ARLINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES
APRIL 3, 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, Christine Wallace, Catherine Garnett and Judith Hodges of the Commission. John Belskis, Jon Gersh, Scott Goddard of Carrr Research Lab, Tom Flynn, Rev. James O’Leary, Leo Donabedian, Bill Ford, Joe Santore, and Kristen Murphy were present for the Poet’s Corner wetland. Christine Connolly, Director, Board of Health and Jon Jalbert, Director, Park and Recreation, were present for the work at Arlington Reservoir. Dr. Peter Braun, Doug Turner, Virginia Lawrence and Teresa Harrington, Medford Boat Club were present for the discussion of aquatic weeds in Upper Mystic Lake.
7:30pm MISCELLANEOUS –
The Commission didn’t receive the drafted 3/6 minutes, Ms. Beckwith will look for these and forward to the Commission.
Ms. Beckwith reported on an emergency drill held in town on 4/2 as a practice of the Town’s local emergency response network (LEPC). It involved fire, police, ambulance, hazardous material cleanup response, mass evacuation, shelter use. It was held at the Arlington Catholic High School. Everything went very smoothly. A report on the drill will be used to apply for federal funds.
The Commission will conduct a site walk to 71 Spy Pond Lane and 104 Spy Pond Parkway on April 5.
7:45pm REQUEST for DETERMINATION of APPLICABILITY for a wetland in the POET’S CORNER neighborhood
Scott Goddard of Carr Research Laboratory, Inc. presented information in support of the request of nearby residents to designate the wetland as a Bordering Vegetated Wetland based upon a hydrologic connection into a stormdrain inlet (located in the wetland behind 15 Kipling Rd) which outlets to the Clematis Brook at the border of Arlington with Belmont, into the golf course. The application included stormdrain maps from Town of Arlington.
The wetland is currently flagged with tapes marked, ILSF, which stands for Isolated Land Subject to Flooding.
The applicant agreed to continue the hearing until a dye test could be performed to confirm the hydrologic connection. In lieu of a test, written confirmation that the wetland is “connected” from the wetland consultant (Mike Derosa) for the property owner would be accepted.
The hearing was continued to May 1 at 7:45pm.
8:15pm REQUEST for DETERMINATION of APPLICABILITY for a temporary fence at the ARLINGTON RESERVOIR
Mr. Jalbert brought a map of the berm around the swimming area with the location of the temporary fence on it. The ends will connect up with the existing permanent chain link fence . The fence will be 3 feet high, with wooden vertical slats held together by wire (also called a snow fence). A metal pole will be installed by hand with no cement, every 15 feet. The fence is 800 feet long.
The purpose of the fence is to keep Canada Geese from swimming , eating grass and depositing feces in the swimming beach area.
The fence will be installed from May 1 to August 28th.
White/Garnnet motioned to issue a Determination of Applicability that while the work is within the Commission’s jurisdiction, filing of a Notice of Intent is not required. The Determination approves the work on the condition that the installation date is confirmed with local birders; the motion passed unanimously.
8:45pm Working Session – UPPER MYSTIC LAKE, aquatic weed treatments
Dr. Braun asked about extending the existing permit for the control of aquatic weeds in the southern cove of the Upper Mystic Lake.
The Medford Boat Club wished to join the residents in the permit by amending to include their dock/swimming area.
Dr. Braun will file for an Extension of the existing permit and then the Boat Club will file an Amendment for the additional work.
MISCELLANEOUS (cont.) –
Ms. Beckwith received information for the paving of Dothan St. The Commission asked that the proponents come in for a working session on 4/17.
The Land Stewards at Turkey Hill are organizing their first site walks and cleanup.
The Commission voted to convene at approximately 10:15pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Cori Beckwith, Administrator
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