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In 1984 the Commission was active in the protection of the town's water, wetlands, and forests. Major efforts were in the administration and enforcement of the Wetlands Protection management of the Fredonian Nature Center and protection of water supply. We found it more and more difficult to function as a volunteer board. Thought needs to be given to obtaining part-time secretarial help for correspondence, form completion and assistance to citizens needing conservation commission.

The Commission's work during 1984 is summarized below:

1. Fredonian Nature Park -- The Fredonian park remains a beauty spot within the "urban" part of Shirley, and makes the natural environment accessible from the center of the business community.

   During June, a band concert was held at the park led by Mary Ann Balch and the Lura A. White School band. The young people did an excellent job and showed the accomplishments of the school's music program. Special thanks goes to Gerry Wheeler, the American Legion, Meredith Marcinkewicz and to David Jennes.

   The Fredonian's appearance improved due to the hiring of James Pinard whose job involved cutting, trimming and maintaining the grounds. Al Chevrette donated his time to haul wood chips to the site, and the Commission was able to participate in a summer CETA program which resulted in the repair of the bridge, board walk, painting of the fence and removal of litter. A special surprise was the use of the Fredonian bandstand as a wedding site.

   In addition, commissioner Patrick Buckley contacted the Middlesex Conservation District and fish were stocked in the Fredonian Pond. We offer the park to anyone interested in using the facilities.

2. Projects -- During the early part of 1984, the Commission discussed the possibility of hiring an intern through a town meeting article to lay-out and mark trails on already owned town conservation lands.

   On June 10, 1984, the Commission joined the Nashua River Watershed Association in its celebration of the Squannacook River by sponsoring a nature walk along land located off Squannacook Road.

   An aquifer handout was distributed to voters as an insert in the Annual Town Report.

   In the Summer of 1984, the Commission received a request from the Shirley Village Water District to assist in the protection of the Town's major aquifer area located off Patterson and Walker Roads. The Commission voted to pursue purchase of some of the aquifer land by utilizing the land fund and the state self-help program. The Commission began work with area farmers to help place agricultural restrictions on valuable farm properties. The Commission was pleased with efforts by the Nashua River Watershed Association and Hermann Field to establish a trail along the greenway of the Nashua River as it cuts through the MCI property.

   During the Fall of 1984, the Commission developed guidelines regarding the granting of mutli-family permits by the planning Board and requested the Board of Health to examine septic impacts on land supplying water to private wells.

3. General -- Due to job responsibilities, both Cyndi Furman and Stanley Whiting resigned from the Commission. Elizabeth Colburn (a Ph.D. Aquatic Biologist) and a staff member of the Massachusetts Audubon Society's science team, was appointed to the Commission. Shirley Griffin was made acting chairman until July 1984, when she was voted chairman. Frank Esielionis was made Vice-Chairman. Commissioner John Farnsworth reported that the Forestry Cutting Practices Act was now in affect, and the Commission would have an additional responsibility of overseeing forestry and wood cutting activities in Shirley. Individuals planning to remove more than 50 cords of wood from a parcel of land must obtain a state permit to do so and notify the local Conservation Commission. A Hazardous Waste Bylaw was passed at the Annual Town Meeting, the Groundwater Committee was continued for another year, and the Flood Plain Zoning Bylaw was defeated by a close 2/3 margin. New Members appointed to the Commission included Lislla Giblin and Dick Peters. In December 1984, Frank Esielionis resigned from the Commission due to a lack of time.

   Several complaints were received from abutters regarding the use of snow mobiles on the frozen Spruce Swamp. The dumping of trash on land near the Squannacook River once again kept members busy. A car was driven into the Fredonian Pond during the summer. We were fortunate that neither life or property damage beyond a few destroyed shrubs occurred. However, the town did not incur expenses for both the removal and towing of the vehicle.

4. Wetlands Protection Act -- The bulk of the Commission's time is spent on enforcing and administering the Wetlands Protection Act.
   1. Determination of Applicabilities are positive or negative decisions made by the Conservation Commission concerning jurisdiction following a legally advertised Notice and the holding of a public meeting. A positive determination indicates the applicant will need to file a Notice of Intent and a negative determination indicates no Notice of Intent is needed.

      Dennis Dellucca - Negative Determination (Rt. 2A) Richard Hatch - (Patterson Road) - Negative Determination Robert Marvel - (Rt. 225) - Negative Determination Charles Morgan - (Rt. 225) - Negative Determination Al Chevrett (Highway Department) (Walker Road) - Negative Deter. George V. Moore - (Lawton Road) - Positive Determination B & M Railroad - (Town wide) - Negative Determination Al Chevrett - (Highway Department (Harvard Road) - Negative Deter. J & A Realty - (Rt. 2A) - Negative Determination Mt. Laurel Development - (Lancaster Road) - Negative and Positive Determination Malcom Odell - (Hazen Road) - Positive Determination Peter Bovenzi - (Rt. 2A) - Negative Determination Mt. Laurel Development - (Lancaster Road) - Positive Determination Commonwealth Federal Savings - (Benjamin Rd.) - Positive Deter. Eugene P. McCarthy - (Holden Road) - Negative Determination Stanley Whiting - (Leominster Road) - Negative Determination

   2. Extensions -- are requests by former applicants to continue an already issued Order of Conditions (permit).

      Lake Shirley Corporation (Dam Drawdown) 284-56 Craig Ethan (Recreational Vehicles) 284-45 Morey and Delorey (Gravel removal) 284-22 George V. Moore (Gravel removal) 284-55 Stanley McNiff (Catacunamaug Road) 284-11 - denied John Farnsworth (Rt. 2A) 284-65

   3. Cease and Desists (Enforcement Orders) are issued by the Commission when an individual is operating within a wetland without a legal permit.

      Norman Richards - (Clark Road - placing logging slash near a wetland) Jim Farnsworth - (Rt. 2A - hauling gravel from a flood plain) J & A Realty Trust - (Lawton Road - construction within 100 feet of a brook and sedimentation into a trout brook) Poor Jack - (land owned by Jim Farnsworth - placement of a logging processing facility in a flood plain) Mt. Laurel Development Company (Lancaster Road - for filling a brook and wetland) Court Injunction filed. Bovenzi, Inc. - (Rt. 2A - filling an intermittent stream)

   4. Emergency Certificates -- are granted by the Commission when immediate work is necessary in a wetland to prevent damage and time needed to schedule a hearing is impossible.

      Al Chevrette - (Harvard Road) - Highway Department Work on drainage and flooding problems. Al Chevrette - (Ayer Road) - Highway Department work on road cave-in over a culvert and stream

As the year comes to a close, the Commission looks to 1985 with enthusiasm and the promise of continued natural resource protection. Our major goals include: a means of maintaining the Fredonian Park and other Conservation lands, a search for volunteers to assist in trail lay-out, and efforts for further water supply protection. We look forward to a good relationship with the Planning Board and Board of Health in a continued effort to protect Shirley from unplanned growth. We look forward to working with both residential and industrial developers in the development of land, establishment of green belts, and protection of precious ecologically sensitive areas. We see Shirley as a very unique community and we hope through our efforts and those of our fellow environmental boards, we will be able to maintain those fine qualities that make the town special and in addition preserve these for our future generations.

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