##VIDEO ID:FzqBMo3dEMs## e hey anybody there hey Jim no hey oh there we go now you're live good evening everybody good evening J this on this I don't know anyway hey how are you hi Melissa hi Jim hied hi Ted is everybody else coming tonight through the chair you're live on hcam TV all right thank you all right I'm just letting a few more people in the waiting room here and I'm going to um hit record to start the recording recording in progress all great um good evening everybody I working um off just a laptop in Maine right now so please bear with me as I only have my one screen instead of the two that I usually have at home um I'm going to pull up the preamble for the remote meeting and go through that first so this is the August 20th 2024 open meeting of the Hoppington Conservation Commission being conducted remotely consistent with an act extending certain covid-19 measures adopted during the State of Emergency the new law authorized all members of a public body to continue participating in meetings remotely the open meeting laws requirement that a quorum of the body and the chair be physically present at the meeting locations suspended for this meeting the Hop Hoppington Conservation Commission is convened by video conference via Zoom app as posted on the town's web meeting calendar and the Conservation Commission agenda identifying how the public may join Additionally the meeting may also be broadcast by each cam through one or more of its channels or platforms please note that this meeting is being recorded and that some of the attendees are participating by video conference accordingly Please be aware that other others may be able to see you and not take care not to screen share your computer anything that you broadcast may be captured by the recording supporting materials that have been provided to the members of the commission for this meeting are available on the town's website meeting will feature public comment after commission members and staff have discussed each project application on the agenda chair will open the discussion to public comment members of public who wish to speak are asked to identify their name and address three minutes will be afforded for each public comment each vote taken in this meeting will be conducted via roll call of the members I will now confirm um which commission members are present so myself Melissa Ros uh Jim you present present Ted present Ed present Janine present Matt I know Matt sent a note that he'd be joining late so sure he will announce when he comes in I'll now confirm staff that are present Kim present Anna present and Joe all right that's out of the way um as we get started so Kim's got the agenda up here on the screen and just to everyone um on the meeting there's two hearings that have been continued hington DPW Wood Street right away this is the drainage improvements um is continued to September 10th and hopking hopkington stone and Garden at 28 Lumber Street that is continued uh to September 24th so neither of those items will be discussed tonight um so with that I think I think Kim unless you have another thought I'll just start with the new hearings and go right down the agenda um do we want to do work session first work session couple of those um yeah we could we could do that we have no documents for review and draft minutes um does anyone on the commission have any comments on the July 30th 2024 minutes no no want a motion sure I'll make a motion to approve the draft minutes of July 30 2024 all right can I get a second a second all in favor um yeah I gotta go through the roll call here uh Jim yeah Ted I Ed yes Janine I and I am and I so those are all set all right um okay next up we have Toll Brothers Elmwood Farms 3 now also known as newb Glenn violation discussion for tree removal in the buffer zone um Kim can you give us an overview on this one to start us off sure I'm just pulling up some plans here for the discussion all right so um this is the Toll Brothers uh development off blary Lane I think where most of us are familiar um the order of conditions was issued by this board in 2021 and that included the construction of a trench train behind the residences on Blueberry Lane so you can see here a depiction on the storm water plant of the trench um I would note that as dep depicted in um this plan the one of the lots that is slated to be conser under a conservation restriction um also contains part of that drain infrastructure so if we kind of talk between you see lot 42 the drain cuts through it diagonally and then comes down Adam Street and enters blueberry and then you can see here in the original CR plan we have lot 42 in the original paper Street Adam Street which was all slated to become conservation land um this conservation land area also contains an isolated ivw which is the reason that tripped the need for the application in the first place and under our bylaw the ivw has an associated 50ft no disturb and then a 100 foot buffer zone um I will note that town meeting did vote to approve a land transfer of this land I'm not certain that that transfer has actually occurred yet um but that was approved as a transfer at town meeting so um what has happened is that to Brothers has moved forward um you know with their first steps in in you know looking looking to install this trench the commission conditioned the order of conditions such that this trench needed to be installed in the beginning of the project during the preconstruction meeting during kickoff I walk the site with uh a representative of to Brothers um Ted and we talked about a 15ot wide work area for the installation of this trench uh that 15ot wide area was staked in the field and and designated appropriately by survey um you can see that part of that that area does go through the buffer zone I'm not sure I look through all the old paperwork um it's unclear if the impacts associated with the trench were ever Quantified as impacts to buffer own when the project was originally approved so that part is unclear um what has happened is that the contractor has removed the trees um not grubbed but removed the trees in a wider swath and so you can see this is kind of the quote unquote as built so this dotted line is the 15 foot limit of work area that was discussed and then this um in a squiggly red line is the approximate as built of the tree line as it stands today so additional tree clearing than than what we had anticipated um and it looks like it's the extent is just um up to the 50 Foot Wetland bumper so um it's a tricky situation you know I don't like I said it's not certain or clear in the commission's permitting if these impacts were even originally accounted for um they are in the buffer zone and the is property that will eventually become um Town property dedicated for for conservation uh just pull up some photos for you as well so I have not issued enforcement in this case um but I did want to have you know this conversation as to how the commission was feeling about this and how the commission might want to see things moving forward Kim I have a clarifying question the 15 feet um shown on that plan the dashed line was that on the um approved plan it was not um I looked everywhere for a limit of work I couldn't find one I did find the the trench drain detail again um on here didn't you just show it here it is um so it depicts the drain itself is 3T wide and then there's actually was a BM permitted down slope of it which is to wide um this is this details not to scale so um if you're taking that into account you know we've got at least 7 feet of total work area between the BM and the trench of the actual infrastructure not necessarily the work needed to install it um so that like I said that 15 feet foot limit of work was something that was established by the developer as something that would be reasonable um and then it was you know subsequently exceeded by about Double Y um do we have Mr Merchant on the line here I'm pretty sure I let him in I wanted to see if he wanted to speak to this I I am here I everyone um so I I think Kim had a a good summary here um the the lower clearing line called the line closer to the Blueberry Lane residences um was noted in the plans the upper line was not um and when Kim and I walked uh back during the preconstruction meeting I had thought that 15 foot was reasonable um the instruction given to the contractor was you know use that as a guideline and if you need to exceed it because you have a stump in the way or there's a in the way you know you can bump it over um I think there are places where he exceeded that direction um but I also don't know that there was a limit on the outside so um you know I'm I'm happy to work with the commission to try and restore some of that area um though I I don't know that you know as Kim was saying it's a little bit tricky in the that I don't know that there was a limmit uh you know I think they did exceed what we anticipated doing however so yeah it's think that um you know it's it's disappointing to have a whole conversation on site um you know the width marked out in the field um specifically with Cam and everyone to be in agreement and then have a contractor just blatantly you know ignore that limit of work line it looks like it's pretty drastic in some areas um not just by a few feet looks like we're talking 40 ft um in some areas um I know you said you didn't issue any violation yet Kim but I I think we need to talk about consequences and mitigation here um this is the beginning phase of the project and you know we really need to have some trust in um going forward um here does anyone on the the commission have any um comments you want to add here I think my first thoughts would be um to collect more information on on the number of trees that were cut down um identifying the size and caliber of those trees that were cut down outside that OT or 15 foot limit of work so that we can really understand um what we're looking to what we're discussing here if if I may interject one one more thing um one of the considerations that we had um is the actual construction of this trench and how to go about doing that um you know an excavator needs to come down through this area which is you know roughly 15 foot wide itself with you know the need to spin Etc um and then we need a truck to be able to get by with stone to be able to dump on um you know the low side of it so they're they're going to start to be able to build this you're going to start on Blueberry Lane and work your way back into the site so Stone needs to be on the low side um of where they are so I I think part of the thought process was that you know in order to get a truck around um you know it was made wider in places I I think that like I said before there are areas that exceeded that but I thought the 30 foot was probably what was realistically needed um to to build this and I know that's not what uh we discussed the preconstruction meetings um but you know getting around uh the active excavator is is going to be one of the challenges um Melissa if he's done I got a couple of things uh first this has to be a record of when and Order of conditions was issued and the first violation uh it's very disappointing I understand needing the access to to work on construct the trench what is most disappointing is that the applicant didn't put that on their plan and didn't ask for in the first place it's not up to us to have picked up something that they forgot it's up to them to have put down that that you know including the plan access for the trench now a question uh was this all just uh you know Hardwoods or was there a lot of invasives in there a lot of uh stuff that also came down theas or mostly healthy Trea if you know Mr BR so I I can respond to both of those things I think first and maybe I ought have said this we weren't the original applicant and and purchased the project with the with the permit in hand um and the trees uh there were no there's no real invasives in the area and that is one of the things that we looked at um in the project as a whole so as as you get further towards call it the the Wetland line I think the vegetation was sparer and I tried to you know count up trees that I thought were within the Zone call it from 30 foot out um and I have a rust rough estimate but that was you know me walking and and estimating so um I I do think we can collect some more information on what was cut stumps are still there y thank you this is Ed speaking as chair of open space um when I walked the property um yeah there was not much in the way of invasive I was quite pleased with that um I had misgivings about open space taking a piece of property that's going to have a for lack of a better word of pipeline I mean no disrespect running through the middle of it and the disruption that it would cause to what's supposed to be an open space Natural Area uh I am I'm sorry but I'm a wicked tree hugger and I I find this exceedingly disappointing and I will leave it with that Melissa yes Ted uh I have a question for Mr Marchant first and then a question for Kim um Ted if I may um through two projects I think we've tried to have a pretty good and open relationship with you and 12 Brothers if you were in and unless I misunderstand what happened if you were in the field with Kim and agreed to a 15ot wide but in your head was thinking 30 feet wide was better how does that happen how do you not bring it up and have a discussion with Kim at the time or am I misunderstanding how that came together um so at the time I said I came up with this the 15t wide I I thought that that was appropriate at the time um you know the conversations that went further with a contractor you know as they were clearing um they're said that they were looking for more now I I can't excuse that right I that is I had the 15 foot conversation with Ken and you didn't come back to say that the contractor is looking for more space you just kind of it was essentially done at that point unfortun oh it was already done yes um my question for you Kim what regarded the pictures there was some um silt fencing in some of those was the 15t corridor marked off with the silt fencing on both sides on one side or is that silt fencing something else completely in the photos y so the silt fencing is one side is the um limit of the project extent so the silt fence is on one side on kind of the um the neighbor the neighbor's side it's the perimeter rosion control and then the opposite side of the limit of work was marked off with field survey Stakes okay so when they pushed I I think that would be South and Southwest to the red tree line that was going past Stakes not silt fencing correct I'm trying to understand what a contractor may have seen or not seen and ignored when they made their decisions thank you right sorry go ahead no go ahead yes Kim um I can't recall Ted if we talked about this before so I apologize but I guess my faup question is um what does this area look like in ter or need in terms of long-term maintenance and access I know what the top of the trench is going to look like but is there a need for additional area to remain you know say it's a grass lawn type area so that future maintenance can occur and if so you know how how big does that need to be I I think the original intention of the 15 foot was was for just that um you know with the burm there you know could we look for slightly more maybe but uh I think that was that was how we generated the 15 originally was for the maintenance access for it and do you have any concerns knowing that the water table is high on this site and you know obviously I'm aware that that um you know it's being managed on the the main portion of the site but in the absence of I guess having those more substantial storm water bmps are there any concerns about additional bmps needed just to get get equipment in there to be able to construct this like I guess what I'm asking is what what is realistic I don't think our time constructing the drain in there is going to be substantial um I'd want to talk to our contractor to get an idea of how long he thought but I I don't expect to be in there for more than you know a week week and a half to build this um so and then once it's complete and stabilized um I I think that it controls the water I mean that's the purpose of this Improvement so I don't see a need for additional bmps um with the exception of you know maybe s fence on the other side and just for the commission's benefit the reason why I'm asking is because there's some there's some really serious slipping and sliding of machinery and um tracked Machinery on on some of these more controlled portions of the site as the as the you know trees are coming out so it's definitely it's definitely a challenging site um although maybe a little counterintuitive I don't know the topography going from the wetlands toward the trench in this area or it it's it's pretty flat um but I'd say in general yes it's it's more heading down towards blueberry um but it's generally flat and not you know towards the wetlands significantly okay um I think I think my request at this point would be um Ted if you can put together a plan um that shows the trees that were cut maybe put a 30ft line on it if that's what you think you need um for construction along with you know the trees that were cut down and then um maybe propose some erosion controls to protect the trench until if there is you know areas that are mucked up by the trucks so you're not getting um sediment into the trench until it reestablishes and maybe bring that plan back to the commission to take a look at um do you have time to do that before you were going to or C can we do that before you proceed yes all right um before we go further I'm sure there's some folks here from the public that I want to give an opportunity um for comment if there are any at this time so the chair this is Ed can I make one more comment go ahead Ed yep anyone else I would have been far more impressed with the contractor if the contractor had said hey we got to widen this trench and there's a silt pence in the way because we want to widen it away from the Wetland the fact that they widened it into the Wetland I think is a major Le strike against the capability and comprehension of the contractor all right thanks then anyone else on the board before I open up to public comment no have any comments from the public uh yes if I could I'm Doug Anie from 20 Blueberry Lane yes um yeah I just I watched uh the contractor do this and there was an Absol abute disregard for the staking um on the right side as they were coming towards Blueberry Lane um I'm not sure the equipment as selected could have maintained a 15ot trench but as it turned to the side to continue to just clearcut area there was um it ran over the stakes it absolutely create cleared as much space to the right as it needed primarily so it could turn back around and swing itself all the way back out the way that it came um and just continued to clear space so if there was any instruction given that there was supposed to be a minimization of the tree clearance it was absolutely not visible um from watching the behavior of the the contractor doing the construction it was absolutely clear as much space almost as badly as if you were creating the road um over the time in which it was done so um and it's you know really troubling to watch because I think there is it creates a very uh strong distrust in the neighborhood for the environmental respect um and respect of the community uh expectations for Toll Brothers as a developer and the contractors that they've selected um and it's I think the picture here really minimizes what it looks like as you walk it um and how visibly clear is from um the space that was clearly staked out um as they laid on the ground after the the equipment went uh crushing over it and um I think it is really important that there be some uh restoration or um you know replanting to try to remediate the what I think is just excessive damage done for the purposes of that trench um particularly if there's an expectation that they'll be um you know just continued free reign for um you know for the purposes of building the trench um in and around the neighborhood thank you do we have any other comments from the public so can I just chime in yes Jim I I just want to say that was very well said and that is the problem it's the problem that we run into a lot that is contractors come out the side contractors come out and for whatever reason something you know takes place that's not part of the plan that was approved nor is it you meet any of our expectations so well said I forgot your name Mr butter thank you okay appreciate that so um all right so our next meeting is September 10th I believe um so Ted you can pull together that plan for us um I think we do you know in in hearing the feedback and I I agree it sounds like the contractor needs some bumpers so I think the um erosion controls on the opposite side would be twofold for them um keeping them in their Lane as well as protecting the resource area in the trench so if you can you know really put some thought into what that what you propose that should be um and that's what we'll be hanging our hat on and identifying those trees and the caliper and the type I think would be important for us to look at for um mitigation measures for trees that came down I can do that to work okay Kim do you have anything to add or Joe no Point okay all right thank you thank you guys all right so I think we jumped to our new hearing now um this is Lee 0 and 30 West Main Street and I'm going to need to read something to open this up let me pull okay public hearing notice the Hoppington Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing on Tuesday August 20th 2024 at 700 p.m. virtually online to hear all persons interested in a request for determination of applicability filed by un Le for exploitatory subsurface investigation and Associated site access location 30 West Main Street assessors map u8 block 32 lot 0 and 0 West Main Street assessors map u8 Block 33 lot zer yes hi Anna um is it possible for me to share the screen so I can control the Powerpoints that I prepared or I think or you will slip for me um I think you can can do you have access to share yeah let me stop sharing oh thank you let me should be able to grab it now youan yeah yeah thank you so much see that way I might be able to just uh let me see what I can share yeah can you see my screen yes can everyone see my awesome awesome thank you so much so um so this um is regarding uh we are require we are just trying to do soil testing and in order to do the soil testing we need access towards uh that location and so the main concern learn um from the peer reviewer um and we I read through uh the comments and uh very thorough and we really appreciate that so the main concern was because of the the access path is located within the 25 foot no disturbance Zone to the isolated Wetland the applicant should submit a waiver request uh so yes uh we uh submit the waiver request along with the narrative uh to explain the situation um but because I submitted only a day ago I don't know whether everyone got a chance to read through everything so I'm going to summarize um a few things very quickly so here this is the access point so the red line um from here to that's where the test pits areas are that we are hoping to do test here and this green area is the isolated Wetland um and uh the reason why we are hoping you can uh consider uh giving us the waiver is because first of all um we explored all the possibilities I mean we think uh there were no other practical Alternatives the only because Wetland is right here and that's the other wetland in the neighbors's land the only alternative will be you go around can you see my mouse moving yes okay it's only going around like this is the house here we go around the house there's a barn here and then we go around here and so around here to to the test area however this area also it's within 50 foot Buffa Zone maybe you'll be somewhere close to 25t buffone ending way also the distance is like two to three times longer and uh also you know there are very dense overgrowth of uh plants uh bushes and there are large rocks along the way and the big Fallen Tree Trunks and there are trees um so we feel if we have to go that way um we are going to create much larger environmental disruption so that's why we feel this past is more practical um um you know less damage and less disturbance and also the second reason is um regarding the you know we try to minimize the adverse effects and uh so I actually I uh did this uh short video it's h only one minute um I don't know whe whether everyone got a chance to see it but I wanted to show you quickly if you look at here that's the entrance entrance point you see there were no trees and it's quite clear natur clear PA so we only need a very small Machinery like we don't disturb anything just drive through like I'm walking through you see it's like we are lucky along this side if you look here pretty much there's no vegetation just the leaves and that's the erosion control we have not actually finished the installing uh we I wanted to get your approval of the access path before we seriously do that but you see how this this naturally open area the small machine just drives that's the workers I hire to put the to flag the whole path on both ways so there won't be any miscommunication or so that's where the test pits are that's how quick so I would say if you would allow this waiver um the the the the the excavator uh they probably only need two minutes two to three minutes to enter and two to three minutes to exit without much you no damage no permanent damage to plant roots or other critical components of wetland and the last thing um I know it requires like enhancement of a resource area capacity um and I think you know the purpose of us doing soil testing is to make sure any future development will be done with full consideration of the environment and uh as the homeowners uh we purchased the Passos and we just want to build one single family house for ourselves and uh um if we can't do the soil testing we are facing very significant hardship and because we can't proceed with planning and design work and also I I hope that you can grant this waiver um so that we can you know gather accurate data information from soil testing re required to protect the Wetland uh during uh later on the phases of development so that's regarding a main concern um and sorry let me get rid of this how do I move to the next page let me see oh here um so that's uh yeah so sorry there were the second concern um so the second concern brought up in the uh peer review you uh is that the application states that none of the test pits are located within the 100 foot buffer zone while this is two regarding the nearby isolated Wetland there's also another Wetland located the southwest of the test pit location with say Buffa zone that includes the locations um of test pits one two and part of three and we actually I Revisited the site and uh I have to say you know thank you very much for the PE review observation and uh we truly apologize for the oversight we paid attention to this Wetland here and we saw the uh 100 foot uh Stakes over here we were like oh great that's a Beyond 100 foot buffone but we overlooked there a wetland here and that there's a 50 foot buffer zone here so we definitely need to correct um in the whole you know statement so test pit one test pit two um are within I would say Beyond 50 between 50 foot buffer zone and 100 foot buffet Zone and test pit three we are happy to move it towards this side so maybe that corner is in the 100 foot buff zone so we will move it making sure test pit three and four are both um Beyond 100 foot buffet Zone that's 100% we will do that um and uh um you know again uh so you know the test pit W to at the m at this point we're still hoping we will be allowed to do the test here um so that we can have more accurate data about the area and see what's the best uh for the potential uh septic system or development if at all possible and what will be the best for the environment uh in order for us to to have a house for ourselves if at all possible um so that's that for the uh concern two and the concern three that's brought up uh in the peer review is although no trees required cutting there are several trees located within a couple of feet of the test pits that would likely have root damage from the excavation so this include two white pines two black birchers and two red Maples um again I went went back there um and I tried to identify them and I but I'm still not 100% sure I marked those trees that I think it's likely to be what is mentioned in the report in the in the comments uh here like in the green star area so if it's at all possible I'm hoping I can have the opportunity to meet with the peer reviewer uh the Lucas team on the side and again we are happy to move this you know to a different location or a little bit whatever that that will make it you know better for the uh for the Wetland for the environment at at this stage and you know do uh what he would suggest uh if it's at all possible and the last thing uh the concern that's brought up in the uh report is uh erosion control installation yes uh if you look at the the picture here so we are doing silt uh fencing and mouch um uh MCH socks uh along this area here even though I mean according to you can see from the video the the the the vehicle is most likely going against the black line the the boundary line because it's quite clear uh we are still putting up the erosion controls just to make sure it's it's very safe and and no no you know mistake being made um and but we have not uh complete the installation because I I I hope I can I have ordered MCH socks I'm just waiting for the final approval from you uh before I can have the work uh scheduled to be done professionally and correctly um and the last thing uh showing up on the report is about the uh checklist and the uh labeling so the checklist I have uh emailed to Anna and Kim uh to add into the application um and for the labeling um you know I I'm happy to label on the sites according to one two three four and if at all possible to meet with the peer reviewer over there we can finalize this and I can label them together with him if at all possible uh so that's pretty much uh from me um if any questions thank you for that presentation that was very thorough thank appreciate the video too than you Joe do you have anything any responses to the response to comments or any additional thoughts on this proposal uh uh no I haven't had a time to really uh go over the uh recently submitted material but I thought the responses were uh were very thoro um I want to note also that I was appreciative of the uh how well the uh path and the locations were marked in the field um and it does appear that as I had stated in my review that no trees uh would need to be cut um to gain access to those locations um I don't think I have any um anything additional to add at this point that wasn't already um just addressed okay this is an RDA um Kim do you have anything to add especially in um the context I think of what we've looked at in the past and accepted for an RDA application for test pits yeah I mean I think that this meets our standards for rdas for for test pits and soil borings okay yeah I don't I don't have any additional comments okay is anyone else on the board have any uh questions comments who the chair this is Ed yes Ed it appears that there's a pre-existing house on the lot that fronts to West Main Street is that correct uh yes so right now we own this house and we are hope so um our parents you know when they get a little bit older we're hoping if we can build a house down here it's a small house so our parents will hopefully can move into that house this is two so the lot line is somewhere around here uh between the lot we are hoping to build our own house around here but that's a long story so starting with soil testing if you know to see how things are yeah so we own this house right now yes and okay and through the chair again my second question is how do you propose to get to your house when it's built I I already uh passed the uh the variance meeting and got approval we're going to do I been but again it will require conservation committee meeting that's another big you know long meetings and preparation that we will but the proposal is that to have a a shared driveway um like a an easement coming along this way to back to the to the house and hopefully that's where the septic will be that's where the proposed house will be and again by then if the soil testing is approved and then we move forward and see how things are with the soil if it's at all possible then we move on to Stage about talking about what to do to preserve the environment when the driveway coming through with the 50 foot buffet Zone here so it's a lot we don't know yet but that's the plan right now it's a very good question thank you Ed so to the chair um you know I I I guess the impact of this seems minimal and I know right now it's just looking for approval from here but I can't help but think down the road what will come before us later and so I wonder like what why do I want to approve even if it's minimal um Invasion into the buffer zone if this is a pro you know if it may be for nothing if this is a project that you know I may not support in the future because it looks like the house is completely in in 100 foot buffer zones I I think um that's again uh uh Jamie right Janine JY jeny yeah uh thank you for your question I think um so every step we take it so I I I I feel it will be more fair to me if we talk about the soil testing first and uh one step at time um you have all the rights to refuse uh for future development if uh certain things it's not according to regulation but I really feel right now we're just talking about soil testing and uh and so that's all I am hoping to get approval for is to at least to know what's the soil quality is and uh what do I have in the backyard if that makes sense yeah it it makes sense I just what I'm is like why you know why even disturb anything if this may be for not but yeah I think I think to Echo um your concern jine would be maybe just to advise the applicant to look at some of the other projects that we've had difficult um areas to deal with and um this will be a challenge I think for the commission to look at um in building a house in such you know it's such a such a small space and it is very close to a lot of our Wetland buffers so um right now I think we're just looking at soil testing for your for your own cost analysis and concerns as far as whether this is a viable project for you but I guess the commission or I'd just say maybe take a look at some of the other things you could talk to Anna um about what we've appr approved or what we've been concerned about in the past as a commission um before you kind of Go full bore into um putting a bunch of investment in engineering plans um and go forward definitely I I appreciate that as uh online camp both are aware um when we purchased the land and uh uh the little house uh this has been about almost two years we start with the w lination um and then the variance um and then the uh all kinds of meetings um get the land divided and I feel like I I I learned so much in this process so there's no regrets on my end regardless what the final result is I just want to walk every step um and uh the best I can and uh um I really wanted to know what the soil s um and then go from there I feel doing the soil testing is not going to you know ruin the environment and I am doing every uh possible Pro protection protective measures um and do do all the homework and uh hire the right people to do this I just hope I can at least get soil testing done and then go from there just one step at time okay thank you yeah thank you okay um so I think if you're comfortable Joe I think you know based on the presentation was very thorough I'd be comfortable going ahead and voting on this with those caveats and if you do um maybe coordinate with Kim and Joe on the actual test Pit locations in regards to the tree roots and then of course um if your contractor runs into any issues with trees along that route that you talk to them before they um take anything down because we're assuming here that there's zero trees um that will be cut um yes Ed um I just I want to caution the petitioner the the driveway going through a 50 foot buffer zone is a big deal and I really think that I would want to have a pretty firm picture there as to whether the Conservation Commission will accept that before I did a lot of anything else that to me is a is a big big stumbling block and I understand you're wanting to do one little step at a time but I think sometimes you need to look at the bigger picture and see which is the thing that's the make or break and can I resolve that first that's all thank you yeah thank you at um very good comment so here's the thing it we yeah I I think uh let's if it's okay I really want to discuss about D if the soil testing is is fails and I don't need to throw all the money looking into the driveway so that's another issue on my I hope you can understand I I definitely I I appreciate your thoughts and I thought about this too I mean after spending two years you you don't know what I have been going through through I mean I just but no regrets because I learned so much and uh it's a it's a very good experience for me I I don't want to give up at this point I just hope to at least get soil testing done I have paid for the soil testing and then realizing I have to do this meeting um and uh yeah I I hope you can understand yeah okay I yeah was there another comment well M was say in Def my good friend Ed and and Janine I think this is appropriate that they need to do the test to evaluate conditions um whether a driveway works or house works is down the road so I think we need to let them do this do the test pting yes I agree Jim okay are there any comments from the public on this one no all right can I get anyone um to make a motion on a negative determination for this RDA meaning we you would accept it I'll make that motion a second all right and we'll go down the roll call um Jim hi Ted hi Ed I Janine I Matt May I make a quick modification yeah the motion yes have have Kim sign on our behalf and include the conditions recommended by Joe yes thank you Matt thank you Matt um and I am an I so you are all set thank you so much everyone I really appreciate this thank you y good luck thank you have a good night yeah all right next we have um through the chair yes Kim you on if you could stop sharing your screen I got to grab the screen back oh sorry let me do so sorry okay thanks again thank you so got it back there you are full look at you guys full SI all right got it okay there we go good all right so now we have um this is a continued hearing town of hopkington for the charleswood school notice of intent um I believe that the applicant has some um updates for for us uh hi there through the chair uh and for the record Claire hogaboom Wetland scientist with LEC environmental Consultants representing the applicant um we are before you all today to just provide some updates since the last meeting uh where we open this discussion on the uh during the July 16th virtual meeting um since then we had received the D file number uh on July 19th providing some technical comments mostly related to the storm water management design with a few other comments uh specifically addressing um consideration to additional erosion controls on steep slopes um and depicting snow storage areas on the plan um we also had received the peer review letter prepared by Lucas environmental on July 25th um providing some additional peer review comments and um lastly we had our site walk with the commission that was requested at the last meeting on August 1st um so we really just want to use this opportunity since there was a lot of sort of outside information that was provided since the last meeting to give the commission um another opportunity to provide more comments and questions um especially following the site visit I know that provided a lot more context to what we're talking about um but before we get to that I did just want to summarize very briefly we did review uh Joe's letter and the team has been working in the background on um providing written responses to uh his comments but we also wanted to address one of the comments that I believe uh commission member Ed brought up at the last meeting and Joe sort of reiterated in looking into the Alternatives that are specific spe ific to the buffer zones um and specifically commission member Ed asked a question about shifting uh the athletic field and sort of some of the Central Development um a bit north to get work out of the buffer zone to that D series Wetland it's the centrally located Wetland on the Southern Property boundary um so the team has managed to uh shift that um entrance to the east or the plan right of the rotary of a bit north where the pavement now is completely outside of the buffer zone um and there is just grading proposed within that buffer zone now um so you know there might be other slight modifications to the plans we still have not received storm water peer review um report from I think Ty and bond has been retained by the planning board on behalf of the town for that service so we have not received that report yet but I just wanted to provide this progress to sort of facilitate this discussion tonight and any additional comments and questions from the commission um so that covers it for me I'm happy to pass it back to the chair through the chair yes uh Chris Everly from vertex the town's OPM for the project we would also be interested in hearing today from the Commissioners on any of their thoughts from the site visit so that we could issue a full and complete response to any comments that the commission might have um prior to your next meeting so that we can continue to move this process along um obviously the site visit is not a noticed meeting and discussion does not occur so we would be interested to hear any thoughts that the commission members have absolutely thank you um yes and thanks for working on that driveway there that's much appreciated taking um commission's feedback on that on that spot um I unfortunately was sick and not able able to make the site walk um any of the other commission members that were present do would you like to provide any comment or feedback based on the site walk everyone's being very quiet we know you have a comment in yeah I wouldn't there but but first I have a question the the roughly vertical dash line that goes through the middle of the site what does that represent the vertical the thick black line that's stashed yes uh I think that might just be uh this is an overall plan sheet so that would be sort of the cut sheet showing a zoom in would be of the left side and another zoom in of the right okay okay um so my my my questions of of the visit um firstly I thank all of those involved in making this happen um but my OB obervations were one or two or three um this is a wooded site that is supportive of a lot of Critters there were three Hawks having an argument over dinner when we got there we saw a deer running through the woods when we were in there and I am just and this is no reflection on anyone here this is I am just so frustrated that this town has put itself in the position that we have to build infrastructure on land that is a supportive of Wildlife and B that is not really condusive to being built upon um I I am just extraordinarily frustrated and I think I will leave my comments at that thank you and again I thank all of those involved in putting this together thank you thanks Ed anyone else on the commission have any um questions comments thoughts go ahead Jim I was gonna say I wasn't able to make it either uh I was just going to say just so I wasn't mute I really appreciate the S sidewalk I don't think it brought up fresh concerns for me I'm really happy that that Ed spoke up and got the way move thank you for that um it certainly helped me understand the project better um but I don't think it raised any fresh concerns or anything for me but I didn't want to just be mute and let you try to guess what that meant thanks Ted all right um any other questions comments on this project from the outside of the commission anyone from the public NOP okay Joe or Kim do you have anything to add I think we're just um eagerly awaiting that storm water review on all fronts yeah I don't have anything to add at this point okay I would just um reflect Ted's comments and and thank the applicant for the site walk definitely helped um add some context to the the review so appreciated all right I think with that I guess we'll be um continuing to the next meeting assuming the storm water review will come in before then um we are it's plan yeah uh we're very hopeful to receive it um we have not been given a concrete date of when we expect that but I think continuing to the next we meeting would be preferred and then we can request a continuance if we need some more time uh After we receive that information as well okay yeah through the chair um we did request an update on where that stands and um I have to correct Claire slightly um we were going to receive the storm waterer um comments early last week and the traffic comments by the 19th and neither of those have happened um so we're working with the planning board to get that information so that we can continue this process okay all right so so that being said can I get a motion to continue this to the September 10th meeting to motion back um all right all in favor um Ted hi Ed hi Janine hi Jim hi and Matt hi and myself I'm an i all right thank you all for your time and I also reiterate the gratitude for all of you scheduling and making it out to the site visit uh I hope everybody was free of ticks and mosquito bites after that one um just a clarifying question through the chair is the next meeting um I know it's on the 10th of September is it one of your in-person meetings or is it a virtual meeting or is that not yet determined it's virtual okay good thank you yep next up we have hackington DPW Chestnut Street right away this was the continuation of the sidewalk project looks like um we have a d file number for this one it's great um Kim did you want to give an update or do we have someone representing DPW who wanted to give an update um I can provide an update my name is Kisa barier attended the last meeting on July 30th and I'm from BHP helping represent the town of hackington for the proposed uh sidewalk installation so following our original public hearing on July 30th and Lucas environmentals peer review both received on July 26th and then we've submitted um revised set of plans and then we received another peer review letter on August 14th and we have sent revised plans and provided um an official response to all those comments um so commission hopefully has had time to review it um but I can share my oh the plans are already up so in the most recent review letter one of Lucas's comments was in regards to the BBW Fringe along the Eastern Bank of Bieber Brook uh north of Chestnut Street and here on the plans it's up in the upper left uh corner here so as uh we touched upon during our July 30th meeting due to our original delineation being done in December not a lot of vegetation was available um and we didn't identify this Fringe originally um but following Lucas's review a VHB environmental scientist was out on the site um last Friday August 16th and did confirm the presence of this Fringe um and delineate in the field using pink lagging uh we found that this Fringe area ranges from 3 feet to 7 feet wide but averaging closer to 3 feet wide along the Eastern Bank of Bieber Brook and it begins um near the original flag it was the three or 110 flag on the bank Channel um and we also identified that the area surrounding uh or outside of our newly delineated Fringe area it does support Wetland plants that are commonly associated with Wetlands such as sensitive Fern but the soils in this area that we found um did not have any indications of being a hydric soil so on the plan we have updated the 50 Foot no disturbance Zone which it pushes it out slightly further east um and south of what was originally shown on the plans and in this area the work would involve the Reconstruction of an already existing sidewalk here yep and um basically this sidewalk is pre-existing the only work that we would be doing is reconstructing it to accommodate for a new pedestrian curve ran and as the entire goal of this project is to improve pedestrian connectivity along Chestnut Street um and given the minimal impact or increase well we don't feel that um this Fringe and the updated no disturbance Zone will have any effect because impervious surfaces are not increasing as it's already paved already a sidewalk we're just reconstructing it to um again make that ramp then another comment from Lucas in the most recent uh peer review was an invasive species management plant so for the management of Japanese knotweed so a management plan was provided to the commission um in our response letter and it discusses the potential of herbicide treatment for this plant during construction and we included pieces such as um recommend middle Pieces by the contractor methodology for the management of Japanese nawe during construction the use of herbicide applications disposal of plant material and suggestions for followup treatment and again this plan was developed by beb but um for use by the town's contractor of choice whenever construction were to begin and in terms of the waiver request that we originally submitted and following Lucas's comments um we would like to reiterate that this waiver request is for work within the 50 Foot no disturb Zone and 75 foot no build Zone and work fall following the completion of the sidewalk would include reeding the area with a native seed mix which would help promote native seed growth and native plant growth along the entire Corridor of the project um in addition we clearly marked out on the plans the um five existing catch basins that will be replaced with newer and improved deep sump footed catch basins following um one of the comments in our July 30th meeting and then on top of these original improvements we've also added um some hatching on the plans which depicts some proposed planting areas for Native Fring shrubs along the project Corridor uh we suggested species including High Bush blueberry Silky Dogwood and Winterberry which would provide um additional Wildlife use and um potential food for wildlife in the area along the um know disturbance zones and in general and overall these plantings would also help restabilize any distur Zone um slopes from grading and help increase the um the plant growth there or that is there now awesome thank you for that summary I think you hit on everything I had on my list that I remember being out understanding but Joe um does that do it for you as well did you have anything missed uh no I think uh that pretty much covered uh my remaining comments from the last uh review um I will say I didn't have time to review the invasive species management plan in great detail but um I I did look it over does look appropriate and uh and quite comprehensive so I don't have any red flags that jumped out regarding that okay great um does anyone in the commission have any um questions or comments who the chair yes Kim I would also add that I was impressed with the invasive species management specs good good um all right well with that I think I think the plan looks good I think we're probably ready to vote on this one um so can I get a motion to approve um this proposal along with signatures Kim a yesim maybe signatures by Kim or Anna Kim or Anna ah so mov as a method and seconded all right um ah roll call um Matt hi Janine I Ed is that Ed that's an i Ed yep Jim hi Ted hi and myself am and so you're all set that's thank you so much to you and the rest of the commission thank you y good luck on the project thanks all right that finishes off our hearings on the agenda next up we have Prime Properties Highland Park request for 2-year extension permit um Kim do you want to give a brief overview on this one yeah I'm actually going to bump this one over to Anna okay Anna all right so um the EP F number 188 11186 originally issued by the commission back in September 2004 this is the applicant's eth request for an extension permit uh the order of conditions was for the roadway utility and drainage um associated with the Stony Brook Road not officially extension but the extension of uh Stony Brook Road so per the applicant um all the houses are either under construction or constructed except for two lots that they do not anticipate selling and developing anytime soon the applicant is working on um final Paving of the roadway um I know they have met with the DPW and there was some concerns about some drainage and some pavement issues so their um request in to spend the next couple months working on some as buils working on um making sure that the roadway is up to the town standards to be able to ask the town to accept it at an upcoming town meeting uh the applicant has requested um sorry has mentioned that there's some um Basin cleanup that they would be doing as well before asking the town to accept uh the roadway and drainage stuff and I think that is about it so as um was stated on the agenda the applicant is requesting a two-year extension permit at this time okay there the chair yes Kim Anna would you recommend issuance sorry yes I would recommend issuance based on um what the applicant has requested based on the feedback we've uh received from the DPW regarding um some potential concerns with the pavement and the drainage issues that are out there right now so I would recommend allowing the applicant time to correct those okay that makes sense to me does anyone else have questions or comments on this one in the commission no all right can I get a motion to approve a twoe extension of this permit and um allow for Signature by NN Kim or Kim an or I'll make that motion second second all in favor um Matt Janine hi Ed hi Jim hi Ted hi go back to Matt all right and I'm an I love Matt abstain from this one or not vote not present okay thank you next up we have um 163 subtle Hill Road violation discussions for unpermitted landscaping business I can take an intro on this one okay thanks Kim sure um so on May 31st the town zoning enforcement offer officer issued a cease and assist relating to an unpermitted Landscaping storage operation at 163 Saddle Hill Road at the time of the Seas Sy assist the building inspector did request that the land owner remove the piled Landscaping debris from the premises and so that is the status of the site that you're seeing in these photos the Landscaping debris were removed down to I would call it like the organic Duff layer um you know it was a lot of organic sleeves and material whatnot um so that's what you're seeing right here so there is evidence of a significant significant Japanese na infestation um all of the soil currently right now is kind of disturbed um unsecured soil based on my observations I did kind of poke through the woods and poke around with my augur it looks like the these activities persisted to within about 3 feet of a BBW um so I issued the landowner a notice of violation I think last week and I understand that he is on the call tonight to discuss um but you know it's something I think we should have a discussion tonight about um you know how the commission would like to move forward um and what we think might be appropriate in terms of um m and securing this site I will just throw in my two cents um because of the extent of the Japanese mat weed infestation it would be a significant it it it might be a futile effort to ask for like a conservation seed mix and then shrub plantings for restoration honestly I think Japanese not we is just going to take just chew any plantings that go in over here yeah um it it looks you know I did some research um I think a combination of hand cutting um herbicides so folar applications of gly phosphate or tripcore triplor maybe appropriate in any case um mowing hand cutting would need to be completed every two to 3 weeks for at least 3 years minimum I would recommend that the commission asked the land owner to apply New England wet plants erosion control mix for dryy sites or something similar along with chemical and mechanical management um the erosion control mix should establish quickly and be a little bit uh harder than like a just a lawn mix or a conservation seed mix with hopes that you know establishing some ground cover will help in in the fight of fighting back this Japanese not weed so any question yeah I can I can answer any questions um hopefully that was Ain explanation yeah I have one off off the bat Kim um this area that was used for I guess whatever piling up Landscaping debris can we tell was this tree before is this something that was cleared for that activity all the way up to the said within 3et of the of the Wetland um do we know it was there before I can't state that definitively but it does look like based on aerial imagery that there's definitely a possibility that I was treed before in years past likely was yeah okay um all right this is really disappoint pointing really disappointing um does anyone else on the commission have questions I'm sure you do Ed um I have a question for Kim yes Ted Kim with the extensive work work necessary to deal with the not lead three years out is it your recommendation that a separate firm be hired who we can trust to do that work or would you say that the applicant himself that themselves do that work and how would we monitor whether that work's being done properly I mean I I think we're crossing a line where we need to ask the applicant um you know what what you know I think we need to have education understanding and then and then an understanding of what you know he is willing to take on and I think this is the line that we're crossing that we need to um decide how if and how we want to enforce this and then if so to what extent because if the goal is complete invasives management out here for five years I mean somebody's going to have to work at it many hours many many many hours to achieve that I think that as a as a commission I mean our responsibility here is to protect the wet and we're right on the edge of the wetlands and I imagine the invasives if they are not brought under control and managed are just going to take over our resource area so I mean I think just putting that at the Forefront that's our responsibility here so U maybe we can hear from the owner at this point in time what they have to say about what was going on here do we have the owner on the call luier are you able to um hello there you go you there hello yes yes can you provide your name and address for over at 163 Saddle Hill okay um do you have any um comments can you provide any background or explanation about the trees uh there were no trees there there was a that area was uh being used for dumping years ago and then I I started I I added my portion but it was already cleared that area there's no trees there was no no trees you see it's just the way it was how long have you own the property I've been there uh since 2008 I never had a an issue true this is the first time Something's Happened you've been there since 2008 and in 2008 this whole area was clear was it grass was it just a field was piles I I I I would say some there was this constru there was a lot of construction debris from maybe work on the street you know there was a lot of stuff there that area was cleared was was already open area so and I I just I I made I continued to dump over it so it's you can see even the way the shape it's you can see that the trees are that's the tree line you know it's and you were dumping um landscape debris from your leaves leaves right exactly I've removed everything I as soon as they they send me a letter I removed everything Mike Michael card came down and I did exactly the way he asked so I just want to I want to make make it the way you like it if they want me to take that keep the uh those weeds those not weeds I can uh I can keep I can I don't know if she said cut it or they want to I can keep that maintained that area so it doesn't take over I don't know if that's what she's asking but do you have experience with invasives managing invasives uh yeah I do yes and what's your experience with it what on that I'm an excavator I do a lot of conservation work I know I know when you remove it it has to be disposed of probably you know you can't just uh dumping in the woods you know uh but if if it wants to be cut you know if it wants to be cut like a maintain so it doesn't have a chance to to overtake the area I can certainly do that I have a dump that um takes takes the uh the debris okay um you know you guys can come and check whatever in two years if you whatever I don't know how you whatever I'll do whatever you are whatever you ask all right and what is your intention for this area going forward it's it's not the only thing that the kids used to drive around with the with the bicycle you know that's about it's way in the corner it's it's not it's it's not in the center of the property that's the only activity that that ever went on back there yep okay um I'm you know my initial thoughts are that we want to prevent the invasives from spreading we need to address that issue and then we also need to pull pull back um a buffer zone um for the wetlands um to protect that area and do some education there some signage um medallions around the property um does anyone have on the board have any additional comments or thoughts um in my mind I think we need some outside planning for invasives I'm not an expert on it but um I think we need a a plan to be in place for exactly how the homeowner is going to to do this yes Kim um I guess what I was thinking in my mind was possibly a restoration enforcement order um and we could specify that this area be mapped um we could establish a p you know a pib moving forward and then we could um request an innovation species management plan that we could review and approve and then have um you know some some follow-ups you know whether it's that's yearly or a two-year Mark or whatnot um I may not recommend a regular enforcement order in this case because I think filing the the whole noi um may get in the way of actually having the work getting down to actually doing the work of restoring the buffer and managing the invasives um but that's just know that's my recommendation what you think the chair this is Ed yes Ed a couple things for those who haven't been there this borders Town own property it bord is a pond that was impounded at some point in the past and I will support the property owner that there was certainly evidence of this area being cleared back for when 495 was being built from um aerial photography stuff that I've looked at that said as in my role on open space where we have a situation with not weed this is our third year on a very small area that's made 30t by 20 ft and it's still there this stuff is extraordinarily difficult to deal with um there's another patch that I've personally been doing um alongside the state park this is my third year of going out once a week nearly every week during the summer and cutting that stuff down with my hedge trimmer and this the last time I'm talking stuff that was only this tall but it's still coming up after three years of doing this every week this stuff is Insidious and to um to take a rather casual approach um in my opinion is is is not workable that's it thank you yep all right that that being said i' like your proposal Kim um for enforcement establishing having the that would be the applicant coming back with a plan um of the area both what's to be restored and the invasive species management plan um we have a plan in front of us we can review it and make modifications as necessary agree upon them with the applicant or with the land owner and go from there I think but like you said Kim I do think time time is time is of the essence here obviously we have a big open area right now um that we need to get established so if there's an interim measure to put down some seating like you said while we work out this plan um I'd be in favor of that too yeah I mean I I strongly think this should get seated with with a Hardy not not a lawn like a like a Hardy erosion mix um and it's it's Prime for it I mean it's all it's all lone yeah okay Mr Lucio can you can work with Kim on um what that mix of seed appropriate mix of seed would be and apply that as soon as you can to stabilize the open area absolutely that whatever she what is it erosion whatever mix I'm sure she has a spec I can get whatever I was going to hydrate it with the seed so it'll grow right in um yep if you can do that and then also work with Kim and Anna on umag yeah you'll issue a letter Kim with some direction there on exactly what we need in regards to a plan absolutely just let me know I can find out from her what's the mix and then I I'll get it okay go through the chair this is Ed again Kim are you set with that do we need to do anything else um would you like to review the restoration enforcement order before I actually issue it or do you want me to just draft it up and get it sent out actually I think what happens is I issue it and you ratify it now that I'm thinking about it yeah I think so yeah that sense okay we'll do that can get that yeah for our next me yeah it's been a hot minute since we did enforcement comes and waves all right thank you um Mr Lucio will'll be in touch thank you okay okay see all right we are down to Conservation Commission reorganization discussion and reappointments recommendations for commission members to serve on other Town boards and committees so um as you all no think Kim Kim notified everyone on the commission that um Jeff has resigned from the commission fortunately I'm very sad to see him go um Jeff had what 20 20 plus years on this board um and he did a great job job leading it so best of luck to him and um we have some big shoes to fill um so this is where the commission reorganization discussion comes in so we need to identify within the Commissioners here a new chair um to take Jeff spot are you looking for nominations quick Ted um yes unless anyone uh yes we're looking for nomination unless anyone specifically wants to volunteer takeing nominations I would add I nominate you I second the nomination for Melissa for chair who is the first was that Ed I'll be first we're going backwards so quick quick to nominate all right um I will accept the nomination I guess um we need to do a roll call vote then on that so going down the line um Janine hi Matt hi Ted hi Jim I and thank you for accepting our nomination wasn't easy all right and and I'm an i and again I Echo what Jim said and I Echo what you said in reference to Jeff um he has been incredibly supportive of me personally in my time on open space I really really appreciate his handholding so you have big shoes to fill because I'm going to be asking you next thank you Melissa there you go NBA size shoes yeah let me just add Fe no you need you need 22 or better size 22 or better yeah I enough Jeff's gonna be listening reading about it but I want to say that I have certainly appreciated everything he's done his leadership his Effectiveness his knowledge I wasn't around the beginning of his days but I think I've been around for a while and I look for for you being our new chair Melissa thanks Jim I think um with that being said I'm going to suggest that we go back to co- Vice chairs because I'm going to need a lot of help going forward if that makes sense to to the group um and that being said I I would nominate um Matt and Ted um is vice chairs unless anyone else has a a strong strong intention that they would like to be Vice chair please speak up um are T willing to accept the the roles I will follow Melissa's lead and with some trepidation accept the role right and and Matt you're good yeah I'll second Ted okay so I'll make that motion M if you're looking for one that Ted and um and Matt be Co cois shares second all right then let's do a roll call on that um Janine hi Jim hi Matt hi Ted hi and Ed hi hi thank you thanks Kim um all right reappointments and recommendations for commission members to serve on other boards so leave going back to Kim's no that currently um what we voted on back in August 2023 was Ted um has been our zoning advisory committee Le on Ted are you up for continuing that role uh I am especially as the zoning advisory committee has plenty of work in front of it over the next few months and I've been the chair this past year so so yes okay awesome um open space Ed yes yes Jim are you uh still up for CPC absolutely yes great and tcmc uh yes yes okay Melissa yes in case it's not on your list I've also been the liaison to the arer Char Trail committee which is not been totally um well it hasn't been dismembered dismantled as a matter of fact I think we're meting this week so in the interim until some decision is made I would like to continue as leis on to uper Jones Trail okay that's awesome no I was liaison right okay I'm not liaison on CBC I'm I'm uh a member um appointed by con all right now do we have to do anything by the way do we yeah Kim do we vote on those or is that just um I think that's enough that's enough do we have to get SW again now um do we have to in again I don't think so right I don't know but we can follow up with you on that yeah okay I the yes so typically we um write a letter just reiterating what we discussed at the meeting tonight some of them are actual appointments others are recommendations to the select board to appoint certain people so we'll follow up with those letters to the different um people that need to get notified of the commission's decision so we'll make sure those go out shortly okay okay cool by we she means Anna that's why I didn't know what happens because Anna's been doing it in the background for years yeah then um on that note since we've reared we now have an vacancy on the commission obviously um do you know do either you Kim or Anna know when that position opens or if that's posted yet or how the procedure for that through the chair um I know the town manager's office and the town clerk are both aware of the vacancy um I have not heard of anything I think if people if commission members have somebody that's of Interest they should um fill out the form online um through the town manager's office um but we can also double check with the thuda and Elaine and find out um if it's scheduled on an upcoming select board meeting or not yet okay um yeah so if if folks can get the word out on on that I do have someone um in mind who I talked to who would like to apply so I forgot that that is Gen just a general form online that I can um P along so I have to I'll look that up and send that to her who the chair this is Ed I've been beating the bushes I've laid the guilt trip on one party to no avail um so far I've got one person who's hasn't said [Music] no I had a very eager yes so we'll see Ed we can uh tell them both they got a chance to get their application in then see what happens but no seriously if anyone um knows anyone else who might be interested uh get the word out because I feel like it happens pretty quickly and you never really know when it's put on the the selectboard agenda it happens kind of surprises me sometimes I'm glad we have some people that are interested or at least one that's interested so that's good yeah yeah um okay and then Kim you this is Kim is also this is your last meeting right no no no no um I will definitely be around for September 10th possibly September 24th okay good yeah maybe October no T TBD we're gonna see how things go definitely 10th and September 24th my birthday is October 6 can you stay till then the meeting's not to the eth so um Melissa yes um i' just like to say uh Kim you can't leave you have to stay you didn't know that you signed a uh an indefinite contract um thanks for everything you've done Kim it's going to be tough again do we have any idea I mean has has anything been put out or will it be put out soon say it's on the Mac board or which I assume we do normally do we have any prospects without naming anybody so I'm currently working with HR to do some tweaks to the job description and um I would expect that that will get posted uh very soon like even you know before I'm officially gone um and you know I will make sure that that gets posted to Mac and probably mmcp which is the agents um kind of networking group so you know while I'm here I'll make sure that they they try to get that to um you know some avenues that I know are are going to get the attention of other conservation agents um and I do want to say that it has been both a privilege and honor to be your conservation administrator and I loved every 90 out of 100 minutes doing it you will be missed you will be missed yeah you're a good one Kim have you je and Jeff leaving at roughly the same time is a big hit but we'll we'll get through yeah and you know applicants hopefully will be patient and understanding and all that so yeah I feel very fortunate to you know Kim I'm so glad that we've had you for the time that we have um I would take you know a couple years versus none any any day of the week um because I think in the couple years that you've few how many has it been time flies three and a half three and a half wow in the three and a half years um that you've been here you've done some great things I think for our commission brought you know a really fresh way of looking at things um dealing with people organizing um so I think we've learned a lot from you as well um so you know you just set us up for some more success so thank you I appreciate it and good luck and you're gonna do great thank you the chair this is Ed yes Ed I have a request sure don't often make requests I have a request okay oh at some point in time Kim will have her last official meeting with us I requested it be a meeting in person and not a zoom meeting I'll second that I think that would be great if at all possible yeah I don't unfortunately I don't know if I can say that I can accommodate that until I like kind of know you know how things are going unfortunately sure I don't know if I'm going to be in in Boston you know or but I could certainly like get you know get you an update once I once we get further into September you must have some idea of when you're going to be leaving the town of Hopkinson physically and on that last day come on you got to have a party even even if it's not a Conservation Commission meeting Conservation Commission needs to get together and wish you well and I insist on that and I agre so what's your last day Kim uh my last day is August 29th possibly the 30th okay I'm sorry I thought you heard you say August you that was a mistake right that's my last physically in Hoppington day holy moly yeah but if we plan ahead I could probably make myself available at some point in September so Matt if you still have any dinosaurs you need to get to Kim oh yeah I got a whole pile of them the 29th super accepting dinosaurs still um okay I think so I think that does it I'll make a motion to close the meeting all right all in favor uh Jim all Matt hi Ted hi Ed hi Janine I and Jim there was an I but he's on mute I saw the sorry my bad thanks mat all right enjoy the rest go go enjoy your vacation Melissa thanks thank you Melissa yeah good night everybody good night he recording stopped