ARLINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES
DECEMBER 15, 2005
Mr. Stevens called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the second floor conference room of the Town Hall Annex. Present were Timothy Sullivan, David White, Ellen Reed, Catherine Garnett, and Judith Hodges of the Commission. William O’Rourke, of the Commission was not in attendance. Elsie Fiore, Carolyn Mieth, Ingeborg Hegemann and Steve Kaiser were also in attendance.
7:30 p.m. - COMMISSION BUSINESS
Mr. Stevens submitted photos taken in late or mid October, 2005 of the 365 Mystic St. property and photos of sand from 17 Mill St. entering Mill Brook which he took in April 2005.
Ms. Fiore spoke to a meeting conducted by DCR regarding stewardship of state lands and noted the use of chemicals.
Ms. Reed reported on the Mystic River Action Plan which included discussion of use of Sonar on Mystic River/Lake in Winchester. Ms. Reed is very concerned about this chemical. She intends to write up a research report on her findings showing accumulation in animals and no long termlong-term studies. The use of this herbicide is only a band-aid approach and not a solution to the problem of nutrient pollution.
Ms. Beckwith reported on the Stormwater Bylaw review committee meeting the previous Monday. The draft will be sent to the Attorney General, then the warrant opens in late Dec to January for submittal to the Town Meeting.
Ms. Reed reported on the Hills Pond, Menotomy Rocks Park management plan wish list. This has been honed down somewhat to include path improvements in the spring. Will come for permits.
Ms. Beckwith discussed the inflow and infiltration bylaw proposed by David Stoff. The draft will be distributed to the Commission for review and comment.
Ms. Garnett announced that the ALT stewardship fund received a generous donation of $1000 for native plantings at the Arlington Reservoir.
8:15 pm – Notice of Noncompliance for pathway work at Alewife Reservation
Ms. Garnett recused herself from the rest of the proceedings since she is an employee of DCR.
Ms. Hegemann presented information regarding pathway construction conducted by Bulfinch, Co. on behalf of DCR. There was an oversight that the work was conducted in Arlington as the town boundary skews back towards the T station.
Ms. Garnett had to recuse herself from the rest of the proceedings since she is an employee of DCR.
The pathway consists of stabilized aggregate, not blacktop. In the Cambridge portion of the project is a small bridge over a swale. Cambridge was requiring the pathway construction as a requirement of the occupancy permit for the Acorn park development. Originally the pathway width was proposed as 5 ft. By the time, various departments in Cambridge had reviewed the design, the path was 10 feet wide. DCR is requiring that the width be maintained at 8ft wide with grassed shoulders.
Ms. Fiore spoke to voiced her concern of the safety of the pathway entrance to the sidewalk of the T Interim Access ramp from Rt. 2, and cars are traveling very fast. The turning of bikes onto the existing sidewalk is too narrow. She spoke of her prior efforts to protect the Reservation.
Mr. Kaiser spoke of the plans drawn up of the project, when presented to Cambridge, didn’t include any town boundary.
The Commission agreed that the DCR should file an NOI for the pathway work. The board will schedule a site walk during the week of Jan. 1st with Ms. Hegemann via email.
The Commission voted to convene at approximately 10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Corinna Beckwith
Administrator
| 
