HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - WREC - 04/29/2015 Weir River Estuary Park Committee (WREPComm)
Meeting Minutes from April 29th, 2015
The meeting, held at the Weir River Estuary Center(333 George Washington Blvd, Hull) on Wednesday April 29th,was
called to order by 7:05pm. Members-present: Dick Avery (Cohasset), Patti Coyle(Hingham),Judeth Van Hamm (Hull),
Scott Plympton(Hull) and Dave Sibor(Hingham); absent: Faith Burbank(Hingham).
Housekeeping: Members present reviewed and approved the minutes from January 7t"; no other votes were taken.
Patti Coyle volunteered to serve as Scribe.
Updates on current activities:
a) Clean-up Day April 251h: Job well done. The area from Community Garden to Jake's got attention for the first time
this year. Sidney Pond area pretty clean; 2 seat benches, nice bucolic pond viewing of spring birds;woods and
plants emerging. Thanks to all who came out and filled trash bags.
b) Cohasset:Winsor property in Hull, owned by Cohasset Conservation Trust, is a larger parcel than expected. Still
looking for Eagle Scout to clear area at broad curve between woods and Straits Pond.
c} Hingham: 1.Trail planning for Hingham and the estuary park: Foundry Pond and the Conservation Comm land
across from it,Sidney Pond,Amonte Meadow, and Porter's Cove Point across from Court House have been or
have been requested to be mapped with Trimble for connection to Town or neighborhood trail system. 2. Mike
Noonan sold his property on Rockland St to a developer who had Steve Ivas flag wetland delineations.Two house
lots for 3 bedroom sewer hook-ups. Abby is in touch and encouraging a pond walk opportunity, if possible. 3.
WREPComm 2014 activities were published in Hingham's Annual Report booklet(copy shared at meeting). 4.
Hingham Town meeting articles that can aid WREP:Article 29-Bylaw to extend 50 foot wetland protection area to
100'resource protection area, also includes the River Protection Act area of 200'; Articles 30&31 Waterfront and
rotary: safe shore, road, and sidewalk access for and to/or from Hingham harbor to estuary; Article 37 for
easement provisions for connecting potential walkways, etc. For details of these and other Warrant articles,visit
http.11www.11itiglrat7i-»ragnv/tow►zclerk/docunlents/20I5 Warrant.pdf
d) Hull: Lofchie property—efforts continue to protect a portion of this 2-acre property at the western edge of Straits
Pond. 3 avenues: 1) use money on-hand (Cohasset Conservation Trust$40K/Hull Land Conservation Trust$10K);
2)Owner Lofchie donates more land for tax credit(50%of land value, up to$150K/$75K credit); 3) apply for
Conservation Partnership Grant(a matching grant)—appraisal required; deadline is July 20th 2015.Judeth will
update Hull's sections in the Weir River Estuary Land Protection Plan to support the application for a grant. Would
property owner Paul Gratta donate a Conservation Restriction (CR) along Eastman Rd.?
Water Matters Forum update: It seems that Aquarion has had other priorities that make it difficult for Ronit Goldstein
to reconvene stakeholders,such as: the winter of 2015, water restrictions for the summer of 2015 (based on the
drought of 2014) as well as the lawsuit in the Business Litigation Session of MA Superior Court to determine what
amount Hingham would have to pay Aqua rion if the Town chooses to exercise its right to purchase the water system.
Possible dates and the next Conference Call with stakeholders have not been scheduled. Aquarion's plan to hire a hydro
geologist/hydro engineer have not been shared.
Committee Action Items:
a) Goals for 2015
b) Hingham Trails Plan
c) Other
Wrap-up
Next WREPComm Meetings:Wednesday, May 27th and June 24th from 7-9pm at the Estuary Center
1of1