Conservation Commission Meeting Minutes 4/14/21

Meeting date: 
Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Minutes of the Monterey Conservation Commission

Meeting held on April 14th, 2021

Meeting held by Zoom platform with audio and visual connections

The meeting was called to order by Jeremy Rawitz, chairperson of the Conservation Commission (Con Comm), at 6:00pm. J Rawitz noted that the meeting was being recorded.

J Rawitz conducted the roll call: Jeremy Rawitz, present; Nancy Tomasovich, present; Michael Zisser, present; Margo Drohan, absent. (Note there were several other people on the call, all but one with a name identification. Several attempts were made during the meeting to see if the absent fourth member of the Con Comm was able to connect to the call and could be counted as present.)

A motion was made (M Zisser) and seconded (N Tomasovich) to schedule and post for the next Con Comm meeting to be held on April 28th, 2021, at 6:00pm. J Rawitz called for a vote on the motion: M Zisser, yes; N Tomasovich, yes; J Rawitz, yes. The motion was approved.

Item #1: Regarding the NOI (Notice of Intent) filed by FOBS Holdings of 271 Main Road, Map 226, Lot 26, for the proposed construction of an office building and the associated site work within the resource areas of the riverfront.  A motion was made (M Zisser) and seconded (N Tomasovich) to accept a continuance for this project at the request of Tom Tryon, to be heard at the April 28th meeting. J Rawitz called for a vote on the motion: N Tomasovich, yes; M Zisser, yes; J Rawitz, yes. The motion was approved.

Item #2: Regarding the WPA NOI filed for 21 Point Road, Map 102, Lot 21, for the proposed construction of a single-family home and associated site work within the resource area and buffer zone of Lake Garfield. Following discussion by the Comm, a motion was made (N Tomasovich) and seconded (M Zisser) to accept a continuance for this project at the request of Tom Tryon, to be heard at the April 28th meeting. J Rawitz called for a vote on the motion: N Tomasovich, yes; M Zisser, yes; J Rawitz, yes. The motion was approved. Note: A site visit by the Comm was scheduled for Monday, April 19.  

Item #3: Regarding the WPA RDA (Request for Determination) filed for 32 Sylvan Road, Map 102, Lot 42 (Gumowitz) for the replacement of an existing septic system within the buffer zone of Lake Garfield with a new septic system See design on file). Mark Reynolds from Kelly Granger & Parsons represented the owners. Following a discussion by the Comm, a motion was made (N Tomasovich) and seconded (M Zisser) to approve an RDA Negative 3 determination, with the special standard order of conditions including a provision for a 1:1 replacement for the 6 designated lost trees with trees of minimum 2-inch diameter. J Rawitz called for a vote on the motion: M Zisser, yes; N Tomasovich, yes; J Rawitz, yes. The motion was approved.

Item #4: Regarding the WPA RDA filed for Elephant Rock Road, Map 105, Lots 15&16 (Klingenstein), for the proposed construction of a single-family home and the associated site work within the buffer zone of Lake Garfield. Paul Clark and Al Thorpe represented the owners. Following discussion by the Comm, a motion was made (N Tomasovich) and seconded (M Zisser) to accept a continuance for the project at the request of Paul Clark for the scheduled April 28th meeting. Note: A site visit by the Comm was schedule for Monday, April 19th. J  Rawitz called for a vote on the motion: M Zisser, yes; N Tomasovich, yes; J Rawitz, yes. The motion was approved.

Item #5: Regarding the WPA RDA filed for 20 Lime Rock Lane, Map 102, Lot 73 (Edelstein), for the proposed installation of a dock and the associated site worm within the resource area of Lake Garfield. Chris Tryon represented the owners. Following discussion by the Comm, a motion was made (N Tomasovich) and seconded (M Zisser) to approve an RDA Negative 2 determination, with the special standard order of conditions. J Rawitz called for a vote on the motion: M Zisser, yes; N Tomasovich, yes; J Rawitz, yes. The notion was approved.

Item #6: Regarding the WPA RDA filed for 28 Sylvan Lane, Map 102, Lot 44 (Zablonski), for the proposed removal of Ash trees within the buffer zone and resource area of Lake Garfield. Tom Ingersoll represented the owners. Following discussion by the Comm, a motion was made (N Tomasovich) and seconded (M Zisser) to approve a Negative 2 and Negative 3 RDA, with the special standard order of conditions, including the replacement of any trees cut down in the designated area with appropriate native shrubs on a 2:1 basis. J Rawitz called for a vote on the motion: N Tomasovich, yes; M Zisser, yes; J Rawitz, yes. The motion was approved.  

Item # 7: Regarding 38 Elephant Rock Road, a request was made by Shannon ##, representing the owners, to revise the previously approved RDA order of conditions to allow for the removal of an additional tree. Since this request was not posted for this meeting, the Comm indicated it would be taken up at the scheduled April 28th meeting after being posted.

Item # 8: Regarding the 100 Art School NOI and Scenic Vistas applications to be reviewed at the schedule Apil 28th meeting, a site visit by the Comm has been scheduled for April 19th with Rob Hoggs (representing Bidwell House).

*J Rawitz noted that other applicants to the Con Comm would be scheduled and posted for the April 28th meeting, and apologized on behalf of the Comm for any delays in addressing these applicants.

Item #9: A job description for the Con Com Agent (CCAgent) was reviewed by the Comm. Several changes were made on the initial description distributed by the Chair to the four members of the Comm.

See attached job description for a Temporary Employee.

A motion was made (M Zisser) and seconded (N Tomasovich) to approve the job description for a Temporary Employee to serve no more than 90 days. J Rawitz called for a vote on the motion: M Zisser, yes; N Tomasovich, yes; J Rawitz, yes. The motion was approved. The Comm will work with the Town Administrator regarding the appropriate posting for this position.

A motion was made (M Zisser) and seconded (N Tomasovich) to approve the job description for a Permanent Employee to serve for one year. J Rawitz called for a vote on the motion: M Zisser, yes; N Tomasovich, yes; J Rawitz, yes. The notion was approved. The Comm will work with the Town Administrator regarding the appropriate posting for this positon.

See attached job description for a Permanent Employee.

Item #10: Regarding a proposed new member of the Con Comm, a motion was made (M Zisser) and seconded (J Rawitz) to nominate Leslie Lichter as a member of the Comm. See attached resume and letter of interest. J Rawitz called for a vote on the motion: M Zisser, yes; N Tomasvich, yes; Jeremy Rawitz, yes. The motion was approved. The nomination of Leslie Lichter will be sent to the Town Select Board for consideration at its next meeting scheduled for April 21, 2021. Ms Lichter expressed her appreciation for the nomination and is looking forward to serving the Town of Monterey.

A motion was made N Tomasovich) and seconded (M Zisser) to adjourn the meeting. J Rawitz called for a vote on the motion: N Tomsovich, yes; M Zisser, yes; J Rawitz, yes. The motion was approved, and the meeting was adjourned at 8:08 pm.