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This report covers FY96 from 7/1/95 through 6/30/96. During this timeframe, administration of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection regulations required the Conservation Commission to review/issue the following permits at 26 public meetings:

Property owners are reminded that projects (including sheds, tree removal, pools, etc.) within 100 feet of a wetland (brook, pond, swamp, etc.) or in the flood plain must be reviewed by the Conservation Commission. Call the office at 425-2618 if you have questions regarding wetland issues or if you are uncertain whether you should file. We encourage residents to be responsible wetland neighbors and retain native vegetative borders between their lawns and adjacent wetland buffer areas. To that end the Commission has adopted a setback policy from wetlands which requires buildings to be at least 40 feet from wetlands and the limit of work at least 25 feet from wetlands. A Wetlands Protection Bylaw was also approved at the Annual Town Meeting.

The Conservation Commission also has responsibilities related to the maintenance and acquisition of Open Space for the Town of Shirley. Open space is valuable to town residents as recreational land, and adds to the overall desirability of living in our community. The Conservation Commission continued the monumental task of updating the Town's Open Space & Recreation Plan. This plan must be updated every 5 years in order for the Town to remain eligible for certain types of State funding. Two surveys were done, many meetings and a public forum were held, and the draft document was distributed for comments.

No new open space parcels were acquired during this fiscal year however, Hermann & Kate Field placed a conservation restriction to be held by the New England Forestry Foundation on another 45 acres of their Valley Farm on Center Road. Arthur Banks also placed 80 acres of his Farandnear property on Center Road under a conservation restriction to The Trustees of Reservations. The Commission worked with Town Counsel and the Planning Board on two other conservation restrictions on portions of developments - Slater’s Mills, now known as Birchwood Hills, and Woodland Ridge on Squannacook Rd. Both of these projects were required to set aside open space since they are cluster developments. In addition, the Conservation Commission, with the help of the Greenway Committee, submitted a Self-Help Grant application to acquire the 95-acre Ronchetti parcel off Holden Rd. (The Commission has since been awarded the grant and the Town has voted to acquire the parcel!)

The Commission held its Second Annual Fall Foliage Hike with the Greenway Committee. Trail improvements continued throughout the year with the help of volunteers of the Greenway Committee and the Boy Scouts. Fredonian Park was cleaned up and the bridge that was in a state of disrepair was removed at the request of abutters.

Although Steve Shollenberger resigned from the Conservation Commission due to time constraints, he has remained as an associate member to continue to work on our trail systems. John Rounds and Kay Tohline joined the Commission. The Conservation Assistant position was upgraded to a more technical position of Conservation Administrator. Anne Gagnon remains in that position.

Respectfully submitted,

Bob Burkhardt, Chair
Elizabeth Martin, Vice-Chair
E. Heidi Roddis
Paul Leaman
John Rounds
C. Kay Tohline
Charles Shultz, Jr.
Steve Shollenberger, Associate Member

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