the residence because then you would actually know what work needs to be done and where it needs to be done. Um, I have no idea like what the issues are really even with the dam. Um, I didn't read the
grant application. He he seemed to have an idea of what needed to be done and the equipment that needed to like he he obviously was more involving it out there.
>> Yeah, he probably worked with Mark on the grant application. >> Yeah. I don't know. Next time I see Mark, I'll throw it out there to him, too. But >> yeah, no, that's good to good good to think ahead. That's for sure. and >> talking with the residents who were
there is very important. Um, okay. Next on our agenda is review and vote on the minutes of October 23rd. Uh, does anybody have any comments or changes on the minutes?
>> Okay. I'll take a motion to approve the minutes of October 23rd. >> So moved. Second. >> Second. >> Okay. All right. Roll call. Con.
>> Hi. >> Fox. >> Hi. Douglas. Douglas. Bob. I don't know what happened to him. Maybe we lost him. Oh, I'll vote. I. So,
that's three. Um, all right. Next is site visits. Site visit update. Mayor, do you have a site visit update? >> You sent it in to everybody and Mattail.
Um, yeah. At um at 550. Is Matteo's Oh, Mattail's not here, huh? >> No, he's not here. >> Okay. So, well, we went on a site visit,
Beth and I, at on Monday. um and looked at the different um catch bas I always forget which to call is it retention pond catch basin it's all kind is it all kind of the same thing or is it
>> um those are detent I those are detention basins >> retention basins okay um I so uh we looked at the different retention basins and um and
saw some erosion that uh they had put down instead of putting down um or they had put down some seed but it's a little late for seed as best said and um and that you know there was some
erosion uh with the retention basin that was to the I don't know I think maybe to the north or the west of I'm trying the closest the one that's that um faces towards um
uh Lever Road and Beth suggested uh erosion measures. um the one the retention basin that's closest to Lebert Road, they had repeatedly told um they
meaning the like Jeff and the the construction company uh or the project managers had repeatedly said to me and Jan and then just me that they were going to fix that um retention basin
that was closest to Lever Road. but um it's not and so and Maryanne seemed a little surprised that it was going to be fixed or needed to be fixed but uh so I don't know what we do about that part. Um
and then yeah and then they finished the retention basin that's behind directly behind the library. Um and and it it is a lot closer to the library than
previously. Um and they had put plantings in and it was I didn't put this in the notes, but it was just discussed that uh the plantings, you know, that we'll see in the spring whether they're you know
whether they're okay. Um, and then I think the last thing was is that Beth that suggested putting down what is it that you'd suggested putting down the stuff that spray you spray down for the grass? >> Um, yeah. Well, hydro seed, but then also I think I said some matting, which
is the actual, you know, webbed mesh matting that you can put over the seeds. So, yeah, they had seated a lot and we'll see if those seeds take or not. Um, and then just that area that had eroded into that one basin that they are
going to build back up and reoam and seed. I suggested that's where they definitely put some batting so that it doesn't erode back down again. >> Yeah. And that was in the second photo where that had kind of eroded into the
retention basin. >> Um, and that was it. that I basic does that summarize it? >> Yeah, I think yeah, that was good. That third basin definitely needs and and I
think Maryanne agreed that um they need to do some um elevation measurements because it seems like it fills in a bit and it's the last basin. So the water, you know, will eventually make its way there and then it's supposed to just
kind of overflow at the end of it and go out out into the field um if you ever get enough water to make it through all the basins like that. But at this point, the water is just sort of collecting at the one end where the outlets are um
because the rest of it had gotten filled in enough. So they I think the last thing that a Mary and a Maryanne and I were like is they need to >> they need to do some surveying to make sure that >> you know you have a grade there so the water will flow in that direction
because right now it doesn't look like there's a real grade. >> So >> yeah, >> I hope they do something. I'm sure they will do something there. All right. No other site visits, right? Not that I've been on. No,
>> I don't think I have either. All right. Next is land management. And Scott, I don't know if you want to wait to talk about the um the bid and everything for Southbrook
until we get down to that on the agenda. Or you could talk about it now if you want. >> Whatever you would like. Um, yeah, let's just talk about it now. >> Okay. >> This meeting we're kind of doing things completely out of order, but it's okay because they don't have any time set.
Yeah. >> Uh, uh, let's see. Well, I could Do you want me to also Do you want me to give a quick update on some of the CR monitoring that's been done as well? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Why don't you do that first? So,
uh, we did hire, uh, Charlie Iceman to do the monitoring for Sunder Mountain and, uh, he was good enough to get out there, uh, this past month and took a look at the property and and gave us a a
a good, uh, thorough report on um, the uh, conservation restriction. The good news is there weren't any problems or anything to report, so that was good. And JO has that filed away. Um, I heard from Stu with Kestrel, they had done the
the monitoring for the Baker Fields CR and SAM that that was in good shape. So, that's been done. And then I think the the old Peach Orchard uh you all were in the process of uh looking at and looking at some dates to meet uh to to do that
one. So, I'm not exactly sure if we have a a time locked in for that or um if that may drift into December when I get back. I wasn't sure. >> Um yeah, I think we had talked about this weekend, right, Mayor?
>> I don't Yeah, I don't think I can do it this weekend. Um, so maybe it does get pushed. Yeah, I could definitely do either December 6th or December 13.
>> I could do the 6th. >> Um, any chance you could do it on a Sunday? Actually, I'm I'm leaving. I might be able to do it like midday on the 6th. I think I'm
leaving um that week of the 8th. I'm going to be um doing a little hunting that week. Um um the 7th is my daughter's birthday, so I don't want to do it on the 7th, but if you could do it late on the sixth,
that's fine. And I could do it on >> Yeah, we could do it on the I I we could >> I think that works. I have to pick my wife up at the airport, too. So, maybe uh maybe middayish could work. I think that would work for me. Um
>> what about the 13th? Is that >> I can't do the 13th. >> Oh, you can't do the 13th. Okay. >> The 14th. Well, the 14th is our next uh recreck department conservation commission hike. It's already on the
calendar for that day. We did one and we're going to try to do them every now and then. >> Oh, do you want to walk there? [laughter] >> Uh we'd already uh advertised Brushy Mountain, which is behind my house.
>> That's it. Um, so let's see. So the 6th sounds like maybe the day, but we but you're saying later in the day. >> Six. I maybe admit they I'd have to check. Am I picking up at the airport on the 6th?
>> Oh, so yeah, I am picking her up at the airport, but I could do it like midday if that worked. >> That's fine with me. I have nothing that day. >> That's fine. Okay. >> Um Okay, cool. >> Do we have to let anybody know that
we're coming for that or do you stop? >> Okay. >> Uh no, we should usually um let uh Penny >> Okay. Uh >> do you want to you want to organize that then? >> I will. So, let's just plan to meet
there at noon. Um and I'll I'll see if that works on the 6th. >> And what's the address for it again? Do you know? >> It's right uh I It's right off of Lux Pond Road. Um >> Oh,
>> and right past just north of where Old Wendell breaks off on the west side of Blox Pond. >> Oh, okay. like >> open field right right uh right south of
like where Jean Footet lives >> or lived >> south of that okay >> what's the name of the road isn't it a road >> I think >> it's off Lock Pond but the I don't know the name of the actual road that goes
back into there >> that little neighborhood >> yes >> okay yeah okay in the back of there or >> let me see if I can find it. >> I'll I'll I'll see I'll I'll send you I'll talk with uh Penny and try to get
see if that works and I'll send you an address. >> That will be easier. >> I I I I'll just go where there's any cars on the road, too. >> Rather than give you the cryptic directions of it's kind of past there where these people used to live. [laughter]
>> I I know the neighborhood. Yeah. But yeah. No. Okay, that's fine. Um, okay, >> perfect. That sounds >> all right. I Thank you. That's awesome. I think that that's kind of the end of report for for conservation restriction
monitoring. Um, and then the other issue maybe bridging to uh the bidding form for Southbrook. Um, so this is something Matteo really did the lion share of of the work on this.
So, um, hats off to him for taking the bull by the horns and working with, uh, Haley and others. Um, they drafted a, [snorts] uh, a bid, uh, request to go out and I'll see if I can I don't know if I can
share. Um, >> uh, let's see. >> Or or you could share it. Uh, Bath of Beier. I'm not sure. I haven't done a lot of Zoom sharing, so I'm I'm I'm sure I'm terrible at it.
>> God, I was able to go through like the the terms of the bid, which is to say what constitutes a bid and then and all the different contingencies that uh that take place. But I but I and I granted I was just working off my phone. I um I I
didn't really find the ask of what what the project is itself, the the meat of it. I was wonder if you could cover that. >> Yeah, we'll let's go through that. Um >> I just I just allowed you to share, but I can also bring it up if you want me to.
>> Um Oh, no. >> All right, let's see. I share my screen. um can you see and see it's not that though I think not there.
There we go. Okay. So, can you see that? Okay. >> Yep. >> All right. Um, so I think this is what you're getting to, Bob. There's a bunch of boilerplate in here. Um, I'll just say I I I think
Matteo worked with the town to go through all of this. So, I'll just get to the beginning. Um, and I I certainly am not an expert in in this part of it. Uh but
it's pretty extensive as you can see all the invitation for biders. So um it does go through you know their credentials what they would need to have withdrawal of bids like a lot on the bidding process.
>> Yeah. I'd say kind of the legal schmegle stuff. >> Yeah. And so I I would encourage you to look at that there. I I'll be honest. I did not spend a lot of time on that. I figured that's something the town uh and the um town of council would look at.
I'm hoping more carefully. But the part that I think we needed to work on was the part you were talking about, Bob. So, let me just get to that piece here. Sorry to make you sick. Okay, here we go. Scope of work. >> Great. >> Um so, it it does talk about the parcels
here. Um, uh, these are the, you know, the South Brook and the Lake Wyola town beach piece. Uh, and both managed here by the the Con. Um, they talk about access to it both coming off Locks Pond
and off Land Randall Road and Wendell Road and um, that it it's basically saying all the work would have to be done. Here are those parcels. Um, I won't spend a lot of time on the general objectives that were outlined in the CPA
grant. Really, it's to to improve access and to repair the deterior deteriorated trail conditions and wetland crossings. I'll say um none of this is is like brand new work that we're talking about.
There there are existing trails out here. They're just fallen into disrepair and and there are wetland impacts um that uh are that we're seeing because um uh we don't have proper crossings
um where the trail is going through some of the resource areas. Um they talk about the improved access here and improved safety, wetland protection. As I said, there are several sensitive areas that
um the trail is going through. Uh we did identify in the preliminary, if just uh to refresh everyone's memory, the Concom did hire somebody to do the preliminary assessment of this where they had gone through and that was the basis for the
grant that we used. Um and they identified places where there would need to be maybe some bog bridging, maybe some areas where we would want to reroute the trails that are there. Certainly a lot of blazing and other general trail improvements. And so those
are outlined uh here. Um this is a little bit different in in terms of how we uh thought we would bid this and so worth conversation. Um
uh we had this as a design build project because we don't you know we had this preliminary assessment that was done and it you know it definitely shows the locations where um there would have to be different
trail elements that would uh be included. But it it wasn't a design. did they didn't go through and say log bridging of this many feet in this exact location to this spec. Um and so that's work that still needs to be done. And so
how we thought we would bid this is both a design build. The design phase would be through the period of spring May 1st of 26 and then there would be a build phase that would conclude by the beginning of December about a year from
now. Uh the design phase would would take uh this preliminary trail improvement that had been outlined in the grant uh and then make sure that it um aligns with DCR standards and that
they would do both those field assessment of the existing trail conditions did have a preliminary trail design that would show where there would need to be reroutes, show bog bridges locations uh recommendations and materials and
construction methods. Really everything that we would need to do for permitting uh and that they would coordinate with us to review that preliminary design, incorporate our feedback and then submit these uh to the commission by May 1st
for our formal review and approval and then support the wetland delineation efforts that we would need to do that we outlined as kind of our match share in the grant. And so that would all take place if it were approved. Then we would move on to the build phase um where they
would take these uh the the approved designs and then go through the process of um the various uh improvements here that provide the trail blaze markers, the trail reroute, trail structures,
uh do the construction piece, erosion controls and site stabilization. Uh and then uh finally any restoration. So kind of the the overview here that they would do the prel preliminary
site uh design uh that they would have that done by May. Uh that we would then do our design review and the wetland delineation and approvals here in the spring summer uh of 26. They would then
begin the build phase um after you know I I think some of this could start in May but they're wetland areas it would have to be after we uh uh approve of their delineation all the way
through December and that they would be completed by December 1st. So um I think that that's really the the highlights. Um, I think Matteo had like materials and equipment. I really I I was going to
recommend that maybe we delete that part because I I don't think until we have a design. Um, I'm not really sure if there are any particular materials that we would want to specify in this. Um, although, you know, that was something I
wanted to to talk with you all about. I know like some of the uh you know the synthetic the materials you know have lasted longer you know and
I many um places use those for structures that you know aren't going to get a lot of maintenance. So we could we could try to spell some of that stuff out here if we had a a strong opinion. Um, honestly, I um I I thought it might
be better to to have them take a look at it and provide their recommendation for what they thought might work best for the site, but that was that's really an unanswered question. Um, I think the rest of this is all pretty much
boilerplate for, you know, uh, cleanup and site conditions, [snorts] safety. So, I'm I'm going to stop there and see Beth if you had anything more to add or if the commissioner had any questions on
any part of this. >> I think it looks really great. I like how um you guys, you know, we changed it a bit to have it really fit with the design build approach because I think that's what we had talked about
and that's what the CPA grant is for. um that materials section, you know, you're right, like we could put things in there like um you know, the the bo the bog bridging that they use at right water bog the particular
way of drilling and I can't remember the terms for it, but there are these sort of more environmental >> um certainly materials, but also even just ways of um going and installing bridges and doing trail work. But like
you're saying, the person who bids can probably describe that in their bid and that would actually help us choose between multiple biders if one seems to be have a more environmental approach. Um, so you're right. I'm not sure we
want to spell it out. Um, unless we just want to say something like, you know, we're looking for equipment that is is the least damaging to a very natural area with lots of resource areas. Um,
and you could, you know, we could even say we're look we're looking for maybe people that can provide equipment um that's like on tracks and things like that. Like just equipment that has the least amount of impact.
But that's just I'm I'm kind of torn on which way to go with it, too. Like, do we just not say anything or do we specify a little bit that that's what we're looking for? I'm not sure. [snorts] when they were well when they were working over at um the Kestrel I mean um
yeah Rightwater bog they I mean they had like these tiny little excavators I guess that and and they were I mean they probably were maybe three feet wide maybe four at the most
and and um one of them was I was out hiking there recently and and there was still something out there like kind of at the end of the trail that they hadn't taken out. But uh um yeah, it seemed like they were able to get in and get
what they needed done and and um caused the least amount of, you know, disruption. But uh yeah, so that I think it would be good to specify what
they can and can't put in there. I mean, we know it. I mean, they know they'll know it because they're going to be doing the work, but like we also kind of know. But I guess just to back into the whole thing is like would there
would there be different entry points that they would be doing the work from? Like where would they be doing the work from? That was I guess that also affects like what what equipment they would be using. So like would they Yeah, we do talk about the access for
this and um >> you know there are several places they could go in and I I think >> you know some of this um I'm just as you same as you may like some I think >> parts of this trail network
>> are are pretty big and can be driven on and they're not as sensitive and then there are >> right a few places. It's a little It's a little different than brightwater bog, which is going across a a pretty sensitive bog habitat. This is um
>> you know, a lot of up I I would say the majority of it is all upland and most of it's not going to be in a resource area. Um >> but there are places that we want focused on that are in resources areas, resource areas where they have
>> ex you know something there. A lot of times it's like rocks pushed into the wetland that people have been stepping on. Um so yeah, I don't know. It could be I I'm not sure what their body is. Yeah, because like
you know because I was over there at the castle and and you can go all the way to the edge of the pond there pretty much and without hitting something over there um on that end like the end that kind of
just goes down somebody's driveway. I forget the woman's driveway and then but the other end that goes off the parking lot that was >> I think it's off Essex. >> Yeah, that was a little trickier. But but this like I you don't know whether
they're going to be coming with a crew like that was kind of like one person or two people working over Kestrel Lake and and just kind of as they got to it. But like if they're getting this work done in a short time frame,
you know, like maybe it's best to be like like they're going to have, you know, their own trucks to get there. Like where are these people going to park? Like if they're not parking down at the boat, you know, Randall Road, like where would they be parking? you
know, there's not really a place to, you know, so just throwing that out there because I don't you don't know I don't know how many people they're going to be bringing in to do all this. So, >> yeah, I I think you know these are the
different places where there are you know access to get in. Although uh you do I this important point that I I think we're going to have to circle around to and that the access
off of uh Wendell Road onto there is actually that is uh there's a a chunk of private property that the trail goes through >> and um I think that that is something
we're going to need to to have a conversation with like I don't think there's a lot of this work planned on that private property, but um you know for access to get in there to do the work on the rest of it, I think we'd have to
talk. There are other ways in there I think off of Flux Pond, but that's that's the most direct way and that's the way the snowmobiles go in and out. >> Right. Right. Yeah. >> Yeah. It is private land
>> quiet. >> That would be a discussion. But I think I feel like the different areas along the trail where work work is proposed, I feel like we would they would want to be accessing from different, you know, whichever section of the trail they're
working on, >> they may want to come in off of Wendle Road because it's much closer than >> right >> going the whole other way. So, we'll probably have to talk to that homeowner. Yeah. >> See if it's it's all right. >> Yeah.
>> Through there. But >> yeah. And is somebody gonna ever take those those um shingles out there? >> Shingles. >> You know what I'm talking about, right? The shingles. >> Shingles. the shingles are like so when
you get to just about locks pond I mean at Wendell >> um and it's right at the curve there like there somebody like probably about 10 or 15 years ago backed up and just dumped
all these shingles there and they and you know it's kind of been covered over a little bit but there's like I don't know it's probably like this deep like of shingles that are still Ah, well, if it's on our land and not on the private land, we'll have a work day.
We should plan a work day and get rid of all the shingles. >> I don't, you know, I I don't know like right where that entry is right on the road whether that's private or whether like I don't know where the private park is. >> Yeah, >> there is a chunk right there right off
at the curve. >> Yeah, >> that's all private >> where it says, you know, no, you know, quiet area or something. Yeah, that's right where the shingles are, right in that vicinity. So, >> yeah, that's it. >> Well, I'm sure they probably would love it if we would say, "Hey,
>> we're the conservation commission. We'd like to come and get rid of your shingles." [laughter] They probably love it. >> We do we do have some things that we said we would do as part of our match. part of it like I think here we talk
about they're going to provide the blazing but I think we said we would give some time and help to blazing and covering some of the old blazes. Uh repainting the bridge I think was one of the one of the bridges that has all
the graffiti on it. So I think those are two things that we had put up as >> match for our conservation commission workday. >> Sure. >> Great. Okay, >> that'll be fun. [laughter] >> I look forward to doing that match.
>> Yeah. [snorts] >> All right. Well, I I think it looks really good. Oh, Bob, do you have comments? >> I just want to say that it's just a magnificent conservation area. So, I I I and uh some of the bridges have started to age. So, I think this is a great
project. >> Okay. Yeah, it is. It's It's wonderful. Great job. Um my one thought is just having I just put a bid document together today at work that's much more straightforward but um
the uh the bid page where you have everything listed um >> the [laughter] this part or >> no there's a like the page where the people would put their their cost
>> here that. Yeah. Are we gonna fill in I mean typically we would fill in sort of the description. So there'd be the different items and then they would put a cost towards each item, you know, like maybe design is one line item and they
put a cost towards it. And um so I'm wondering if we thought at all about how to fill that in. Um >> Oh, I I had I thought that they would fill this out. The only problem with that is if you get multiple biders, you want to be able to
compare them. So you you want to have the same items with the different companies bids per item so that you can compare them because if you gave it to them and let them fill that all in, you could get three totally different bids
that just are hard to compare. But I suppose you could do it that way, but I feel like it might be challenging. But >> do you think Ethan um is it? I'm trying to
are these the like these deliverables are these the right bid items then or but it seems like they would they probably want to break this down further, right? Um,
>> yeah. >> I think that's that's a start and like you said, maybe we can break it down a little bit more into specific things. Um, and in the end if they want to take one task
and break it down a little bit more, as long as in the end we can compare the three different bids, say for like the preliminary design package. If if one of the people breaks that down a little bit more, as long as in the end you can add
everything up to compare it to somebody else's cost for preliminary design package. [snorts] >> Yeah. So I think it's this and I think it would be I mean it's really the design and then the the build, right? I
mean those are the two major elements but um yeah I I am not exactly >> because I'm not sure how they would um
what do we tell them here? So, I thought it said here that they would be filling that part out, but I hear what you're saying. Um, filled all bids will be filled in some
by the contractor. I mean, I like the idea of trying to compare apples to apples that ultimately the the total price would be the same. I mean, that's comparable because it's design build.
>> Yeah. >> But I hear what you're saying. Um, now maybe it's something we could talk with Matteo about, like if there's a clever way of taking those deliverables and putting it
into this bid form. >> Yeah. I don't know. It's just a thought. >> Yeah, >> you could leave it up to them. it might just end up making it a little more difficult to compare the the different bids. But
>> anyway, besides that, I think it looks really good. >> Do do we need um what's our next step? It seems like I think Donna needs to look at this um if she hasn't already and and maybe this you know the question
on it it seems like uh I could add I'll send Matteo some language around like the sensitivity of the site like that like we want to use equipment that would be the least damaging you know to safeguard wetland
resources or something to that effect. We can ask about this and then it goes to I'm guessing they would need to take it to Donna and Haley to have them look at it. >> Yeah. I um yeah, I don't know if the
town always has Donna review um bids for [snorts] municipal work. Um but that would definitely, you know, be a question for Haley if if Donna should review it. And then I do feel like Haley and whoever else kind of in town hall
who looks at um procurement stuff should do a good review. I feel like Matteo really reached out to Haley and and the town and the select board and everybody about how how to put this thing together and that's how he kind of came up with
it. Um, so he did a great job and um, so yeah, I mean I think a few more people need to look at it, but I think they kind of based it on what they thought would be a good um, >> okay, >> bid document. [snorts] >> Yeah. >> So basically, I don't really know who else has to look at it, but
>> Okay. [laughter] >> Is it really how does the town, you know, procure things? I haven't really done that with Shootsberry. Um, but it's definitely close. It's almost almost ready to be bid. I wonder who does the bidding like who
who's going to post it and all that. Um >> yeah, >> Matteo is figuring all this stuff out. He's pretty good at figuring out all these things. So, >> he did a great job pulling it all together. So, the the lion share of footwork was all done by him. So, very
appreciative. >> Yeah. Yeah. And I know he has the legal ad written up also, which is something that has to happen. So I think he has a grasp on kind of what >> has to happen. >> The bit. Yeah. What the bidding involves because he knows it needs a legal ad.
And I and I don't know um which you there certainly some work depending on what it is has to be posted in certain places across you know legally. >> Yeah. [snorts] >> Um and he will figure that out.
>> Okay. [laughter] Um, is there anything we have to do to approve this, Beth, or is it just we just want to conver the conversation around it or on on our end? >> Yeah, I don't think we need to necessarily vote. I think it was more a conversation to get everybody's input
into it because it's it's really not even final yet. It sounds like we might change it a little bit. Um, I'm not sure there's really a needing a vote for us to say we're gonna issue it because we've been planning to do that since we got the CPA grant.
>> Okay, sounds good. >> I think that's all I had. So, end of report. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you, Scott. >> Yep. >> Thank you. >> Um, uh, next on the agenda is to talk about the Eversource transmission line
project. Um, and I kind of started talking about it when we were talking about the National Grid one. Um, and as I I guess as I said that Eversource one's a little further along um,
in that they already submitted their uh, environmental impact report and and Michael Dier worked with um, some planners in Pelum um, and put together a
letter that went to the Meepa folks um, kind commenting on that draft environmental impact report and I believe in the end Ammerst signed on they kind of wrote their own little agreement letter that got
attached to that original letter um and that they went along with it too and so it's all been submitted to Meepa um and that's where that one is at. Well, the other stuff that's come up about that one is is is the town's
when I went to a meeting that was um and you guys you guys must get some of these emails too because I think this was the general concomed by the Eversource line and it was to talk about um mitigation
like regional mitigation will be able to ask for mitigation when they come before us for the impacts to the wetlands inside Shootberry. [snorts] But this discussion was like as a region
um you know it's that sort of larger impact like what if this is really going to happen what are some mitigation ideas um [snorts] that we could propose to ever source that's sort of coming from all the towns
together and it was an interesting meeting it's you know some of the ideas that people came up with was at all the road crossings we could do some kind of like wildlife crossing for every single road that this transmission line crosses.
We could do a while if the I the idea that there is transmission lines can definitely be wildlife corridors because it's so open. Um and so then the idea would be at each of the road crossings somehow provide. There was
that. There was also just the idea of road maintenance for each of the roads that get crossed. covert improvements, um drainage improvements, um I there were there were multiple ideas
of things that we could um one thing that I am a little involved in is actually a land purchase. So that was brought up too is if for the different towns um because a lot of the mitigation ever ever source is looking for is if if
they're going to be clearing trees then is there somewhere else in the same in that same town where the trees are being cleared where some trees can be preserved. So like so land preservation projects um and there's one
that's available in Pelum that I'm working on. So we've approached our resource already for money for that. Um so that's kind of regional because it's Pelum Ammerst uh working together. So
that's a big thing. for both these projects, the national grid one and the Eversourcers, there's lots of discussions happening about both of them and and both of them will eventually come to the concoma review phase, but people are talking
about mitigation and that site visit will be really interesting. I wish I could go, but um yeah. So, do you guys have any questions about those two projects? No. Okay. >> I love the idea of the animal crossing
uh at at at the uh power line corridor because they are very rich wildlife areas and to uh plan for that I think is a super idea. >> Yeah, I thought it was kind of a cool one. I liked something that could could be the same throughout the whole line
going through all the towns. Um yeah. Um and and I did learn at that meeting that one thing our resource doesn't seem to be willing to do is to just provide money like if if the if a town because
one of the towns was saying well it would be great to have like a pot of money that when a property comes available we can use that pot of money. or if we want to do an appraisal on a property that, you know, we want to buy for conservation land, we've got this pot of
money that came from Eversource 5 years ago and it's there and we can use it. And that was something they were not >> willing to do. Um because they seem they need to track a little bit better than that what is actual mitigation. Um and
that is for projects that they don't even know about yet. You know, it's like you've got money that you might use for something five years from now and and they needed it to be an actual project that they can track.
Anyway, um all right, moving on. Next we have our discussion um about the um data potential data center regulations that the board of health is
um proposing to put together. And I see Cat Hilton's here. Pat, do you want to tell us about that? >> Yes. I'm trying to turn my camera on. Can you see me? >> I think you can. >> So, yeah, it's not so much the data
centers. the planning board seems to be working with the data center thing. Um, but as far as the um battery energy storage systems, it's really only the board of health that can do any regulation of those because they're
classified by the state as parts of solar installations and so they're sheltered from any kind of regulation that the planning board might to put on want to put on them. Our thinking and it's it's still a little bit early but our thinking right now is that we would
want to regulate these in four aspects. Uh their location, their size, uh their water use and um the use of material specifically the kinds of batteries that
they are allowed to use. Um, we want to have the less flammable batteries used, not the plain lithium ion. There are some that are not such a fire risk. We also want to have basically closed loop
or some other kind of cooling so they won't be constantly drawing groundwater to cool their operation. Um, we want them to be fairly small and we want to keep them away from what I'm thinking right now and we haven't really talked
about this in in the board of health is keeping them restricting them from the um the zoning district of Lake Wyola town center and forest conservation and also I don't know if this is necessary
but I think think we should probably do it from parcel N88 which is about 2500 acres and it is the parcel that is owned by DCR as wershed protection for the >> Quin.
>> So up uphill of of Route 202 there. So that's our thinking and we would just like to know what your concerns are as the conservation commission if you have any particular requests or concerns or things that we should be thinking about
uh with respect to you guys. Yeah, I mean I I think um I think we would want to work with the board of health, you know, on the regulations. I because we certainly would want it want them you have it in there that they would need to be outside of any resource
areas and outside of the buffer zone to any resource area. So that would be one thing. Um, you know, there's >> there's all the parts of Shootberry that are also part of Ammerst's drinking water watershed for the Atkins Reservoir.
>> It's it's sort of a lot of the southern end of Shootsbury really down by Atkins Reservoir, but it's all mapped as the as watershed for that reservoir. Um, >> those are two things that come right to my mind as as what we what would be
something the conservation commission would be concerned about. Um, I think I'd also be interested in um containment. Have you guys talked at all or thought about, you know, these battery storage being built on
um concrete and and having, you know, walls to the moss to contain any kind of spill or if there is a fire and they're spraying it, you want the drainage to be contained in something. I um I just have
heard of that before with with the battery storage. Um >> we'll look into that. >> Yeah. So those are those are my main things. Um >> can you send us um something about the
the Ammerst watershed part that you were just talking about a map or something that we can consult? >> Yes, definitely. >> That would be good. >> Okay. Um, and do you want um like any language about resource areas and things
that the um the comm that we protect the wetland areas and the buffer zones? >> Yeah, some language would be good. Um, if it just I don't know if it come if you probably have some stuff already written and if you can send that to us that would be helpful.
>> Sure. And I mean I think we'd be willing I'd be willing you to come to any meetings when you guys are talking about the regulations and or also you know just review those sections that have to do with keeping things out of environmentally sensitive areas.
>> Um we'd be happy to like review those and stuff. So >> that would be great. We would want to send that stuff to you for for your review for sure. >> Okay. The timeline that we are imagining, we'd like to have this done before town meeting and ideally before
beginning of March when some other regulations are coming online. So, we're thinking that we we would like to get it so that we can have a public hearing in late winter. >> Okay. >> Ambitious, but we're going to try.
>> That is ambitious. >> We'll see. There, you know, there are some models out there. Wendell has a rag. Um there's there are some draft um rag, you know, model rags coming from Massachusetts
Association of Health Boards and so on. So we don't have to reinvent that wheel entirely. >> Yeah, I would think. Um yeah, I wonder if any towns around here have already tackled the battery storage. Well,
Wendell has Wendell, but it seemed and we can use a lot of the language that they use, but it also seemed to me that they didn't quite they didn't quite get into the the details of it enough. They didn't I
don't think that they specified that this has to be in the small to medium size and not any large size installations. um they they didn't really talk about um closed loop cooling
and so on and I think we want to be a little bit more specific. >> Okay. Well, I would guess even that one would have a section sort of on environmentally sensitive areas, you know, staying away from those. But um
>> yeah. >> Okay. You guys have any comments? [snorts] No. >> Uh Bob, here I just was curious the uh Wendle bylaw, is that something that uh
got cleared by the the attorney general as far as a a bylaw change? >> It's not a bylaw, Bob. It's um it's a board of health regulation. >> Okay. >> I don't know if it has been reviewed or not.
>> All right. Thank Thank you very much. >> [snorts] >> So these are battery storagees that it's sort of a requirement. It is a requirement now with solar fields that you have your battery storage right with your field. >> Right. >> Yeah. >> Right. Or or they could be sort of
freestanding. But either either way whether they are associated with a solar field or not they're considered solar installations for the purposes of the states. um >> greenhouse gas uh goals and you know we
support that but we do need to keep it kind of under control. >> Yeah. Well, and so the wetlands protection act um now has some exemptions for solar, you know, solar
projects in general. Not complete exemptions, but I think I think they're limited projects now, which is they they get sort of a a easier path through the regulations because it's a solar project. So >> well this is this is why it's up to the
board of health to regulate these because we have a completely different chain of of command as it were and we get to regulate things that are called nuisances and noisome trades and um so our p our powers are pretty broad and uh
so if if they're going to be regulated unfortunately we're the ones who have to do it. >> [laughter] >> I would rather this cup passed for me, but but that's not the way it's going to be. >> There's something that is fueling this though. Fueling. [laughter]
>> Um, is there something that's fueling this? Well, >> I'm not positive. The reason we are doing it is that it came to our attention that the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards is um is working with D and DOER and various
state agencies to try to get um public health to be foremost in a lot of these discussions and and deliberations. And so they are providing assistance in materials and language and and so on. To
be honest, I had no idea that it was going on and I I heard about it through a third party and um we got somebody to come from MAHB to our meeting and and sort of get us started on this uh on
this plan. I like it. I like it just because of what I've seen being changed by the state to allow, you know, these solar things and other uh energy kind of things of the the exemptions
that they're giving through things like the wetlands protection act. And so I like that the board of health can't have that power taken away. And that's great, >> right? We'll see. We'll see if it flies, but uh we'll we'll do the best we can
and and see what happens. >> So So I look forward to getting some language and some maps from you and you can look forward to getting some drafts of language from us. >> That sounds great.
>> Okay. >> All right. Well, thanks for coming and thank you. >> All right. Have a good night. >> You too. Good night. Okay. Next is the regulations which
I've I've made many of the changes that when we that we discussed at the last meeting but um they're just not quite ready to be sort of voted on tonight. I um I went through a couple of Miriam stuff I'm still working on. Um and then
I just need to give it a really good read. Um, and I guess if there's anybody else that would like to give it a good read, that would be great. [laughter] Um, I'll send it around to all of you, like once I'm once I feel like I think
it's, you know, done final, I'll send it, you guys read it and and it'll be on, you know, meeting agenda. So, we only have one meeting a month now. Yay. So, our next meeting is December
something. Let's see. Next meeting is December 11th. So, it'll definitely be regulations will be in what I would be like what I would consider my clean copy and I'll I'll get it to you guys and and
you guys read it and then I think all we have to do at a meeting is vote to approve them and they're and they're they're good to go. So, that's the update on that.
Um, all right. Does anybody have any other unanticipated business? No. Okay, great. Then I would take a motion to adjurnn. >> Madam chair, I'd like to make a motion
to adjurnn. >> Okay. Second. I'll second. >> All right, Douglas. >> Hi, >> Fox. >> Hi, >> Con. >> Hi, >> and Wilson. Hi. All right, thanks for
coming. All right, bye everyone. >> Have a good one, guys. >> Thanks, commissioners. Good night. >> Bye. >> Good night.