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Lowell ratifies enforcement order for DPW clearing at 73 Weber Street
Summary
The Conservation Commission ratified an enforcement order against the City of Lowell DPW for vegetation removal and soil disturbance at 73 Weber Street within the Black Brook buffer; the DPW commissioner apologized and agreed to remediate the site, after which the order will be rescinded.
The Lowell Conservation Commission ratified an enforcement order May 27 against the City of Lowell Department of Public Works for removal of vegetation and disturbance of soil within the 100-foot buffer to Black Brook at 73 Weber Street.
Commission staff described tracked equipment and the removal of vegetation and dumped material within the buffer zone. The DPW commissioner (addressed in the meeting as Saint Cyr) said newer employees, acting on their own initiative after completing other work, cleared additional material at the site; he apologized and said supervisors have reiterated standard operating procedures. "While I appreciate their efforts, we need to be able to follow the rules that go along with it," the commissioner said, and he committed to follow-up and stabilization.
The commission moved and voted to ratify the enforcement order; commissioners said the order will remain in place until remediation and stabilization are complete and asked staff to be notified when the site has been seeded and stabilized so the order can be rescinded. Neighbors and volunteers offered to help with seeding and pollinator planting.
Next steps: DPW to stabilize and seed the site per the commission's remediation expectations; staff will confirm stabilization and rescind the enforcement order when requirements are met.
