Approved Cons Comm Mtg Mins
Approved
Wellfleet Conservation Commission
Meeting Minutes
July 19, 2017
Town Hall Meeting Room
Attendees: Barbara Brennessel, John Portnoy, Deborah Freeman, Trudy Vermehren,
Lauren McKean and John Cumbler, Agent Hillary Greenberg-Lemos and Christine Bates, Committee Secretary
4:00 - Business Meeting & Conservation Agent's Report
Mail / Discussion
The Christmas trees and fencing were removed from the Boehringer property and Martha Field property. Bob Boehringer will be filing in the future for an alternative solution to the erosion on the bank.
Barbara Brennessel stated there are 12 geese at Long Pond. Mr. Lasker has been in contact with Agent Greenberg-Lemos regarding the number of geese, the amount of excrement from the geese, and the annoyance to him. He is going to take water samples and advise Hillary of the results. Lauren McKean stated that this pond is owned by the State, so the National Seashore will defer to the Mass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.
Barbara Brennessel stated she will be out of town on Oct 18 and Nov 1.
Mayo Creek: John Portnoy stated that the Massachusetts Environmental Trust did not fund a requested hydrological study; therefore, the Mayo Creek committee will try to find another way to accomplish the work. Harborside Village Cooperative Corporation has been participating in Mayo Creek meetings. They have concerns for tidal restoration effects on their well and septic system components.
Wesley Swamp – Portnoy contacted Hydrologist Neil Price at Horsley and Witten about consulting on the study of the effects of the Wesley Swamp pump on wetland surface water and adjacent groundwater levels. Pumping likely harms spadefoot toads, which spawn here. Citizen Mark Gabriele is interested in helping with the restoration of this certified vernal pool. Portnoy will check the elevations of subsurface septic system components relative to wetland water levels. Observation wells and staff gauges are needed to see how the pumping affects these water levels; in addition, some funds will be needed to support data analysis and reporting by a consulting hydrologist.
The construction of the memorial park will begin soon. Lauren McKean will supervise the project.
Jurisdictional Opinions
24 Pleasant Point Landing, Annie Dillard, remove a 5 x 9 lean-to-shed and replace with 6’ by 10’ shed. Trudy Vermehren moved to approve the Jurisdictional Opinion; seconded by John Portnoy; passed 4-1.
Meeting Minutes – to be addressed
Tom Siggia of 325 Paine Hollow Rd reported four different people have been dumping shells on his property, part of the landing at Paine Hollow, which he reported. He met with the Town Administrator regarding the town landing abutting his property. He stated he will clean up the shells and find out where he will relocate them. He will have a discussion with John Mankevetch from the shellfish department.
Barbara Brennessel moved to close the business meeting at 5:05 pm; seconded by John Portnoy; passed 5-0.
Public Hearings 5:00 pm:
Adler¸ 85 Belding Way, Map 28, Parcel 11, Certificate of Compliance. This is an old filing and certification from the architect was received. Barbara Brennessel moved to issue Certificate of Compliance; seconded by John Portnoy; passed 5-0.
Morris and Porter, 30 Second St., Map 29, Parcel 434, NOI, construct addition. David Lyttle represented the applicant and stated the addition would be built over a crawl space, along with decking. The stairway would be eliminated. The project will include minor excavation and the materials will be removed immediately. Trudy Vermehren moved to approve the NOI; seconded by Barbara Brennessel; passed 5-0. Supervisor: John Portnoy
Pfammatter, 210 Blue Heron Rd., Map 41, Parcel 17, RDA, add screened porch over existing deck. Don Dvorovy, contractor, stated a drip line will be installed with 8” of stone. Trudy Vermehren identified the RDA as a Negative 3; seconded by John Portnoy; passed 5-0.
Trudy Vermehren moved to adjourn the public hearings at 5:15 and reopen the business meeting; seconded by John Portnoy; passed 5-0.
Business Meeting resumed at 5:15 pm
Letter from Cape Cod Commission regarding revised regulations and fees.
Letters from Agent Hillary Greenberg-Lemos to William Young and Tom Siggia regarding the illegal dumping of shell on the marsh at Paine Hollow Landing.
AmeriCorps has inventoried all piers and rafts on the kettle ponds. We will discuss at a future meeting.
Docks and piers require a Chapter 91 permit. Rafts require approval from the harbor master. Agent Greenberg-Lemos will follow up.
Playground behind tennis courts –Recreation Department never came to commission for the permit. Water is running off to the playground – A NOI will be filed in August.
John Portnoy reported Harborside Village complained that the town brought in fill for the tennis court areas, displacing flood storage in this FEMA-mapped flood zone. The tennis courts were raised in elevation and approved by the Conservation Commission; however, the addition of fill was not clear to
Further discussion took place regarding a town management plan for the deployment of “Chinese hats” in Chipman Cove for the collection of oyster spat. The Division of Marine Fisheries stated that the activity qualified as fishing, but will review the activity as it’s practiced in Wellfleet further.
Trudy Vermehren moved to adjourned at 5:35; seconded by John Portnoy; passed 5-0.