Absolutely. >> All right. All right. So, let's just start off in our introductions here. Uh uh below we have Bob Douglas, Tom Seafir, Barry Stalker and Mary David
and uh I think that's it. of local, we have myself and Mark, we have Walter, um we have Howard, we have John Corey, uh Catherine,
um and as guests, we have Ron Mech, John Kinder, Mary Davis, and Gman, Tracy. Did I miss anybody? That great. Uh so let's take a minute here and uh
we're going to review the agenda. Uh so this is May 16th committee. Um the house section for public comments of our April 2 meeting update on the dam activities
uh discussion on Birch Drive. um the lifile representation on the townwide store owner regation and items that um see okay everybody
uh so let's uh open up for public comments So, I think we're all set for the conference. Um Um So, now let's review the minutes of the April 18 minute. Uh we have a few comments here. Uh and I
sent us some money to everybody. Um any corrections that need Make a motion that we accept the minutes as printed. >> Second, opinions, questions. Uh you have a motion of the board to accept the
minutes which is seconded. Uh >> so um uh let's vote on it. Um Lens not here. >> Uh we got back to Bob. Done. Catherine. >> Yes.
Uh, not here. >> Yes. >> Yes. Tom. >> Yes. >> Not here. Eric. >> Abstain. I wasn't there. >> Okay. >> And Walter.
>> Yes. And just I kind of missed you. >> Bob in the car. >> I did it. So I'll send those off to somebody. I think I sent off to the web committee. Although they're not getting posted for some reason. Maybe they're just waiting for a new town clerk to
come on board. >> You should be able to put those on the on the um the agenda posting website. Oh, >> I'll show I'll show you how after. >> Okay, great. You should just send them off to Grace and she take care of it. >> Yeah. Yeah. Since Grace has been gone,
we're supposed to do it ourselves. >> Oh, okay. All right. What's going on? >> Excuse me. The post is there in Lenny supposed to be getting the gauge itself
set up. Um the lake level is as of yesterday that I didn't have time to check this morning was at minus 38 and we're getting close. I talked to Nate yesterday and gave him I called him on Fridays and gave him the information
and he requested that when it gets within two two or three inches of two feet to give them a call so they can get out here. I think he's trying to save his time on getting the lake up. Um, I can't remember her name. The young
lady that was down there. >> Adrien. >> Adrien. She stopped by yesterday and was checking things and everything looked good when she had anything else you needed. I can remember
the farmers market right now. >> Basically, they is going good with the day. >> Yes, it's going good. Uh water's coming up. Should be up in another two at least maybe each week. >> Hopefully the the last rainstorm really helped.
>> So we really are depending on rain. >> Yes. >> Well, even uh there's more coming into the lake right now, too. And I had checked it last night. Oh, it shouldn't have changed overnight.
Any questions about what's going on today? >> Could I just ask um No, not about the dam, but Eric, I think you're um getting background noise, too. >> Okay, I'll I'll mute. Thank you, Tom.
>> Right. So, that's it for the dance. Um, next item on the agenda is the continuation of the discussion. I think we had updated discussion on Burks Drive. Ronald is the resident of BS Drive and uh I'll let him uh take over.
>> Right. Um well uh first off does does anyone have any questions about the overall situation? Because my request today is quite simple which is um uh uh well any questions about the overall situation? I sent some docs but it's a
lot of reading. Um >> why don't just give us an update just over >> where we are. >> Okay. Well, uh, so the town stopped plowing on the 1 of January. Uh, and there's tons of circumstances around. I've been going back and forth. They
issued a determination, I think on the 18th of February, uh, which I made a a detailed rebuttal to, at one point of which was that they they would declared Burks Drive a private way, the lower end of it. And in this la in the last
meeting here, you guys went on record saying no, it's a road. So that in itself uh throws the whole determination into question. Um so I've met with COA. I haven't heard unless I got a text.
>> See council on a >> council on aging um uh to sign on to a letter. This is what I'm asking of you. a meeting with LWA and hopefully the planning board at some point just to sign on to a letter that you're all CCed
on the determination to uh to say um well actually I I just made a little draft as I was sitting here um being that we the undersigned were CCD uh as interested parties in the
town's final determination regarding the plowing and sanding of lower birch drive in February. We are hoping to hear the town's response to Mr. Mech's detailed rebuttal. We are wondering when we can expect the town's response. So, that's really pretty much all I'm asking for is
if you're willing to sign on to okay, what's next discussions? But from my perspective, I'm not exactly sure how we do this, whether um maybe somewhere to be some guidance here.
I have a motion for the committee to agree to it. I don't know if we individually I don't think we can individually sign on to sign on as Lake B advisory committee. >> Well, what what I would uh I mean I take I mean this is the awkward thing is it
keeps it keeps coming up. It's like it's Ronmech's issue. It's only my issue because I happen to live on Bur Drive, which means it's the Lake Wy Old Association's issue, not mine, though I'm the one affected by it mostly. Um, but uh I was just going to, you know,
say uh this and then sign LWA, COA, planning board, assuming everybody signs it. CCU all that's all as far as how how it's going to be done. Is that what you meant? >> So, so as far as an undersign, you're
not going to have individual people as representatives in the committee sign it. You just got to sign. >> No, I mean there's some citizens that want to sign on because there's a lot of interested parties, but no, it would just be LWAC, LWA, COA, Shootsbury
Planning Board. So, no, not individuals. >> Questions or comments? >> Yes. Aren't we just supposed to be um someone that recommends things to Lake Wy association, not to make a decision
on things that the >> Well, this is part this is about the town, not the LWA, >> right? >> Yeah, but it's the LWA's role, not ours. Well, what we're being asked to do here, if I understand it, is to be kept
informed of any decisions made by >> Well, that's that's fine. >> Is that am I right? >> Well, there is there is no the decision that that's the information you've already got. The information that
I'm asking you to look for along with me is what's your response >> to Mr. Max's rebuttal and leaving out that it pretty much blows your arena out of the water. That wouldn't be diplomatic, but you're already on record uh from the last meeting is saying Birks
Drive is a road and the central point of their decision that is not a road and a private. So you're you're already involved in that regard. So even if it was only on that point, you know, what's your response to that part of it? I
mean, you could do that on your own, too, but that's the central point of their argument. It's they're not the it's a policy folks know about the town policy 9005 20 years ago. And it was it was done
unofficially for a long time and was voted on it 15 years ago, which says they'll plow these private roads. They're designated. It's on the list. Every year Tim Hunting would send a letter, "These roads need this, this,
and that in order to be plowed." Uh, uh, there was really no actual roads committee, but John, you were out there many times, too, with the shovels and the rakes. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I don't think we want to get into the specifics of your your complaint here, but I agree. what you're if what
you're asking for is that we request to be included in all future correspondence on this issue that seems pretty uh innocuous to me. >> Well, I think I think that's already determined by what she made the decision
who to CC. So, on the basis of the C of the parties that were CCed, i.e. interested parties. I'm saying, okay, well, and you're you're specifically having uh rebutted their point that it's a private way. So, already involved.
What's your response to Mr. Max's rebuttal? And I sent all I sent the rebuttal, the decision, and the history of the plowing all to Mark. I don't know if any saw that, but he's he's got that available. I think one of these things is is the roads around the lake
of roads the roads really exist are you know pretty iffy you know it's like if you look at the assessor's map you know it has the road birch going down past your house around >> there's no question that it's a it's a you know a quagmire of of speculation
and such you know >> that I happen to just get caught in the >> in the flow of the thing but yeah some of the and burks drive is much better than many roads that are being plowed. Ironically, >> just to clarify what you're saying, are
you saying that it's questionablely own? >> No, if you look at if you look at the assessor's map that I think Ron brought brought, I'm not sure I last. If you look at the map, it's the road goes down past Rob on the map. Goes past Morana Ron's house goes around and it probably
looks like >> ends at a property line couple hundred yards past that you know and clearly that's not roy >> which is now full of like you know 10 to 15 inch trees. >> So there's not going to be many cars going through there. >> So what what what happened there is that
late association abandoned that part of the road which would be responsibility. Well, it's just true. When you see the you can see where if you're on Lake Drive, just past your house, you can see where the road went that way, which they've done with a number of roads.
>> Um they did that with um walking straight up behind me. So that that's not you know I mean I guess what I'm saying is that your argument that there's any question that if that's a road clearly because that area of the
road was abandoned but it was a road then that would definitely say that that the Birch Drive is a road that left past Ron's house and now has stopped in the woods. Oh, is there
but you know did association abandon the road or what did the person who put the the shed in the middle of the road you know abandon the road >> there isn't a shed in the middle of the road >> I think there is not ancestors but there's a there's >> yeah there is >> there's a shed there >> in the middle of the road
>> oh past once they abandoned okay >> yeah just pointless so let's go I think we should go back on the >> well the shed is there because the route was a pan. I mean, yeah, it's, you know, it's part of the generally informality down there. And I think this whole
process is to try to make things more formal because there is there is a legal document, i.e. the towns, you know, which >> the roots >> which compels Lake Wyola association to to do that work. It's been the citizens
to this point. I don't know what happens exactly now. Uh but uh you know it's it's yeah and but at any rate all I'm asking is that what's your response you know to what Mr. Mac had to say one of the
points being something that you've already put forward yourselves that Birch Drive is in fact a road which then compels the uh Lake Wyola association to maintain the road for the requirements of the town plowing document and compels
the town to plow the road and these are the sides that you don't have to get involved in. All I'm asking is what's your response to the rebuttal? I'm not even asking you to mention that we've already designated it a road and see what they have to say.
>> I basically this is just asking for a response which you haven't received. >> I'm just saying we what you CC you CCed us on this letter as interested parties and we are um and it's been you know 3 months um Mr. M issued a rebuttal. We're
wondering what your response is. is pretty innocuous really and all the other stuff is a different matter. >> Right. That's what I'm saying. This is basically asking the town to respond to your >> That's all it is. That's all I'm asking. >> That seems fair enough to me.
>> Okay. >> Um so, should we have some summarize a motion? >> I move that we um respond to Ron's request by adding our committee name to the letter.
and the second. I'll second. >> Um, any further discussion on top? >> Um, just for clarification, I thought we were going to write a short note asking for a response. Are we adding our name to Ron's letter or are
we creating a new communication? >> I I just I've I've just wrote it while I was sitting here, Tom. I don't know if you >> Oh. Oh. Oh, okay. >> And I guess I'd ask that I I'm willing to commit to that as the text or if that's not acceptable that I would send
the text, but then I don't know if you'd have to have another meeting to vote on it or if Mark can if you can authorize Mark to approve it. >> Would you mind just reading the sentence again, please? >> Sure. Thanks. >> Um, so this is again it would hopefully it's
LWA, LWAC, COA and planning board. Um being that we the undersign were CCD as interested parties in the town's final determination regarding the plowing and sanding of Lower Birch Drive in February, we are hoping to hear the town's response to Mr. Mech's detailed
rebuttal. We are wondering when we can expect the town's response. >> Thanks. Was the planning board CCed on that original determination? >> I'm not positive about that. I'm not either because I don't remember it ever coming across the planning board
>> that may they may there were about eight or eight CC's on it. Fire department, police, em emergency management team. I'm not sure about that. >> I I want to say it was not included with the planning board. I just wanted to >> that may be that may be true.
>> Okay. >> Bob has his hand up. >> Bob, go ahead. Yeah. Sorry. Can you hear me? Okay. Yeah. Y >> Okay. Um yeah, I believe Katherine made a motion. I would like to to second that motion. And um uh I'm I'm totally fine
with the language that uh Mr. Mack just stated. >> John already second. >> I John already seconded. >> I second. >> Yeah. Bob thirded it. >> So now it's third. Yeah. >> Third then. So uh
uh so let's discuss. Let's have a vote on it. Say absent >> yes. >> John's a yes. Catherine, >> yes. >> Not here. Uh
>> yes. >> Mark is a yes. Tom, >> yes. >> Terry is not here. Eric >> Stains and Walter. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, the motion passed. Oh,
>> okay. Uh, so LWA uh is meeting on the 21st. I'm going to ask them the same question and shortly after that association. >> Yes. >> Thank you very much for your time. >> Ron,
>> could I add something for Ron's? has something. Yes. >> Yeah. Including everybody else's. But um it's about this topic. Is it okay to go on now, Mark? >> Sure. >> Okay. Um I just wanted to let Ron know that um I did mention to the planning board at the last meeting that um there
is an issue about a a a shared driveway in town. Um and we're going to be talking about at the next planning board meeting on June 1st. I'm going to ask the chair to put it on the agenda. Um, specifically, and I don't know if I've told you this before, Ron, but to look
at section 8.6.2 8.6-2 in the Shootsberry uh zoning bylaws about driveways and common driveways. And I think um the planning board will need to be included because um commoner share driveways receive a special permit
and um the owner would have to have applied for that who would have been LWA and there's no records. So, it would be good if LWA could confirm that for us, but there's no records at the Franklin County Registry of De or anywhere in Sheetsbury that we can find that says
this was ever um a stretch of land that was applied. >> I can say that I was there where the determination was made and it was quite arbitrary and capriccious to say the least, of which the discontinuation, I think that's Tracy's point, the discontinuation of the road was somehow
a factor in it. But and but the irony of the of it is one of the main Clark stopped plowing mainly because they couldn't deal with where to put the snow because the roads are so narrow to begin with. Where does it go? Well, the fact that Birch Drive is essentially a dead
end because of the trees and the shed. There's a large 100 foot wide area at the bottom and all the snow from the rest of Birch Drive and even coming up Great Pines ended up right there at the So it's of great benefit to the plowing
that the road is a dead end now >> as opposed to going through where it would just be pushing the snow to the side. >> Yeah, >> I'm I'm just speaking to the um determination of >> Yeah. No, I have a shared driveway. It appears to be a uh planning board
determination. Um and determination might not even be the right word. It's the granting of a permit in an application for us uh a shared driveway. So I just want to let you know that the planning board will discuss. >> Well, if the planning board was to send a letter pursuant to that exact fact, that would certainly be helpful.
>> Thanks. Yeah, I think we're going to try to clarify it. So, just want to let you know. >> Thank you very much. Thank you on Thank you everybody. Um next item uh item seven is the
one is there must participate in the uh floor mitigation and implementation committee. We had this discussion last meeting and uh no one volunteer. I kind
of like to volunteer but I'm pretty busy these days and so u any changes I'm I think Bob is >> Bob is going to participate in that committee. They're
breaking up. >> It's a little precarious driving. >> Okay, she's not here. >> We muted you. in a bad area. He's got cells just a little weak. >> Mark, just to clarify. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. I apologize. Sorry. Um uh busy day shuttling children around to sports and stuff. Um I I would be I would like be honored to work with the uh sedimentation uh uh group. So I I I would I worked on it before and I would like to continue that work.
>> Um excuse me just just quick I I think I understand from Jennifer though that you're representing the conservation commission on this. >> Is that accurate? So I don't think you I don't know. I don't think you can represent two committ >> that that that is that is true. So if I
if uh if I'm limited to um to one then I I would do the commission that they just the fifth person should be coming from. >> I wrote to Jennifer that I'm willing to
do it. Um, I'm also not sure if there's a planning board representative on this SNICK or if I would if I got on it if I would be an HWAC or a planning board rep, but I'm willing to do it under I'm willing to do it under either office.
Well, that's one assumption that that Tom and Bob participate in committee um which gives them the know the the minimum number of people uh whether you know who represents what um let you
guys can figure that out. Does that make sense? I I can clarify that if you'd like me to in terms of who the members are are to be. I I have them female from today. The the one conservation commission, one lake royal advisory committee member,
one energy and climate action committee member, the highway department superintendent or the designate and one member for civil engineering environmental science and project project management expertise. So no. Um
so Bob's the conservation if Tom could be like Wyola then the other two I believe are already designated but I don't have a list of people I just have a list of thank you very much Tom very much Bob if you look
this way you guys just give us an update every month what's going on and if you need anything from us let us know. Okay, >> that makes sense. >> Yes. >> Good.
Um, next item is anything we need reasonably anticipated prior to the meeting. Is there any items? Anything said that with the with the summer time coming, anything that we need to jump on from a committee perspective? That being with nothing, no additional
items, I think we can motion. >> So moved. >> I'll second it. >> Yeah. >> The new record. >> Oh, right. >> Right. This council meeting
here, Bob. Yes. Catherine, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Mark is yes. Tom, >> yes. >> Eric, >> yes. >> And Walton,
>> yes. >> Excellent. Well, thank you very much for for attending. Things are going to slow down now. You know, we've the dance we've only a big project. Uh Rand Road. >> Oh, you're blaming it on me, huh? >> That's right.
>> Our meetings coming up. Should be sometime unless something happens. Um the big quick meetings. >> All right. Thank you very much everybody. >> Take it easy. >> Thank you.
>> Take care. What do we do