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Date: 4/27/2023
LONGMEADOW — The Longmeadow Select Board voted on April 18 to draft letters of support for two grants focused on improving Cooley Brook.
The first grant is a $300,000 Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Action Grant with a 25% match by the town. Previously, the town was awarded a Planning Grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program, which was used to begin work on the town’s Long-Range Plan, a document that filters town decisions through a climate preparedness lens.
To date, a hydrology and hydraulics study has been performed with help from Tighe & Bond, an engineering and consulting firm, using Community Preservation Act funding. The new grant would allow the continuation of that work by developing 60% design plans to restore Cooley Brook bank infrastructure and the conceptual designs for stormwater infrastructure. The project is estimated to take two years.
The Long Island Sound Future Fund from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation would provide the town between $240,000 and $280,000 and require a 25% match from the town. This grant would examine stormwater flowing into Cooley Brook, which feeds the Connecticut River and eventually, the Long Island Sound. While the first grant focuses directly on Cooley Brook, this one would work with homeowners in the surrounding neighborhoods to “sink and slow” runoff, said Assistant Town Manager Corrin Meise-Munns. This work would put an emphasis on green infrastructure, which involves planting native species that act to control erosion and filter water.
While Longmeadow would be responsible for a combined $145,000, Meise-Munns said the funding from one grant may be eligible to be used for the other grant’s match.
Select Board member Thomas Lachiusa noted the settlement at Cooley Brook made it impossible for the town to host the annual fishing derby that used to be run there. Fellow Select Board member Dan Zwirko said it would be “wonderful” for Longmeadow to receive those grants and asked if exceeding the 25% match would increase the likelihood of the town receiving the grant. Meise-Munns said it may, but that she did not want to be “too ambitious,” as the match for the grants is already substantial.
The Select Board will vote at its next meeting to sign letters supporting the application for the grants.
Eversource infrastructure
Brian Meccariello, representing Eversource, presented plans to install telemetry cabinets at five intersections in Longmeadow: Converse and Dickinson streets, Laurel Street and Farmington Avenue, Shaker Road at Leetewood Drive, and Longmeadow Street at Birnie Road and at Wheelmeadow Drive. The cabinets would measure the pressure of natural gas mains running through town. Meccariello said there would be no new poles installed for the work.
The cabinets are not part of the Western Massachusetts Natural Gas Reliability Project, a proposed metering station and pipeline slated to run through town if the project is approved by the state. Gold noted three cabinets had been installed at different intersections last year. He said he was “glad” the Select Board had required the bollards that protect the cabinets from being struck by vehicles be painted green, rather than “that ugly yellow color.” Meccariello noted yellow is standard, and the request for green was fairly specific to Longmeadow.
Lachiusa asked if a “homemade bomb” could “detonate” the cabinets, noting one was near Wolf Swamp School and another was near the Jewish Community Center. He also suggested the cabinets be moved. Meccariello explained that the cabinets are located where “vaults” already exist and that moving the cabinets would require installing more gas lines. He said that there had not been testing completed regarding explosive devices. However, if the cabinet is struck by a car, it would trip a shut off to the gas being measured from the vault below.
Gold remarked that the “risk” from a gas pressure overload is a greater concern. The cabinet installation was approved.
Remote meeting participation
The Select Board has proposed a remote participation policy for municipal meetings, but Town Counsel Jesse Belcher-Timme said portions of the policy conflict with existing state law. Gold remarked that if the town requires an in-person appearance, but the state allows a remote appearance, the state supersedes the town. Instead, he said the town can “strongly suggest” an in-person appearance.
Town Manager Lyn Simmons said because a recently passed state provision extended remote and hybrid meeting participation to 2025, the town could “take our time” crafting a policy.
Simmons also recommended applicants be told to appear in person for licenses when applying. She said the chair can issue an exception as needed. Lachiusa said because chairs change, an incoming chair may decide applicants do not need to be in person. “It’s not a uniform plan that we would all vote on and agree,” he said.
Gold commented that lawyers “worth their salt” should recommend their clients appear in person for license matters, except for “extenuating circumstances.”
The policy was set to be reworked and brought back up in September.
Other topics
The bid for Wolf Swamp Field maintenance was awarded to Specialized Turf Services. The contract expires March 25, 2024. The cost of the town is approximately $144,000. State Rep. Brian Ashe has included an earmark for $100,000 to help Longmeadow maintain its sports fields cover but the budget has not yet been passed.
An active recreation assessment survey is ongoing through early May. As of April 14, 360 surveys had been completed and an additional 570 surveys had been started. Simmons said the 15-minute online survey was “absolutely vital” to the assessment.
Glenbrook fields are being hydroseeded. There are signs posted to stay off the fields during the process.