The meeting’s primary focus was on the partially collapsed culvert near the reservoir, which raised significant safety concerns. The commission learned that initial measures, including traffic cones and caution tape, had been ineffective in preventing potential injuries from individuals traversing the area. A speaker noted the inadequacy of these barriers, explaining that the caution tape often became displaced. In response, there was a call for more substantial barriers, with reflective tape for nighttime visibility, to be installed. The speaker stated, “I did reach out to the DPW… see if we can implement anything a little bit more solid,” reflecting the urgency of the situation. The commission expressed concern over ongoing erosion and the risk of further collapse due to recent heavy rains, noting, “there’s still water going through the culvert, but the road is collapsing.” An email to National Grid, which owns the right-of-way, was suggested to discuss better barrier options and maintenance responsibilities.

Another topic of discussion was the enforcement order related to a sludge landfill site. The commission acknowledged that reports submitted regarding a sediment sludge discharge incident on March 6 required more detail. A comprehensive review of these documents was deemed necessary, with plans to revisit the issue in the next scheduled meeting.

Public comment from Alan Russo, a resident abutting the sludge landfill site, highlighted community concerns. Russo expressed appreciation for keeping the enforcement order open, which allows for continued oversight. He inquired about the status of a report from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and questioned whether additional sludge inspection reports from Dan Arnold, the Director of the Department of Public Works, included further explanatory notes.

The commission also addressed activities within the buffer zone of a bordering vegetated wetland on Saunders Street. The commission scrutinized disturbances caused by all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in the buffer zone, with input from a homeowner present at the meeting. The speaker had monitored the situation and reported that the damage appeared “very shallow, very superficial,” with no major cause for concern. The homeowner, Mr. Marsh, explained that he was unaware of the wetlands when he purchased the property in 2016 but took steps to halt the ATV activities after being informed. He acknowledged the disturbances caused by his daughter’s boyfriend’s riding and agreed to establish boundaries for usage.

In other matters, the commission received updates on various conservation projects. This included a case concerning a project on Wag South Road, which had undergone an appeals process. A superseding site visit had occurred, attended by two commissioners, and the commission awaited further correspondence from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regarding findings and potential next steps. It was noted that there had been no new developments on the property since the last visit, and the commission emphasized the need to await official guidance from the DEP.

Additionally, the status of 170 Mil Street was addressed due to a lack of communication from Mass Dam Safety. A motion was made to continue this item for further discussion, which received unanimous support. Concerns were also raised regarding a nature trail, where access and signage issues were discussed. The commission highlighted potential rain runoff problems if the trail’s connection to the main road was not properly addressed. Water supply signs had been installed, but further follow-up with the engineering firm was considered necessary.