Financials & Expenditures

The Conservation Commission approved several payments for ongoing projects and services. These included:

• $17,500.94 to the Public Archaeology Lab for work on the Stony Brook Farm Pond Dam.
• $709.63 to Par Corporation for the Stony Brook Pond Dam project.
• $125 to the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissioners for a commissioner’s training.
• $1,995 and $1,250 to Lucas Environmental for peer reviews at Thompson Street and 253-259 Wood Street, respectively.

The Fiscal Year 2027 budget and Capital Plan items were approved at Town Meeting, including:

• $518,000 for the Stony Brook Pond Dam Capital Plan, which contributes to a $1 million state grant.
• The overall Conservation Commission budget was also approved.
• Overtime for Conservation Commission staff was approved due to the demanding nature and length of meetings.

The Fanwort invasive species project at Tispaquin Pond was fully funded with:

• $60,000 from Community Preservation Funds.
• $25,000 from the Taunton River Stewardship Council.

A report on material from 240 Plymouth Street indicated the presence of lead. While not above the regulatory threshold, caution was advised for the property owner, who has young children.

Zoning & Planning

A Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) for 389 Wareham Street was approved as a Negative 5 determination, recognizing an exemption for a public supply well with no substantial change to an existing structure.

A Notice of Intent (NOI) for 18 Cailb Drive was approved, following submission of revised plans addressing stormwater peer review, zoning board approval, and detailing wetland replication and restoration.

The following items were continued to the next meeting on June 18th, 2026:

• An RDA for 253-259 Wood Street.
• An RDA for 525-529 Wareham Street.
• An NOI for 177 Summer Street Parcel A.
• An NOI for 64 Benson Street was continued to July 16th.

A Certificate of Compliance (CoC) for a septic system upgrade and tree removal at 146 Miller Street was approved, despite some old lobster traps and debris remaining on site due to removal difficulties. A CoC for new home construction at 19 Caleb Drive was also approved, confirming compliance with septic, well, roof drain infiltration, and conservation signage.

An internship position for Randy Hepburn, a UMass Amherst Environmental Science student, was approved. He will volunteer 20 hours per week, assisting with trail work and learning about conservation, botany, and land protection.

The Invitation for Bids (IFB) for the Stony Brook Dam construction project will be advertised next week. A pre-bid site visit is scheduled for Tuesday, June 16th at 10 AM at Pratt Farm (167 East Main Street). The bid opening will be on Tuesday, June 30th at 10 AM at the Town Hall Annex. DPW has already cut trees, saving $50,000 in project costs.

Permitting for the Fanwort invasive species project at Tispaquin Pond will begin. The Old Colony Y and Camp Avoda have offered to help with permitting costs.

For 92 Old Centre Street, an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) project that would cross an isolated wetland is requiring further review, including a wetland scientist and National Heritage filing. Steve Schmeel, now employed by Zenith Engineering, will assist with this review.

At Soule Homestead, plans to brush cut invasive multiflora rose near wetlands were discussed. The Conservation Commission staff recommended hand-cutting to prevent seed spread, and suggested a future application for comprehensive restoration.

For 148 Plymouth Street, DEP requested the project return to the local Conservation Commission. The project engineers are proposing to donate flood zone land along the Taunton River to the town and reduce the overall project size.

Resident Action & Public Hearings

A request from Little Red Yoga LLC for a yoga class at Pratt Farm (Field off Allen Trail) was approved. The class is scheduled for July 18th, 2026, at 9 AM, expects 10-30 people, and is open to the public. The group requested it be posted on the Conservation Commission’s website.

The Middleboro Tourism Committee’s request to use the Oliver Conservation Land parking lot for “T events” was approved for three dates: June 28th, July 26th, and August 23rd, from 12:30 PM to 6 PM, anticipating around 20 cars.

The Conservation Commission confirmed that Commissioner John Neely is not seeking reappointment, leaving a vacant seat on the Commission. Interested residents are encouraged to submit a letter of interest. Commissioner Diane’s reappointment was enthusiastically approved.

A pre-bid site visit for the Stony Brook Dam construction will be held on Tuesday, June 16th at 10 AM at Pratt Farm (167 East Main Street). The bid opening is scheduled for Tuesday, June 30th at 10 AM at the Town Hall Annex.

A beaver walk is scheduled for June 20th at 5 PM at Pratt Farm. Residents can sign up via the Save the Taunton website.

The Hidden News

Some old lobster traps and other debris remain on the property at 146 Miller Street, posing a challenge for removal due to dense vegetation and safety concerns.

Debris, potentially old docks, was observed in the Nemasket River. The Taunton River Stewardship Council is exploring options to have it removed and is seeking to hire a River Steward/Keeper to manage such issues, including tree falls and other debris.

Steve Schmeel, a former Conservation Commissioner, is now a full-time employee of Zenith Engineering.

Students from Nichols Middle School are working on a civic engagement project researching deforestation in Middleboro. The Conservation Commission staff are providing resources to assist their efforts.

An internship opportunity is available for a UMass Amherst Environmental Science student, Randy Hepburn, to volunteer 20 hours a week with the Conservation Commission. He will assist with trail work and learn about conservation practices.

The railroad right-of-way requires specific safety training for anyone walking the tracks. This training is available online.