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Home My WebLink About2019-05-20-CONCOM-min 1 TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS CONSERVATION COMMISSION/LAND STEWARDS MEETING MINUTES May 20, 2019 6:30pm Parker Room Town Office Building, 1625 Mass. Ave, Lexington, MA Commissioners Present: Phil Hamilton, Alex Dohan, Ruth Ladd, Kevin Beuttell Commissioners Absent: David Langseth, Duke Bitsko and Dick Wolk Stewards Present: Holly Samuels, Bonnie Newman, Steve Wallis, Bob Hausslein, Don Grant, Keith Ohmart, Stephen Perkins, Carol Reynolds Others present: Karen Mullins, Conservation Administrator and Jordan McCarron, Conservation Stewardship Coordinator Joint Meeting: Lexington Conservation Stewards and Lexington Conservation Commission AGENDA: Monday, May 201h, 2019 6:30 p.m., Parker Room, Town Office Building 6:30 pm - Stewardship Report: Project updates and work plan outlook for summer 2019 Hayden Woods RTP Nearing Completion • Mr. McCarron stated that the Stewards have being working towards constructing a boardwalk in Hayden Woods. There are only a few 16 foot segments of framing and decking left to do. A reconfiguration of the trails will need to be done as well. A damaged bridge will need to be dragged out of the woods. • Keith Ohmart, Conservation Steward, stated that a total of 750 feet in two sections are included in the project. The remaining work can easily be done. • Mr. McCarron stated that the stewards are using 12 inch culvert sections in the areas that are particularly wet. A walk can be arranged after the work is completed for the Commissioners. • Ms. Mullins noted that the project must be completed by the end of the calendar year due to funding restraints. Cotton Farm Improvements Bid Package • Mr. McCarron reported that their design consultant, Kyle Zick, is finalizing construction documents and formal bid documents for the project. A number of accessible trail 2 improvements will be completed during this project. A spur trail that leads to the orchard will also be accessible. Cotton Farm Orchard • Jeff Howry presented the activities at the orchard and the attendance rates for a workshop series offered at the orchard during winter/spring 2019. A total of 52 attendees assisted in the Cotton Farm Orchard volunteer program so far this year. • A power saw is required to prune the apple trees in order to encourage growth. • A Boy Scout Troop is interested in adopting the orchard as a long-term service project. • Many types of the apple trees that were grafted were local varieties. • Over the coming years more 19'h century and 20'h century varieties will be planted. • The focus for the future will be determining a pest management plan. • When composting the trees it is best practice to keep a donut like shape around the base of the trees. Cataldo Reservation • Holly Samuels presented before the Commission. • Ms. Samuels has had surprising success with plantings within the reservation. • Wetland plantings are hopefully going to be established. • Where clearings had occurred, pokeweed is growing. • Ms. Samuels has conducted garlic mustard pulling in the area due to the weather conditions this spring which encouraged their growth. This is the third year that Ms. Samuels has pulled the plants. • Ms. Samuels noted an area of the reservation which would be a good candidate for a boardwalk. • Construction debris has been dumped on the property. Adam the Ranger assisted Ms. Samuels in removing the debris. Parker Meadow Accessible Trail • An initial survey has been completed and the wetlands have been delineated. • The Conservation Department will be drafting an RFP for design work and expect to bring on a consultant this summer. Garlic Mustard Pulling • About 50 contractor bags of garlic mustard have been pulled. Baseline Documentation and CR for Goodwin Properties • All paperwork for the Goodwin parcels has been completed and is ready for review. • The paperwork for other projects are still being reviewed by the state. • There are two parcels which are referred to as the Goodwin parcels. 3 • The CLC is the grantee for the Conservation Restriction. Wright Farm Spring Celebration • Relatively low attendance this year due to the weather. • The vista has improved greatly. Daisy Wilson Meadow Edge Cleanup • There has been great improvements to the meadow. • A group of students assisted in lining up wood. 7:15 pm - FY20 Project Overview (7/l/19-6/30/20) Mr. McCarron reviewed the planned projects for the coming fiscal year which includes: • Obtaining a consultant for Willard's Woods • Install wayfinding signage in Meagherville • Continue declining wildflower planting project at Joyce Miller's Meadow • Deer browse research in Cranberry Hill • Parker Meadow Accessible Trail design phase • Continuing work at Cataldo Reservation/E. Lexington Habitat Enrichment Project • Administration of the community garden Coming Up in FY20 • Wright Farm meadow restoration — The Department is still searching for an appropriate consultant for the project per FYI CPA funding • Cotton Farm Construction Phase — Bid opening scheduled for July 111h per FY18 CPA funding • Dunback Meadow—Cleanup will continue • Willard's Woods —RFP for land management plan per FY20 CPA funding • Wright Farm site development—continue to work with Mass Audubon consultants • Parker Meadow—continue with design phase for accessible improvements • Community Garden—upgrades are needed, hope to complete this with the summer crew • CR Documentation and Stewardship — continuing this work, particularly in regards to Wright Farm and ideally focus on select Town-held CRs. - Land Management Goals and Priorities Discussion Mr. McCarron sent a survey out asking Stewards to share what they believe their priorities are. The top three items were Land Management Planning, Invasive Plant Management and Conservation Meadow Preservation. - FY21 Budget Request Preparation (7/l/20-6/30/21) 4 Possible projects in need of funding include Dunback Meadow Community Garden Restoration, Parker Meadow ADA Trail Project and Wright Farm. The Wright Farm project will need barn stabilization, an engineering plan and a land management plan. • Dunback Meadow—pre-existing project, needs attention due to wetland protection • Parker Meadow—pre-existing project, ADA accessibility improvements • Wright Farm—extensive pre-existing project,this is apart of a two stage acquisition project o Wright Farm qualifies for CPC funding o The Commission discussed the various possible visions for Wright Farm. o The Commission has the option to adopt a subcommittee to focus on Wright Farm. 5-Year Project Plan Review • When considering how land management goals can fit into long term planning consider projects that include Joyce Miller's Meadow, Parker Meadow and Daisy Wilson Meadow. ACROSS Lexington Trails in Lower Vine Brook and Meagherville • There are some particularly wet trails in Lower Vine Brook and Meagherville. People are now cutting through off trail to accommodate them. • Ms. Mullins asked if the trails could be re-routed. • Chairman Hamilton stated that they are willing to review those possible trails. • Mr. McCarron stated that the wet trail projects are included on the "to-do" list. Community Connector • Funding is available through the state • It would take a significant amount of staff time and resources • Chairman Hamilton voiced the Commission's support for the concept and noted that the projected route is a very wet route. • The projected route is directly through Conservation land. • The Commission is very interested in connecting Cotton Farm with the Community Center at a future date; however, the Commission stated that there is not enough information to consider the project at this time and the scale of the project may be larger than the Commission would consider taking on personally. • Ms. Mullins stated that if the Commission wanted to take on this project then several other projects would need to come off of their list. 5