ARLINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES
FEBRUARY 27, 2003
Mr. Stevens called the meeting to order at 7:30pm at the second floor conference room of the Town Hall Annex. Present were Nathaniel Stevens, David White, Timothy Sullivan, Catherine Garnett and Judith Hodges of the Commission. Mike Wilson of Westmoreland Ave attended and is considering applying to join the Commission.
7:30pm MISCELLANEOUS –
White/Hodges motioned to approve the 2/6/03 minutes with minor edits; motion passed unanimously.
Fiscal – The Commission signed the invoice authorization to pay Aquatic Control Technology $850 for work at Meadowbrook Park. The Department of Public Works signed the invoice authorization to pay Aquatic Control Technology $14,890 for work at the Arlington Reservoir. Both were forwarded to the Comptroller and the checks should be issued next week.
The Commission met with the Finance Committee on 2/26 regarding our budget and the request to make across the board 10% reductions. The Commission outlined that our total budget (just under $20K) is small and consists almost entirely of the Administrators salary. A reduction of $2000 could mean that all expenses are curtailed (office supplies) and the possibility of a furlough for the administrator. The Commission discussed the situation that our fees that we take in are currently being used to pay the adminstrator’s salary and it is an unreliable revenue stream. The Commission will look into other revenue sources such as gray billing and enforcement fines (to enter into a tree fund as is done in other towns nearby).
The future of harvesting water chestnuts from the Arlington Reservoir was also discussed. It is unclear whether the Commission has another $15K in the capital budget for this summer’s 2003 harvesting. The projected needs are that summer 2003 will need $15K and the summer 2004 will need $10K worth of work. There is a joint Warrant Article moving forward to combine this request with work at Spy and Hills Ponds.
The meeting schedules will be modified slightly to the 3/6 meeting will start at 8:30 and the 4/24 meeting will be moved to 4/17 in order to avoid the spring holiday week.
The Commission was notified by the Park Department their wishes to install the temporary fence on the berm at the Reservoir beach in order to prevent Canada Geese from soiling the swimming area. The Commission will require a Request for Determination of Applicability and will tentatively schedule this hearing on 3/20. Ms Beckwith will inform the Parks Department.
The Commission will send a second letter to the Menotomy Village on Park Ave. regarding their lack of communication on our enforcement letter dealing with snow dumping into Geri’s Brook.
The Commission voted to convene at approximately 9:40pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Cori Beckwith, Administrator
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