Local Streams Under Seige

by Bobby Blair 3/9/10

Robert Perotti (below right) of 773 Winter Street had his problem of clogged culverts addressed Tuesday night at the Conservation Commission's meeting. Perotti received Selectman Carl Damigella's (below left) card and hand in a promise that Perotti could call him should Perotti's stream next to his house back up at 3 a.m. in the middle of the winter. "I'm 63 now," Perotti told commission members, "and it's not as much fun getting up in the middle of the night to clear debris from the stream."
 
After a long debate of what constitutes "debris" and what size debris could be removed, Commission members voted to allow Highway Chief Tom Smith to have his crews to clear downed debris from Jarr Brook from Winter Street to Meadowbrook Drive. However all clearing must be done by hand.

Confusion reigned supreme over a hearing concerning the high water table in Mudville. Selectman Carl Damigella had been told by Commission member Geoffrey Zeamer that a hearing concerning the clearing of a drainage pipe located in a swamp behind Pleasant Street would be held on March 16th. Highway Chief Tom Smith received a short notice of the hearing from Patricia Brennan Conservation Agent. Chair Ann Marie Pilch said she felt blindsided by the documents Smith brought to the meeting as the commission had not had time to study them. Zeamer did not attend the meeting. It may have been the concerned residents of Mudville who were blindsided and also believed the meeting was to be held on the 16th.

At stake is the rising waters from a blocked drainage pipe in a wetland just west of Pleasant Street. Mudvillians, on short notice, filled the meeting room to complain of flooded basements, yards, and slow septic drainage.

Highway Chief Tom Smith gave a detailed assessment of the drainage problems which he had observed with Conservation Agent Patricia Brennan. Mudvillians in the crowd were looking for a solution to their water problems sooner rather than later. This problem had been addressed before the ball was dropped and Pilch noted, "This is something that's been building for years".

While a quick solution would be to appeal to the Board of Health, Conservation Commission members felt that the notice of intent delivered by Highway Chief Smith was the proper route to fix the problem.

Agent Brennan told those present that the Natural Habitat folks would have to be consulted concerning the notice of intent before work could begin. When asked if the Natural Habitat consultation would hold up the work, Brennan responded it might. "That's like telling us 'you're the tallest midget'," commission member Fred Carnes retorted.

The next meeting to address over-worked sump pumps and yellow spotted salamanders in Mudville will be March 23rd. 

Posted in Green, News.

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