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Approved 6/10/08
TOWN OF WELLESLEY
NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
APRIL 9, 2008, 7:30 PM
SELECTMEN’S MEETING ROOM, TOWN HALL
Attending: Heidi Gross, Chairman, Paul Cramer, Vice-Chairman, Joan Gaughan, Secretary, Neal Seaborn, Richard Bashian, Janet Bowser, NRC Director.
Guests: Roy Switzler, Wellesley Celebrations Chair, Matthew Shea, Atlas PyroVision Production, Rowie Gray, 44 Maugus Avenue, Celebrations Committee, Amy Kimball, Beacon Hill Events Planner, Suzi Newman, Wellesley School Committee, Terry Cunningham, Wellesley Police Chief, Owen H. Dugan, Chairman of Wellesley Board of Selectmen, Jan Kaseta, Recreation Director, Mike Pakstis, Wellesley DPW Director, Laurie Lizak, Celebrations Committee, Steve Fader, Town Engineer, Wellesley DPW, Joeyln Toussaint, Celebrations Committee, Robert Fleming, 432 Washington Street, John Schuler, 35 Emerson Road, Edwina Schuler, 35 Emerson Road, Debra Takacs, 26 Rice Street, Ted Takacs, 26 Rice Street, Larry Corda, 2 Peck Avenue.
Public Voice
No one attending the meeting spoke at Public Voice.
Public Hearing and Discussion of Permitting Issues Regarding the Wellesley Celebrations Committee May 18th Concert and Fireworks Event on Hunnewell Field
Ms. Gross welcomed residents and members of the Wellesley Celebrations Committee to the public hearing regarding issues relating to the Wellesley Celebrations Committee proposed large-scale concert on Hunnewell Field during the Wellesley Wonderful Weekend on May 18, 2008. Ms. Gross briefly outlined the process used to inform the public of this event and stated that the NRC has care and custody over this land and that they will be issuing a permit for use of this parkland and that one of the conditions for any large-scale use of parkland is that a public hearing be held to gather public feedback. Ms. Gross introduced Mr. Switzler, Chair of the Wellesley Celebrations Committee, who outlined specific preparations and organizational efforts that have been made for this event. Mr. Switzler outlined specific
logistics and organizational efforts for this event as outlined in detail in his memo to the NRC dated April 9, 2008 (see attached). Mr. Switzler stated that the Wellesley Celebrations Committee is working on a weekly basis with representatives from the Town, including the NRC, the DPW, the Selectmen, and the Fire and Police Departments in order to make this the best event that they can and to ensure public safety and that there is adequate protection to the fields. Mr. Switzler said that in the past, there have been no problems due to the fireworks or the concert, although in the past, this has been a smaller event, usually between 2,000 and 5,000 people, and it is anticipated that upwards to 20,000 may attend this concert.
Police Chief Terry Cunningham outlined the parking, traffic and public safety measures that the Police are undertaking to ensure a safe and well-organized event. He stated that approximately 20 shuttle buses will be making stops at satellite locations throughout Town and that this will be publicized and that the streets immediately around Hunnewell Field will be closed off to cars in order to control entry and exit points. Chief Cunningham said that the Police Department will be working with the DPW to ensure that there is adequate temporary lighting throughout the area, so that people will be able to leave the concert area safely by as late as 10 PM.
Mr. Matt Shea, who is providing the fireworks through the Atlas Fireworks Company, stated that they have reduced the size of the fireworks shell from 4” to 6”, which will limit the safety radius required. He stated that he has organized fireworks events in Boston and Needham and also in Washington D.C. and that this is a relatively small event and he does not anticipate any damage to any of the surrounding trees or vegetation. Mike Pakstis, DPW Director, stated that the DPW is working to minimize damage to the fields and that they will be protecting all baseball diamonds as well as Reidy Field with snow fencing to prevent access to these fields. Mr. Paul Cramer inquired as to whether or not it was possible to put down plywood to protect the fields when trucks and vendors come onto the fields,
and Mr. Pakstis said that this would not be practicable and that the DPW will work to ensure that the access to the fields for the vendors will minimize damage to the fields. Ms. Gaughan inquired if the DPW proposing reseeding or are they proposing to replace the fields with sod should there be significant damage. Mr. Pakstis replied that given that the fall High School sports teams need to use the fields by mid-August that they will need to re-sod the fields that are significantly damaged, but that they may be able to re-seed fields that do not have significant damage. Mr. Bashian inquired as to what would happen if the fields are not repaired for the fall pre-season at the High School in mid-August. Mr. Pakstis replied that based on the information that he has received, that he expects that the fields will be repaired by mid-August, and this includes one week of sodding, immediately after the event, followed by 6-8 weeks to allow the sod to settle and establish
itself. Mr. Cramer stated that if the fields are damaged, the NRC needs to ensure that there is money available to begin the work immediately.
Ms. Suzi Newman of the School Committee stated that they were not aware of this concert event until very recently and that they are planning a meeting early next week to discuss this event. Ms. Newman said that as requested by the NRC, the School Committee will take a vote regarding their position on this event and respond to the NRC in writing. She stated that in particular, the Committee will discuss this event with High School Athletic Director John Brown to address his concerns about any potential damage and repair to the fields, as well as to discuss alternative sites that maybe needed for the remained of the spring season.
The issue with regard to insurance and the escrow account for field damage repair was raised. The Board of Selectmen Chair Owen Dugan stated that this is a legitimate concern and that the Selectmen are working with the Town’s insurance carrier and the donor on this issue, and that they hope to have an answer and secure the necessary coverage within the next week. He stated that if money is not available, then the Selectmen will require the Wellesley Celebrations Committee or the donor to provide a escrow account in order to cover any costs not available immediately through the insurance. Mr. Switzler stated that currently the Selectmen’s Office and the donor are reviewing available coverage and are getting several quotes and will submit a letter to the NRC that such coverage has been secured
and is adequate. Mr. Bashian confirmed that the NRC needs to have written confirmation from the Selectmen that there is adequate coverage and that the NRC met with Mr. Larsen on April 4th, and he stated that he will give the NRC written confirmation of adequate insurance and escrow coverage for any property damage to the fields. Mr. Cramer emphasized that the NRC needs to anticipate the worst-case scenario and ensure that there is adequate coverage. Ms. Gross asked for the current figures in terms of insurance needed, as well as for the escrow. Mr. Pakstis stated that approximately $350,000 is needed to repair any damage and approximately $100,000 of that should be in escrow to allow for the immediate repair of the fields. There was some discussion that the working group for the event will have the responsibility to make a go/no-go decision as to whether or not the event will take place on May 18th.
Ms. Gross opened the discussion up to the residents attending the meeting. Ted Takacs of 26 Rice Street voiced concerns about the fireworks, and said that in the past, he has had debris from the fireworks land on his roof on Rice Street. Mr. Takacs circulated some materials that the collected from past fireworks. Mr. Shea from the Atlas Fireworks Company said that the materials Mr. Takacs circulated are, in fact, part of the fireworks shell and are not part of the explosives portion of the fireworks. Mr. Shea stated that in some cases, depending upon the wind currents, this nuisance paper shell from the fireworks can travel up to a ½ mile radius from the fireworks location, and it is unlikely that this material would cause any type of burning or property damage. Mrs. Debra Takacs of 26 Rice Street voiced
concern that during the past 2 fireworks events that residential windows were broken from vibrations from the fireworks and she submitted a petition from 8 neighbors in the area to the NRC and the Wellesley Celebrations Committee stating that as abutters to the Hunnewell Field Complex that they are in opposition to the proposal to hold a large-scale concert on the fields as part of the Wellesley Wonderful Weekend.
Several representatives from the Wellesley Celebrations Committee voiced their support for the concert event and stated that they will work to ensure that it will be a safe event that will not damage Town land or the abutters properties. Mr. Gross thanked the representatives attending the meeting as well as the residents and stated that the NRC will take all comments under advisement as they further discuss the permit for the May 18th concert and fireworks event.
Directors Report
Public Educational Forum on May 1st Co-Sponsored with Wellesley Conservation Council Regarding Protection of Wellesley’s Water Resources
Ms. Bowser stated that she is working with representatives from the Wellesley Conservation Council to organize this event, which will feature a speaker from the Charles River Watershed Association and Mr. Seaborn will make a presentation on the Morses Pond Management Plan. Ms. Bowser stated that the Council requested financial support for the event, and the NRC will discuss this further at their next meeting.
Preparation for the NRC’s 9th Annual Earth Day Clean-Up Along the Charles River on Saturday, April 26th at 9 AM
Ms. Bowser stated that she is organizing this annual event, and she has sent out press releases and emails to the NRC’s Friends Group, the schools and the Townsman and the Globe. She asked for volunteers from the NRC to help with this event.
Next Scheduled NRC Meeting
The next NRC meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, April 29, 2008, at 7:30 PM.
Adjournment
After a motion was made and seconded, the NRC voted 5 – 0 to adjourn the meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 10:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted:
Janet Hartke Bowser
NRC Director
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