Town of Warwick Selectboard July 8, 2013 Minutes Members present: Dawn Magi, Patricia Lemon, Nick Arguimbau Others present: Town Coordinator David Young, Town Secretary Rosa Fratangelo Calcari, Board of Health and Moore's Pond Beach Committee member Kathy Connelly, Moore's Pond Beach Committee member Matthew Connelly, Gloria Varno, Barbara Noel, Fran Prohaska, Police Chief David Shoemaker, Conservation Commission Chair Karro Frost (arrived at 6:21 pm), Jon Calcari, Paula Lundgren Robinson (Athol Daily News) I. Call to Order Chair Magi called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm in Town Hall. Public Comment Magi gave a belated thank you to the Women's Guild for their High Tea on June 23rd. She said that the event was perfect and noted the Guild members' excellent work, especially Nancy Kilhart. Minutes Lemon MOVED to accept the minutes of June 24, 2013 as printed. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. IV. Presentations and Discussions 1. Canada Geese Control on Moore's Pond --Young said that last meeting Matthew Connelly had offered to go house to house picking up goose droppings, but he felt that he may not be welcome to do so. Young said that he checked with three neighbors, all of who said that they would rather not have someone on their property. However, Connelly cleans the beach at Moore's Pond daily. Jon Calcari reported that Al Metzger is willing to take care of the problem once hunting season starts. Matthew Connelly said that to legally hunt, you must be more than 500 feet from the road or any houses. The hunting season for Canada geese is some time in September; no one was sure of the exact dates. Connelly also said that on July 2nd the geese were captured, banded and released as part of a Massachusetts migratory bird study. He said the adults and the fledglings were all banded so that their migrations can be tracked each year. Young said that several passive deterrents can be used on the geese. He listed tall grasses at the water's edge, and fencing, and noted that nothing will deter geese once their young have hatched. He explained that the option of introducing swans to the pond is not recommended by several naturalists with whom he had contact. The trumpeter swan is not native east of Indiana, while the Mute swan is not native and is considered to be invasive. He noted that a license is required to have and keep captive swans, and their introduction could be destructive of native species. Young reiterated that Federal and State licenses are required to interfere with Canada geese as well as to harbor non-native migratory birds. Gloria Varno said that there was an article in the paper about the beach at Lake Mattawa in Orange being closed to swimming due to high e-coli count in the water. She said that the beach has been closed since July 3rd, and that Roger mallet of the Orange Board of Health was quoted as saying that the presence of Canada geese could be part of the cause for the high bacteria levels in the water. Both Kathy and Matthew Connelly pointed out that the water at Moore's Pond has tested very well, with a 2 each of the last two weeks. Acceptable levels are anything below 230. M. Connelly noted that the water is tested right next to his house, on the beach where the geese congregate. Young said that the levels have been very low despite high rainfall, which usually results in higher numbers. Lemon said that planting cattails along the water's edge could further clean the water. Varno mentioned all the goose droppings on the docks, cement, driveways and lawns of the properties around the pond. Magi said that she had called the Athol Board of Health and was waiting to hear back from them. She explained that she contacted them to gather information on how the goose problem was solved at Lake Ellis. Young again listed things to do to deter geese: never feed the geese, plant tall grass, put up fencing, or place mesh or grates in the water. Barbara Noel said that these geese are very smart, and have circumvented the Bellemare's fence. Ms. Noel specifically fears a slip and fall due to the slippery goose droppings. Young reminded everyone that both Federal and State permits are required to addle or oil goose eggs, or to move the geese. M. Connelly said that any harassment of wildlife outside of hunting season requires a permit. K. Connelly said that the geese are getting their flight feathers now, and will leave once the molting is over. She noted that it is still relatively early, but by mid-to-late July they should be able to fly. Young encouraged the formation of a neighborhood association, as the problems are on private property. Conservation Commission Chair Karro Frost arrived at 6:21 pm. She said that she was using information from Mass. Wildlife as the starting point. Frost went over several recommendations. First and foremost, do not feed the geese; she noted that there is no state law prohibiting this, but it is a good practice in general never to feed wildlife. Secondly, put out flags, aluminum pie plates, a scarecrow, or a stuffed animal that looks like a dog. Thirdly, try using dogs to chase the geese away. The next suggestion was to employ swan decoys, but they must be moved around to make them appear to be alive and moving on their own. Flapping a large tablecloth or other item at the geese to make yourself appear large and threatening was also suggested. The issue of creating a physical barrier such as fencing, chicken wire, shrubs, un-mowed lawn and weeds or tall grasses that these Canada geese will be unwilling to pass through was discussed, because making the favored food source, lawn grass, inaccessible to geese will deter them from the area. Young noted that the young geese are close to the fledgling stage, so these actions would be best used next year. Noel said that all of these things have already been tried, but the geese are so smart that they are not deterred. Frost said that the person to contact is Ralph Taylor in Belchertown. She said that she would contact him tomorrow morning to follow up with him and see what else he recommends be done. Young will serve as the contact person for the Town. Magi said that she will follow up with the Board of health in Athol. Reports would be given at the next meeting. Both Kathy and Matthew Connelly said that despite specific signage on the beach, people still feed the geese. Arguimbau suggested closing the beach at Moore's Pond until the geese are once again able to fly, because this would prevent people from feeding them. Young said that since the geese are already there, this would be an over reaction, and would punish everyone for the actions of a few. 2. Request for Nuisance Dog Hearing --Bertrand Ballou of 707 Orange Road had submitted a written request for a nuisance dog hearing against the dog "Hemi" belonging to his neighbor Sherry Tatro. Lemon MOVED the Warwick Selectboard hold a nuisance dog hearing on Monday, July 22, 2013 at 6:30 pm to hear complaints and answers to complaints against Sharon Tatro, 677 Orange Road Warwick, MA. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. 3. Authorization to Execute Application for Net Metering with the Commonwealth --Young said that he had successfully submitted an application on behalf of the Town for the Seaboard Solar projects. He requested an authorization by Selectboard vote for the file. Lemon MOVED the Selectboard authorize J. David Young as Administrative Coordinator to sign the Town's net metering application for the Seaboard Solar project to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on behalf of the Selectboard and the Town. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. 4. Provisional Broadband Hires--Young explained that because Ray Lemek wanted to scale back on his broadband duties, the Broadband installer position was posted and advertised. Young sought Selectboard approval for two new hires. He explained that, per the Town's personnel policy, these hires would be probationary for the first six months. Young said that Bradford is a new resident with IT and carpentry experience, and Robichaud has radio frequency experience. Bradford will work with Kevin Cooke on the legacy Canopy 100 installations, while Robichaud will be used on the new Wimax and the soon to be deployed TV Whitespace radio layers. Arguimbau MOVED to approve the hiring of John Bradford and Craig Robichaud as Broadband installers. Lemon SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. 5. Selectboard Reports--There were no reports. 6. Coordinator Report--Arguimbau asked what the difference was between "Canada" geese and "Canadian" geese. Young replied that the proper name for the species is Canada geese. V. Adjournment At 6:45 pm, Lemon MOVED to adjourn the meeting. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0. Minutes taken by Rosa Fratangelo Calcari