2004-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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our engineer/technical consultant, and Ms. Peggy Report of the Fantozzi, our liaison to the Air Force Center for Conservation Commission Environ-mental Excellence (AFCEE). The public should be aware that no taxpayer money is used for it these services; AFCEE has recognized the extra bur- d To the Honorable Board of Selectmen den put upon the town in dealing with these multifac- and the Citizens of the Town of Mashpee: eted circumstances, and compensates the Town. The Commission has developed an effective working rela- g In the "nothing new" department, 2004 was tionship with AFCEE/MMR; we look forward to mak- another busy year for the Commission and its staff. ing continued progress in addressing the multiple d issues inherent to the Quashnet Bo s/River and the Hearings (for applications for work under the Q g Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and Chapter impacts/treatment of the FSD-1 plume. 172 of the Mashpee Code, our local wetlands protec- tion bylaw) were up to 343, an increase of 31% over In 2004, Steve Solbo joined our staff as Assistant the previous year. Mashpee has one of the highest Conservation Agent. Steve is a recent graduate of ;d "case-loads" in the State. In the past 10 years, the Clemson University, with a degree in Aquaculture, 1e Mashpee Conservation Commission has averaged over Fisheries and Wildlife Biology, with a minor in )r 100"Notice of Intents" (major applications) per year. Environmental Science and Policy. A resident of 1eWe also "carry" a significant number of enforcement Barnstable, Steve also brings to the Commission a cases (violations), in excess of fifty, most of the time. familiarity with Cape Cod and its natural resources. In In other words, as some enforcement cases get the few months that he has been "on board", Steve has ' m resolved (usually through Enforcement Orders to cor- quickly acclimated to his duties, demonstrating both r' rect violations/remediate damage), others occur/are acumen and diligence. These qualities have already id discovered. Though we endeavor to handle enforce- made him a valuable asset to the Commission. ment cases with the least severe methods necessary, we sometimes have to utilize the service of our Town The membership of the Commission underwent )f Counsel to compel compliance. We are fortunate to some change in 2004. Lloyd Allen came on board and i it have Patrick Costello (of Merrick, Louison & quickly became a very active member, demonstrating m Costello, LLP) to assist us. His experience and legal the value of insights gained from his previous service I' skills serve the Town of Mashpee and us well. on the Conservation Commission for the Town of � Regardless of the degree of effort necessary to achieve Belmont.Jeff Cross joined us as an Associate member er environmental justice, which varies greatly from case and has been particularly active and helpful in that is to case, enforcement is time-consuming and arduous. role. Regretfully, Stephanie Jones has left the ldHowever, our serious and steadfast attention to Commission early in 2005. Her dedication and knowl- er enforcement of the wetlands statutes is vital to pro- edge will be missed, especially her discerning contri- 'w tecting Mashpee's uniquely precious natural butions during on-site visits and her valuable contribu- n- resources. tions to the Regulations Sub-Committee. The Commission continues to have active The Commission has a very active Regulations re involvement with the Town (Conservation Sub-Committee, consisting of Chairman Jack h Commission) owned cranberry bogs, both in terms of Fitzsimmons, Vice-Chairman Mike Talbot and mem- 9s management and in dealing with the myriad of issues ber Len Pinaud, along with(Conservation Agent)Bob relative to the FS-1 treatment facility/activities. TheSherman and (Assistant Conservation Agent) Steve Solbo. Changes in State Wetlands Protection Act reg- FS-1 plume, emanating from the Mass Military ulations, emerging awareness of the need for better Reservation, containing Ethylene Dibromide, is upwelling into the Quashnet River and the associated regulations in the face of increased pressure on our cranberry bogs. The treatment facilities/activities, natural resource base and new research discoveries while effectively "cleaning up" the pollution, have make it incumbent that our Chapter 172 regulations ecological effects which have to be constantly moni- tored and evaluated. Additionally, we are still address- and improved our regulation protecting vernal pools. ing the after-effects of a failed berm which impacted Assistant Conservation Agent Steve Solbo has been the flow and fisheries/wildlife habitat qualities of the researching and developing much-needed regulatory changes for several months; we anticipate adopting the Quashnet River. We are currently exploring various mitigation scenarios for this complex situation. The fruits of his hard work early in 2005. Another much- Commission is fortunate to have the able services of needed regulatory improvement will center around Bill Fisher (of Haley & Aldrich of Portland, Maine) requirements for revegetation, for areas impacted by violations and/or improvement/mitigation plantings. 115