Approved 4/16/09
TOWN OF WELLESLEY
NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
March 10, 2009, 7:30 PM
NRC Office, Lower Level, Town Hall
Attending: Joan Gaughan, Chair, Richard Bashian, Vice Chair, Paul Cramer, Secretary, Neal Seaborn, Heidi Gross, Janet Hartke Bowser, NRC Director.
Guests: Andy Wrobel, Recreation Commission Member and Chairman of the Playing Fields Task Force, Pace Wilson, 24 Beverly Road, Member of and Wellesley Dog Group.
Public Voice
Ms. Pace Wilson of the Wellesley Dog Group stated that she has started a website blog entitled “Perrin User Group” and she is currently responsible for posting a sign at Perrin Park stating that fields are closed, when the fields seem wet and should not be used. She stated that she has heard that there are some continuing violations with the current off-leash hours at Perrin Park, and she agreed that any violators should be fined. She also stated that in her opinion that things are going well at Perrin Park with the new hours. She asked for feedback from the NRC regarding any issues that they have with the dog policy at Perrin Park, and Mr. Seaborn distributed and discussed observations from site visits he has made to Perrin Park over the past several weeks.
Discussion and Vote Regarding Town -wide Gift Acceptance Policy
Ms. Gross has been the NRC’s liaison on the Town’s Gift Acceptance Policy Committee and she outlined the history and goal of the Committee. She stated that the Advisory’s Gift Acceptance Policy Committee was an ad hoc committee created by the Board of Selectmen in June 2008 and was asked to propose a Town-wide policy on the acceptance of gifts in Wellesley. She stated that the Board of Selectmen established this Committee in response to a recommendation made by the Committee on Naming of Public Assets that Ms. Gross also served on in February of 2008. The naming policy was approved by Town Meeting in 2008 and it was felt that it was important to move ahead with a Gift Acceptance Policy to support the Naming Policy, in an effort to bring clarity to this issue and provide a point of reference as
individual boards and committees consider gifts. Ms. Gross stated that the NRC regularly receives gifts for a variety of purposes, including park and conservation land improvements, as well as playing fields improvements and for trees and benches. She stated that the intent of a formal Town-Wide Gift Acceptance Policy was not to replace individual board’s current practices, but an attempt to make such gift acceptances consistent for all Town boards and committees. Ms. Gross reviewed with the NRC the draft report by the Advisory Committee on the gift acceptance policy as well as the proposed Bylaw Policy language itself. After further discussion, a motion was made and seconded, and the NRC voted 5-0 to approve the proposed Acceptance of Gifts to the Town of Wellesley Bylaw, which will be presented for approval to the 2009 Annual Town Meeting.
Discussion Re: Dog Use and Control Issues and Playing Field Task Force Concerns at Perrin Park
Mr. Andy Wrobel attended the meeting at the invitation of the NRC. Mr. Wrobel stated that a number of concerns were discussed at the recent Task Force Meeting, but that since no member attended, he felt it would be constructive to meet with the NRC and outline the Task Force’s concerns. He stated that there are two primary concerns, the first would be that moving forward once the fields are in use by soccer and lacrosse that the afternoon field use hours will conflict with the current dog off leash hours of 3 – 5:30pm. The second issue was a concern that if the fields are closed in the winter to all parties, then wouldn’t this also mean that the fields are closed for use by anyone, including dog walkers. Mr. Wrobel asked for some clarification with regard to these issues.
There was discussion by the NRC members regarding these issues and there was general agreement that the NRC needs to have a reasonably enforceable rule with regard to the hours. It was the sense of the NRC that the playing fields should be open for use by dog walkers and other non-organized sports in the winter since they felt that these user groups would not cause significant damage to the fields if they are frozen. The NRC felt that 2 doggie bag dispensers should be placed at the Park and that hopefully that this would encourage people to pick up their dog’s waste. There was some concern on how to monitor the waste issue and there was a consensus that between the sports leagues and the Wellesley dog group, that they would be able to contact the NRC and the DPW if there were such issues.
There was a general consensus that the sport user groups will monitor the fields for waste and report any concerns and issues. Ms. Pace Wilson of the Wellesley Dog Group stated that it is the sense of her group to not to ask for any afternoon hours during the sport season since it would be hard to enforce. She stated it would be helpful if the NRC agreed to have dog waste dispensers at Perrin Park.
After a motion was made and seconded the NRC voted 5 – 0 to order doggie bag dispensers and an informational kiosk for Perrin Park and the top of Maugus Avenue, and the Trails Committee will request one new large garbage barrel at the top Maugus Avenue.
The NRC discussed briefly the possible options for spring off leash dog hours at Perrin Park and they will further discuss this at their next meeting scheduled for March 24, 2009 when they will vote on new spring hours. The NRC agreed that some additional information is needed, including the hours of sports games and practices at Perrin Park and the key is to insure that dogs are separated from sport users in order to prevent conflicts.
Review/Approval Re: Town’s Right of Way Vegetation Annual and 5-Year Vegetative Mgt. Plan
Ms. Bowser reviewed with the NRC the Wellesley Vegetation Management Plan, Five Year Management Plan and the Wellesley Annual Vegetation Plan, prepared by the DPW. She stated that the Town is required to submit both a Five Year and a Yearly Vegetative Management Plan to the State Pesticide Bureau. Ms. Bowser reviewed with the NRC both plans, which are similar to the plans approved by the NRC in 2003, and DPW is now requesting that the Boards review the current plans and approve by them. Ms. Bowser gave a brief summary of the goals and the objectives of both plans, and noted that the proposed work is for sidewalk control right of way work and not for work on paths in parkland or conservation areas. She stated that there is a sensitive area restriction provision and that the plan calls for an
Integrated Pest Management approach and that all non-pesticide actions are taken first and only when there is no other IPM option are pesticides or herbicides used. Ms. Bowser stated that the only herbicide to be used is Roundup.
After further discussion, a motion was made and seconded and the NRC voted 5 – 0 to approve the Town’s Right of Way Vegetation Annual Management Plan and the Town’s Five Year Right of Way Management Plan.
Discussion Regarding Gas Line Safety and Town Tree Protection Program
Ms. Bowser reviewed with the NRC this program that was initially presented by Bob Ackley of Gas Safety, Inc. regarding the protection of public shade trees from gas line damage. Mr. Ackley attended the NRC meeting on February 26, 2008 and it was the consensus of the NRC at the time to defer a decision on the program until other Towns’ success and experience with the program was determined. Ms. Bowser stated that she contacted the Towns of Brookline, Concord, Hingham, Lynn, Saugus, Revere, and Milton who have all signed on to the Mass. Shade Tree Project and she indicated that the feedback has been very positive. Mr. Seaborn also stated that he knows the Tree Warden for Brookline and he indicated that the program has been very successful to date. There was further discussion
regarding some concerns over the specifics of the contract for this program and Ms. Bowser will work with Town Counsel to review the standard contract under this program.
Update and Discussion of Fuller Brook Park Preservation and Restoration Master Plan
The NRC discussed the status of the plan as well as the steps needed to continue work on this plan, which was put on hold for financial reasons at the request of the Board of Selectmen. There was a general discussion that Ms. Gross would be the Project Manager and that she would work with Ms. Bowser when time becomes available for both and that she would be able to focus on the project at some point in late April. The NRC discussed a number of elements of the plan including brook assessment and improvements, vegetation assessment, path and park preservation and restoration work and the DPW Stormwater Master Plan.
Review and Approval of the NRC Meeting Minutes of January 9, 13, and 27 and February 7, 2009
After a motion was made and seconded, the NRC voted 5 – 0 to approve the minutes of January 9, 2009, January 13, 2009, January 27, 2009 and February 7, 2009 as amended.
Director’s Report
Review of Open Meeting Law Requirements and Email Guidelines
Ms. Bowser reviewed with the NRC a summary of the Open Meeting Law requirements and email guidelines that were previously distributed to all NRC members.
Preparation for NRC’s Tenth Annual Earth Day Charles River Clean Up on April 25th
Ms. Bowser stated that she is organizing the NRC’s Tenth Annual Earth Day Charles River Clean Up on April 25th and asked assistance from NRC members.
Updated on Wetlands Fee Account Subcommittee
Ms. Bowser stated that as discussed at the NRC’s last meeting, a subcommittee including herself, Neal Seaborn, NRC Conservation Administrator Adam Bossi, and Wetland Protection Committee members Eric Seaborn and Carlos Gimeno would be meeting shortly to discuss the status of the Wetland Fee Account.
Update on High School Interim Parking Project and Recent Restoration Site Walk with the Wetlands Protection Committee and School Building Committee Representative
Ms. Bowser updated the NRC on the status of a number of proposed mitigation options in response to the Wetlands permit for the High School interim-parking project at the basketball court and the State Street parking lot on NRC parkland and summarized the issues discussed on the Feb. 27th site walk that she and Mr. Seaborn attended on behalf of the NRC.
Update on the Open Space and Recreation Plan
Ms. Bowser stated that she has been working with the NRC’s consultant Julia Bowker on the Plan and that good progress is being made.
Signing of Extension of the Fuller Brook Park National Register Nomination Contract
Ms. Bowser requested that the NRC sign the extension for this consulting contract for the Fuller Brook Park National Register of Historical Places Nomination Project being managed by Shary Page Berg. Ms. Bowser stated that the original contract was for a two-year period and it is being extended for an additional two-year period in light of the long application process for nomination to the National Register.
Liaison Report/Continuing Business/New Business
Update on Lower Fall Rail to Trail Charles River Bridge Conversion Project
Mr. Seaborn updated the NRC members on the status of the project and indicated that he continues to work with the Community Preservation Committee to secure funding for Phase 2 of this project. Mr. Seaborn stated that he is working with a graphic illustrator to develop a conceptual illustration of what the restored bridge would look like once it is restored. He stated that costs for this illustrating effort is approximately $350 and he requests that the money be paid from the NRC’s gift fund.
After further discussion, a motion was made and seconded, and the NRC voted 5 – 0 to approve up to $350 from the NRC gift fund to pay for the graphic illustration of the proposed restored Lower Falls Bridge project.
Next Scheduled NRC Meeting
The next NRC meeting was scheduled for March 24th, 2009 at 7:30 pm in the NRC office at Town Hall.
Adjournment
After a motion was made and seconded, the NRC voted 5 – 0 to adjourn the meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 11:15 PM
Respectfully submitted:
Janet Hartke Bowser
NRC Director
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