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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1964-05-04-LCC-min.pdf LEXINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes of the Regular Meeting held May 4, 19614 Mr. Sussman called the meeting to order at 8:30 P.M. . in the Conference Room opposite the Building Inspector's office in the Town Office Building. All members were present except Mr. Mazerall who was at a meeting at the Waltham Field Station. Mrs. Smallman and part of her Girl Sco}it Troop who had arrived at 8:00 P.M. for a pre-meeting discussion with Commission members were in attendence for a while at the beginning of the meeting. She offered to aid the Commission in the Conservation Education fazet of the Conservation Commission's work. Mrs. smallman and her troop also have several small areas in mind for planting trees, as a conservation project. OLD BUSINESS Several pieces of literature were brought to the attention of the Commission: 1. Proposals for Improving School Land Use 2. Duties of the New Supervisor of Conservation Education in the Massachusetts Department of Education 3. Bulletin Number 5 of the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions ii.. Fact sheet about the Division of Conservation Services - Department of Natural Resources 5. Application for membership in the Massachusetts Forest and park Association. MR. ELLS willoin this organization to receive bulletins concerning legislation that affects conservation. All of the above were placed on file. The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted as submitted:- Another ubmitted:Another pamphlet entitled, "Why Conservation in Sharon" was shown to the Commission. It: will, be xoroxed and sent to all members of the Commission. Mr. Sussman suggested that a similar brochure be prepared concerning Lexington and that it be sent to all Town Meeting Members before the special Town Meeting in June. Clippings from various papers were discussed, including the Canton tree-planting program. PALLADINO LAND Mr. Richey spw Mr. Palladino today and informed him that the Con- servation Commission would like to tals =.tp him concern* his land bordering on the Great Meadow. Mr. Palladino said that 015,000 was his firm price. The assessment is $2,900. The matter was tabled by a unanimous vote. TUE OLD RESERVOIR Mr. Ripley reported on a conversation he had with Mr. Foster of the Commission of Natural Resources concerning the use of the old reservoir. He suggested that a letter be written to n,''r. Foster asking him to have his department investigate the possibility for swimming there. A flow of 50 gallons an hour is considered to be adequate circulation in a pond for its use as a swimming place. MR. SUSSMAN will write the letter to Mr. Foster about the old reservoir. MR. RIPLEY said he would be happy to accompany the D.N.R. specialist when he comes to Lexington. It was also suggested that Mr. Mazerall might go along, too. Mr. Sussman reported that Mr. Snow had mentioned a soil survey map that was done in 1937. A copy was obtained, and shown to the Selectmen. Mr. Ells said that in actuality this map was a wind-sheild survey, which is a one-sheet map and 10-line summary with a code as to what is on the map, i.e. : gravel, sand, clay, etc. It was stated that the 1937 survey is of little value compared to our needs, and in comparison with the Survey and Inventory on the Warrant. WARRANT ARTICLES A warrant article for the special Town Meeting in June was sub- mitted today with at least the required number of signatures(100). This is a Citizen's Petition which reads as follows: To see if the Town will authorize the Conservation Commission to secure from the United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, a detailed soil survey and natural resources inventory for the Town, including an interpretive report, and enter into a contract dr contracts therefor; and appropriate a sum of money for such purpose and determine whether the same shall be provided by the current tax levy, by transfer from available funds, or by any combination of these methods, or act i;t any manner in relation thereto. It was MOVED and VOTED that15,000 be asked for the Conservation Fund with the understanding that 03,000 of that sum would be used for the Soil Survey if such Survey is subsequently approved. A Natural Resources Inventory is listed as a necessity to the proper functioning of a Conservation Commission in the enabling act passed by the State Legislature(Chapter 40 of the General Laws) and the Soil Survey is the basis for this Inventory. MR. SUSSMAN will write a letter to the Sel- ectmen pointing out this fact, as it may not have been clearly under- stood at the time the article was presented to them for the Warrant. It was also decided that visual aids were necessary for the presenta- tion on the Twon Meeting floor. Among those to be used, maps of the • open areas in Lexington were considered the most important. It was MOVED nad VOTED that the Conservation Commission present and defend the Soil Survey article. There followed a discussion of who on the Commission should do the presentation. It was generally agreed that the Chairman should present all three articles. It was also decided that the Commission make appointments with the Appropriations Committee and the Capital Expenditures Committee to discuss the articles soon. Mr. Ells has been in contact with Mr. Legro, the Town Counsel, as to the proper wording of the Warrant articles. Mr. Legrots most helpful letter was read to the Commission by Mr. Ells. CONSERVATION MEETINGS Mr. Smith reported on an education panel heard at the Nahant Country Club which was the third in a series. Mrs, Wade, Chairman of the four-year-old Bedford Conservation Commission, described things that had been done to educate the whole Town of Bedford about conservation. Mr. Loring from the North Shore and a man from Topsfield were also on the panel. Bedfordts main effort has boon with the youth in the school system, which produces feedback through the parents. The Bedford Commission arranged with the Director of Conservation to have a workshop with the Bedford elementary teachers. They then developed a parcel of land near the High School as a nature walk and a mall arboretum. They had the Boy Spouts identify the trees in the area, then asked Mr. Mason of the Audubon Society to do surveys', to recommend additional plantings, and to help with bird identification. The large cere- mony and dedication yielded much publicity for Conservation. They also made up landscape identification maps for visitors. The area will augmented in the future. This project at the High School was so successful that a similar project was opened at the Page Elemen- tary School. There is a bird feeding area with a feeder on a pulley for winter use plus a weather station to help the child see his place in nature. There .is also a possibility of having an adult education course on conservation in Bedford. The Bedford Commission bought two tickets to the Audubon Conservation Education Program. One Conservation member goes each time, and brings as his guest a mem- ber of the town board concerned with the subject of the evening. Thus both the Commission members and the other town officials be- come educated. TREE PLANTING BILL PAGE has responsibility for supervision of two Boy Scout Troops who will plant 1,000 Red Pine seedlings along the Vine Brook this Saturday, May 9. Publicity has been arranged. AUDUBON It was reported that Allen Morgan, Executive Secretary of the Audubon Society intends to supply small weekly articles on Conser- vation and/or column fillers to the Commissions in Massachusetts. HOBBS BROOK Mr. Ells reported that he had spoken to a Lincoln Conservation Commission member about mutual cooperation in general and the Hobbs Brook Basin in particular. The Lincoln member said their Commission would like to cooperate. ARLINGTON RESERVOIR Mr. Kelley of the Recreation Committee had a conservation with Mr. Sussman recently. Mr. Kelley would like to have tests done on the part of the Arlington Reservoir in Lexington as to its use for swimming. Mr. Ripley said that the inlet and outlet are always flowing. The Commission will see what can be done. CLUSTER ZONING Mr. Ells reported on a book entitled CLUSTER ZONING by William A. White, who is also the author of a book on Conservation Easements. It was MOVED and VOTED to adjourn at 9:ti$ P.M. until Monday. May 11 at 8:30 P.ML Respectfully submitted, Mn. Frank H. To"$an, Jr. Associate Secretary