[0:10] Uh good evening everybody. Welcome to the conservation uh commission meeting

[0:15] for Wednesday, February 18th, 2026. Uh this meeting will is being cablecast

[0:22] by Area 58 Community Access Media Channel 15 and will be posted by Area 58

[0:26] on YouTube as soon as possible. Um, all of our continued public hearings tonight

[0:32] have been continued. One more meeting to March 4th, which looks to be a pretty

[0:36] busy meeting. [clears throat] Uh, so we have a very light schedule tonight. Uh,

[0:40] first order of business, I would like to uh introduce our new conservation agent,

[0:45] Olivia Prior. Olivia comes from us from uh to us from Marian. Do you want to

[0:50] introduce yourself somewhat a word or two

[0:53] » about what you did? So, yeah, I used to work for the conservation commission and

[0:58] planning board in um in Marian. Um and I just started this month and I'm excited

[1:03] to work with you all and um learn more about the projects going on and see what

[1:09] I can bring for each of those. >> Welcome aboard. Yes.

[1:14] » Great. Um okay. Uh we only have three uh issues tonight for uh on discussions.

[1:20] Um, and we'll start with Sarah Hans. >> So, this is a uh a bit a discussion on a

[1:29] warrant article for the annual town meeting.

[1:32] [clears throat] >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I I don't have

[1:36] anything to give you because I plan for this discussion to end with my telling

[1:41] you I'm going to withdraw the article. [laughter]

[1:46] » [clears throat] >> Um, so I had originally um put a put an

[1:50] article in to the select board and it read something like this uh to see if

[1:55] the town will um prohibit the building of any any the approval of any house lot

[2:03] that has more for construction, single family home construction that has more

[2:08] than 30% wetlands on the lot, including Cranberry Box

[2:14] And um [clears throat] so it sounded great, you know. So then um we got to

[2:19] the select board meeting and it's it is true. Our town council reminded me um

[2:25] that I had foolishly forgotten this is a zoning article. So it really needs to go

[2:30] to the zoning board first. Uh I wanted to come to you guys with it and I plan

[2:35] to at some point. It'll be in some some shape. Maybe not this particular form

[2:41] that it's in now. Um, I do want to run it by the planning board and I also

[2:46] would like to run it by the um, uh, the growers association because it

[2:53] this article is really designed to prevent form A lots from being built

[3:00] um, with pieces of cranberry bog on them that really probably aren't going to be

[3:04] worked anymore as cranberry bogs. Um, and then but they're going to be sold to

[3:11] homeowners. And now there's a question, who who owns that piece of that bog? Do

[3:16] I'm the homeowner. Do I get the berries or does the guy who owns the bog still

[3:20] get the berries? It's on my deed. But it's it's just too complicated.

[3:26] » And so it's to prevent that sort of complication. It's also, but I don't

[3:31] want it to exclude the possibility of cranberry uh farmers who have um s

[3:38] children who they might want to give house lots to um and they're in the

[3:43] family. So, they may continue to farm those same cranberry bogs um with 30% of

[3:49] that um lot being in cranberry bog. That's

[3:54] kind of a different situation because if it's in the family and they they want to

[3:58] continue to to run run the cranberry box and harvest, that's kind of a different

[4:03] situation. I don't want to exclude that. The way I proposed it would exclude

[4:07] those kinds of um those kinds of lots and I don't want to

[4:12] do that. And plus, I'm running out of time with planning board. They need they

[4:18] need to schedule a meeting to talk about it. Then they need to schedule two

[4:22] consecutive uh runs in the newspaper ad so the

[4:26] public can hear about it. And the way it is now, we're going to run out of time.

[4:32] » Okay. >> So that's why I'm saying that I'm going

[4:35] to withdraw the article, >> okay,

[4:37] » for this year's war. But I I do plan to bring it back in some form because I

[4:41] would like to um protect the cranberry box without

[4:46] hampering those in the agricultural commi community who are trying to do the

[4:50] right thing and also preventing people who are aren't doing the right thing.

[4:56] They just want to make a house lot and who cares about the ownership and the

[5:00] berries and the agriculture. >> Mhm. Um, so that's those those were my

[5:06] concerns and I hope I haven't wasted your time.

[5:09] » No, I don't think so. So, you're basically talking uh you know something

[5:12] like the three homes uh that were built uh on the corner of Lake View in South

[5:16] Maine that include cranberry box would not be allowed under your proposal.

[5:21] » Correct. >> It's funny you should mention those.

[5:23] Yeah. >> Unless they were,

[5:24] » for example, unless they were family,

[5:28] » right? Okay. When whenever you rework that. Okay.

[5:32] That would be the whole idea because I know in the past I'm not going to

[5:36] mention any names but I do know some growers who have come say to the

[5:40] planning board and said I want to create a format and this is going to be for my

[5:44] son and [clears throat] yes it has a piece of this bog but he's going to take

[5:47] over my box for me when I pass on and I but I want him to have a house lot

[5:52] there. He's moving back to town. We're trying to keep it in the family.

[5:56] [snorts] That's the kind of thing you want to encourage.

[5:59] So, >> so do you think you might make that a

[6:02] stipulation that always the vogs are going to still be harvested if if a

[6:07] family member moves in or just they can be?

[6:10] » Well, so and that's the problem. See, we have to get the legal language down.

[6:15] » Exactly. and and the zoning and um I just thought of as

[6:22] couple people have brought this to me as a what they see as a problem and and I

[6:26] think it is kind of a problem in town potentially.

[6:30] Um, but uh I just didn't think it through very well. And I'd like to I'd

[6:35] like to do that and have the opportunity to get it really framed correctly in

[6:40] terms of zoning, in terms of cranberry industry

[6:44] in in in its good intentions and and legally get it. Let's get it right. You

[6:49] know, >> have you spoken to anybody in the

[6:51] growers association? >> I have just today.

[6:54] » Just today. >> What's the general consensus on that?

[6:57] The consensus is that we should hold off and and let's let's think about this and

[7:03] bring it back at a future date if possible. Um because it's it is an

[7:09] issue. They they're having issues with that too, but they also don't want to

[7:12] prohibit the examples that I gave you with family members. [snorts]

[7:17] » So it's it's more complicated than it might seem.

[7:21] » Yeah. >> Everything is

[7:23] » as everything is. Yes. >> That sounds pretty complicated to me. So

[7:27] [laughter] >> yeah.

[7:29] » Okay. >> So thank you for listening.

[7:31] » All right. So we'll stay tuned. >> Thank you very much. Appreciate it.

[7:34] » Thank you. >> Take care.

[7:41] » Okay. Um next up uh is um there is a an old barn on the southern a northern end

[7:50] of Savory Avenue that is on conservation property. And for a long time it's been

[7:57] deteriorating. And uh we've had we've had discussions about trying to see if

[8:02] there was some way to get someone to come in and maybe um harvest some of the

[8:08] uh timber that's there, old barn boards, things like that for reuse. And um uh 20

[8:15] ines of snow um made that determination impossible because now the roof has

[8:21] collapsed and everything's inside it. So, um, uh,

[8:27] I think it's a, uh, a safety hazard now. Um, so, um, I think Olivia, if you can

[8:37] talk with, uh, the building inspector. >> Okay. and see if he can condemn the

[8:43] building and then um ask what steps the town

[8:50] takes >> uh for condemned buildings. uh whether

[8:54] the town has the the wherewithal to um [snorts] pretty much um demolish the

[9:01] building and fill in the basement or um ask us to use our

[9:09] funding to pay for the same. Um, I think uh I think in the near term it

[9:17] would be good if perhaps the DPW could go out and yellow tape it

[9:23] » so no one goes in there. Um, if they could do that, if that's something

[9:27] that's they would be willing to do. Um, and then, you know, just card away

[9:33] what's there or shove it into the hole and and bury it. Um, but there's glass

[9:39] and stuff like that. So, I wouldn't I would think probably pulling the stuff

[9:42] away would be the better option. But ask if uh ask if there's any precedent or

[9:47] protocol for uh for buildings that are condemned that are town owned.

[9:52] » Okay. >> Okay. Um, anybody have any comments

[9:55] about that? >> No, I think you're right. It needs to be

[9:58] taken down. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, we'll just figure out

[10:00] how we have to go about doing that. But, uh, our, uh, our hand has been forced in

[10:05] this, [snorts] uh, by the snow. Um, okay. Lot three cranberry is is, uh,

[10:12] continued till March 18th. All our continued public hearings from the other

[10:16] day from not the other day, J from January 7th and earlier are continued

[10:20] again. >> Who um, just out of curiosity, who

[10:24] especially Golden Pond, was that by me or is that who asked for the

[10:28] continuation? Uh I think it was sort of by consensus. Uh

[10:31] » yeah, I had asked them if they were okay with continuing because we issu or the

[10:36] enforcement order was issued. Um the deadline for them to provide a

[10:41] delineation is March 4th and we haven't received anything from them like any

[10:45] sort of response or a delineation yet. So I just asked them if they wanted to

[10:49] continue because >> like that was the next step. So I don't

[10:53] know. >> So they got they they're in receipt of

[10:55] the the order. >> Yes.

[10:57] » Yeah. It was certified mailed to them. Right. But that also included surveying

[11:01] which is uh >> Yeah. That was going to be tough

[11:02] especially >> Yeah. [laughter]

[11:05] » Yes. Yeah. So, uh yes, continue to the fourth and and you know hopefully we get

[11:10] something by then and uh >> uh if not if weather prevents them from

[11:14] doing that we'll >> right

[11:15] » move it. We'll bump it back another week.

[11:17] » And didn't we we're going to go look at it too, right? As

[11:20] » uh yes, but I mean there's no sense in looking at it now. It's going to keep

[11:24] nothing look like any other meadow in >> it's got to be warmer than average

[11:28] temperatures. That's what they're saying for the next month.

[11:33] » Yeah, but it's going to be cold. >> Oh, the Osprey is back at Nelson Beach.

[11:36] [clears throat] >> Do we um do we know if the D has weighed

[11:39] in on this yet >> on on

[11:42] » on on Golden Pond on the Golden Pond? >> I don't know.

[11:46] » That was a topic of conversation last time.

[11:48] » Yeah. I don't know how involved they are because it it's uh it's pretty much

[11:52] done, >> right?

[11:53] » You know, the project's finished for all intents and purposes.

[11:58] Um I think that the next step if we issue a positive determination, meaning

[12:04] it's uh I mean a negative determination, meaning it's okay, that that me will

[12:08] take it to the D. >> Well, I know she said she reached out to

[12:11] him and hadn't had her. >> All right. I haven't heard anything from

[12:13] uh from them. Have you heard anything from me about D on this issue?

[12:19] Not about this. >> So, um, so uh All right.

[12:28] » So, okay. Um, I guess the only other thing we have to do is the minutes from

[12:33] uh the 7th. >> You want to talk about the

[12:36] » Oh, do you want to talk about the conference?

[12:38] » The conference? >> Oh, yes. The conference. The MAC

[12:41] conference. Um, there is a MAC conference. the

[12:45] Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissioners in Worcester

[12:48] on the 28th of February. We have $500, you said, in in our budget for training.

[12:54] » Yeah. For seminars and trainings. >> Seminars and training. Um Olivia has

[12:58] indicated a desire to go. She's going to investigate whether she can go on a

[13:04] town. Um >> so I did talk to Elaine about that and

[13:09] would be under the >> under the 500 for conservation. Okay,

[13:13] that's fine. Still, it's what's $120.

[13:18] » So, it there's part with the me. So there's the member rate and then there's

[13:22] non-member rate and [clears throat] >> all commission members all the

[13:27] commissioners are members but um like each year when they bill that yearly the

[13:32] dues um it's like an add-on to include the agent or any staff into the

[13:38] membership and um I'm like we're not like Emil wasn't and I'm not

[13:44] » okay >> a member yet. So,

[13:45] » okay. >> I could talk to them either about if I

[13:48] would be added to as like a member or just go with the non-member rate.

[13:53] » Okay. Well, I mean either way it doesn't really make a difference. What's the

[13:56] cost for non-members? Do you know? >> No, it's it's like a [clears throat] the

[14:01] members is 180 and the number of members might be 250. But shouldn't she be a

[14:05] member anyway? It wasn't a male member because he was on Marian. You have to be

[14:10] when you're on a conservation commission.

[14:11] » Yeah. All the >> So, he must have been a member.

[14:14] » Yeah. Yeah. Well, he so he would have been a member through that though, not

[14:17] as staff for Carver. >> Is it an annual?

[14:20] » So, yeah, it would be >> So, he probably expired.

[14:23] » Oh, maybe. >> So, it would be like $65, I believe, to

[14:29] add staff to the annual membership, which I guess kind of evens out with

[14:34] that. >> Okay.

[14:35] » The non-member rate versus the member rate. I think you should be a member of

[14:38] it. >> Well, I would I would see if there's a

[14:41] way that you can um even if you have to use the $500 to become a member. Um

[14:46] still, if you could if you can add if you can become a member now and get the

[14:52] member rate, it's going to be less than you going as a correct

[14:55] » as a uh as a non-member and you'll be a member.

[14:58] » Right. Right. >> So, uh you know, two two of you each at

[15:01] at 180 is 360 and another 65 is uh 425. So that still is went under our $500. So

[15:08] I think that that's what you should probably look into doing.

[15:11] » Does anybody else want to go? >> Hey, do you want to go?

[15:13] » I mean, I'm interested, but anyone else wants

[15:16] » I have never been. >> Okay.

[15:18] » I was aware. >> Um, but no, I was including you as as

[15:21] being as someone who wanted to go and the two people.

[15:23] » Sure, but I don't know if you guys if someone else

[15:26] » you short notice. There's no way I could pull that off. I mean,

[15:29] » I work most Saturdays, so >> yeah, I'm going to be in New Hampshire,

[15:31] so >> it's 8 o'clock in Worcester, so it's not

[15:34] going to be a blast, but I'll do it. >> Take one for the team.

[15:37] » Take one for the team. [laughter] >> Yeah.

[15:38] » Okay. Well, good. Good. I I Yeah, I um I haven't been to the yearly the annual

[15:44] » I've never been. >> Uh but I've been to a number of seminars

[15:47] down in Buzzard's Bay at the at the Maritime.

[15:49] » I've been to it. It's a little uh you know, it's huge, you know, so you got to

[15:54] sort of pick and choose what you want to go see. Sometimes you don't know what

[15:56] you want to see cuz you're not quite sure what we're talking about.

[16:00] » But yeah, it's interesting. >> I mean, I'll send the agenda out so you

[16:03] can all see if there's a thing you want me to attend. Let me know. I mean,

[16:07] there's things on vernal pools. I could tell like some focus more on

[16:10] agriculture, which I definitely want to go to versus like ocean

[16:15] » because we're not really that >> yet. Yeah. Right. Exactly. Not yet. Um,

[16:20] so great. That would be great. >> And you get food out of it, too.

[16:25] » [laughter] >> always a bonus. I'm sure I'm sure

[16:27] there's $180 worth of food there. >> It's not bad.

[16:31] » Okay, [laughter] >> cool. Thank you.

[16:33] » Okay. Uh, anything else about anybody? >> Nope.

[16:36] » No. Okay. Um, did everyone read the uh minutes?

[16:39] » Yep. >> Okay.

[16:41] » Uh, any um issues, corrections, etc.? >> I thought they were fine. I make a

[16:46] motion to approve minutes as written. >> All right. We have a motion. Second.

[16:50] » Second. >> Give it to Jen. Um

[16:56] I the right ear here is better than the left. Um all right. So it's been moved

[17:00] and seconded to approve the minutes as written for uh January 7th. All those in

[17:04] favor say I. >> I.

[17:06] » Any opposed? Hearing none. That's approved unanimously. Um motion to

[17:11] adjurnn. >> I'll make that motion. I'll second. Jen.

[17:14] And uh >> that's record time.

[17:17] » That's a record meeting. >> Uh okay. So we have a motion to um to

[17:21] adjurnn. All those in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? Hearing none.

[17:26] » We're done. We're out. Thank you. Area 58.

[17:28] » Thank you. [music]

Carver Conservation Commission - February 18, 2026

Transcript