ARLINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES
OCTOBER 17, 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, David White, Timothy Sullivan, Catherine Garnett, and Judith Hodges. Christine Wallace of the Commission was not in attendance. Charles Wright of the Winchester Country Club, Payson Whitney and Ann McMenemy of Environmental Science Services, Inc.presented the well project. Also present were Stephen Cohn of 23 Cambridge St, Winchester, Anita Flint, Michael Flint and Jeff Flint of 455 Mystic Street, Larry Beals of the Winchester Boat Club, Trevor Astor of 469 Mystic St., Kara Brewton of Mystic River Watershed Association, Marguerite and Harry Groome of 459 Mystic Street.
7:30pm MISCELLANEOUS –
White/Sullivan motioned to approve the 10/3 minutes with minor edits; motion passed unanimously.
Willows were planted on October 7 next to the weir in Meadowbrook Park. An additional willow log that had washed downstream was anchored to the shoreline in hopes that it too would root into the embankment.
7:45pm – WINCHESTER COUNTRY CLUB – NOTICE OF INTENT for irrigation project
Mr. Stevens opened the pubic hearing by reading the legal advertisement placed in the Arlington Advocate.
Mr. Whitney presented the project to the Commission in detail. There are two easements on the property on 459 Mystic Street. One is for access and the other for the pipeline from the well. The pipe will have to cross Herbert Meyer Brook in order to hook up to the sleeve installed under Mystic Street. The pipe under Herbert Meyer Brook will be installed at least three feet below the bottom of the brook. The excavation will be done while the water is diverted into a lined channel excavated adjacent to the brook .
A wildlife habitat evaluation concluded that there were no nesting, burrowing sites within this stretch of the brook due to the existing stone wall and generally rocky substrate. The best time of year for the well installation is in the winter when the ground is frozen. The best time of year to do the trenching for the pipeline is during the low flow season in late summer. Mr. White asked if there would be any change in the irrigation procedures. Mr. Wright responded that there would be no changes.
Mr. Astor, of 469 Mystic, requested that an automatic shut-off valve be installed in the event of a sudden drop in pressure (due to pipe breakage) in order to not exacerbate any flooding in the area. He also asked if there would be any changes in the water quality of the brook and Mystic Lake due to the proposed project. Will the runoff be exacerbated?
Mr. Payson and Ms. McMenemy answered that there will be no change in the runoff from the Winchester Country Club due to this project.
Mr. Cohn asked about the drawdown from the well usage and how this might affect low water conditions in the Mystic Lake. Will the sediments be exposed which could potentially dry out and blow around and smell?
Mr. Whitney replied that the water withdrawal permit addresses conditions of declared drought emergencies that it is necessary to limit or stop the well.
Michael Flint asked if anyone will be held responsible if tree roots are cut and the trees later falls down and damages adjacent property. The Commission can condition that followup inspections be conducted to confirm the health of adjacent trees.
Maintenance will be needed three times a year on the well and it will be necessary to cross the brook for to access the well. The current easement states that the site must be returned to its current condition after each activity. The Club is currently negotiating with the Groome’s to work out the details of this work and the final revegetation plan.
The method of stream crossing for the very large drill rig will utilize 1-3 inch gravel for abutments and timbers. Subsequent access will only require a large pickup truck to enter the site.
Ms. Brewton of Mystic River Watershed Association asked if there was any contamination from the upstream pollutants from Woburn at the well site. Mr. Whitney said that the testing done to date didn’t show any contamination.
Mr. Payson said that the water permit requires that the adjacent wetland near the well be monitored yearly and a report sent in to DEM with the conclusion of a 5 year period.
Ms. Groome asked if there was any way to improve the brook to contain flooding within the confines of the existing waterway, for instance, clean it out. Mr. Sullivan of the Commission, answered that boulders in the waterway actually help to slow flows down and have a positive benefit to the erosive force of the water during flood events.
Mr. Stevens requested that a site walk be scheduled in order to review the presented information. Mr. Wright said that he would coordinate this.
Mr. Sullivan asked about the dewatering of the pump test water. Mr. Stevens asked for details of the dewatering device to be drawn up on a sketch plan and asked for a modification to the erosion control specifications to exclude the long term stockpiling of soils on site.
Ms. Garnett asked about supervision of this work. Mr. Wright said that they would probably hire ESS to oversee this work. D.L. Mar is the drilling company.
With the applicant’s permission, the Commission continued the hearing until November 7 at 7:45pm in order to hold the site walk and for the additional information.
9:40pm – HILLS POND, AMENDMENT TO ORDER OF CONDITIONS #91-152, CONTROL OF INVASIVE PLANTS
Ms Beckwith represented the applicant and described the need to remove poison ivy, Japanese knotweed and Purple Loosestrife from areas near the pond that are also next to the paths. They will employ Aquatic Control Technology in the application of Rodeo for this work. The areas are very small, discrete locations.
White/Garnett motioned to accept the proposal; motion passed unanimously.
9:45pm – EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Commission took a roll call vote to enter into executive session in order to discuss pending litigation. The Commission came out of executive session at approximately 10pm by a roll call vote.
MISCELLANEOUS, CONT. –
Ms. Beckwith attended the Capital Budget subcommittee meeting. The fiscal situation is very grim and so our proposals need to have additional information in order to support our requests.
There has been new work and materials left at the Commission’s Arlmont property. The DPW will be contacted to find out who is doing this.
Announcements:
The Conservation Commission will hold a fall cleanup of the Window on the Mystic on Saturday,. November 16, 10-2pm.
The Arlington Land Trust’s annual meeting will be held at 7pm, Monday, November 18 at the Robbins Library.
The final meeting regarding MDC’s Alewife Reservation Master Plan, “Preferred Alternative” will be held on November20th, 7-9pm, Temple Beth El, Belmont
The Commission voted to convene at approximately 10:30pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Cori Beckwith, Administrator
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