Thu, Dec 06, 2007 11:15 AM
From:		Howard Siegel
To:		StockbridgeMA_BComm
Subject:	June, 12 2007

CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MEETING
TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2007

PRESENT:	Sally Underwood-Miller, Stephen Shatz, George Shippey, John Hart
		Joseph DeGiorgis

ABSENT:	Cathy Plakun

Call Meeting to Order/Adopt Minutes – The Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.  Member Shippey made a motion to adopt the Minutes as presented, seconded by member Shatz and all voted in favor.

Louis Peyron appeared at the request of the Commission to discuss what the Fire Dept. was doing on Prospect Hill Rd. near the lake several weeks ago.  L. Peyron stated that Stockbridge, along with Great Barrington and Lee, was doing drills as they do every year.  He stated that they pump water from the water supply and then pump it back.  This is done all over the country.  The Chairman expressed concern of the impending threat of the Zebra Mussel to our inland waterways.  The Chairman also indicated that when she went by the area later in the day she noticed the lake was roily and L. Peyron stated that it was not roily when he and his men left.  The Commission thanked L. Peyron for coming to the meeting and keeping the Commission up to date on their activities.

Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, Massachusetts Turnpike – RDA – Matt Mulryan, representing the Turnpike Authority, appeared to discuss their annual herbicide and spraying along selective areas of the Turnpike.  He stated that the work proposed is covered under CMR 333.11.  The work will take place within the Buffer Zone.  They will be spraying 30 ft. from the wetland but they can go 10 ft. by right of legislation.  The Chairman stated that there are wetlands on both sides of the Turnpike.  M. Mulryan stated that very rarely is there a wetland within 10-15 ft. of the guardrail.  The material that they use has been approved by the Dept. of Agricultural Resources and Dept. of Environmental Protection.  They have not sprayed Stockbridge for 5 yrs.  The Turnpike has not sprayed in the areas of Zone 2 and TWPA   They will spray from the 18 ft. median barrier coming east and will start in July.  Judy Spencer, representing the Kampoosa Bog Stewardship Committee, was present in support of spraying in the selective areas rather than by mechanical means.  Jessie Murray, representing the Nature Conservancy, was present to support the proposal as well.  There is an outfall pipe that the Kampoosa Bog Stewardship Committee and Nature Conservancy want maintained.  M. Mulryan requested a Negative Determination.  Member Hart requested a ride between Lee and West Stockbridge to observe the areas of spraying.  M. Mulryan will meet member hart at the maintenance building on Marble St. in Lee on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at 12:00 p.m.  Member Shatz made a motion to issue a Negative Determination subject to observations made by member Hart, seconded by member Shippey and all voted in favor.

Steven Mack of Foresight Land Services, representing Stephen & Dorothy Weber of Stone Hill Rd., appeared to submit an updated landscaping plan which would include many more trees planted than originally planned.  The Webers are trying to establish a mature buffer.  The trees are all non-invasive.  If the trees die the applicants will have them replaced.  The Commission gave the okay on the plan as submitted.

The Chairman read into the record a letter received by Lucy Jensen stating that she would not be able to appear before the Commission tonight to discuss wetland violations to her property at 1 Pine Lane.  M. Jensen also stated in the letter that she would attend the meeting on July 10.  The Chairman e-mailed her expressing dismay in her prolonged non-appearance before the Commission.

The Commission reviewed a Simplified Waterways license submitted to DEP by Constance Pajeski on behalf of the Mahkeenac Shores Association to maintain their existing dock, floats and retaining wall.  The Secretary was instructed to send a letter to Ms. Pajeski requesting she attend the next meeting and fully describe what they intend to do.

With no further business, member Shippey made a motion to close the hearing at 9:10 p.m. seconded by member DeGiorgis and all voted in favor.

						Respectfully submitted,

						Denise A. Schneyer, Secretary