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09_27_2021 Cons Com Minutes - final Beverly Conservation Commission *Special Meeting* September 27, 2021 Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 4 CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD OR COMMISSION: Beverly Conservation Commission SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: September 27, 2021 LOCATION: Remote Meeting held via Google Meet MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Christine Bertoni, Vice Chair Robert Buchsbaum, David Alden-St. Pierre MEMBERS ABSENT: William Squibb OTHERS PRESENT: Environmental Planner Jenna Pirrotta RECORDER: Stacia Chamberlain I. Chair Bertoni calls the special meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. 2. Old/New/Other Business a. Tree Removal Protocol Update Pirrotta recaps the Commission's earlier comments to update the Hazard Tree Removal protocol and describes the changes she reflected in the current draft. The Commission reviews and discusses the changes. Bertoni agrees with allowing administrative approval for tree removal in Riverfront Area. She requests clarification on when applicants need approval from the Commission and when administrative approval is appropriate. Pirrotta clarifies that the Commission previously discussed having applicants file an RDA if they are applying to remove more than four trees. The Commission discusses the standard conditions of removal. Buchsbaum suggests the language be clarified and that the removal of five or more trees should require an RDA. Alden-St. Pierre moves to update the hazard tree removal protocol, as discussed. Seconded by Buchsbaum. The motion passes 3-0. b. Minor Project Permits, If Any Pirrotta reports she issued a Minor Project Permit for the replacement of existing deck at 88 Boyles Street. The work is partially within the 100-Foot Buffer to Bordering Vegetated Wetlands. The work would be within the footprint of the existing deck and helical piles would be used. The Commission reported no objections. c. Cont.: Sally Milligan potential trail Nathan Currie and Alden— St. Pierre recap the new trail proposal and Commission's site walk last fall. Buchsbaum and Dave Brewster, a member of the Open Space and Recreation Committee, performed a bird inventory in June 2021. Currie solicits questions from the Commission on the proposal, in light of the results of the inventory. Buchsbaum asks for details on how the trail will be built. Currie expects that there will be volunteers from the public along with Open Space and Recreation Committee oversight, following the description in the trail proposal. Alden-St. Pierre describes the general trail construction including raking and pruning. He summarizes the past Commission questions about wildlife Beverly Conservation Commission *Special Meeting* September 27, 2021 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4 disturbance and notes that through his work with the Open Space and Recreation Committee, he has compiled trail building best practices, which would be implemented here, including keeping a natural surface and using hand tools. He says that there is an Eagle Scout candidate that may help build the trail. Buchsbaum speaks to wildlife species at the park and states that there is no information indicating that rare species use the habitats there, but that he is concerned that building this trail would potentially encourage users to make additional, branching trails. Alden-St. Pierre recognizes Buchsbaum's concerns, and notes this is a widely held concern as to how to keep people on designated trails. Currie says that a potential mitigation strategy is to have signage and also frequent monitoring to control or remove the beginnings of any unapproved trails. Alden— St. Pierre confirms he is a frequent trail user and has been coordinating with other members of the public at Open Space Properties to stop building rogue trails or features. Bertoni agrees that signage can help but is concerned that additional trails may encourage people to inappropriately use the public space. The Commission discusses trail maintenance best practices and reviews the bullet points in the presentation. Bertoni clarifies whether this is the request for approval of the trail construction. Commission members discuss how to proceed and whether the trail proposal and application require an RDA for the bridge in the application. Buchsbaum moves to approve the construction of the trail as outlined, with the understanding that an RDA will be filed for the stream crossing. Seconded by Alden-St. Pierre. The motion passes 3-0. d. Cont.: Beverly Airport— update on Vegetation Management Program —Airport Solutions Group No updates. e. New: SESD maintenance notification Pirrotta describes a notification letter submitted to the Commission on August 30, 2021, regarding maintenance of the sewer pump station at 135 Water Street. Southern Essex Sewerage District is proposing to remove several dead trees at the facility and the work is exempt under the Beverly Wetlands Protection Ordinance and the Wetlands Protection Act. The Commission reports no objections. f. Expenditure Approvals,If Any Buchsbaum moves to approve the expenditure of$38.50 to the Commission administrator for mileage for the months of July and August 2021. Seconded by Alden-St. Pierre. The motion passes 3-0. Pirrotta reports the Commission received a request from Greenbelt for$100 for their annual fund solicitation. Buchsbaum and Bertoni raise concern with this request, noting that the Commission just renewed the annual membership. The Commission takes no action. 3. Orders of Conditions,If Any a. 37 Paine Avenue,DEP File#5-1345 —relocate pool and decking, install garage and water quality swale, and associated site work and landscaping— Scott Patrowicz,P.E. Beverly Conservation Commission *Special Meeting* September 27, 2021 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4 The Commission revisits their notes and discusses the proposed conditions. Buchsbaum moves to issue an Order of Conditions for the project, with the special conditions as discussed, along with the standard general and perpetual conditions, under the MA Wetlands Protection Act and Beverly Wetlands Protection Ordinance. Seconded by Alden-St. Pierre. The motion passes 3-0. b. 29 Ober Street,DEP File #5-1308—request to amend Order of Conditions—Rebecca Lawniczak The Commission recaps the project and discusses the proposed conditions. Buchsbaum moves to issue an Order of Conditions for the project, with the special conditions as discussed, along with the standard general and perpetual conditions,under the MA Wetlands Protection Act and Beverly Wetlands Protection Ordinance. Seconded by Alden-St. Pierre. The motion passes 3-0. c. 1025 Hale Street,DEP File#5-1344— construct an addition to an existing house— Donald Sohn The Commission recaps the project and discusses the proposed conditions. Alden-St. Pierre moves to issue an Order of Conditions for the project, with the special conditions as discussed, along with the standard general and perpetual conditions,under the MA Wetlands Protection Act and Beverly Wetlands Protection Ordinance. Seconded by Buchsbaum. The motion passes 3-0. 4. Approval of Minutes (as available) a. August 3,2021 The Commission reviews the draft minutes and offers edits. Alden— St. Pierre moves to approve the August 3, 2021 minutes with the revisions as discussed. Seconded by Buchsbaum. The motion carries 3-0. b. August 24,2021 The Commission reviews the draft minutes and offers edits. Alden— St. Pierre moves to approve the August 24, 2021 minutes with the revisions as discussed. Seconded by Buchsbaum. The motion carries 3-0. 5. Other: Discussion or Action Items Related to Commission Business,Correspondence, etc. Received/Issued After Publication of Agenda,If Any a. National Grid Maintenance Notification Pirrotta updates the Commission on two maintenance notification letters received from National Grid on September 24, 2021. One letter describes the need for localized excavation to repair a damaged cable, and the other letter is for ground penetrating radar and test pit excavation to inform future substation modifications. Best Management Practices would be implemented and the site stabilized and returned to previous conditions. The Commission Beverly Conservation Commission *Special Meeting* September 27, 2021 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4 reports no objections and asks that Pirrotta thanks National Grid for their advance notification. b. Beach Maintenance Buchsbaum brings up the topic of the cleaning of West Beach and whether this needs formal approval. Bertoni discusses how the Town of Manchester has a beach maintenance program and routinely clears up to the wrack line. Buchsbaum suggests that perhaps there are existing guidelines on the topic, for example Mass Coastal Zone Management. Pirrotta volunteers to post to the MACC discussion board for recommendations on how other communities handle this. c. Meeting In-Person or Remote The Commission receives an update on what other City boards and committees are doing in terms of remote or in-person meetings. Members decide to hold meetings remotely until further notice, given the high rate of transmission of the coronavirus in Essex County. 6. Adiournment Alden-St. Pierre moves to adjourn at 8:34 p.m. Seconded by Buchsbaum. The motion carries 3-0. The next regular meeting of the Conservation Commission will be held remotely on Tuesday, October 5,2021.