Conservation Commission – July 16, 2024
Jul 16 2024
6:00 pm Video Conference
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Meeting ID: 873 2921 1586
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Wendell Conservation Commission
Meeting: Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 6 p.m.
Via Zoom only (see link below)
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https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87329211586?pwd=lFilZLWwziWqbfyaIP5qFmVAQOLi37.1
Meeting ID: 873 2921 1586
Passcode: 542858
Agenda:
- Commission’s email accounts: Town Coordinator Glenn Johnson-Mussad is helping to resolve issues we’ve been having with our excessive email accounts. He wants to determine what our email needs are.
- Ruggles Pond trail repairs Request for Determination of Applicability: DCR represented by Alexandra Echandi. See attached RDA and its attached accompanying documents.
- Continuing issues:
- Mary will contact someone in Hadley to discuss the bylaw they were said to have adopted protecting underground aquifers.
- Mary will contact Andrew Rawcliffe, the Director’s Agent at DCR about Fred Heyes’s refiled Forest Cutting Plan on Old Egypt Road off of West Street. Mr. Heyes told Mary in an email that they are not crossing Fiske Brook, but the FCP map shows that they are. Jim Slavas is said to have given permission “a long time ago” for the loggers to enter from his property at the Shutesbury end of Old Egypt Road. The FCP Certificate was issued by Mr. Rawcliffe with no date. Should we insist on an accurate FCP?
- Not wanting to cause friction with DCR, Mary has not yet asked Mr. Rawcliffe (DCR) if there was a current Forest Cutting Plan for the removal of dead pines at Montague and Carlton Roads during nesting season in violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. We did not get an FCP and the earlier cutting plan expired in 2020.
- Ward will report on what the commission should do about DEP Waterways’ determination that Bowen’s Pond is jurisdictional under M.G.L. Ch. 91 and 310 CMR 9.00.
- Erosion on Old Egypt Road: In visiting the Heyes FCP property, Dan Leahy and Mary found that the discontinued road is badly eroded on both sides of Fiske Brook and silt is washing into the water. This is likely to be contributing to the siltation of Fiske Pond, which subjectively seems shallower than it was 10 years ago. Should adjacent property owners repair the road?
- Items not anticipated at time of posting
- Minutes and mail: MA Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) dues for July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025. The invoice for $152 covers voting members only. For Mary to be covered as staff is additional $60. Total would be $212 if approved by the Commission.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87329211586?pwd=lFilZLWwziWqbfyaIP5qFmVAQOLi37.1
Meeting ID: 873 2921 1586
Passcode: 542858
Posted by Mary Thomas, Wendell Conservation Agent on July 12, 2024.