9/24/2015 CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes

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Conservation Commission Meeting Thursday, September 24, 201 Mashpee Town Hall ®ckway Meeting Room Commissioners Present: Robert Anderson, Dale McKay, Robert Shaw,John Rogers and Mark Gurnee Staff Present: Drew McManus (Conservation Agent)and Judy Daigneault(Recording Secretary) CALL. MEErING TO ORDER. 5:55 P.M. The meeting was called to order with a quorum by Chairman Robert Anderson at 5:55 p.m. There was no public comment PREIP®ST-HEARING AGENDA: Minutes:Approve August 13,and September 10, 2015 Minutes. Table approval of August 13 minutes due to lack of quorum for these minutes. Motion: Mr. Gurnee moved to accept and hold the minutes of September 10, 2015, seconded by Mr. Rogers. Vote S-0 Gooseberry Island Trust: Administrative Approval to allow observation test holes The Agent informed the Commissioners Matt Haney, Trustee, Gooseberry Island Trust, was present to request permission to allow observation test holes for a potential septic system at Gooseberry Island. He said normally these types of activities don't require a permit but because this is Gooseberry Island, undeveloped and surrounded by resource areas he wanted Matt to come in and describe the process so the commissioners can make a judgment on whether you feel the information provided is enough to let the project go forward or whether or not you require a permit for this type of work. Matt explained they are requesting administrative approval to dig four temporary observation holes on Gooseberry Island for septic systems design. All test holes will be greater than 100' from the resource area. The excavator will cross water from the mainland at low tide using mats and utilizing the existing path on the island to reach test hole area. No resource areas will be altered and no salt marsh will be crossed. He used a photograph to show the area. The Agent was concerned with the shellfish cages and wanted to be sure putting mats in the channel won't harm the shellfish and needed a little more detail on the mats and how are they getting out there, what do they look like and how effective they are in protecting land with shellfish. Matt said the mats are an extra precaution. The Agent asked about using a barge. Matt said they will be going at low tide and noted he goes down this road everyday. He said there are no cages where the test holes will be and there is no impact from the machine (3,9) pounds per square inch which is a mini tractor.