Administration
This report covers FY07 from July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2007.
The Conservation Commission reviews and issues permits for work within and adjacent to wetlands in order to administer the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (MWPA) regulations and the local wetlands bylaw. The Commission also responds to many requests for comments on Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Board of Selectmen applications.
During FY07, the Commission held 20 public meetings. 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:
| Requests for Determination of Applicability | 8 |
| Determinations of Applicability | 6 |
| Notices of Resource Area Delineation | 0 |
| Orders of Resource Area Delineation | 0 |
| Notices of Intent | 16 |
| Orders of Condition | 17 |
| Certificates of Compliance | 3 |
| Extension Permits | 8 |
| Amendments | 1 |
| Violations | 7 |
| Emergency Certifications | 0 |
The Commission collected $3,055.00 in filing fees under the MWPA during FY07. These fees can only be used to administer the MWPA and are typically used towards the Commission's expenses. The Commission also collected $1,332.50 in filing fees under the local wetlands bylaw. Nine municipal filings were exempt from fees (applications by the Town of Shirley Department of Public Works, the Shirley Water District, and the Town of Lunenburg).
The Commission spent many hours reviewing two applications for Lake Shirley. One permit was issued for the annual drawdown, and one for herbicide and algaecide applications. Although the majority of the lake is located in Lunenburg, a portion is within Shirley and water from the lake drains into Catacunemaug Brook.
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. The Commission encourages residents to retain native vegetative borders between their lawns and adjacent wetland and waterway buffer areas.
At the March 2005 Special Town Meeting, the townspeople voted to replace the existing Shirley Non-Zoning Wetlands Bylaw with a newer, shorter version. The Commission setback policy requiring new buildings to be at least 40 feet from wetlands and the limit of work at least 25 feet from wetlands was put into the bylaw for all lots created after March 2005. Although the Commission received 16 Notices of Intent in FY07, none of them included new lots. The Commission will continue to maintain a policy of the same setbacks for lots already in existence prior to that date, whenever feasible.
The Commission can be contacted at 7 Keady Way, Shirley, MA 01464; 978-425-2600 ext. 245; or agagnon@shirley-ma.gov. The Commission website (http://www.shirleyconcom.org) provides a store, where book and hay sale information is posted, in addition to meeting agendas and legal notices, basic information, a complete set of past annual reports, news clippings, information on related events, and an interactive open space map.
Open Space Acquisition & Stewardship
The Conservation Commission maintains and acquires 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. The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Widlife Service also preserve open space within Shirley.
Due to fiscal constraints, no money has been added to the Open Space Acquisition Fund via Town Meeting vote since June 13, 2000. At the June 2006 Annual Town Meeting, when the FY07 budget was set, a request for appropriation for $10,000 was voted down by one vote. This account is used not only for acquisition but also for maintenance of open space parcels.
Volunteer Ward Baxter continues to create comprehensive maps for the Commission and to work with volunteers to maintain trails on open space parcels. A beautiful set of six color trail maps, created by Mr. Baxter and donated to the Commission, may be purchased at the Commission office for $5.25, with proceeds going to the Land Acquisition Fund. Black-and-white trail maps are also available free of charge at the Commission Office and at the Hazen Library.
The Montachusett Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) also assisted in mapping trails within the Town of Shirley in FY07.
During the past 12 months, trail improvements and other routine property maintenance continued on conservation parcels with the help of volunteers. The Shirley Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts helped many times, their parents assisting with power tools. Also helping were Ron Farnsworth and Ward Baxter. In September 2006 Phoenix Park owner Eric Shapiro repaired and painted the gazebo at the Fredonian Nature Center.
With a Department of Conservation and Recreation Urban Forest Planning and Education Grant, the Commission hosted the free presentation “Low-Impact Logging - Choices for Today's Land Owners” on August 7, 2006. This grant also provided funding to create a ten-year Forest Stewardship Plan for Pumpkin Brook Link, which was completed in December 2006 by Forester Gary Gouldrup.
The Conservation Commission unsuccessfully applied for a Self-Help grant for the purchase of approximately 40 acres on Holden Road. Negotiations for a conservation restriction on a smaller portion of the site are still underway.
Kicking off the outings for this fiscal year was an investigation into a pond at Longley Acres with former Caretaker Beth Suedmeyer. This was a belated entry for the state's 2006 Biodiversity Days. The Fall Foliage Walk featured Ward Baxter's reevaluation of the location of the old Pest House, the only remnant of which now is a cellar hole. This bushwacking excursion unfortunately disturbed a wasps' nest, and two people were stung. We apologize to those affected. Arthur Banks provided the parking and send-off at the beginning, John Rounds supplemented Ward's work with a tour of conservation land, and Donna Wainwright and Alan Field provided refreshments at the end. Shirley's participation in the 2007 Biodiversity Days featured walks at Fredonian Park and the Rust Conservation Area to field test a new form to survey conservation properties. Lura A. White School also organized field trips for this occasion.
Longley Acres Conservation Area
The Longley Acres Conservation Area on Whitney Road, which was acquired in April 2003, is under the care, custody, and control of the Conservation Commission. Bob Arnott was the property Caretaker from March 2006 to June 2007. At the end of FY07, a search was underway for a new Caretaker for the property. (Chris Brigham, the current Caretaker, moved to the property with his wife Mary in July 2007. He can be reached at 978-425-5170 or at longleyacres@hotmail.com.)
As noted above, there was a Pond Investigation program. We had a very successful fourth annual raffle and plant sale, which began at the Shirley Hoedown. Dee Woessner of Lunenburg gave a well-attended sheepdog herding demonstration in November 2006. She also trained her dogs on the property on a frequent basis and kept some sheep at the farm to keep areas difficult to mow from growing into brush.
The Commission continued to focus on maintenance needs for the house and barn in order to preserve the site and buildings and to prevent deterioration and ensure user safety. Several projects were completed, including upgrading of appliances. Maintenance projects completed with the assistance of MCI crews included pouring a concrete floor in the cellar of the farmhouse, clearing brush, and cleaning the storage shed attached to the house.
Our fifth season of haying was completed with the cooperative effort of Stephen Longley, Lee & Betsy Mirkovic, and numerous volunteers, with approximately 1,200 bales made and sold. This was our most difficult haying season to date, with frequent showers compromising the quality of feed hay. All proceeds from the sale of the hay are used for maintenance of the Longley Acres buildings and parcel. For information on purchasing hay, check out the website store or contact the Commission or the Longley Acres Caretaker directly.
We continue to sell As Seasons Change: A Collection of Poems by Melvin Proctor Longley, Sr. The Longley family compiled the poems and generously donated all proceeds from the first edition to the Longley Acres Maintenance Fund. We also still have copies of Betsy Colburn's must-have reference Vernal Pools: Natural History and Conservation. These two books are still available at the Conservation office. We also call your attention to The New Exploration, which is available at fine book sellers everywhere.
The Longley Acres 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 the Commission or longleyacres@hotmail.com.
Members
In FY07, Jessica Rinner joined the Commission. 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,
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Denise Brauckmiller, Chair Bob Burkhardt, Vice-Chair Nancy Askin Jeff Barbaro |
Jessica Rinner E. Heidi Ricci, Associate Member C. Kay Tohline, Associate Member Margaret Cronin Wilson, Associate Member |