Conservation Commission

TOWN OF PRINCETON

BOARD/COMMITTEE: PRINCETON CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES

DATE: May 19, 2020           TIME: 7:00             LOCATION: Remote access only

Note: this public meeting and public hearing were conducted via remote teleconferencing due to COVID-19 precautions.  Public participation details were posted with the agenda.

Members in attendance remotely:  Brian Keevan, John Vieira, Rachael Catlow, Barbara Laughlin, Ron Thompson

Applicants and others in attendance remotely:  Doug Andrysick, Christine Rainville, Glenn Dugger, and Pam Beach. 

Brian Keevan called the meeting to order at 7:01 PM.

Votes taken in the following actions are “all in favor” unless noted otherwise.

Public Hearings and Meetings:

Item 1: 7:18pm - 8:18pm - 155 Brooks Station Road (Enforcement Order) DEP File# 267-0427.  Art Allen from EcoTec, Inc., representing the landowner, submitted revised plans to the Commission.  Doug Andrysick, representing the landowner reviewed, presented the revised plans that clarified the following:

• Existing vs. proposed grading lines and areas of hatching were better defined.
• Estimated elevations of the site, prior to the 2019 septic replacement, where it abuts the Rainville property were based on original septic design/installation plans dated 2002. 

Doug stated that Art Allen did forward all relevant materials to a City of Worcester property representative.  Doug stated that any soil added to the wetland disturbed areas would not be left so as to create impounded areas or restrict flow.  The spacing of boulders to be placed along the Rainville property boundary will be such that water flow, if present, will not be restricted.  The Commission voted to include the following special conditions into the Order of Conditions:

• required monitoring plan for a period of up to three (3) years to monitor and address invasive species inadvertently included in any off-site source loam material used for site restoration. 
• Possible escrow account to ensure that monitoring will be completed for the three-year period.

Doug Andrysick, on behalf of the applicant, requested a continuance until the June 2020 meeting.

Item 2: 8:19pm - 8:23pm – Certificate of Compliance (COC) for septic repair at 53 Bullard Road (DEP #267-0425).  Glenn Dugger, the property owner, called into the meeting.  Brian Keevan inspected the site on May 14, 2020 and observed that the hydroseeded area has not yet reached 70-75% germination.  The Commission will reinspect the site prior to the June 16, 2020 meeting to consider the COC.   

Item 3: 8:23pm - 8:29pm – Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) related to a front porch addition at 147 Hubbardston Road.  Brian, Ron, and Rachael conducted a site visit on May 14, 2020, and the area of work does not appear to be located within any jurisdictional areas.  The Commission voted to issue a Negative Determination of Applicability #1 since the project is outside an area of jurisdiction and not subjected to the Wetlands Protection Act (WPA) at 8:28PM. 

Item 4: 8:30pm - 8:33pm – COC for a garage project at NEADS (DEP File #267-0401).  Brian Keevan inspected the site on May 14, 2020 and observed that the hydroseeding was just completed and had not yet reached 70-75% germination.  The Commission will reinspect the site prior to the June 16, 2020 meeting to consider the COC.   

Item 5: 8:33pm - 9:28pm – Amended plan review of East Princeton Road bridge replacement (DEP File 267-0420).  Brian attended a preconstruction site meeting with a Town Highway Dept representative, Ben Metcalf, and a Jacobs Engineering representative.  The Commission discussed the changes in proposed water management, and determined that the changes, as proposed, warrant additional review and require that the public hearing be reopened.  The Commission voted to require a new public hearing (9:22PM). 

Item 6: 9:29pm - 9:33pm – Lot 4A Pine Hill Road driveway wetland crossing and replication (DEP File #267-0406).  On May 14, 2020, Brian, Ron, and Rachael conducted a site visit and it appears that most of the erosion control barriers have been repaired or placed in the proper areas.  There are still limited areas of erosion control that need to be placed to conform to the plans.

Item 7: 9:34pm - 9:39pm – 16 Pine Hill Road (DEP File #267-0419).  Brian provided an update regarding progress on wetland restoration.  Brian contacted Art Allen on May 19, 2020 via email to inquire about work completed to date.  Brian will contact Art Allen to schedule a site visit to confirm that restoration activities are being conducted as proposed.

Item 8: 9:45pm -9:57pm – 93 Main Street Enforcement Order.  The Commission reviewed proposed correspondence addressed to Bill Chase, the RDA Applicant, with a copy to be sent to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) regarding non-compliance to requested items identified in an Enforcement Order dated October 16, 2019.  Brian will contact the MassDEP to ask if they would be willing to assist in getting the outstanding information from the original RDA applicant. 

Commission Other Business, Mail, Procedures, etc.:

9:28 pm - Ron Left the meeting

9:39pm – 9:45pm – Main Street drainage concerns for the area near the bridge were discussed by Brian.  The storm event on May 15, 2020 overwhelmed the erosion control barriers.  Brian inspected the area post storm event and took pictures and submitted them to the DCR and Lynch Construction.  Brian is scheduled to attend a site visit on May 20, 2020 with relevant parties to the project.

9:57pm – 10:01pm – Main Street SWPPP reports have been received by the Commission and Brian updated the Commission about is observations of the wetland construction near the Fire Department. 

10:03pm – 10:15pm - Rachel discussed quotes for a new Commission laptop.  The Commission voted to approve a future expense of a sum not to exceed $2,000.00 to purchase a laptop and associated software.

Forest Cutting plans:  No new plans to review.

Approve Minutes

The Commission voted to approve the March 17 and April 21, 2020 meeting minutes with minor edits at the start of the meeting. 

Meeting adjourned at 10:17pm

Respectfully submitted, Barbara Laughlin