01_10_2023 Cons Com Minutes - final Beverly Conservation Commission
January 10,2023
Meeting Minutes
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CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION: Beverly Conservation Commission
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE: January 10, 2023
LOCATION:
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Christine Bertoni, Vice Chair Robert Buchsbaum,
William Squibb, Meghan Jones, Amber Redmond
MEMBERS ABSENT:
OTHERS PRESENT: City Conservation Agent David Spidaliere
RECORDER: Naomi Moca
1. Chair Bertoni calls the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and reads the public notice regarding
holding meetings remotely due to COVID-19.
Jones moves to recess. Seconded by Buchsbaum. Bertoni takes a roll call vote. Motion passes
5-0.
2. Recess for Public Hearings
3. Notices of Intent/Abbreviated Notices of Intent/Requests for Amended Orders of
Conditions
a. New: 0 Dodge Street-Norwood Pond, No DEP File #—construct a pedestrian
bridge and bog bridge—City of Beverly Planning Department c/o Darlene
Wynne
Spidaliere reads the legal notice. Charles Mann from the Beverly Open Space and
Recreation Committee (OSRC) is present. Mann states that this bridge project will
connect the existing trails on Norwood Pond. The lot is 140 acres with a trail
easement through Cummings Properties. Mann states that on the application the CCA
lumber has been replaced with ACQ lumber. Mann states that there may be guard
rails on the boardwalk due to the fluctuating water level on the pond.
The Commission discusses that the boardwalk goes through a wetland and a resource
area as indicated on the application. The Commission discusses the number of posts
that will need to be placed by hand, that the timber will be hand cut offsite, and that
there may be slight disturbance to the banks. Mary Rimmer of Rimmer
Environmental Consulting is present and clarifies that the boardwalk through the
BVW will have sleepers. The elevated boardwalk across the pond will have piles,not
sleepers. She states that there is no calculated impact to the BVW and that no clearing
of vegetation will be required. Cummings Properties will be funding the project.
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January 10,2023
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A site visit is scheduled for Saturday, January 21 at 8:00am.
Buchsbaum moves to continue the hearing to the January 31, 2023 meeting. Seconded by
Redmond. Bertoni takes a roll call vote. Motion passes 5-0.
4. Reconvene Regular Meeting
Squibb moves to reconvene the regular meeting. Seconded by Buchsbaum. Bertoni takes a
roll call vote. Motion passes 5-0.
5. Requests for Certificates of Compliance
a. New: 400 Hale Street,Endicott College,DEP File#5-1197—Annual pond
maintenance work and associated monitoring—Rick Gagnon
Rick Gagnon, Facilities Director from Endicott College, and Joe Orzel, Wetlands
Specialist with Lucas Environmental are present. The applicant is requesting a COC
for maintaining pond water quality and hydro-raking of the pond to remove
accumulated organic material. Orzel clarifies that the work did not entail dredging.
Endicott intends to file an NOI to continue the program, proposing the same methods.
The Commission discusses recommendation 95 regarding fertilizers,the impact of
geese in the ponds, and the chlorophyll levels in the report. Orzel states that SWCA
Environmental Consultants has been conducting the monitoring activities and
determining when to use herbicides. The Commission requests that the details of
making those decisions be included in the next NOI. The Commission and Orzel
discuss the need to revisit the NOI periodically under the Wetlands Protection Act
and the bylaws, and whether in the future a more extensive extension is possible
instead of filing a new NOI every 5 years.
Spidaliere states that he and Orzel visited the site last week and everything looks
stable.
Buchsbaum moves to issue a complete certificate of compliance. Seconded by Redmond.
Bertoni takes a roll call vote. Motion passes 5-0.
6. Old/New/Other Business
6a. Requests for Minor Modification to existing Order of Conditions
a. New: 10 Fieldstone Lane,Dep File #5-1335
Lisa Ambrosino, property owner, states that the project has been downsized from a
two-story house addition to a one-story addition. Ambrosino states that she would
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January 10,2023
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like to maintain the impervious concrete slab that was in place when the home was
purchased for sentimental reasons. The area adjacent to the new addition will be
paved with pervious concrete pavers and crushed stone. The remaining parts of the
approved plan will remain the same, such as the relocation of the shed out of the 25-
foot no disturb zone and the project's footprint. The Commission discusses the
original conditions remaining the same, and requests that a note regarding keeping the
concrete slab in place be included if the minor modification is approved.
Squibb moves to approve the minor modification and discussed. Seconded by
Buchsbaum. Bertoni takes a roll call vote. Motion passes 5-0.
6b. Conservation Restrictions
a. New: 25 & 27 Beaver Pond Road
Maggie Brown, Land Conservation Project Manager with Essex County Greenbelt, is
present. Brown states that Greenbelt is working to permanently protect the lots,which
are 22 acres adjacent to Norwood Pond, for conservation. The Commission discusses
whether the forest management plan will continue beyond the 15 years, that the
Greenbelt will not pursue having the possible vernal pond certified, and whether
potential vernal pools are protected under the Beverly ordinance.
The Commission discusses the quality of the wetland, whether it has invasive species,
and that Greenbelt, the grantor, and the State agreed on the permitted uses.
Compliance with permitting procedures is covered in Section D on page 7 of the
Conservation Restriction package provided by Greenbelt. The land is still covered by
the jurisdiction of the Conservation Commission.
Buchsbaum moves to endorse the Conservation Restriction as proposed by Essex County
Greenbelt for 25 & 27 Beaver Pond Road. Seconded by Squibb. Bertoni takes a roll call
vote. Motion passes 5-0.
6c. Tree Removal Requests,If Any
a. New: 89 Lothrop Street
Sharon Burrill, property owner, is requesting to remove one cedar tree and one
Norway maple tree. Burrill is concerned about potential damage to the property wall
and fence from the growth of the cedar. Spidaliere states that the cedar was choked
out with vines over the years and will hinder the placement of the post for the fence
that the applicant is planning to build. The Norway maple tree is dead and very close
to the neighboring property. Spidaliere states that he visited the property and that he
agrees that the Norway maple is a risk to the neighbor's property and house. Burrill
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states that the permitting has been completed for the fence project. The Commission
discusses replacing the cedar tree with a native planting, such as a shrub.
Buchsbaum moves to approve the tree removal request at 89 Lothrop Street with standard
tree removal conditions. Seconded by Redmond. Berton takes a roll call vote. Motion
passes 5-0.
6d. Cont.: West Beach Corporation, beach raking response letter
Spidaliere states that he met with representatives from the Natural Heritage and
Endangered Species Program (NHESP) for input on composing a letter to property
owners and residents along West Beach that is educational in tone, stating that work
of any kind that is along the beach should be run by the Conservation Commission
and NHESP, due to West Beach being designated an estimated and priority habitat.
The Commissioners review letter and offer edits. The Commission discusses that it is
a State issue, the idea of doing an outreach campaign, and that there is a sample of a
beach management plan from Manchester for reference. The City of Beverly is
working on an NOI application for beach management plans for all city owned
beaches as well. The Commission discusses whether a similar letter would be
appropriate for other waterfront properties in Beverly.
7. Approval of Minutes
a. September 20, 2022
b. October 18, 2022
c. November 9, 2022
d. November 29, 2022
e. December 19, 2022
Members review and offer edits to the draft meeting minutes. Redmond moves to
approve the minutes of the September 20, 2022 meeting, as amended. Seconded by Jones.
Bertoni takes a roll call vote. Motion passes 5-0.
Members review and offer edits to the draft meeting minutes. Buchsbaum moves to
approve the minutes of the October 18, 2022 meeting, as amended. Seconded by
Redmond. Berton takes a roll call vote. Motion passes 5-0.
Members review and offer edits to the draft meeting minutes. Redmond moves to
approve the minutes of the November 9, 2022 meeting, as amended. Seconded by Jones.
Bertoni takes a roll call vote. Motion passes 5-0.
Members review and offer edits to the draft meeting minutes. Buchsbaum moves to
approve the minutes of the November 29, 2022 meeting, as amended. Seconded by
Redmond. Bertoni takes a roll call vote. Motion passes 5-0.
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Members review and offer edits to the draft meeting minutes. Jones moves to approve the
minutes of the December 19, 2022 meeting, as amended. Seconded by Buchsbaum.
Bertoni takes a roll call vote. Motion passes 5-0.
8. Adjournment
Buchsbaum moves to adjourn. Seconded by Squibb. Bertoni takes a roll call vote. Motion passes
5-0.
Meeting ends at 9:18 p.m.
The next regular meeting of the Conservation Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, January 31,
2023.