HINGHAM CONSERVATION COMMISSION
March 9, 2009 at 7:00 PM Central Meeting Room North
MEETING MINUTES
Present: Eugene Babin–Vice Chair, Doug Harvey, Bill Grafton, Carolyn Nielsen and Cliff Prentiss- Conservation Officer
Absent: Charles Berry, Samuel Chapin-Chair
CONSERVATION AGENDA
March 9, 2009
7:00 PM
Old/New Business
Approve Draft Minutes 2/9/09, 2/23/09
7:15 PM
Requests for Determination of Applicability - None
7:30 PM
Notices of Intent
29 Bel Air Road – DEP SE 34 0993
Applicant: Robert Sullivan / Representative: Paul Mirabito – Ross Engineering Company, Inc
15 Beach Road – DEP SE 34 0995
Applicant: Wayne Monaghan / Representative: Shawn Hardy – Hardy Engineering
240, 242, 244, 246 Lazell St. and 120 South Pleasant St. – DEP SE 34 0986-Continuance
Applicant: James Robichaud, South Pleasant Street Realty Trust / Rep.: Gary James, James Engineering
Orders of Conditions
4 Steamboat Lane – DEP 34 0992
Applicants: Hugh & Mary Ellen McLaughlin / Representative: Carmen Hudson, Cavanaro Consulting, Inc.
578 Main Street – (South Shore Baptist Church) and 10/12 & 20 Free St. – DEP SE 34 0990
Applicant: South Shore Baptist Church / Representative: Rod Gaskell, SITEC Environmental, Inc.
Certificates of Compliance - None
Old/New Business
1. Old/New Business
Vice Chairman Babin is Acting Chair tonight as Commission Chapin has been called out of town. The Commission extends its condolences to the Chapin family.
Approve Draft Minutes 2/9/09, 2/23/09
Discussion: Commissioner Chapin has not had the opportunity to review the draft minutes, so it is suggested that these be tabled to the next meeting.
Motion: Commissioner Nielson motioned to table draft minutes of 2/9 and 2/23/09 till next meeting.
Second: Commissioner Grafton In Favor: All Opposed: None
2. Update on the Dock and Pier Warrant Article
Discussion: Commissioner Nielsen updated the Commission on the Dock and Pier Warrant Article
Selectmen will be reviewing the Article, 3/10/09 at 7:45 p.m. Chris Daley and Commissioner Nielsen will be there. All other Commissioners and Cliff are invited. She noted that the Selectmen and Advisory Committee do notice if additional support comes in from town committees working in teams. The Dock and Pier Article is scheduled for the Advisory Committee agenda on Thursday, 3/12/09 at 9:15 p.m. All are invited to come.
3. Update on the Transfer Article
Discussion: The Conservation Officer updated the Commission on Transfer Article on Abington Street.
A joint meeting was held last week with the CPC, Advisory Board and the Selectmen.
4. Update on Road Acceptance
Discussion: The Conservation Officer updated the Commission on road acceptance dealing with Wind Song Way and Great Rock Road. The Fire Department has concerns with the sizing of the road for the safe passage of fire engines. Other agencies in town are concerned with reducing sizing of the roads due to stormwater drainage.
5. Update on the FY’10 Budget
Discussion: The Conservation Officer updated the Commission on the budget. The Advisory Board is recommending a figure of $155,000 out of the $198,000 requested. Staffing and expense cutbacks will be needed. The Town Accountant is advising to cut back on the usage of the Wetland Filing Fees for salaries since filings fees are coming in at a slower rate. We need to investigate for the future the process to request available Bylaw fees to be dedicated for the Commission’s usages presently these fees are going into the Towns General Fund. The Town Administrator, Kevin Paicos presented a Municipal Finance Workshop at the MACC Conference on this subject.
6. Eel Grass Map
Discussion: The Conservation Officer noted that the office now has an updated map dealing with eelgrass inventory for the Town. The updated map exhibits that eelgrass has declined dramatically.
Request for Determinations - None
Notice of Intent – Commissioner Babin read the usual information dealing with Notices of Intent.
1. Notices of Intent -29 Bel Air Road – DEP SE 34 0993
Applicant: Robert Sullivan / Representative: Paul Mirabito – Ross Engineering Company, Inc
Commissioner Babin opened the hearing and read correspondence that the applicant has requested a continuance to the next Conservation meeting on April 6, 2009. Commissioner Babin opened the hearing to the public. No public comment. Commission Babin closed the hearing to the public.
Motion: Commissioner Nielsen motioned to approve the applicant’s request for a continuance to April 6, 2009.
Second: Commissioner Grafton In Favor: All Opposed: None
2. 15 Beach Road – DEP SE 34 0995
Applicant: Wayne Monaghan / Representative: Shawn Hardy – Hardy Engineering
Presentation by Mr. Hardy-Representative: The project involves flood proofing an existing a single-family residence. The proposed work is located within the Buffer Zone to a Coastal Bank and in a FEMA flood zone. Proposal is to jack up home 11-12 feet, and maintain the existing footprint. The existing driveway is to remain. Pictures of the home and the flooding the property experiences were shown. The Conservation Officer noted that this appears to be a sensible solution.
Commissioner Babin opened the hearing to the public. No public comment. The Chairman closed the hearing to the public.
Motion: Commissioner Harvey motioned to close the hearing and issue an Order of Conditions.
Second: Commissioner Grafton In Favor: All Opposed: None
3. 240, 242, 244, 246 Lazell St. and 120 South Pleasant St. – DEP SE 34 0986-Continuance
Applicant: James Robichaud, South Pleasant Street Realty Trust / Rep.: Gary James, James Engineering
Presentation: The Conservation Officer noted that he had not had the opportunity to view the revised plans. The peer reviewer, Paul Brogna is reviewing revised plans and drainage calculations. A meeting is scheduled for tomorrow as noted by Gary James to review the information.
A site visit will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. by the Conservation Commission.
Commissioner Babin opened the hearing to the public.
Abutter Ann Healy – 209 Lazell St. has concerns with problems dealing with surface water and drainage.
Abutter Kathy Morrison – 128 S. Pleasant St. suggested that during the site visit scheduled for Saturday-3/14/09 that the Commissioners also view the abutters’ properties.
The Chairman closed the hearing to the public.
Motion: Commissioner Grafton motioned to continue the meeting to March 23, 2009 with the representative’s consent.
Second: Commissioner Nielsen In Favor: All Opposed: None
Order of Conditions
4 Steamboat Lane – DEP 34 0992
Applicants: Hugh & Mary Ellen McLaughlin / Representatives: John Cavanaro, Carmen Hudson, Cavanaro Consulting, Inc.
Presentation: The Commission and Conservation Officer discussed the draft Order and amendments recommended as discussed.
Motion: Commissioner Grafton motioned to approve and issue the Order as amended by Commissioner Nielsen.
Second: Commissioner Harvey In Favor: All Opposed: None
578 Main Street – (South Shore Baptist Church) and 10/12 & 20 Free St. – DEP SE 34 0990
Applicant: South Shore Baptist Church / Representative: Rod Gaskell, SITEC Environmental, Inc.
Presentation: The Commission and Conservation Officer discussed the draft Order and amendments recommended as discussed.
Motion: Commissioner Grafton motioned to approve and issue the Order as amended.
Second: Commissioner Nielsen In Favor: All Opposed: None
Certificates of Compliance - None
Meeting Adjourned at 8:16 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_________________________________________
Cliff Prentiss, Conservation Officer
Approved as amended on 05/18/09.