HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - WREC - 09/03/2014 Weir River Estuary Park Committee (WREPComm)
Meeting Minutes from September 3rd, 2014
The meeting, held at the Weir River Estuary Center(333 GWB in Hull) on Wednesday September 3 d, was
called to order at about 7:30pm. Members- present: Dick Avery(Cohasset), Faith Burbank (Hingham),
Judeth Van Hamm (Hull), and Patti Coyle (Hingham); absent: Scott Plympton, Hull.
Housekeeping: Members present reviewed and approved the minutes from July 1st meeting; no other
votes were taken. Patti Coyle volunteered to serve as Scribe.
Conservation Land Management Planning: Dick Avery presented his draft of a Resource Management
Plan for Straits Pond,which included:Aerial Map, Locus,Abutting Land Attributes, Monitoring of
Threats, History(visit www.StraitsPond.org ), Recreational Uses/Access/Parking, and Maintenance
Needs. Overseers include: the Straits Pond and Weir River watershed associations, Cohasset
Conservation Trust, MA Coastal Zone Mgmt., Hull Land Conservation Trust, Hull Garden Club, as well as
the Towns of Cohasset and Hull. No other properties have been exercised by members using Hingham
Conservation Officer Abby Piersall's initial template since May. Judeth Van Hamm and Faith Burbank
will try to work with the template in time for October's meeting. Hingham's Trails Plan needs: a
working-group and digital maps.
Next Environmental Forum: No Conference Calls with Aquarion regarding the next Water Forum have
taken place yet. It has been a busy summer for Aquarion: Water Bans in effect, water level/pumping
problems at Accord Pond water tower(public safety water supply), drought. Members anticipate that
the next Forum will be in late October. Expected topics: Demand levels, river flow, effects of drought
(worst summer for vegetables!), community actions for measurement, and understanding the aquifer;
re-visit storm water and the 'Sewer vs. Septic' discussion. Dick Avery and Faith Burbank are interested
to see Aquarion's lists of Forum attendees,to ascertain 'who is missing'from the audiences.
Updates on Current Activities:
a) Cohasset—good news: visitors to Straits Pond this year report that water here is clear enough to be
able to see the bottom. Also, $55K grant regarding the seawall at Crescent Beach. Some issues at
559 Jerusalem Rd.
b) Hingham—Patti Coyle shared photos of low water levels at Accord Pond and along the Weir River,
and also the Aaron River Reservoir in Wompatuck State Park; water level in the tower at Turkey Hill is
also reported to be very low. Both Patti & Faith will participate in the Hingham Trails Plan working
group, expected to meet sometime in October. The Noonan Property is benefitting from an Eagle
Scout project, under the supervision of Abby Piersall.
c) Hull—Horne property on N.Truro St.: Judeth Van Hamm will make a personal appeal to family
member against construction of a single-family home and associated roadway on this property,
which is near the Weir River Woods. Lofchie property: no change.
Other Business and next meeting: Next meetings—Wednesday October 1st at 7pm in Estuary Center
(333 GWB, Hull) and Wednesday October 291h at 7PM Hingham Town Hall (210 Central St., Hingham).
Community action: Judeth asked members to encourage people to participate in the Peoples' Climate
March in New York City on Sunday 9/21/2014.
The meeting adjourned a little before 9:00pm.
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