The most significant portion of the meeting centered around the continuation of a public hearing concerning a Notice of Intent filed by New England Power. Representatives from the BC Group presented revised site plans that addressed comments from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). A primary concern was ensuring erosion controls aligned with the clearing limits, and the representatives confirmed these adjustments had been made. Discussions also covered the construction timing of a wetland replication area, which could coincide with or precede the substation’s expansion. Some commission members suggested constructing the replication area first to prevent potential damage during subsequent work, though this wasn’t mandated by local bylaws.

The commission also examined the project’s impact on intermittent streams and the bank resource area. The representatives assured that sediment removal would be conducted with minimal disruption, using a small excavator to clean accumulated sediment from the stream. A hydrologic and hydraulic study determined that underground conduit work would remain outside the floodplain limits set by FEMA. Despite this, the commission scrutinized the calculations for water quality volume and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) removal, ultimately agreeing that the project’s stormwater report sufficiently met the town’s bylaws.

A prominent topic of discussion was the proposed expansion of a gravel yard to accommodate a mobile substation, necessitating additional site access. The mobile substation, sometimes comprising two trailers, required clearances of 15 to 20 feet from any conductive materials, intensifying the need for precise site planning. Confusion over unlabeled structures in the revised site plans prompted further inquiries, as commission members expressed uncertainty about their classification and purpose.

Resident Peter Horan, living nearby on Park Street, voiced concerns about the project’s visual impact, requesting the planting of Eastern White Cedar for screening. Horan emphasized the ecological benefits of native plants and their potential to obscure the project’s infrastructure, likening it to “the legs of those big Walkers” from Star Wars. The commission deliberated on the feasibility of Horan’s request, balancing it against the existing vegetation’s environmental integrity. Ultimately, the commission highlighted the practical limitations of introducing new plantings in a densely vegetated area, leaving Horan’s proposal unresolved.

The meeting also addressed the height of trees that could be planted near power lines, citing reliability risks and fire hazards associated with large trees. Monitoring the condition of a blocked culvert area was emphasized as a proactive measure to prevent flooding, with the commission noting that maintenance responsibilities would not shift to the Department of Public Works until the project’s completion.

In addition to the New England Power project, the commission discussed phasing and a five-year Order of Conditions for a separate power line project. This phased approach allowed for critical maintenance and subsequent structure replacement, with temporary matting costs being a focal point of concern. The commission imposed a condition to ensure mats wouldn’t be left on-site during inactive periods, especially during the growing season.

The meeting also included the establishment of a working group for the town’s newly acquired property on Sandy Pond Road. The commission appointed a representative to this group after deliberation.