Approved 8/10/2009
TOWN OF WELLESLEY
NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
July 13, 2009, 9 AM
NRC Office, Lower Level, Town Hall
Attending: Joan Gaughan, Chair, Paul Cramer, Secretary, Neal Seaborn, Janet Hartke Bowser, NRC Director.
Absent: Richard Bashian, Vice Chair, Heidi Gross.
Guests: Carlos Gimeno, Vice Chair, NRC’s Wetlands Protection Committee, Bob White, Chair of the NRC’s Trails Committee
Public Voice
Mr. White, Chair of the NRC’s Trails Committee stated that Longfellow Pond appears to be in excellent condition with no water chestnuts visible from the banks of the pond. Ms. Bowser stated that the DPW has been harvesting the Pond for the past several years, and that the water chestnut population has decreased dramatically as a result.
Discussion Re: State Street Parking Lot Landscaping and Path Issues
Ms. Bowser reviewed with the NRC the plans submitted by the High School Building Committee that the NRC approved at their meeting on June 18, 2009. The plans involved expanding the parking lot at the State Street site adjacent to the Hunnewell Athletic Field, which is parkland under the NRC’s jurisdiction. The plans for the State Street lot have been approved by the Wetlands Protection Committee and call for an expansion of parking areas to serve as interim High School parking while the new school is built as well as other site improvements including lighting and two handicap parking spots. Mr. White of the Trails Committee stated that they would like to see the path in this area improved. The NRC indicated that based on the number of spots needed for the interim parking by the High School due to the
wetlands protection constraints that there is little opportunity for expanding the path at this point. Ms. Bowser stated that once the High School no longer needs this lot for parking, in approximately four years when the high school is completed, then the NRC can evaluate this area for improvements to the Fuller Brook Park Path. Ms. Bowser stated that as part of the Fuller Brook Park Preservation Master Plan, this area will be evaluated for improvements. Mr. White requested consideration for allowing a small strip of grassed area from the current path at State Street over to the small path behind the football field, in order to allow people who want to continue along this path to do so. Currently the Wetlands Planting Plan has vegetation in this area. After feedback from Dr. Carlos Gimeno of the Wetlands Protection Committee, it was Dr. Gimeno’s sense that this could be a minor project modification to the plan under the Wetlands Permit that would allow
for a 5-foot strip of ecological lawn mix, and pushing back the wetlands plantings toward the bank of the brook. After further discussion, it was the sense of the NRC that they will request that the School Building Committee request this minor construction plan change to the WPC. Ms. Bowser stated that she will work with Mr. Keefner of SMMA to propose this change to the Wetlands Protection Committee for their approval at their meeting on July 16, 2009. Ms. Bowser stated that she will work with Mr. Keefner to develop a request for a minor project modification and circulate it to all NRC Members and to Mr. White prior to submittal to the WPC. Mr. Cramer stated that he runs through this area all the time, and rarely sees other people walking or using the path behind the football field, and questions the value of making this path more prominent for use, especially since it directly abuts a fragile wetland area.
Director’s Report
Review of Resident’s Request for Permission to Maintain Portion of Cochituate Aqueduct Under State Control
Ms. Bowser reviewed with the NRC a letter from Mr. Guy DeFeis, who lives near the Cochituate Aqueduct area near the Town of Natick. Mr. DeFeis attended a Trails Committee Meeting and had requested that the NRC send a letter to the State asking for their permission to allow a group of Town volunteers to improve the path along the Aqueduct running from Rt. 9 to the Natick property line. Mr. DeFeis indicated that residents remember this path being taken care of by the State in the past, and it was a well-used trail, but in the past few years, the Aqueduct has been neglected to the point that it is not usable. Ms. Bowser noted that this portion of the trail is considered surplus land and is under the care and control of the State Div. of Capital Management. Ms. Bowser stated that the State has offered to sell this
5-acre portion of the Aqueduct to the Town and that the NRC is currently in the process of evaluating this potential acquisition. After further discussion, a motion was made and seconded and the NRC voted 3-0 to approve a letter to the State requesting permission to improve this trail portion of the Cochituate Aqueduct. Ms. Bowser will draft a letter and send it to the State on behalf of Mr. DeFeis and his neighborhood.
Review and Discussion RE: Permit Application for use of Hunnewell Field Tennis Parking Lot for the Jimmy Fund Walk
Ms. Bowser reviewed with the NRC this permit application to use NRC parkland by the Dana Farber Cancer Institute for a Jimmy Fund Walk Lunch and Supply Stop at the Hunnewell Field Tennis Parking Lot on Rt. 16 on September 13, 2009. Ms. Bowser stated that she conducted a site walk with the applicant and a representative from the Wellesley Police Department to review the logistical and safety needs related to this permit application. Ms. Bowser stated that the parking lot will be used for one day from 4 AM to 6:30 AM for set-up and from 6:30 AM to 4 PM for the event and set-up removal. In the past, the Jimmy Fund Walk has used the High School Gym and parking lot area for their halfway point and lunch stop for their approximately 2,000 participants, who walk from Hopkinton to Boston. Due to the High School
construction, they will not be able to use that site and they will be using a portion of Babson College for their halfway point. Ms. Bowser reviewed with the NRC the details of this proposal as well as five specific conditions proposed for the permit requiring that no activities be allowed on the playing fields or on any grassed areas, and that there will be no equipment, including port-a-potties on any grassed area. In addition, conformance to a police approved traffic control plan must be provided to the NRC prior to the event. In addition, clean up immediately after the event by the applicant is required. Ms. Bowser stated that she has reviewed the date, location, and the actual permit conditions with Mike Quinn from the DPW, John Brown, the Athletic School Director, Jan Kaseta, the Recreation Director, and the Police Department, and she stated that all parties have reviewed and approved this permit application. After a motion was made and seconded, the
NRC voted 3-0 to approve the permit request as proposed by the Dana Farber Cancer Institute for the Jimmy Fund Walk on Sunday, September 13, 2009, and a permit will be issued with the specific five conditions discussed. Ms. Bowser will draft the permit and send it to all related parties.
Update on NRC’s Organic/Integrated Pest Management Turf Plan
Ms. Bowser stated that she continues to work with Mr. Chip Osborne who is the NRC’s consultant developing this Organic Turf Management Plan and that she will keep the NRC updated on the status of the Plan.
Review Resident Request for Poison Ivy Removal on NRC Land
Ms. Bowser reviewed with the NRC a request from a resident at 8 High Ledge Avenue. This resident sent a letter with a site plan indicating that his property abuts NRC Land by Reeds Pond and that there is poison ivy on Town land that he would like the NRC to remove. The individual stated that he believes that this is a health hazard, although it is unlikely that he or his family will come in contact with the poison ivy since it is on Town land. The NRC discussed the request in regard to their Integrated Pest Management Policy and concluded that the poison ivy does not present an emergency environmental health hazard to this property owner since it is not on his land, and he is able to control the poison ivy coming on to his land, and the area where the poison ivy is located on NRC land is in remote area on a
steep slope and is also in a wetlands resource area. Based on this set of circumstances, the NRC concluded that this request does not meet the IPM policy criteria that would allow it to be removed. The NRC stated that the DPW does not do any hand removal of poison ivy and it is not an appropriate location to use a herbicide due to the fact that it is located near Reeds Pond, and it is in a wetlands resource area. Since the poison ivy is not in a public area, it does not pose a public health issue. After further discussion, a motion was made and seconded and the NRC voted 3-0 to deny the use of herbicides or Town labor to remove poison ivy abutting 8 High Ledge Avenue and to suggest that the individual volunteer or hire a professional to address the situation with DPW oversight, if he is so inclined. Ms. Bowser will draft a letter to the property owner regarding the NRC’s response.
Update on Status of the Open Space and Recreation Plan
Ms. Bowser stated that she continues to work with the NRC’s consultant on the Plan and that input has been requested from the Planning Board, the DPW, and the Recreation Department on the draft plan. Ms. Bowser will keep the NRC updated on the status of the plan, and a public hearing for the Open Space Plan will be scheduled for September.
Review and Approval RE: Wetlands Protection Fund Uses and Proposed Field Inspector Position
The NRC and the Wetlands Protection Committee formed a subcommittee consisting of Neal Seaborn, Ms. Bowser, Dr. Gimeno, Eric Seaborn, and Adam Bossi to review issues relating to the Wetlands Protection Fund and its uses. Mr. Seaborn, Ms. Bowser, and Dr. Gimeno reviewed with the NRC a memorandum regarding the Wetlands Protection Fund and outlining the subcommittee’s recommendations. The memo outlined the history of the Wetlands Protection Fund, the current balance and current status and procedures for using the fund were detailed. Mr. Seaborn noted that it was the subcommittee’s recommendation to retain the existing Wetlands Protection Fund balance as a reserve fund for Wetlands-related expenses as allowed by law. In addition, the subcommittee unanimously recommended that new Wetlands
Protection Fund revenues be used to pay for a new Wetlands Field Inspector who will assist in the administration and enforcement of the Wetlands Protection Bylaw and statutory requirements. After further discussion, a motion was made and seconded, and the NRC voted 3-0 to approve the memorandum as written, which will be sent to the Advisory Committee and Town Accountant. Dr. Gimeno stated that the Wetlands Protection Committee will be discussing and voting on these two memos at the next WPC meeting scheduled for July 16th.
Update on Fuller Brook Park Preservation Master Plan
Ms. Bowser updated the NRC on the status of the plan and indicated that she is working on a work plan and a timeline outlining all steps needed to complete the plan based on her meetings with Ms. Gross. Ms. Bowser stated that she will be scheduling a meeting with the NRC’s Fuller Brook Consultant Chris Greene and the Subcommittee on the Plan including Heidi Gross and Adam Bossi in August. She will keep the NRC Members updated on the status of the Plan.
Update on Morses Pond Management Plan and Weed Harvesting Schedule
Ms. Bowser stated that the DPW has almost completed its first full round of harvesting the entire pond, and there will be a short gap in activity and then they will begin the second full round of harvesting in accordance with the harvesting plan adopted by Dr. Ken Wagner. Ms. Bowser stated that the phosphorus inactivation unit has had an extended application period due to the large amount of rain received recently. Ms. Bowser stated that the Request for Proposals for the dredging of the northern basin of Morses Pond has been issued and that she is organizing the management of the Low Impact Development Project at Upham School.
Liaison Report/Continuing Business/New Business
Update on Lower Falls Charles River Bridge Conversion Project
Mr. Seaborn updated the NRC members on the status of the project and stated that the DCR is moving forward with the design elements for the park approaches, both on the Newton and the Wellesley side, which is under the jurisdiction of the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Seaborn stated that the DCR is also moving forward in hiring a contractor for the bridge restoration work and he will keep the NRC updated on the status of this project.
Review Project Info Request from Community Preservation Committee
Ms. Bowser reviewed with the NRC a request from the CPC for an outline of the NRC’s 5-Year Capital Plan and identifies those projects that may be eligible for CPC funding. Ms. Bowser said that she previously sent the NRC’s 5-Year Capital Plan to the CPC, but that she will send another copy, which identifies NRC projects that may be eligible for CPC funds.
Update on National Grid Evaluation of Gas Safety and Impact on Public Shade Trees
Ms. Gaughan indicated that she spoke to a representative from National Grid while on a walk in Wellesley, and the representative indicated that they are actively working to identify gas leaks throughout Town and that they are monitoring gas leaks and are attempting to identify any resulting damage to public shade trees. Ms. Gaughan requested that the National Grid representative send a letter describing these activities to the NRC Office, and Ms. Bowser will inform the NRC once the letter is received. Mr. Seaborn stated that he saw a recent news report on TV that indicated that National Grid is trying to monitor gas leaks throughout the region but that this data has been withheld from municipalities.
Discussion Re: Poison Ivy Issues at Perrin Park
There was continued discussion regarding poison ivy issues at Perrin Park, and Ms. Bowser stated that she has spoken with Mike Quinn regarding this issue. She stated that the NRC has approved the limited use of pesticides to control any extensive poison ivy breakouts at Perrin and that the DPW continues to mow these areas to keep them under control. Mr. Cramer recommended having groups of volunteers deal with the issue if they are not happy with degree of work that the DPW is doing, and he recommended that Pace Wilson and her Wellesley dog group could organize a volunteer clean-up day.
Review and Approval of the NRC Meeting Minutes of June 2, 2009
After a motion was made and seconded, the NRC voted 3-0 to approve the June 2, 2009 Meeting Minutes as written.
Next Scheduled NRC Meeting
The next NRC meeting was scheduled for Monday, August 10, 2009 at 9:00 AM .
Adjournment
After a motion was made and seconded, the NRC voted 3 – 0 to adjourn the meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 10:30 AM.
Respectfully submitted:
Janet Hartke Bowser
NRC Director
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