Conservation Update 4/15/20

As you are aware, Hanover Town Hall continues to be closed to the public during the COVID-19 health crisis, but the Conservation Agent remains available through email at sandra.macfarlane@hanover-ma.gov. All correspondence and application sets should be sent via the Agent’s email.

Inspections

All site inspections will continue, but I will maintain social distancing at all sites and other precautions as recommended by the CDC.

Meetings and Submissions

Governor Baker's March 10, 2020 Executive Order (attached, see below) has allowed remote participation of Members for essential hearings and holding those hearings without the public present, as well as other changes so that business can still be conducted. Instructions for remote participation for Conservation meetings will be made available on each agenda posted to this website. The next available meetings for Conservation are April 22nd and May 20th and are scheduled for hearings at 2:15 PM. Request for Determination (RDA), Notices of Intent (NOI), and Abb. Notice of Resource Area Delineation applications and all supporting documents must be submitted electronically to sandra.macfarlane@hanover-ma.gov and Derek Vozzella, derek.vozzella@hanover-ma.gov. a minimum of 2 weeks prior to the desired meeting. One paper copy with payment of fees shall be mailed to the Conservation Office, Hanover Town Hall, 550 Hanover St., Hanover, MA 02339. For submission guidelines to MADEP, please see the attached MA DEP document (see below).

Permits

As a reminder, Minor Activities Permits for safety issues, such as storm-damaged trees, or failed septic systems and similar, are still available through the Conservation Office and do not require a public hearing for issuance. Please read the attached form carefully for requirements and restrictions. An email request can be submitted to the Conservation Agent at any time for initiating a site inspection and processing the completed form during normal business hours.

Open Space

Conservation Commission Chairman McLoone has advised that scheduled events be canceled until further notice. Requests for use of Open Space parcels by groups will not be permitted at this time until further notice. It is advisable to suspend trail walks for all groups as well. Of course, individual use of the public trails has to be self-monitored and social distancing is recommended if others are encountered.

Hanover Police Department Firing Range on Clark Bog Parcel

As long as precautions are followed as per the most current CDC.gov information on COVID-19, the use of the range for Hanover Police Department or Hanover Police Association personnel training will continue.

Questions and Contact

Please use the following contact information for questions.
Sandra D. MacFarlane, Conservation Agent
Email: sandra.macfarlane@hanover-ma.gov (preferred)
Phone: 781-826-6505