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MASHPEE CONSERVATION COMMISSION <br /> Minutes of 13 May 1999 <br /> Commissioners present: Elliot Rosenberg, Chair Pro Tem, Ralph Shaw, <br /> John Johansen, Greg wirsen, Tad wollenhaupt. <br /> The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was held at <br /> the request of the waterways Commission to discuss the M shpee River <br /> dredging proposed. <br /> Mr. Danks, Chairman of the waterways Commission, stated they would like <br /> to open their meeting and then give Conservation the ball. <br /> Mr. Rosenberg stated they could have their meeting separately, before or <br /> after, but this meeting will be conducted as a Conservation Commission <br /> meeting. Mr. Danks stated he understood and had no problem with it. <br /> Mr. Sherman stated, as a point of information, if the waterways Commission <br /> is going to vote or make a decision they would have to open the meeting, <br /> other than that they would not have to. Mr. Hanks stated they were not <br /> planning to vote or make a decision. <br /> Sections of a letter received 'r Bob Durand,1, Secretary, Executive Office of <br /> Environmental Affairs, under the date of 3 May 1999, issued to all <br /> Conservation Commission members, was read into the record by the Cl air in <br /> connection with the subject matter of this meeting. <br /> "I also want to issue an invitation to cities and towns to work pros Lively <br /> with state and local environmental agencies and other interested paI yes to <br /> avoid conversions ofArticle 97 land. (Article 97 land is dei' Jd in <br /> Massachusetts General haws as park and Conservation land.) All '")roposed <br /> Article 97 conversions require a full and open public decision-making process. <br /> O A's Article 97 Land Disposition Policyquires a municipality to <br /> consider all feasible alternatives to the conversion of public open space. <br /> (Although certain procedural aspects of this policy aro currently under <br /> review, I do not anticipate any change to its substantive requirements.) In <br /> addition, if there truly is no feasible alternative, the policy favors a `no not <br /> loss' approach by -requiring that new open space of equivalent or greater <br /> financial and resource value be acquired to replace the lost Article 97 lands. <br /> Compliance with the Article 97 policy often occurs unclear the 1 I PA review <br /> process. The new M PA Regulations, effective July 1, 1998, require the <br /> filing of ars Environmental Notification Form with EDEA for all projects <br /> using state funds or requiring a state permit, if it involves any conversion of <br /> Article 97 land (including the release of any conservation, historic <br />