Board Members Present: Arnold Koehler, John Kaufman, Charles Wentworth & Stephen Mulhall (7:02)
Alternate Members Present: Charles Dorman
Absent Members: Stephen Sackter, David Michaud (Alt.)
Others Present: William Donovan – Land Use Inspector, Diane Lauber – Clerk
Chairman A. Koehler called the meeting to order at 7: 01p.m. The meeting was taped. C. Dorman was seated for S. Sackter.
Approval of Minutes: Motion by C. Wentworth, seconded by C. Dorman to approve the minutes of the September 10, 2007 meeting as amended. Unanimous.
Communications:
1. Connecticut Association of Conservation & Inland Wetlands Commissions “Notice of Annual Meeting & Environmental Conference”.
2. Letter Dated September 17, 2007 from the Connecticut Water Company re: Notification to the Water Company and the State Department of Public Health by Applicants Proposing Any Activity Within a Public Drinking Water Supply Watershed Area.
3. State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection “Municipal Inland Wetland Commissioners Training Program – 2003 Summary Report”.
A. Koehler asked that a copy of letter from the Connecticut Water Company be sent to all commissioners.
Old Business:
a. Application #05-07 – Pete Conroy, 32 Rek Lane. Install a culvert within a Brook. A. Koehler stated that a 65-day extension for this application was granted. The expiration date of the extension is October 19, 2007 which is prior to the next regular meeting. No additional information has been received from the applicant. The issue of the crossing has not been resolved with the neighbor. The applicant has not responded to comments received from Land-Tech Consultants. A.Koehler stated that in his opinion the commission should deny the application without prejudice. Motion by C. Dorman, seconded by C. Wentworth to deny Application #05-07 of Pete Conroy for a culvert within the brook at 32 Rek Lane without prejudice because the applicant has failed to provide the commission with enough information to make a decision and a resolution regarding the crossing has not been reached with the neighbor. Unanimous.
b. Reilly Pond, 179 Union City Road. Significant sedimentation in pond. Pond restoration. A. Koehler stated that a site visit was made today at 5:00 p.m. with the commissioners, Hank Berberat, Jean & Earl Reilly, W. Donovan and representatives from REMA Ecological Services. They looked at the berm that had been formed again at the beginning of the pond. REMA suggested this be used as part of a larger forebay. REMA will send the commission a sketch along with verbal information on using the berm to create a forebay as well as mucking the southeast corner of the pond beyond the forebay to a 3-4 foot depth. That information will be forwarded to Land-Tech Consultants or another engineer to put on paper. J.Kaufman stated that it was recommended that a section of large stone be put in to act as a maintenance access to the forebay and a weir installed as part of the design. John also indicated that Segrun Gadwa stated there was a lot of dark sediment coming down from massive wood chip piles at Boulder Brook that were very thick over the area and that the decomposition was causing a high phosphorus level in the pond. There was a lot of wetlands vegetation that had been destroyed. There is an area of woodchips that will have to be removed and the area re-seeded with a special conservation mix. A. Koehler asked what could be done to have the Town be reimbursed from Mr. Berberat for the costs incurred for REMA Ecological Services recommendations as well as engineering fees. W. Donovan will check with the Town Attorney. J. Kaufman suggested getting a letter from the Town Attorney and sending a copy to Mr. Berberat to make him aware of the Town’s intent to be reimbursed for engineering fees associated with the site plan for remediation of the pond. It was stated for the record that the IWC, Mr. Berberat and the Reillys would sign off on the plan when the remediation is completed in accordance with the engineered site plan. From that point forward responsibility for maintenance of the forebay and the pond would be left to the respective property owners. A brief discussion was held on the potential problems caused by the muskrats at Boulder Brook. C. Wentworth asked what happens if Mr. Reilly doesn’t agree with the recommended remediation. A. Koehler stated that Mr. Reilly would need to provide his own expert to show a more prudent alternative.
c. Application #11-07 – Jeremy August, 181 Union City Road. Application to eliminate pond and restore stream channel to original course. A. Koehler stated that a site walk held on September 18, 2007. A. Koehler recommended to the applicant at that time that he withdraw his application and get in touch with a soils scientist and an engineer to design a site plan for the work he is proposing. W. Donovan has indicated that Mr. August has contacted Land-Tech Consultants. A. Koehler suggested that the commission will probably have to deny this application due to lack of information at the next meeting, taking into account the time necessary to design a site plan and consider the costs involved. J. Kaufman stated he would recommend a public hearing for this application and also an environmental study. J. Kaufman further stated that the pond is deeper than Mr. August described and that he and W. Donovan noted a lot of activity in the pond. J. Kaufman observed there was no water going over the dam, however there is a lot of seepage coming out of the base of the dam that should be corrected as it could be dangerous downstream. J. Kaufman also observed heavy erosion on the south side of the dam that had bypassed the dam and channeled through the woods. A. Koehler said there is so much silt in the pond that during a storm event it overflows its banks and erodes. J. Kaufman felt this was an enforcement issue that should be corrected as soon as possible. The bank should be built up to a proper level to allow the water to go over the dam as it was designed. It was noted that at the site walk Mr. August stated that if the dam couldn’t be eliminated, he would like to build up the banks so that it wouldn’t erode. J. Kaufman felt that Mr. August should be informed that the commission observed the erosion and siltation problems during the site visit and that erosion controls need to be put in now regardless of the status of his application. A. Koehler suggested that staked hay bales could be put in for the immediate future. J. Kaufman asked that Mr. August come to the next regular meeting with a plan to address the erosion problems. The commissioners agreed that a time limit needed to be set. W. Donovan will send Mr. August a letter informing him of the downhill siltation problems observed during the site visit caused by a breech over the pond’s side. A request will be made for Mr. August to attend the next meeting with a plan to address the problem. Mr. August will also be instructed to put staked hay bales on the south side of the pond immediately.
Enforcements: None
New Business: None
Public Hearings: None
Public Participation: None
Land Use Inspector’s Report: W. Donovan made a site visit to Roaring Brook Road at the Water Company access road. Bill stated that AT&T leveled the access way nicely with a clay loam material. A gate has been installed completely across the access way with a padlock and the hay bales are still in place. Bill also made a visit to Curtiss Water Gardens and asked Mr. Strileckis to locate the inlet of the buried drain pipe and expose it. C. Wentworth had questioned at the last meeting dumping he observed on the property at the end of Scott Road. Bill visited the property and agreed that fill is being deposited on the site and contacted the McAllens to request their attendance at the next meeting for an explanation. Bill doesn’t feel that it is impacting the wetlands at this time. Bill also visited the Finno Development subdivision on Cook Road and measured the distance from the end of the constructed stone wall to the wetlands. Bill stated the wall is approximately 240 feet from the wetlands. Bill also informed Gene McCarthy, assistant director of Public Works, of the monument in the center of the new road. Mr. McCarthy will discuss with Mr. Finno appropriate possibilities for the monument. J. Kaufman noted that Toll Brothers seem to be using a lot of dynamite and drilling closer to the Waterbury line. Bill indicated that he has checked the site and there is nothing going into the wetlands. The pipe for a water line extension to 245 Straitsville Road is completed and everything is stabilized. Bill has asked Mr. DaCosta to send a letter requesting the release of the $5,000.00 erosion control bond but has not received it yet. The commissioners instructed Bill to send a letter to Mr. DaCosta requesting that an official request be submitted to the commission. Bill indicated that the commissioners may visit the site and let Bill know if there are any further concerns. C. Wentworth asked Bill to provide the commission with a copy of any bonds that have been issued for erosion and sedimentation controls. It was noted that Prospect Estates has not complied with submitting an “as built” for the detention basin.
Motion by J. Kaufman, seconded by C. Dorman to adjourn the meeting at 8:00p.m. Unanimous.
Arnold Koehler
Chairman