 |
Approved 10/28/08
TOWN OF WELLESLEY
NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
October 14, 2008
NRC Office, Lower Level, Town Hall
Attending: Joan Gaughan, Chair, Richard Bashian, Vice Chair, Neal Seaborn, Heidi Gross, Janet Bowser, NRC Director.
Absent: Paul Cramer, Secretary.
Guest: Kathy Macdonald, Advisory Committee Liaison to the NRC.
Public Voice
No one attending the meeting spoke at Public Voice.
Update on Advisory Committee FY10 Capital and Operation Budget Guidelines
Ms. Macdonald stated that in light of the current financial situation, at the Federal, State and Local level, that the Advisory Committee has revised its guidelines for FY10 Capital Budgets and that the guidelines request that all departments, other than the School Committee, submit a 1% increase in the FY10 Operating Budget from FY09 and that the School Committee guideline is set at 3%. Ms. Macdonald stated that it appears that the Town faces in a number of years where budget pressures will be very tight, especially with the High School Project Debt Exclusion Override coming up at the end of this year.
Discussion/Vote Re: Extension of Morses Pond Management Services Contract with ENSR Corp.
Ms. Bowser reviewed with the NRC the extension for this contract between the NRC and the ENSR Corporation for Pond Management Services at Morses Pond. Ms. Bowser discussed with the NRC the work accomplished to date by Dr. Ken Wagner of ENSR who serves as the NRC’s Morses Pond Manager, and the NRC was in agreement that Dr. Wagner has done an exemplary job and that renewing his contract for another year is in the Town’s best interest. After a motion was made and seconded, the NRC voted 4-0 to approve a one-year extension of the contract between the NRC and the ENSR Corporation for one year for Pond Management Services at Morses Pond.
Review/Vote Re: Morses Pond Comprehensive Management Plan 5-Year Capital Budget
Ms. Bowser reviewed with the NRC the proposed 5-Year Morses Pond Comprehensive Management Plan Capital Budget Request that she prepared in collaboration with Dr. Ken Wagner. Ms. Bowser stated that the Morses Pond Management Committee made up of herself, Mr. Seaborn, and representatives from the DPW, the Board of Public Works, the Recreation Department, and the Recreation Commission met on October 10th and voted unanimously to support the capital budget request as prepared. There was some discussion regarding the particular elements and components of the Management Plan, and Mr. Bashian voiced concern about invasives weeds in the beach area, as well as in the adjacent old beach area. Mr. Seaborn stated that he will follow-up on these concerns with Dr. Wagner. After a motion was made and seconded,
the NRC voted 4-0 to approve the 5-Year Morses Pond Comprehensive Management Plan Capital Budget Request as outlined below.
FY10-FY14 Morses Pond Capital Budget Request
MORSES POND PLAN ELEMENT |
FY09 |
FY10 |
FY11 |
FY12 |
FY13 |
FY14 |
TOTAL |
Watershed Education Program |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
Website Design, Population, Monitoring |
*($20,000) |
$20,000 |
$10,000 |
$4,162 |
$4,200 |
$4,200 |
$42,562 |
Education Program Development |
~ |
$15,000 |
$10,000 |
$10,000 |
$10,000 |
$10,000 |
$55,000 |
Bylaw Review/Enhancement |
*(50,000) |
$20,00 |
$25,000 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
$45,000 |
Stormwater Mgt. Improvements /LID |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
Design, Permitting, other Support |
$50,000 |
$20,000 |
$20,000 |
$10,000 |
$10,000 |
$10,000 |
$120,000 |
Construction/ Demo & Monitoring |
~ |
$25,000 |
$5,000 |
$5,000 |
$5,000 |
$5,000 |
$45,000 |
Manual Harvesting/Bethnic Barriers |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
Design, Permitting, Other Support |
~ |
$10,000 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
$10,000 |
Hand Harvesting Labor |
Volunteer |
Volunteer |
Volunteer |
Volunteer |
Volunteer |
Volunteer |
~ |
Hand Harvesting Support |
~ |
$5,000 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
$5,000 |
Bethnic Barrier Materials |
~ |
Private |
Private |
Private |
Private |
Private |
~ |
Bethnic Barrier Labor |
~ |
Volunteer |
Volunteer |
Volunteer |
Volunteer |
Volunteer |
~ |
Monitoring |
~ |
$1,000 |
$1,020 |
$1,040 |
$1,061 |
$1,061 |
$5,182 |
Selective Planting |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
Design, Permitting, Other Support |
~ |
~ |
$10,000 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
$10,000 |
Planting |
~ |
~ |
~ |
$75,000 |
$75,000 |
~ |
$150,000 |
Monitoring |
~ |
~ |
~ |
$4,000 |
$4,000 |
~ |
$8,000 |
Total |
($50,000 |
$116,0000 |
$81,020 |
$109,202 |
$109,261 |
$30,261 |
$445,744 |
* Deferred at Advisory’s Request from FY09 to FY14
Review and Vote Re: NRC’s 5-Year (FY10 - FY14) Capital Budget Request to the Advisory Committee
The NRC reviewed its 5-Year Capital Plan as prepared by Ms. Bowser in consultation with Mike Quinn, Assistant Superintendent of Parks at the DPW. Ms. Bowser stated that a number of items have been added since last year’s Capital Plan at the DPW’s request, including funds for emergency park sidewalk and pathway repairs, as well as a large capital request in FY12 for a Park, Pathway, and Sidewalk Renovation Master Plan that will address the need to improve park paths and sidewalks throughout Town, and the possible renovation of the Kelley Field Tennis Courts in FY13. Mr. Seaborn stated that he has requested that the NRC place in its FY10 Capital Request $130,000 for the Lower Falls Charles River Bridge Preservation Project in order to keep all funding options open for this project, and he stated that this
project is also being submitted to the CPC for possible CPA funding. After further discussion, a motion was made and seconded, and the NRC voted 4-0 to approve the NRC’s 5-Year Capital Budget Request (See attached approved 5-Year Capital Budge Request).
Director’s Report
Update on Scheduling Meeting with Green Ribbon Study Committee
Ms. Bowser stated that she had been contacted by the Green Ribbon Study Committee Chair Katie Gibson, who would like to meet with a representative and staff from the NRC to discuss the NRC’s programs and projects regarding sustainability issues and to see how the Committee can work with the NRC on related items of interest. Mr. Seaborn volunteered to meet with Ms. Bowser and the Green Ribbon Study Committee, and he will contact Ms. Gibson for a possible meeting on Oct. 22nd.
Update on Temporary Staging Needs at the Kelley Park Gravel Parking Lot off Elmwood
Ms. Bowser stated that Mr. Quinn indicated that the DPW will need to use the gravel parking lot near Kelley Park for a staging area, as it completes its work for street improvements in this area, and that the parking area will be restored to its original condition.
Update on 27 Washington Street Project Wetlands Permit Appeal
Ms. Bowser stated that the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has dismissed one of the appeals under the State’s Wetlands Protection Act due to the appellant’s lack of standing as an aggrieved party or an abutter to the project. Ms. Bowser stated that there is still an outstanding appeal under the Wetlands Protection Bylaw and she will continue to keep the NRC informed as to the status of this appeal.
Update on Status of NRC Town Hall Entrance Safety Improvement Project and the Warren Basketball Court Improvement Project
Ms. Bowser stated that the DPW has started the NRC’s Town Hall Entrance Safety Improvement Project, which is an NRC capital project and it should be completed within the next several weeks. She said that the DPW’s work on the NRC’s Warren Basketball Court Renovation and Improvement Capital Project should begin by the end of this fall.
Update on Playing Fields Task Force Issues
Ms. Bowser stated that the next Playing Fields Task Force Meeting is scheduled for October 17th and that she will attend the meeting and will inform the Task Force Members about the new dog leash regulations at Perrin Park. Ms. Bowser discussed with the NRC a number of other issues currently under discussion by the Playing Fields Task Force, including long-term projects including installation of artificial turf at the High School football field, a swimming pool, hockey rink as use of the St. James property for playing fields.
Meeting with Advisory Committee to Present the NRC and Morses Pond Capital Request
Ms. Bowser stated that the NRC is scheduled to meet with the Advisory Committee to present its 5-Year Capital Budget Request and the Morses Pond 5-Year Capital Budget Request on December 10th at 7:30 PM.
Update on the University of New Hampshire Stormwater Management Workshop
Ms. Bowser stated that she, Mr. Seaborn, and Mr. Bossi attended this Workshop on October 9th, and it was particularly useful in that they were able to inspect a number of stormwater management and limited impact sites, including the use of porous pavement. The NRC discussed in some detail the potential for using porous pavement in several NRC land improvement projects, including the Fuller Brook Preservation Master Plan, as well in the State Street Parking lot that will be altered for the High School Project for temporary parking.
Liaison Reports/Continued Business/New Business
Update on the Lower Falls Charles River Bridge Preservation Project
Mr. Seaborn outlined the status of this project, and indicated that he is making good progress in securing funding, both from the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), as well as funding from the NRC’s Trails Committee and the Newton Conservators, who are all interested in helping to fund the first stage of this project, which will be a design and project development assessment. Mr. Seaborn reviewed with the NRC two grant applications, one a partnership application to the Mass. Department of Conservation and Recreation and the second is a short application to the Wellesley CPC. After further discussion, a motion was made and seconded, and the NRC voted 4-0 to approve both grant application forms. Mr. Seaborn stated that he will keep the NRC updated on the status of this project.
Update on Fuller Brook Park Preservation Master Plan
Ms. Gross briefly outlined the remaining elements needed to complete this Master Plan. The NRC agreed that the path should be an uniform 8 feet in width throughout the park.
Review and Approval of NRC Meeting Minutes of September 9 and September 23, 2008
After a motion was made and seconded, the NRC voted 4 – 0 to approve the NRC Meeting Minutes of September 9 and September 23, 2008, as written.
Next Scheduled NRC Meeting
The next NRC Meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, October 28 at 7:30 PM in the NRC Office at Town Hall.
Adjournment
After a motion was made and seconded, the NRC voted 4 – 0 to adjourn the meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 9:55 PM.
Respectfully submitted:
Janet Hartke Bowser
NRC Director
| |
