ARLINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES
DECEMBER 6, 2001
Mr. Stevens called the meeting to order at 7:30pm in the second floor conference room of the Town Hall Annex. Present were Nathaniel Stevens, Timothy Sullivan, Judith Hodges, David White, and Christine Wallace of the Commission. Ron Sender of the Arlington Bikeway Advisory Committee and Bob Lafyatis of the Poet’s Corner neighborhood also were in attendance.
7:30pm MISCELLANEOUS –
Fiscal matters - multiple payments and account liquidations were approved by the Commission.
Sullivan/White motioned to approve the minutes of 11/1, 11/15 and 11/27/01 (with edits); motion passed unanimously.
7:45pm REPAIR OF DRAINAGE STRUCTURE, GERI’S BROOK AT BIKEPATH – NOTICE OF INTENT, CONTINUED from 11/15/01
Ms. Wallace and Mr. White met with Ron Santasuosso on 11/29/01. The structure will be a precast 10x10 foot box with a 5 foot deep sump. The connections will be cut into the precast structure in the field. The wingwalls will not flare from the structure. The trash grate will be constructed on site of rebar and will attach to the sloped top of the wingwalls. The top of the structure will be solid concrete with a manhole cover to access the sump. The length of construction should be two weeks. The trenching and pipe installation should take two days. The bike path should be closed only for pipe installation. During this time path traffic will have a detour. This should be reviewed by the bikeway committee. Ms. Wallace recalculated the flow of the
system. The system will still be undercapacity but it will improve the existing conditions. Mr. White described how Mill Brook reached Geri’s Brook during high flow events by flooding Old Colony and the Arlington Coal and Lumber yard then flowing to the Bikepath and then to Geri’s Brook.
The Commission would like the following conditions in its permit:
- maintain warning and safety signs and lights during construction
- limit construction hours to morning until 3:30pm
- have detour reviewed by Jack Johnson of the bikeway committee
- having maintenance and monitoring reports sent to the Commission for the next three years
Wallace/White motioned to accept the project with above conditions, contingent upon receipt of the DEP file number and a set of revised plans from the Engineering Dept; motion passed unanimously.
MISCELLANEOUS, cont.
Mr. White asked if pruning of vegetation next to Mill Brook in the vicinity of the Sunrise Development at 1395 Massachusetts Ave. was approved in the permit. Ms. Beckwith recalled only that hand work to control invasive species was a condition. She will review the file.
Mr. Stevens reviewed the issuance of permits in relation to docks on Mystic Lake and the Chapter 91 process. It was concluded that the Commission would draft a survey form and cover letter for all existing docks and have all new docks go through filing permits.
Ms. Hodges conducted a site walk of 12 Mystic Bank where the dock had been removed from the water for the winter. She took photographs. The permit for the deck included a condition to plant blueberries. This work had been completed. The owners had placed loose mulch beneath the plantings. Ms. Hodges agreed to call them and ask them to rake the mulch back from the water’s edge. This location should have erosion control fabric instead of loose mulch.
Ms. Beckwith inspected the erosion controls at the Algonquin gas line along Alewife Brook on 11/30/01. Work is scheduled to being this week.
Ms. Beckwith and Mr. White attended a site walk at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery on 11/28/01 regarding the placement of erosion control fabric on the bank of Mill Brook.
Mr. White reported on the Busa Farm development proposed in Lexington. The Arlington Board of Selectmen sent a letter supporting the protection of open space and flood capacity coming since the site drains down Munroe Brook into Arlington Reservoir. The Commission will look into ways of completing the Munroe Brook trail to connect with Farm Rd.
Mr. Lafyatis of the Poet’s Corner neighborhood asked the Commission about the status of the filing by St. Camillus. No filing has been received to date.
A meeting to organize the public meeting in January for the Great Meadows Stewards will be held Wednesday 12/12/01 at 6:30pm in the 1st floor conference room of the Town Hall Annex.
Ms. Beckwith will conduct a site walk of 78 Summer St. on 12/7/01 regarding the developer’s request for a Certificate of Compliance.
The Commission voted to convene at approximately 10:45pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Cori Beckwith, Administrator
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