Conservation Commission

CITY OF CHICOPEE CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes of Meeting September 1, 2021 Pursuant to Mass. General Law Ch. 131, Section 40 and the Chicopee Wetland Ordinance Ch. 272, the Chicopee Conservation Commission held a public hearing on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 at 6:15 PM in the Chambers Conference Room, City Hall Annex, 4th Floor, 274 Front St., Chicopee, MA 01013 Charles Payne opened the meeting at 6:15 PM and announced that the meeting was being recorded. Conservation Commission attendance: Member Present Absent Excused Celeste Donovan X Charles Payne X Sharon Balcom X Meghan Balakier X Richard Valcourt X Brian Nunes X Planning/Conservation Staff attendance: Member Present Absent Excused Lee Pouliot, Director X James Dawson, Development Manager X Patrick McKenna, Assistant Planner X Nathan Moreau, Associate Planner X Item 1: (Continued from April 7, 21, May 5, 19, June 2, 16, July 7 and August 4, 2021) NOI for Chicopee Reservoir Annual Drawdown and Vegetation Management Project. Work will include removal of vegetation within 20’ of the reservoir dam and for a five year authorization of the annual drawdown of the reservoir for maintenance purposes. Work will occur within Inland Bank, Bordering Vegetated Wetland, Land Under Waterways and Waterbodies, Riverfront Area and Buffer Zone. Location: Chicopee Memorial State Park – 570 Burnett Rd., Chicopee, MA 01020. Applicant: Sean Gaffney, Massachusetts DCR, 1048 North Rd., Westfield, MA 01085 Notes: Neither the Applicant nor their representative were present at the meeting. The Commission inquired if Staff had any contact with either entity. Staff reported that there had been none. The Commission discussed the issue and some questions they have for the Applicant regarding the project. The Commission decided to continue the NOI one last time to September 15, 2021. If the Applicant has not made any progress by September 15, 2021 the Commission has requested the Applicant formally withdraw the NOI and refile once they are prepared to move the project forward. Motion to continue to September 15, 2021 was made by Meghan Balakier and seconded by Richard Valcourt. Vote was 5-0 to continue to September 15, 2021. Member Approve Deny Continue Abstain Charles Payne X Sharon Balcom X Meghan Balakier X Richard Valcourt X Brian Nunes X Item 2: Minutes from August 4, 2021 Motion to approve the minutes was made by Sharon Balcom and seconded by Brian Nunes. Vote was 5-0 to approve. Member Approve Deny Continue Abstain Charles Payne X Sharon Balcom X Meghan Balakier X Richard Valcourt X Brian Nunes X Item 3: Sign Bills. Item 4: Upcoming Projects/Discussion  Waiting for Request for Certificate of Compliance for 62 Britton St. and 19 Old Chicopee St.  RDA for 60 Swol Street on agenda for September 15, 2021. Item 5: Adjournment – Next scheduled meeting is September 15, 2021 Motion to adjourn was made by Meghan Balakier and seconded by Richard Valcourt. Vote was 5-0 to adjourn. Member Approve Deny Continue Abstain Charles Payne X Sharon Balcom X Meghan Balakier X Richard Valcourt X Brian Nunes X Meeting adjourned at 6:40 PM.