Approved 3/31/08
TOWN OF WELLESLEY
NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, February 26, 2008,7:30 PM
NRC Office, Lower Level, Town Hall
Attending: Heidi Gross, Chairman, Joan Gaughan, Secretary, Neal Seaborn, Richard Bashian, Janet Bowser, NRC Director.
Absent: Paul Cramer, Vice-Chairman.
Guests: Bob Ackley, Gas Safety Inc., Joe Roberts, Wellesley Little League Association.
Public Voice
No one at the meeting spoke at Public Voice.
Update on the Reidy Baseball Field Improvement Project
Mr. Joe Roberts attended the meeting to update the NRC on the status of this project. He stated that construction of the dugouts is progressing well and is nearing completion. Mr. Roberts stated that he would like to have the NRC review and approve the project’s donor recognition plaques for installation on the structures behind the dugouts. Mr. Roberts presented for the NRC’s review the layout and specifications regarding 3 plaques that will be installed on the brick structure, which will be a semi-circle behind the backstop fence. He stated that each plaque will be 21”x 34” and 2 of the plaques will contain acknowledgements and names of donors, and the plaque in the middle will acknowledge that the field is dedicated in memory of Brian Robert Reidy. The NRC reviewed the language
that is being proposed for the Reidy Field plaque and made smaller revisions. After a motion was made and seconded, the NRC voted 4-0 to approve the 3 plaques as presented by Mr. Roberts, subject to minor revisions. Mr. Roberts stated that it is likely that the field will be rededicated and opening day for the field is scheduled for April 26, 2008, and all NRC members will receive an invitation.
Presentation by Bob Ackley of Gas Safety Inc. Regarding Protection of Public Shade Trees from Gas Line Damage
Ms. Bowser stated that the NRC had invited Mr. Ackley to meet with the NRC after he had contacted Mike Quinn and had made a presentation to the DPW. Ms. Bowser stated that Mr. Quinn and his staff were encouraged by the presentation and that they recommended that the NRC, as the Town’s Tree Warden, consider adopting a similar program. Mr. Ackley made a brief presentation outlining his company’s efforts to protect public shade trees from the effects of leaking gas without incurring any out-of-pocket expenses to the Town. Mr. Ackley’s program is used to detect and to identify any potentially damaging gas line leaks along the Town’s streets. He indicated that because public shade trees are so valuable, natural gas leaks occurring in the vicinity of the trees could potentially choke the
root systems of oxygen and cause irreversible damage to these trees. Mr. Ackley stated that the gas utility companies have a responsibility under State law to identify and repair gas leaks. He stated that until he began his program, communities have had little clout or the ability to get gas utilities to repair these leaks. He stated that he has had many years of experience working for gas utility companies and that he formed the Massachusetts Public Shade Tree Trust and Gas Safety Inc. to help protect community trees across the Commonwealth and assist cities and towns to recoup the damages to Town-owned trees. He stated that he would like to invite the Town of Wellesley to join the Trust to assist the community in seeking financial restitution for past tree damage, and more importantly, will stop the leaks that are killing Town trees. He stated that a Wellesley survey from 2005 indicated that there are 9,000 homes with gas, and to date, 161 leaks have been
detected. He stated that under his program, his company would survey all public property and provide a report that would outline all suspected and confirmed damages by a certified arborist and would include an appraisal of damages and a review of trees that have been removed in the past 3 years in order to analyze whether any of these trees’ demise has been caused by natural gas leaks. Mr. Ackley outlined the industry standard for ranking gas line leaks, that is broken down into the following three grades:
1. known and potentially dangerous leaks that must be fixed ASAP;
2. a leak that is identified and needs to be fixed within 15 months of detection; and
3. a leak that poses no threat to property or people and does not need to be fixed.
He stated that his goal would be to identify all Grade 1 and Grade 2 leaks that affect public shade trees and to represent the Town in seeking damages and tree improvements related to these leaks. He said that he is currently working with the towns of Quincy, Saugus, Revere, Brookline, and Hingham, and that a contract is currently being developed with the City of Worchester. He stated that the agreement with Gas Safety Inc. in partnership with the Massachusetts Public Shade Tree Trust involves working with Environmental Attorney Jan Schlichtmann for following up on the legal damages to public shade trees and the recovery of damages to public shade trees. He stated that currently, 60 % of the recovered funds go to the town, and 40% go to his company as part of their efforts in the recovery process. Ms. Bowser asked
for their standard service and she will review this with Town Counsel. It was the general consensus of the NRC that they would like to pursue the possibility of working with Gas Safety Inc, and they requested that Ms. Bowser follow-up on this program with Mr. Quinn and Town Counsel to further evaluate the feasibility of the Town adopting this program.
Review/Discussion of DPW Proposed Brook Cleaning and Maintenance Program on NRC Land
Ms. Bowser reviewed with the NRC the DPW’s draft Brook Cleaning and Maintenance Program as forwarded by Assistant Engineer Doug Stuart. Ms. Bowser stated that the past Brook Cleaning and Maintenance Program needs to be updated and that this is a new submittal that will be reviewed for a wetlands permit by the NRC’s Wetlands Protection Committee. Ms. Bowser briefly reviewed the program with the NRC, and indicated that there are performance standards followed by the DPW for its general Brook Maintenance Projects and that their goal is to maintain, preserve, repair and retain the existing banks and natural channels of the Town’s streams and brooks through dredging, erosion control and bank stabilization. Ms. Bowser reviewed with the NRC the locations on NRC land where this work is proposed. Ms.
Bowser stated that in general the work is proposed in a manner that is environmentally sensitive in keeping with the Wetlands Protection Act and the Town’s Wetlands Protection Bylaw. After further discussion, a motion was made and seconded, and the NRC voted 4-0 to accept the Brook Cleaning and Maintenance Program as proposed by the DPW. Ms. Bowser will send a letter indicating he NRC’s support to its Wetlands Protection Committee.
Director’s Report
Update on the Morses Pond Phosphorus Inactivation Unit Request for Proposals Schedule
Ms. Bowser reviewed the current status of this RFP and indicated that the deadline for the RFP responses is March 6th, and that a meeting has been scheduled on March 19 with the NRC Director, the Recreation Director, the DPW Director, and Town Engineer to review the proposals and make a recommendation. Ms. Bowser stated that she has kept the Community Preservation Committee updated on this proposal, which is funded with CPA funds. Ms. Bowser stated that the intent is to have the unit operational by early summer of this year. Ms. Bowser stated that she will keep the NRC updated on the status of this project.
Update on High School Parking Needs on Football Field During High School Construction Project
Ms. Bowser stated that Selectman Gig Babson met with her and Ms. Gross to discuss preliminary issues regarding the potential need to use the High School Football Field for parking during the High School Construction Project. Ms. Gross emphasized that this was a preliminary discussion only and that no decisions have been made regarding the use of this area, but that Ms. Babson wanted to give the NRC a “heads-up” that this is a likely use. Ms. Bowser stated that Ms. Babson is working closely with the School Committee and the High School Athletic Program to minimize the impact on the athletic program. After some discussion, the NRC Board Members indicated that they have some strong concerns about the use of the football field for parking during the 3-5 years that the high school renovation
project is anticipated to take. The NRC asked Ms. Bowser to contact Ms. Babson and indicate to her that the NRC has some initial concern about this proposed use and that they would like to have Ms. Babson attend a future meeting to further discuss this matter with the Commission.
Update on Advisory Committee’s Request for NRC FY09 Budget Reductions
Ms. Bowser stated that she continues to work with Ms. Kathy Macdonald, the NRC’s Advisory Committee Liaison, to formalize the NRC’s FY09 Operating & Capital Budget Request as previously discussed at the NRC’s February 12th Meeting.
Update on Status of Land Exchange Proposal at 19 Clovelly Road
Ms. Bowser reviewed with the NRC a letter from Town Counsel regarding this land exchange. She stated that the recording documents have been completed and the transaction is complete. She indicated that, according to Town Counsel, the final aspect of the exchange is to have the NRC request from the Board of Assessors that the real estate taxes on the land be abated for the balance of the current fiscal year. Ms. Bowser strongly recommended that the NRC request such an abatement, since the land being exchanged is of a very small value, and overall, it was the consensus that this was in the Town’s best interest. A motion was made and seconded, and the NRC voted 4-0 to make a formal request to the Board of Assessors stating their request that the real estate taxes on the land being acquired under the 19
Clovelly Road Land Exchange be abated for the balance of the current fiscal year. Ms. Bowser will follow-up on this matter with the Town’s Assessor.
Update on 27 Washington Street Redevelopment and Selectmen’s Right-of-Way Land Use Issues
Ms. Gross stated that she attended the Planning Board’s Project of Significant Impact Public Meeting on February 25, 2008, and she spoke about the NRC’s efforts to ensure that a Conservation Restriction be placed on the riverfront and open space portion of the 27 Washington Street property and she confirmed that National Development has agreed to grant the NRC this Conservation Restriction. Ms. Gross indicated that she thanked National Development for their willingness to work with the Town and NRC to ensure public access to this area and to make improvements along the riverfront and for agreeing to provide financial assistance for improving the State-owned bridge crossing over the Charles River, as well as for making pedestrian and open space improvements to the Selectmen’s right-of-way and
in this general area.
Update on Brown Park Playground Improvement Project
Ms. Bowser stated that she continues to work with the Brown Park Playground Neighborhood Committee, which is raising funds in order to purchase additional equipment for the playground project. Ms. Bowser stated that the next meeting of the Neighborhood Committee is scheduled for Thursday, February 28th at 10 AM in the NRC Office to meet with Nancy White of O’Brien & Sons, the playground designer, Mike Quinn, and the Committee, to finalize plans for the playground design. Ms. Bowser will continue to update the NRC on the status of this project.
Liaison Reports/Continued Business/New Business
Update on Fuller Brook Park Use Issues Near the High School
Mr. Seaborn stated that he has followed up on the issues related to the concerns of a resident regarding inappropriate use of this area by high school students. He stated that he had contacted Assistant Principal Jamie Chisum who confirmed that he will take responsibility for ensuring that high school students use this area in an appropriate manner. Mr. Seaborn will continue to work with Mr. Chisum on this matter and will update the NRC as needed.
NRC Reconfirmation Regarding NRC Director’s Responsibilities
After some discussion, a motion was made and seconded, and the NRC voted 4-0 to reconfirm that it has delegated to the NRC Director the responsibility to oversee all NRC Department personnel matters, including hiring, evaluation, and disciplinary matters including terminations.
Update on Interviews for NRC Appointments to the Prospective Wetlands Protection Committee
Ms. Gross and Mr. Seaborn stated that they attended the Wetlands Protection Committee Meeting on February 21st, and heard interviews with prospective new members of the Wetlands Protection Committee. Ms. Gross stated that she will discuss with the Wetlands Protection Committee Chair their recommendations for NRC appointments and will update the NRC, as needed. Ms. Bowser will continue to be in close contact with the applicants to keep them informed as the status of the NRC’s decision-making process.
Next NRC Scheduled Meeting
The next NRC meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at 7:30 PM in the NRC Office. Ms. Bowser stated that with the beginning of Town Meeting scheduled for March 31st she recommended that the next meeting be scheduled prior to Town Meeting. The NRC confirmed that they will meet on Monday March 31st at 7PM at the Wellesley Middle School prior to the beginning of Town Meeting.
Adjournment
After a motion was made and seconded, the NRC voted 4 – 0 to adjourn the meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 11 PM.
Respectfully submitted:
Janet Hartke Bowser
NRC Director
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