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Home My Public Portal AboutPlanning Board -- 2020-03-25 Minutes o� ri Brewster Planning Board Approved : 04-22 -20 \ o� ORsw� %sem'% Vote : 2 -0 -1 .i DEq F , 2198 Main Street Z xP n Brewster, MA 02631 - 1 898 (508) 896 -3701 x1133 ' — brewplan@brewster-ma . gov PEQgPONASE� BREWSTER PLANNING BOARD ` •c' /uiairignmminm �N�aia� I:` •! MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, March 25 , 2020 at 6 : 00 pm Brewster Town Office Building Chair Madalyn Hillis- Dineen convened a remote meeting of the Planning Board at 6 : 01 pm with the following members participating remotely : Ned Chatelain , Charlotte Degen , Kari Hoffmann , Elizabeth Taylor , and Paul Wallace . Roberta Barrett did not participate . Also participating remotely : Ryan Bennett , Town Planner and Lynn St . Cyr, Senior Department Assistant, The Chair read the Notification : "Pursuant to Governor Baker's March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law and his March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limits on the number of people that may gather in one place, this meeting will be conducted via remote participation to the greatest extent possible. Specific information and the general guidelines for remote participation by members of the public and/or parties with a right and/or requirement to attend this meeting may be found on the Town 's website at www. brewster-ma . Qov. For this meeting, members of the public who wish to listen to the audio broadcast may do so via the Town of Brewster livestream at http://livestream . brewster-ma . gov or on Channel 18. No in-person attendance of members of the public will be permitted, but every effort will be made to ensure the public can adequately access the proceedings in real time via technological means. The Town has established specific email addresses for each board and committee that will be meeting remotely so that residents can send their comments in writing either before or during the meeting. Please send comments for Planning Board meetings to Dlanninaboardmeetina aa�..brewster-ma . pov. The packet for the March 25, 2020 meeting can be found at htta ://records. brewster-ma . aov/WebLink/0/fol/118269/Row1 . asax. In the event we are unable to live broadcast these meetings, despite best efforts, we will post on the Town website an audio recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting. " 6 : 05 PM PUBLIC HEARING Hillis-Dineen opened the public hearing by directing the clerk to read in the application . Armlication #2020 -03 : On behalf of Eversource Energy , Kyle Barry will be discussing the 2020 Eversource Energy Vegetation Management Plan . In compliance with MGL Chapter 87 , Section 14 , the Planning Board and Tree Warden will hear the proposal for selective tree pruning on electric circuits 4-89A-553 , 4-8913-5731 4-8913-618 , and 4-8913 -946 . These circuits include the following designated Scenic Roads : Stony Brook Rd , Red Top Rd , Satucket Rd , Slough Rd , Rte 6A , Paines Creek Rd , Lower Rd , Robbins Hill Rd , Brier Lane , Tubman Rd , Point of Rocks Rd , Foster Rd , Cathedral Rd , and Old North Rd . Additionally , the potential for off-schedule hot spot pruning on all scenic roads may be necessary as issues are identified . Documents . • 02/04/20 Letter to Brewster Planning Board including Vegetation Management Plan and circuit maps • 02/ 10/20 Planning Board Application • 03/ 19/20 Department Review Comments Kyle Barry of Eversource Energy and Patrick Ellis , Superintendent of Brewster Department of Public Works and Tree Warden also participated remotely . Barry stated that this request is part of ongoing pruning efforts by Eversource to maintain reliable electricity by keeping power lines free from limbs . Eversource will prune 10' to each side of the primary wire and 15' above the primary wire . Barry stated that they may find some hot spots that need to be pruned during this effort and will review hot spots with Ellis . Ellis stated that he has been happy with the work Eversource has done . Ellis noted that Eversource coordinates with the Brewster Police Department to ensure good traffic control , Ellis noted that a challenge in Brewster is dead trees along the roads and Eversource has helped remove those trees , Ellis stated that Eversource has been responsive to requests on hot spot pruning . Ellis also noted that Brewster' s narrow roads make routine pruning a necessity . Ellis reminded the Board of a recent planting Eversource did at the Council on Aging . Eversource planted 10 silver bells at the COA and Ellis expects to work on more plantings with Eversource in the future . PB Minutes 03/25/2020 Page 1 of 2 Hillis- Dineen noted that the Board received department review comments which are a part of the record and available for public review. Degen asked for clarification about the dimensions of pruning around power lines . Barry referred Degen to section 2 . 1 . 1 . 2 of the Vegetation Management Plan on page 3 and noted that the side clearance is 10' for Massachusetts . Degen noted reference to herbicides being used in Connecticut . Barry stated that no herbicides will be used in Brewster. Degen asked when pruning would begin . Barry said pruning is tentatively scheduled for the fall but will be done in circuits so it is possible that one circuit will be done before the summer, one during the summer, and finish during the fall . Barry stated that typically 34 crews/trucks work on a circuit and move from one circuit to the next . Pruning will most likely be scheduled for 5 days per week with an 8 : 00 — 8 : 30 am start with possible Saturday work days . Degen asked about status of trees previously cut back being replanted . Ellis stated that a significant planting was done at COA and he expects a similar planting to be done each year. Hoffmann asked about a potential planting of trees on Paul Hush Way . Ellis stated that there is a challenge in Brewster in finding a good planting spot because roads are so narrow. Ellis will work with Eversource to look at possible planting at Paul Hush Way. Hoffmann asked if homeowners impacted are allowed to give input on new plantings or replacement . Barry stated that he consults with homeowners if a new tree is being planted in front of their house . Degen read comments received from the Conservation Commission into the record . St. Cyr stated that no public comment was received on this application via the email address provided to the public . Motion by Hoffmann to Close the Public Hearing on ADDlication #2020 -03 . Second by Degen . Vote : Chatelain - yes , Hoffmann — yes , Wallace as yes , Degen - yes , Taylor - yes , Hillis -Dineen — yes , and Ellis as yes . Vote : 7 -0 -0 . Motion by Wallace to Approve Tree Pruning Permit for ADalication #2020 -03 . Second by Degen . Vote : Chatelain - yes , Hoffmann as yes , Degen - yes , Wallace - yes , Taylor- yes , Hillis -Dineen — yes , Ellis as yes . Vote : 7 -0 -0 . Ellis left the meeting . 6 : 26PM PLANNING DISCUSSION Approval of Meetinq Minutes : February 26 , 2020 . The Board reviewed the February 26 , 2020 meeting minutes . Motion by Chatelain to Approve February 26 , 2020 Meeting Minutes , as drafted . Second by Taylor. Vote : Wallace as yes , Degen - yes , Taylor - yes , Hoffmann - abstained , Chatelain — yes , and Hillis -Dineen was yes . Vote : 5-0 -1 . 6 : 28 PM TOPICS THE CHAIR DID NOT REASONABLY ANTICIPATE Hoffmann thanked Hillis- Dineen for leading the Board through their first remote Zoom meeting . Wallace asked Barry about work being done on the telephone poles . Barry stated that it was a termite treatment . Hoffmann asked if the public needs to be concerned and stay away from poles because of pesticide use . Wallace stated that he did not believe pesticides were used but a wrapping was used . Barry did not have further information on the treatment being used . Motion by Wallace to adjourn . Second by Taylor. Vote : Chatelain as yes , Taylor as yes , Degen - yes , Hoffmann - yes , Wallace — yes , and Hillis -Dineen — yes . Vote : 6 -0 -0 . Meeting adjourned at 6 : 30 pm . Next Planning Board Meeting Date : 04/22/20 Respectfully submitted , Lynn St. yr, Senior Dep ment Assistant , Planning PB Minutes 03/25/2020 Page 2 of 2