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Conservation Commission 06/25/2025
(Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy)
A solemn tribute opens this Conservation Commission meeting as members honor Lou Bousquet, an Air Force veteran and longtime commissioner who recently passed away. The chairperson shares how Lou's mentorship shaped their understanding of local conservation efforts, establishing a tone of reverence for institutional knowledge that guides their environmental stewardship.
The Commission efficiently handles two property development proposals requiring environmental oversight. First, they review a straightforward application for an in-ground swimming pool installation at a residential property on Christina's Path. Located approximately 60 feet from protected wetlands, the proposal requires careful consideration of potential impacts to the buffer zone. After clarifying questions about an existing shed relocation and confirming no trees would be removed, the Commission unanimously approves the project with minimal conditions.
The meeting's focal point becomes a continued hearing for a cell tower project on North Main Street. The technical discussion showcases how local conservation efforts balance development needs with environmental protection. Commission members deliberate on culvert specifications, stormwater management practices, and maintenance schedules—ultimately approving the project with specific conditions to ensure wetland protection. Their detailed questioning about inspection frequency demonstrates the thoroughness often unseen in local governance but critical to environmental oversight.
What emerges is a portrait of small-town democracy at work—where dedicated volunteers apply environmental regulations with both rigor and practicality. The Commission adapts their approval process to accommodate summer scheduling while maintaining their commitment to protecting Raynham's natural resources, honoring Lou Bousquet's legacy through their continued service.
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June 25th meeting of the Conservation Commission. To order Please be advised. All these meetings have been recorded and I'd just like to take a moment of personal privilege here. I would like to dedicate this meeting to a longtime member of RANUM, Luba Skett, who was an Air Force veteran and former member of the RANUM Conservation Commission for a long time. Member of Rainham, Lou Biscuit, who was an Air Force veteran and former member of the Rainham Conservation Commission for a long time. When I first started here, Lou taught me a lot. We had a lot of discussions on conservation in the town of Rainham. He passed away this last week, so I'd like to dedicate this meeting to him. No objection from the board? No objection. Thank you All right.
Speaker 2:Would you read us in All public hearings and meetings heard by the Rainham Conservation Commission on Wednesday, june 25, 2025, at 5.30 pm at the Rainham Veterans Memorial Town Hall, john L McKinnon Meeting Room, 5th Street, south Main Street, rainham, mass. Are related to filings and joint meetings and or meetings under Mass General Chapter itself, main Street, rain him master. Related to filings and joint meetings and all meetings under Mass General chapter 131, 40 as amended in the town of Rainey and what lands protection bylaws. Meetings will not be televised due to scheduling.
Speaker 1:They are being told. Oh, they are correction. Yep, all right. First up, who's request for determination? Pick ability for 85 Christine's path, proposed in-ground poll. And I would like to start off by apologizing to you and the applicant. That was our mistake last week and I truly apologize. I hope it didn't cause you any delays thank you very much yep, everything's good Dan Yep.
Speaker 4:Okay. In accordance with Massachusetts General Law Chapter 131, section 40, and the Town of Raynham by-law, the Raynham Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, june 25th at 5.30 pm in the Donald L McKinnon Meeting Room at Raynham Veterans Memorial Town Hall at 558 South MainTH MAIN STREET, ranum MASS. On A REQUEST FOR DETERMINATION FILED BY MICHAEL TATRO OF 85 CHRISTINA'S PATH, ranum. The APPLICANT REQUESTS TO ADD A POOL WITHIN A 100-FOOT BUFFER ZONE OF A BORDERING VEGETATED WETLAND RESOURCE AREA. The WORK vegetated wetland resource area. The work is subject to jurisdiction under the Wetland Protection Act and Town of Raynham By-law. The property is owned by Michael Tetreault and is located at 85 Christina's Path. Raynham Mass Assessors, map 9, partial 7-7. Good evening, mr.
Speaker 3:Chairman, members of the board. Joshua Borden, with an office address at 38 North Main Street in Carver, on behalf of my client. We're looking to add an in-ground pool in the backyard there. It is an open backyard right now. We won't be taking down any trees or anything. I think at its closest point it will be about 60 feet away from the wetlands. The wetlands were delineated a while ago. If anyone has any questions, it's pretty simple and straightforward, I think shouldn't so existing.
Speaker 4:That is proposed.
Speaker 3:So when I show you that's a Sunday purpose of what's there now, just just want just one is the should be in the shed that's that's there right now is being relocated to the other side of the property, outside of the hundredsville buffer.
Speaker 1:Okay, so it's going from this side of the property over to here. Yes, okay.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Shed's right here. No, no, no, that's not my building that's somebody else's property.
Speaker 5:Is it property? Oh, oh, oh oh. There is a shed there.
Speaker 3:Oh.
Speaker 2:I'm sorry, okay, there, there is a shed there. Oh, I'm sorry, okay, there is a shed on the property.
Speaker 5:right now Shed's in the pool.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, we're not putting the shed in the pool.
Speaker 1:Okay, any commissions have any questions? I have no concerns that looks fine. Good with you. Yeah, okay, would you like to close the hearing?
Speaker 3:If no one, I guess if you don't have any public input.
Speaker 4:No, you're all together right. The name is right. Next door.
Speaker 3:Okay Then, yes, I would ask to close the hearing and hopefully issue a negative determination. Okay, okay.
Speaker 4:Motion to close the hearing. Request for the applicability of 85 Christina's baths proposed in ground pool.
Speaker 1:Second motion with me in second all in favor, aye opposed unanimous. Thank you.
Speaker 4:MOTION TO ISSUE A NEGATIVE DETERMINATION ON REQUEST FOR DETERMINATION FOR THE APPLICABILITY OF 85 CHRISTINA'S.
Speaker 5:PROGRAM NEGATIVE 3. We'll HAVE THEM STAKE IT OUT SO WE CAN LOOK AT IT FOR THE STOPPED WORK. That's WHAT WE'LL BE DOING WITH THIS.
Speaker 4:PORTION.
Speaker 5:OKAY SO.
Speaker 3:YOU WANT THEM STAKED.
Speaker 1:YEAH, okay, yeah, so negative three minute. Okay, great, my motion made in seconded all in favor aye, aye, opposed.
Speaker 5:Thank you, guys have a nice evening have a good day, and they they supported you, so make sure you invite them for the pool Two gates Okay, you're playing around with the map.
Speaker 1:Oh, yeah, okay. Next up is a continued notice of intent for North Main Street, dep 269-1068 Poe's Cell Tower.
Speaker 6:Good evening. I'm Brandon Fanniff with Ecosystem Solutions, representing for the applicant. Thank you for having this special meeting for us tonight. Meeting for us tonight where we left off was with the engineer responding to mr edna rose comments and advanced engineering has letter dated June 20th 2025 and comment and response form and, per their letter, their responses are for the most part for the town's consultant. This item has been satisfactorily addressed. For all of the items there is a amended long-range operations and maintenance construction period controls and stormwater operations and maintenance procedures plan submitted. So I think that's where we're at and I'll leave it with the Commission and mr edinara and hopefully we can come to a conclusion.
Speaker 1:Okay, azu, did they answer all your questions and concerns you had? Yes, they did. Okay, excellent. The only outstanding one, and it's going to be number three, the culvert pipe. So I guess, just a little discussion on that, whether we're going to be okay with the, the correct me if I'm wrong the r3 pipe or RC pipe? Yeah, the class 5, class 5 okay. Or the, the open bottom culvert, because that's the last issue of concern. I'd be okay with that. I do like the open bottom culverts for a number of different reasons, but I guess I'll agree with them on the pipe, on this one.
Speaker 1:But I guess, I'll agree with him on the pipe, on this one, where it's going to be very few traffic, limited access, very few traffic, basically just company vehicles.
Speaker 2:I can go in this situation with the pipe, the.
Speaker 1:what I'm sorry in this situation, where it's limited access and very few vehicles, I could go with the reinforced pipe as opposed to the culvert box so the long-range operations, yes, sir, frequency period, oh, it's gonna be, it's gonna be more than that.
Speaker 6:So let's see where is it.
Speaker 4:SEE WHERE IS IT. I DIDN'T SEE IT.
Speaker 1:NUMBER 4, LONG RANGE POST CONSTRUCTION MAINTENANCE.
Speaker 6:YEAH, THERE IT IS.
Speaker 4:JUST TEN YEARS.
Speaker 6:RIGHT, but I MEAN IT'S NOT ONCE A YEAR. It's MORE LIKE. It's A LOT MORE OFTEN THAN THAT. I KNOW THAT EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. Is IT WRITTEN DOWN ANYWHERE IT?
Speaker 4:SAYS AN ANNUAL BASIS. Once THE STABILIZATION HAS OCCURRED.
Speaker 6:WATER QUALITY, squales AND RETENTION AREA INSPECTIONS SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT IN THE FIRST. Fe is a water quality, swells and retention area inspections should be carried out in the first few months and twice a year after to ensure vegetation is accurate and slopes are not eroding. But I mean as far as, like the, the, like the, the station itself, it's not really a conservation thing, but they're there, like you know, periodically, like every, you know weeks of months and, as opposed to the year, there, like YOU KNOW PERIODICALLY, like EVERY, you KNOW WEEKS OF MONTHS AND THING AS OPPOSED TO THE YEAR.
Speaker 4:FROM THE INSURVATION POINT OF VIEW IS THE ACCESS.
Speaker 5:PEOPLE GOING IN AND OUT. How FREQUENTLY DOES THAT WORK WELL? Usually, under THE GDPU RESOLUTIONS IS THE STONEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE INSPECTING AND MAINTAINING TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S WORKING RIGHT AND THEY HAVE A TABLE. The ONLY THING IS TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEBODY IS DOING IT, but THEY HAVE A TABLE. That WILL CAUSE FOR THAT TO BE DONE, at LEAST FOR THE FIRST THREE YEARS, once PER MONTH.
Speaker 4:FOR THE FIRST THREE YEARS, yeah.
Speaker 1:SO, yeah, okay, ALL RIGHT. The ONLY OTHER HOUSEKEEPING ITEM HERE IS MAKE. Sure THAT WE HAVE AN UPDATED PLAN TO ANYTHING THAT WAS CHANGED. Make sure that we have an updated plan to anything that was changed so that our plans reflect what's been approved here. Yes, sir, I'm not sure what modification plan we're on did you?
Speaker 5:um, they submitted some plans at the last, yeah, and those haven't changed.
Speaker 6:Those haven't changed okay, this long-range plan is definitely has changed, has been updated. And then there's the questions that that mr Naro had, that were answered, but the plans themselves yeah, that's what I'm talking about the actual physical construction plans. Right, so that those construction plans, which I have too.
Speaker 1:they should be the my last one I have is 5-29. Yeah, let's see here.
Speaker 5:No, it would be June, because there's something in there.
Speaker 1:I'm sorry, june 4th.
Speaker 5:June 3rd yeah.
Speaker 6:No, we have 6-26-24 revised. That's 24. Sorry, yeah, 6 3, 25 6, 3, 25.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, those are the ones for the last okay right, right, I just want to make sure we're on the same page and plan here yep, so when?
Speaker 6:when you uh write down the order of conditions, what the uh most recent revision is that be the 63 meeting that 63 plans okay all right with that said what would you like to do? I'd be happy to close, mr chairman, with your special conditions hey, motion be to close.
Speaker 1:All in favor. I mean, I mean, of course you have us All right, sir? Okay, thank you. Thank you for your patience, Yep.
Speaker 6:thank you so much.
Speaker 5:Yeah, you can. You technically have 21 days to issue a decision? Yes, but you could vote to issue and then they were coming. They were. Are you eligible to sign them? You need to sign them, and that way you don't have to wait till, because then, technically, when you come, what you've done in the past is to vote to issue and then vote to come in individually and sign them, and that way, yeah, we'll have to do it because we're on our summer schedule, so right, so you don't want to go to july, right?
Speaker 6:so what's happening?
Speaker 1:so we're going to make a motion to um issue special order conditions.
Speaker 6:Uh now okay, as opposed to like within your next meeting, within 21 days before our next meeting NOW.
Speaker 1:Okay, AS OPPOSED TO LIKE WITHIN, YOUR NEXT MEETING WITHIN 21 DAYS BEFORE OUR NEXT MEETING.
Speaker 6:SO WE'LL FOLLOW WITHIN OUR 21-DAY GRACE PERIOD. So YOU'LL JUST DO IT NOW, because OF SUMMER SCHEDULE. Got YOU, yeah. Thank YOU ALL.
Speaker 1:RIGHT, I'LL SIT DOWN AS SOON AS EVERYTHING IS SIGNED AND IN.
Speaker 6:VOTING ON THE CONDITIONS AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
Speaker 1:NO, we're GOING TO DO IT RIGHT NOW. Okay, very GOOD WANTED TO STICK AROUND, absolutely.
Speaker 5:THANK YOU. There's STILL PUBLIC MEETINGS.
Speaker 6:WELL, you KNOW, every COMMISSION DOES IT DIFFERENTLY. Yeah, some OF THEM DO IT RIGHT AWAY, some OF THEM WAIT.
Speaker 5:Usually we work until the next meeting, but where they go on a summer schedule. Right, you don't want to be making people wait.
Speaker 4:Honestly Okay. Motion to issue an order of conditions for North Main Street, DEP 269-1068, proposed cell tower, with representatives coming in within the next week, a few days, to sign the authorization.
Speaker 5:CONSENTATIVES COMING IN WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK, a FEW DAYS, to SIGN THE AUTHORIZATION WITH THE TYPICAL CONDITIONS OF A STATE. Basically, all YOU'RE REALLY INTERESTED IN IS WHERE THAT CALDWRAD IS GOING TO GO TO STAKE IT SO YOU CAN SEE IT AND THEN ANY RESULT CONTROL.
Speaker 4:TO BE STATED AND CERTIFIED PRIOR TO THE CONSTRUCTION.
Speaker 5:YEAH, that WILL BE IN THE ORDER AND THEN I WOULD SUGGEST. That's WHY WE HAD TO ASK FOR THE DATES ON THE DOCUMENTS SO THAT THEY INCORPORATE. Because, in THE ORDER OF CONDITIONS, it ASKS ARE THERE ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS? So YOU WANT TO INCORPORATE THESE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE SUBMITTED AS REFERENCE DOCUMENTS FOR THE ORDER OF CONDITIONS.
Speaker 4:OKAY, all RIGHT.
Speaker 5:AND THAT THE INSPECTIONS, WHEN THEY COMPLETE THE INSPECTIONS, SUBMIT THE INSPECTIONS TO THE COMMISSION FOR THE STONEWALL. That's IT OKAY.
Speaker 4:OKAY, motion M okay okay, motion made.
Speaker 1:Motion made second it all in favor.
Speaker 5:Aye opposed unanimous yeah, yeah, and then we'll make the sense documents part of the right right right.
Speaker 6:Thank you so much. Enjoy your summer. She's number one.
Speaker 5:She's a keeper.
Speaker 4:She's a keeper, you don't need to come in. Sign is on the side.
Speaker 1:All right General business. Do everybody get a chance to review the minutes of June 4th Motion to accept Abstain? Do EVERYBODY GET A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE MINUTES OF JUNE 4TH MOTION TO ACCEPT ABSTAIN?
Speaker 4:NO, YOU.
Speaker 5:CAN SECOND, BUT THEN ONE OF THE VOTES CAN ABSTAIN.
Speaker 4:YEAH, because WE DON'T HAVE THREE, it WILL HAVE TO BE THE FIRST. No, you HAVE A.
Speaker 5:QUORUM.
Speaker 1:THE MAJORITY OF THE.
Speaker 5:QUORUM IS WHAT YOU DO? It's TWO TO ONE. You have your quorum.
Speaker 1:The majority of the quorum is what you do. It's two to one, yeah.
Speaker 5:It's a two to one vote yeah. It'll just be a two, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:So I have a second on the minutes. All in favor, aye, aye, opposed.
Speaker 4:It's not opposed.
Speaker 1:He said abstain from voting. Okay, so two affirmative, one abstain. Do we have some bills for us to sign? All right, as of this moment, I have no correspondence and I have no scheduled site visits. Thank you, thank you, all right, I need one more motion. Motion to adjourn Second Motion to adjourn. Motion to adjourn the special meeting. All in favor, aye, opposed, unanimous. Thank you everyone.