Conservation Commission

CITY OF CHICOPEE CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes of Meeting December 20, 2023 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, December 20, 2023 at 6:15 PM in the Planning and Conservation Office, City Hall Annex, 4 th Floor, 274 Front St., Chicopee, MA 01013 Celeste Donovan 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 Meghan Balakier X Richard Valcourt X Bianca Thomas X Barbara Chamberlain X Sharon Balcom X Planning/Conservation Staff attendance: Member Present Absent Excused Lee Pouliot, Director X James Dawson, Development Manager X Nick Kiser, Associate Planner X Patrick Collins, Assistant Planner X Item 1: Extension of Order of Conditions – MassDEP File # 133-274 (City File # W07-264) for continued maintenance on the City’s flood control system. Applicant: City of Chicopee, Department of Public Works Flood Control, 80 Medina St. Chicopee, MA 01013 Notes: Quinn Lonczak of the City’s Water Pollution Control Department presented the request for the Extension Permit for the Order of Conditions for ongoing maintenance to the City’s Flood Control System. The Order was last extended for three years on January 17, 2021, expiring on January 17, 2024. The current request is to extend the Order to January 17, 2027. Mr. Lonczak explained the maintenance included removal of woody vegetation on the dike system as well as animal control pertaining to burrowing animals that may jeopardize the integrity of the dike. Motion to approve an Extension Permit for an Order of Conditions MassDEP File # 133-274 (City File # W07-264) to January 17, 2027 was made by Charles Payne and seconded by Richard Valcourt. Vote was 6-0 to approve the Extension Permit for the Order of Conditions to January 17, 2027. Member Approve Deny Continue Abstain Celeste Donovan X Charles Payne X Meghan Balakier X Richard Valcourt X Bianca Thomas X Sharon Balcom X Item 2: NOI for the removal of PCB impacted soils to a depth of 6-12” per submitted plan, restore area with clean soil and replant with native seed mix. Location: Szot Park, Abbey Memorial Dr., Chicopee, MA. Applicant: City of Chicopee Parks and Recreation Department c/o Benjamin Strepka, 687 Front St., Chicopee, MA 01013. Notes: Alan Hanscom and Chris Nolan of Pare Corporation presented the NOI to the Commission. Mr. Hanscom explained the issue of the soil contaminated with PCBs from paint chips that occurred when the pool was drained. The pool has since been removed. He explained the method of soil sampling to arrive at the limit of contamination. He noted that since the area was a public park frequented by people the soil must be removed if the PCB level exceeds 1 PPM. Mr. Hanscom explained how the contaminated soils would be removed. He also presented to the Commission how the site would be restored. The Commission discussed the proposed methods of erosion control and attached their typical erosion control conditions to the Order of Conditions. Motion to approve an Order of Conditions with a Special Condition was made by Meghan Balakier and seconded by Sharon Balcom. Vote was 6-0 to approve an Order of Conditions with a Special Condition. Member Approve Deny Continue Abstain Celeste Donovan X Charles Payne X Meghan Balakier X Richard Valcourt X Bianca Thomas X Sharon Balcom X Item 3: Minutes from November 15, 2023 Motion to approve the minutes was made by Sharon Balcom and seconded by Charles Payne. Vote was 6-0 to approve. Member Approve Deny Continue Abstain Celeste Donovan X Charles Payne X Meghan Balakier X Richard Valcourt X Bianca Thomas X Sharon Balcom X Item 4: Sign Bills – Staff noted there was one bill to sign. Item 5: Upcoming Projects/Discussion/Communications • Update on responses to Enforcement Orders issued to property owners on McKinstry Ave. The property Owners/violators met with Staff to determine a path forward. Both owners reported they were working with one entity to develop the required plans to remedy the violation. Staff will update the Commission on any progress as it occurs. • Update on erosion control at 129 Dejordy Lane – Straw bales were installed by December 1, 2023. Erosion control must remain in place until the restoration plantings are completed in the Spring of 2024 and the site is deemed stabilized by the Conservation Commission. Item 6: Adjournment – Next meeting is scheduled for January 17, 2024 Motion to adjourn was made by Sharon Balcom and seconded by Meghan Balakier. Vote was 6-0 to adjourn. Member Approve Deny Continue Abstain Celeste Donovan X Charles Payne X Meghan Balakier X Richard Valcourt X Bianca Thomas X Sharon Balcom X Meeting adjourned at 7:15 PM.