Holyoke Conservation Commission

Minutes for February7, 2013

Full audio recording available at the Conservation Commission Office

Attendees:B.Bowler, M.Moriarty, A. Dahlin, S. Panitch, C. Sugrue, Anja Ryan

Staff: A. Smith

Public: Marcus Gabriele, Holyoke DPW

Chairperson Moriarty called the meeting to order at 6:15. Chairperson Moriarty welcomed Anja Ryan to the Commission and thanked her for attending her first meeting. Chairperson Moriarity then invited Marcus Gabriele, Safety Inspector, for the Holyoke Department of Public Works to present a Request for a Determination of Applicability to Determine whether or not a multi-year Vegetation Management Plan, using a mixture of chemical and mechanical treatments, along the City's 175 miles of public roadways is subject to state and local wetlands protection regulations. Mr. Gabriele then presented a map to the Commission that identified the location of Spraying Areas, Low-Spraying Areas, and No-Spraying Areas. He stated that the VMP was designed to comply with all of the rules and regulations established by the Department of Agricultural Resources.

With that, the Commission and Mr. Gabriele walked through those questions that the Commission had submitted to Mr. Gabriele in advance of the meeting, which were as follows:

1) Has this Application changed any from 5 years ago?

  • Mr. Gabriele stated that the plan had not been altered since the 2008 adoption of the City’s VMP.

2) Why is the lower section of Main Street not a low-spray area?

  • Mr. Gabriele stated that the following areas on lower Main Street are no-spray zones: the lower section of Main St. near the I-391 underpass and near adjacent water ways. He continued, stating that the area south of this sectionhas beencalled out as a normal spray zone because there are no waterways within 100’ of the spray area.

3) Is it possible to restrict spraying around catch basins?

  • Mr. Gabriele stated that the contractor will not spray around catch basins.

4) Is it possible to use back-packs instead of truck sprayers in densely populatedneighborhoods?

  • Mr. Gabriele stated that the contractor has been directed to use backpack sprayers in 95% of the project area and that this was the result of lessons learned from previous years. He stated that in the past the City has used Northern Tree and the hope would be to use a contractor who is familiar with the City, such as Northern Tree. He stated that the City rarely, if ever, uses a truck or an ATV due to minor problems in the past and that spraying is mainly to treat young weeds.

5) Could you send a pdf of the VMP?

  • Mr. Gabriele stated that he had sent this via email to Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith stated that it was sent out. Some Commissioners stated that they had not received it. Upon follow-up, it was determined that this email was sent on Monday, February 4, 2013 at 11:47 AM.

6) Why does the spraying have to be done?

  • Mr. Gabriele stated that this work was requirement for public safety and operational purposes.

7) When was it done last, and where?

  • Mr. Gabriele stated that VMP activities occur every year, but that 2011 was skipped for budgeting purposes. He stated that residents notice when spraying does not occur.

8) What will be used?

  • Glyphosate / Round-Up Pro.

9) Can we have the MSDS sheets?

  • Mr. Gabriele stated that these were part of the original submittal.

10) How will it be done?

  • Mr. Gabriele stated that that 95% of the spraying would rely on back-pack spraying, conducted in early morning to minimize traffic and exposure risks.

11) Will certified applicators be employed to do it?

  • Mr. Gabriele stated that was a requirement of the DAR regulations.

12) Will spray be in the air?

  • Mr. Gabriele stated that broad-spectrum foliar applications are not permitted by law. Foliar treatments involve the selective application of an herbicide diluted in water, to the foliage. Two types of equipment for foliar treatments used are hand-held pump sprayers and occasionally a motorized truck-mounted sprayer. Both types use low-pressure sprayers, below 60 psi at the nozzle, for application. Foliar treatments with hand-held pump sprayers are used on low-density target vegetation. The herbicide solution will be diluted to the lowest possible percent depending on the plant species.

14) When will it be done?

  • Mr. Gabriele stated that this work is typically conducted during the early summer months when plant growth is beginning so vegetation can be knocked back before it is tall and woody. He stated that this reduces the time needed to spray and the quantity of glyphosate required to control vegetation.

15) Three schools will be affected. Will the school officials be informed? Can it be done when school is not in session?

  • Mr. Gabriele stated that notice is posted in the paper prior to each application and that, for the most part, schools are not in session when applications occur.

16) Is more than one application required?

  • Mr. Gabriele stated that he and the contractor rely on one spring treatment with follow-up treatments later in the season, as necessary.

Discussion about expanding future ROW management activities to include the Ingleside area occurred and it was agreed that Mr. Gabriele would look into that for the future to see if anything in that area is the responsibility of the City and not the Department of Transportation.

With that, Mr. Smith stated that the Commission has the opportunity to review and comment on the location of spraying activities and to impose conditions on how work within the buffer zone can occur. He stated that this is the Commission’s opportunity to review and comment on the scope and location of the proposed work.

With that, the Commission reviewed the areas of proposed spraying and requested that spraying in the vicinity of resource areas found at Mt. Park Road/Brookwood Road, Cherry Street/I-91 Exit 16 Interchange, and a tributary of Green Brook originating from Overlook Road be removed from the VMP. This was agreed to as a condition of the permit.

During discussion, the Commission also found that the following conditions would be necessary for permitting this project:

1)Herbicides shall not be applied within the vicinity of Catch Basins.

2)Prior to start of work, the source and date for all wetlands delineations shall be separately identified on a VMP map; and

3)Jurisdictional resource areas identified in this Determination shall be used for no other purpose than for governing the Holyoke Department of Public Works’ implementation of Holyoke’s 2013-2018 Vegetation Management Plan and associated Yearly Operating Plan(s);

With that, the Chairperson asked for a motion and Commissioner Panitch moved, with Mr. Sugrue seconding, to issue a Negative #3, Negative #4, Negative #5 and Negative #6 Determinations, finding that: a) the work is within the 100’Buffer Zone but will not alter any resource areas, subject to conditions; and b) that the work described in the Request is not within an Area subject to protection under the Act (including the Buffer Zone) and that said work does not require the filing of a Notice of Intent, unless and until said work alters an Area subject to protection under the Act; and c) that the Request was for work exempted under the Wetlands Protection Act under sections 10.03(6) (a); 10.05(3)(a)(2); 10.03(6) (b); and d) that the proposed work is not subject to the Holyoke Wetlands Protection Ordinance. With the following conditions:

1)The Conservation Commission shall be notified immediately of any problems with the application or applicator. DOA shall be provided to the applicator with a reminder that failure to comply with the approved VMP/YOP will result in enforcement actions against all parties.

2)Herbicides shall not be applied within the vicinity of Catch Basins.

3)Prior to start of work, an amended map that restricts herbicide application within the vicinity of resource areas found at Mt. Park Road/Brookwood Road, Cherry Street/I-91 Exit 16 Interchange, and a tributary of Green Brook originating from Overlook Road shall be presented for review and approval of the Conservation Director;

4)Prior to start of work, the source and date for all wetlands delineations shall be separately identified on a VMP map; and

5)Jurisdictional resource areas identified in this Determination shall be used for no other purpose than for governing the Holyoke Department of Public Works’ implementation of Holyoke’s 2013-2018 Vegetation Management Plan and associated Yearly Operating Plan(s);

The motion passed unanimously.

With that, Mr. Smith informed the Commission that the City’s Open Space and Recreation Plan, which the Conservation Commission developed in 2011/2012 was endorsed by the Mayor and City Council on February 6, 2013. He stated that the Commission successfully completed this document during a busy permitting year and that the document will shape the next five years of land acquisitions and park improvements.

Subsequent to this discussion, Mr. Smith gave the Commission an update on land that the Connecticut River Watershed Council has offered to the Commission. He stated that these parcels are located in West Holyoke in the Broad Brook watershed and that they preserve some key parcels that are adjacent to City-owned conservation parcels. He sought guidance from the Commission to determine whether or not the Commission had any interest in pursuing transfer of the parcels. He noted that these lands are already tax-exempt and that the Watershed Council would like to give them to the Commission for a dollar. The Commission directed Mr. Smith to pursue the acquisition of these parcels.

With that, Vice-Chairperson Bowler moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Panitch seconded. The motion passed unanimously at 7:50 PM.

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