The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My Public Portal AboutNatural Resources -- 2021-02-20 Agenda Brewster Natural Resources Advisory Commission Minutes Call to Order Under the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, Acting Chairperson Chris Miller called to order the Thursday, February 4, 2021 meeting of the Brewster Natural Resources Advisory Commission , at 7 : 00 by remote participation . ---Present: -- Commissioners : Cameron Ferguson , Amy Henderson , Patricia Hughes , Kimberly Pierson , Donald Poole , Elizabeth Taylor, Peter Trull , Chris Williams Staff: Natural Resources ( NR) Director Chris Miller, Senior Natural Resources Assistant, Ryan Burch , Natural Resources Officer, David Johnson , Not Present Commissioner Diane Murphy , NR Office Administrator, Carol Spade Call to Order Declaration of a Quorum "Cameron Ferguson , Present" , "Amy Henderson , Present" , " Patricia Hughes , Present" , " Kimberly Pierson , Present, " Donald Poole, Present" , " Elizabeth Taylor, Present, " Peter Trull Present" , "Chris Williams , Present" Staff Present: " Chris Miller, Present " Ryan Burch , Present" , " David Johnson , Present" . Meeting Participation Statement Acting Chairperson Chris Miller read into the record , the legal information required by the Open Meeting Law, and the necessary legal information relative to Governor Charles Baker' s orders suspending certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law due to the Covid 19 Pandemic . He explained to the public the strict limits on the number of people that may gather in one place and the way in which the public can participate remotely. He also explained where the meeting packet information and meeting recordings can be found and where to send comments ; all as contained on the posted agenda . Public Comment Members of the public did not comment at this time . Report of the Natural Resources Director Summary of Discussions - Natural Resource Management Issues Various projects the Natural Resources Department is presently undertaking include the following : Kayak Racks at Town Landings Mr. Burch stated he is presently accepting applications for kayak rack storage containers at the town landings . Landings where kayak racks will not be allowed at this time include Crosby Town Landing and others where parking automotive vehicles would be compromised by kayak racks . i Signs on Town Landing Beaches Mr. Miller explained that signs must be few in number, are regulated in size by zoning and other boards and shall blend in with the natural environment as much as possible . Interpretive signs from the International Fund for Animal Welfare ( IFAW) These signs will describe rules involving sea animals on the beaches such as the distances between humans and pets and the wildlife , when it is appropriate to contact officials and the contact numbers . Interpretive signs Mr. Miller explained that some interpretive signs are a part of a county- { wide effort to describe the history of the various town landings . One of the signs in Brewster will be located in the area known as Little Breakwater Landing and will focus on the historic ships which docked at the landing and other historic issues . Another at Mant' s { Town Landing will describe the specifics of the aquaculture industry and its long history . Brewster Natural Resources Advisory Commission Minutes February 4 , 2021 1 Other discussions included the following : Walker' s Pond Of particular importance is Walker' s Pond and its compromised water quality . Mr. Miller explained the problems with Walker' s Pond , The Natural Resources Department will request the town citizens vote to fund a study at Walker' s Pond at Town Meeting in the spring of 2021 . Another project -Will_ involve._stormwater_improvements- into Walker' s Pond . Stony Brook Millsite Repairs Mr. Miller explained that new retaining walls are needed in the millstream to aid diadromous fish passage , as they are in disrepair. Repairing and/or replacing them will involve wetland permitting from the Conservation Commission . They must be historically accurate . Paine's Creek Mr. Miller explained , among other issues , that he intends to speak to coastal geologists such as Greg Berman* requesting they assess the beach and the existing row of boulders in the northernmost area of Paine' s Creek as to the environmental problems they may be causing , and whether a positive option is to redistribute the boulders to replace or fortify the existing walls at the culvert which allows saltwater flow into Freeman' s Pond . *Greg Berman , Coastal Processes Specialist, Woods Hole Oceanographic/Cape Cod Cooperative Extension Services Hazard Mitigation Workshop Commissioner Patricia Hughes discussed that a recent workshop on hazard mitigation is helpful and educational . She recommended it be shown on the government website . Hunting in the Punkhorn Parklands Town Administrator Peter Lombardi has requested a legal opinion from Brewster Town Counsel with respect to a Town Meeting vote in 1986 , disallowing hunting . The town is awaiting this opinion . Shellfish Rules and Regulations Mr. Miller briefly discussed shellfish and proposed new regulations for commercial shellfish activities . Use of Town Conservation Areas Due to the Covid 19 Pandemic, * conservation areas are used more heavily in Brewster, as citizens tend not to gather indoors . Both legal and illegal activities occur. Commissioner Poole suggested that there may be surveyors available to help with the problem of abutting private citizens encroaching onto conservation areas to build fences , plant gardens , etc. i Wing Island Boardwalk Grant Mr. Miller stated that he is applying for a government grant to build this boardwalk . i He and Ms . Hughes discussed piping plovers and other endangered wildlife on Wing Island . They would like to meet with the Select Board on the issue of disallowing , or limiting dogs on Wing Island during certain times of the year for the protection of wildlife and other environmental interests . Drummer Boy Park Mr , Miller briefly discussed changes that may be necessary at the Drummer Boy Park , including the salt marsh area . Biologist Donald Schell is currently working with the Conservation/Natural Resources Department on protecting endangered plants and habitat areas , as members of the public use the trails in the salt marsh . Natural Resources Management Issues The Commission discussed the scope of the Natural Resources Commission , and its advisory vs extended authority . Commissioner Peter Trull will inform citizens on the wildlife in Brewster via social media , fora limited time . Commissioners Kimberly Pierson and Patricia Hughes discussed the Coastal Resource Management Plan . They believed it important to educate the public on the long history* of all Brewster' s coastal groins I 1 l Brewster Natural Resources Advisory Commission Minutes February 4 , 2021 2 I and boulder revetments on the naturally eroding sandy coastline in Brewster. Mr. Miller explained that all groins and most revetments were built long ago (prior to wetland laws*) . The Commission concluded they will Invite a coastal geologist* to explain natural coastal erosion and the reason for the Conservation Commission ' s requiring annual sand nourishment with each request to repair a revetment . *Greg Berman , Coastal Processes Specialist, Woods Hole Oceanographic/Cape Cod Cooperative Extension Services _- *MA Wetlands Protection Act (WPA) , 310 CMR 10 .00 Regulations, 1972, Brewster Wetlands Protection By aw (BWP Bylaw) , Wetland Regulations The Brewster Weiland Protection By-law was adopted on December 10, 1984. Its Regulations were promulgated, May 27, 1986. Brewster Open Space and Recreation Plan — Elizabeth Taylor The Brewster Open Space Plan must be updated every five years as mandated by the Commonwealth under MA General Law; in order to obtain state grant funding and for other important advantages . State officials requested the town produce hard copies of surveys and other documents . State officials documented that mapping wildlife corridors in Brewster is necessary in the Open Space Plan . Vote for Natural Resources Commission Officials : Chairperson : Kimberly Pearson Vice Chairperson : Amy Henderson Clerk : Cameron Ferguson Vote for Representative to the Drummer Boy Advisory Committee Pat Hughes , Representative Henderson/Poole** "Cameron Ferguson , Aye" "Amy Henderson , Aye " , " Patricia Hughes , Aye " , " Kimberly Pierson , Aye" , " Donald Poole , Aye " , " Elizabeth Taylor, Aye" , " Peter Trull Aye" , "Chris Williams , Aye" Coastal Resources Management Plan — Items for Next Agenda The Executive Committee shall compose agendas . Patricia Hughes shall speak briefly on " Coastal Hardening " in Brewster (as permitted under wetland laws MA WPA and BWP By-law) . Items not anticipated within 48 hours of this meeting The Commission discussed the limited communication allowed under the Open Meeting Law, The Executive Officers shall be granted the authority of publishing articles in the Chamber of Commerce Newsletter. Poole/Hughes* "Cameron Ferguson , Aye " "Amy Henderson , Aye" , " Patricia Hughes , Aye " , " Kimberly Pierson , Aye" , " Donald Poole, Aye" , " Elizabeth Taylor, Aye" , " Peter Trull Aye" , " Chris Williams , Aye " Adjourned at approximately 7 : 20 PM . Hughes/Poole ** "Cameron Ferguson , Aye " "Amy Henderson , Aye " , " Patricia Hughes , Aye " , " Kimberly Pierson , Aye " , " Donald Poole, Aye" , " Elizabeth Taylor, Aye" , " Peter Trull Aye " , " Chris Williams , Aye" Carol Spade ** ( Commissioner) Moved , ( Commissioner) Seconded . Denied = D Approved = A Approved Unanimously = AU . Brewster Natural Resources Advisory Commission Minutes February 4 , 2021 3