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Administration
This report covers FY04 from July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004. Please note that the Commission no longer has a Post Office box. Our new address is 7 Keady Way, Shirley, MA 01464. We can also be reached at 978-425-2600 ext. 245 (this number was new last year) as well as at agagnon@shirley-ma.gov.

In October 2003, the Commission website debuted on its new hosting service with its own domain name: http://www.shirleyconcom.org. It expanded to include a complete set of past annual reports; a store, where book and hay sale information is posted; and legal notices, in addition to its previous fare of basic information, agendas, events, news clippings, and the interactive open space map. In FY04 the server fulfilled 6,721 requests for files, transferring a total of 62.51 megabytes of information.

Administration of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (MWPA) regulations and the local wetlands bylaw requires the Conservation Commission to review and issue permits for work within and adjacent to wetlands. In addition, the Commission responded to many requests for comments on Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Board of Selectmen applications.

During FY04, the Conservation Commission held 31 public meetings. The increase in the number of meetings was due to the search for a Caretaker for the Longley Acres Conservation Area. Administration of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act regulations and the Shirley Non-Zoning Wetlands Bylaw required the Conservation Commission to review/issue the following documents:

The number of applications reviewed in FY04 was similar to the previous fiscal year, including Requests for Determination of Applicability. These permit requests for relatively small projects or for projects near the edge of jurisdiction continued to remain high in FY04.

The Commission collected $2,900.00 in filing fees under the state MWPA during FY04. These fees can only be used to administer the MWPA and are typically used towards the Commission's expenses. The Commission also collected $1,250.00 in filing fees under the local wetlands bylaw. This money goes into the General Fund.

The Conservation Commission reminds property owners that projects (including sheds, tree removal, pools, etc.) within 100 feet of a wetland (brook, pond, swamp, etc.) or in floodplain areas must be reviewed by the Commission. In addition, work within 200 feet of a perennial stream may also require a filing. Please call the office at 978-425-2600 ext. 245 if you have any questions regarding wetland issues or if you are uncertain whether you should file, particularly if you are a new homeowner. We encourage residents to retain native vegetative borders between their lawns and adjacent wetland and waterway buffer areas. To that end, the Commission has a setback policy from wetlands that requires new buildings to be at least 40 feet from wetlands and the limit of work at least 25 feet from wetlands.

Open Space Acquisition & Stewardship
The Conservation Commission also helps maintain and acquire open space for the Town of Shirley. Open space is valuable to town residents as passive recreational land (hiking, birdwatching, etc.), for protecting water resources, for providing important fish and wildlife habitat, and for enhancing the overall desirability of living in our community. Trail maps for some parcels are available at the Commission Office and at the Hazen Library.

Longley Acres Conservation Area, a property under the care, custody, and control of the Conservation Commission, was acquired in April 2003 through state and local funding. The Conservation Commission hired the first property caretaker, Beth Suedmeyer, in December 2003. Programs in FY04 included: a winter owl program and walk, a spring plant sale, and a summer wetlands program. A second season of haying was completed with the cooperative effort of Stephen Longley, Lee Mirkovic, and numerous volunteers; approximately 1,500 bales were made and sold. Additionally, several workdays were held on the property. While agricultural and educational projects have begun, the primary focus has been on maintenance needs for the house and barn. It is a priority to preserve the site and buildings, to prevent deterioration, and ensure user safety. To that end, the septic system for the property has been upgraded. We are currently receiving estimates for repair work and upgrades on the lovely farmhouse, “Meadowcroft,” and the large barn across the street, where hay is stored. The property has been entirely self-sufficient to date with improvements paid for by a combination of donations, hay sales, book sales, and grants. The public is welcome to enjoy the property daily from sunrise to sunset. If you have any questions regarding Longley Acres, please contact Beth Suedmeyer, Caretaker, at 978-425-4987 or longleyacres@hotmail.com.

All proceeds from the sale of the hay are used for maintenance of the Longley Acres buildings and parcel. For information on purchasing hay, contact Beth Suedmeyer at (978) 425-4987. In FY03 we started selling As Seasons Change: A Collection of Poems by Melvin Proctor Longley, Sr.; this continued in FY04. The Longley family compiled the poems and generously donated all proceeds from the first edition to the Maintenance Fund for the property. Books are still available at the Conservation office.

During the past 12 months, trail improvements and other routine property maintenance continued on conservation parcels with the help of volunteers from the Greenway Committee.

The Commission sponsored three hikes in FY04. In September 2003, the Benton MacKaye Memorial Expedition visited several old mill sites off Great Road and explored the banks of the Squannacook River. In October 2003, the Fall Foliage Hike made its usual trek from Arthur Banks' Farandnear to the Field family home visiting an assortment of lands under conservation in between. Finally, in May 2004, the Commission joined the Friends of the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge to explore vernal pools in the Shirley portion of the Refuge.

Members
The Conservation Commission lost members Natalie Howlett, who resigned in FY04, to pursue her graduate studies, and long-time Associate Member Tim Gabriel, who moved out of state. One vacancy on the Commission was filled by Nancy Askin. Member Margaret Wilson stepped down to become an Associate Member. Anne Gagnon remains the part-time Conservation Administrator and Ruth Terry, the part-time secretary.

The Commission is currently looking for two additional members. People interested in joining the Commission may also become non-voting Associate Members.

Respectfully submitted,

Bob Burkhardt, Chair Denise Brauckmiller, Vice-Chair Nancy Askin E. Heidi Ricci

C. Kay Tohline Margaret Cronin Wilson,     Associate Member

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