10/19/2019 Annual Town Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Article 20 To see if the Town will vote to amend Chapter 172-5 of the General Bylaws as follows: Delete Section 172-5(B) and replace the language (B) as follows: "Any applicant filing a Request for Determination of Applicability or Notice of Intent for activities on property other than their own must provide written authorization of the requested activity from the property owner at the time of filing. Notice and copy of the permit application must also be mailed certified to the owner", or take any other action relating thereto. Submitted by the Conservation Department Explanation: Sometimes, an applicant will request work to be done, either wholly or partially,on property not owned by the applicant(for example, a hazardous tree is requested to be removed by an applicant and the tree lies on a neighboring property in close proximity to the applicant's home) In these instances, the applicant is required to provide documentation of written permission from the property owner and have this documented permission accompany the permit application. The existing language requires notification to be provided to the property owner if the applicant is not the property owner; however, it is necessary to have this permission in writing before the permit application is placed on a meeting agenda, so the other property owner is aware of the request prior to a given meeting. The Board of Selectmen recommends approval of Article 20 by a vote of 4-0 The Finance Committee recommends approval of Article 20 by a vote of 6-0 MOTION MADE BY SELECTMAN WEEDEN: Motion: I move the Town vote to approve Article 20 as printed in the warrant with the exception of the phrase, "or take any other action relating thereto." Motion passes at 9:04 pm Article 21 To see if the Town will vote to amend Chapter 172-7 of the General Bylaws as follows: Amend the language of Chapter 172-7(A) as follows: Replace the phrase "significant or cumulative effect" with "adverse impacts" or take any other action relating thereto. Submitted by the Conservation Department Explanation: The term "adverse impact" is used to describe a threshold of alteration within wetlands jurisdiction that is considered beyond negligible. It is referenced throughout the Massachusetts State Wetlands Protection Act. In order to establish consistency of proper terminology between the Chapter 172 Wetland Bylaw and the MA State Wetlands Protection Acts, this change of wording is necessary. The Board of Selectmen recommends approval of Article 21 by a vote of 4-0 29