Lincoln Conservation Commission
MINUTES
Wednesday, November 5, 2003
Lincoln Town Offices
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Elizabeth Frumkin, Jim Henderson, Chair Mary Lincoln, Sam Perkins, & Sara Silverstein. STAFF: Tom Gumbart.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Parking at St. Anne's in-the-Fields
Herb Haessler attended the meeting on behalf of the Church to discuss using the parking lot for access to the Mt. Misery Conservation Land. In the past St. Anne's allowed parking for this purpose but there were conflicts with trail users parking during services and other events at the Church. St. Anne's closed the lot to trail users once construction started on the building a couple of years ago and it remains closed. Mr. Haessler discussed that St. Anne's would be willing to open the lot again, with restrictions during church activities, provided the Town of Lincoln snow plows the lot. The Commission generally supported this exchange of plowing for parking privileges. Currently the trail users who used to park at the St. Anne's are parking
along Old Concord Road in front of Linden Tree Farm. This creates congestion on that narrow road and it becomes a real problem in the winter when cross-country skiers are trying to use the lot. Tom Gumbart will discuss this opportunity with the Town Administrator, Tim Higgins.
Bylaw Buffer Zone Regulations
The Commission reviewed a working draft of buffer zone regulations that was prepared by Mary Lincoln. These will be promulgated under the Lincoln Wetlands Protection Bylaw. A public hearing will be scheduled at one of the upcoming meetings to solicit input from the community.
Operating Budget FY-2005
The operating budget is due on November 24th. Two budgets for the Department need to be developed. The first is a zero-growth/no override budget and this will require the cutting of operating expenses to offset the annual increase in employee compensation. The second budget is a preferred/override budget. This will simply be a level services budget, no expansion of program or activities.
Snider Pond Project
This project was completed in a two week time period from October 20 and October 31. Contract work was done through Aquatic Control Technology. They delivered a hydrorake to the site and spent two weeks clearing out vegetation, primarily buttonbush. Jim Henderson, a Commissioner, volunteered two weeks of labor and use of his tractor. He worked on shuttling the removed biomass to a storage and dewatering area in the adjacent woodland. This was a tremendous contribution and the project would not have been feasible without his help. Next we need to work with the Highway Department for getting the stockpiles removed.
This project is also being supported by abutters to the pond with generous cash donations to a Town gift account dedicated to management of Snider Pond. Approximately 1.5 acres of this five acre basin were cleared and this will provide open water habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. The status of the pond as a vernal pool makes it a very sensitive ecological area and this work was designed to avoid the areas used by breeding amphibians. There will be ongoing monitoring of the wildlife at this pond and of the future succession of the aquatic plant community. The Conservation staff and volunteers will work on keeping the 1.5 acre area free of invasive plants, especially purple loosestrife. This was the first project of this type undertaken by
the Conservation Commission in recent history and it will be interesting to see the impact of the work over the coming years.
Mt. Misery Parking Lot Repairs
The Highway Department will be working to rehabilitate the parking lot at Mt. Misery on November 6th. The lot will be graded to make it level and then a gravel mix will be brought in to make a new surface. The Commission appreciates this help from the Highway Department.
East Middlesex Mosquito Control & Stream Clearing
A representative from East Middlesex Mosquito Control stopped in at the Conservation Office inquiring about where in Lincoln they should do some manual stream clearing. Two years ago they did some work on the headwaters of Stony Brook around the schools and this may be a place to check again.
Keshishian, 17 Morningside Lane, Request for Certificate of Compliance
Great Meadow Farm, the contractor who did the wetlands restoration work forVartan Keshishian, requested a Certificate of Compliance for the project. Tom Gumbart visited the site and reported that the wetlands planting appears healthy. However, existing Order of Conditions requires two successful growing seasons prior to issuing a Certificate of Compliance. Also a 20-foot naturalized (unmowed) buffer zone to the restored wetland is required under the OOC and this was not fully established on the site.
Buffer Zone Tree - Vale, 17 Stratford Way
There is a large oak tree on this property that is at the edge of wetlands. An abutting property owner has asked Mr. Vale if the tree can be removed or at least pruned of deadwood. The Commission agreed that the tree should remain as is without any pruning. There is an Order of Conditions for a septic line next to this tree and part of that Order requires the vegetation to kept as intact as possible in this area.
Correspondence from Gustav Beerel - Paddock at 25 Red Rail Farm
Another letter regarding the paddock owned by Mr. Beerel and used by Kim Johnson, Red Rail Farm, has been received by the Commission. A site visit will be set up to go and hear Mr. Beerel's concerns.
Mt. Misery Beavers
Mike Callahan, Beaver Solutions, came out on Thursday October 23rd to view the beaver work at Mt. Misery. Sean Hale and Tom Gumbart showed him the two dams, the lodge, and the areas impacted by the higher water levels. Mr. Callahan will submit a written report regarding what he views as the options available, ranging from leave them alone to trapping them out.
State of the Town Meeting
Tom Gumbart provided the Commission with a report on this meeting that was held on November 1st.
Osborne Pond Wetlands Filing
The Rural Land Foundation has submitted a Notice of Intent for pond restoration work. This is part of the project for preserving the Osborne land at the end of Page Farm Road, most of which is now owned by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust. The commissioners will have a site visit with Nadie Rice on Saturday, November 15th and the public hearing will be at the November 19th meeting.
Library Forestry Grant
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, through its Urban and Community Forestry Program is awarding grants of up to $5,000 for local libraries to increase their educational offerings regarding community trees and forests. Jenifer Burkett-Picker is working on the grant on behalf of the library and Mary Van Vleck is working on it for the Land Trust. The Commission supports this grant and will submit a letter for the grant application. Tom Gumbart and Sean Hale are available to assist with walks, volunteer workday, and preparation of materials if the library gets the grant.
ACTION ITEMS
Bills were paid and payroll signed.
Respectfully submitted,
Tom Gumbart
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