ARLINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES
APRIL 4, 2002
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, Christine Wallace, David White, Catherine Garnett and Judith Hodges of the Commission. Ron Sender was also present. Cori Beckwith, Conservation Administrator, was not present due to illness.
7:30pm MISCELLANEOUS –
Mr. White reported on stockpiles at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, one medium and several small piles are in the northwest corner. He also noted that it did not appear that any seeding had occurred.
Mr. Stevens relayed Ms. Beckwith’s report of her visit last weekend to the Hills Pond Wall Project. She reports that the button bushes had been removed and that the erosion controls looked fine. She had not seen the de-watering basin as described in an e-mail to the Commission by Clarissa Rowe. Several of the Commissioners said they would visit the site soon on their own.
The spring clean up at Meadowbrook Park will be May 4, 2002, most likely in the morning. Mr. White reported the need to clean out a debris dam forming in the brook in Meadowbrook Park; he will contact Rich Bento, DPW Director, about this. Mr. Stevens reported that Rich Bento says the fence between Meadowbrook Park and the road in the cemetery was modified to allow access; it has been repaired but without providing access to Meadowbrook Park. Several of the Commissioners said they would visit the site on their own.
Mr. White and Mr. Stevens reported on bikeway issues as discussed at the April 3, 2002 Open Space Committee meeting, at which Rich Bento was present. Mr. Bento stated that DPW is budgeted for about 100 trees, and that their landscaper would be making recommendations; these are to replant some of those recently cleared by DPW crew. He did not know about the Commission’s native species list, and agreed that the Commission could provide some input on the location and type of trees and plantings. Ron Sender said the Planning Department may have a copy of the original planting plan for the bikeway. The Town’s plans for repaving the bikeway were also discussed.
The Friends of Alewife Reservation had informally approached the Commission about donating time or Cori’s time to the invasive species control plan at Yates Pond in Cambridge. The Commission decided that Ms. Beckwith’s time was not sufficient to contribute and that it should be spent on the many issues in Arlington.
The Commission talked about its March 30 site walk to discuss flooding along No Name (aka Geri’s) Brook and the new Tiger Cage.
The Commission agreed to try to set up a site visit on Saturday, April 6, 2002 for the Keyspan project in Lower Mystic Lake, and the various anticipated Mystic Bank projects.
The Annual Report to Town Meeting was discussed. Ms. Hodges agreed to work on a draft. The Executive Summary of Frances Clark’s report and a map of Great Meadows will be attached to the report to distribute to Town Meeting Members.
Mr. White reminded the Commission about an e-mail reporting trash being dumped on conservation land on Brattle Street (near Washington Street).
Ms. Wallace reminded the Commission about the Spy Pond Marking Day which is April 27, 2002.
Since the Commission met tonight, it will not hold an April 18 meeting; the next meeting will be May 2.
The Commission will cancel the May 16th meeting and hold one on May 9th in order to ensure a quorum.
The Commission voted to convene at approximately 8:40 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Nathaniel Stevens, Chair
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