The Conservation Commission at its meeting Tuesday approved of the work done by a contractor to augment stormwater management controls at the Charleswood School site after a violation was issued at the last meeting on Sept. 28.

Vertex project manager Chris Eberly told the commission that there had been a “misconception” about the situation.

“We had stated that the existing system was already in use,” he explained. “The existing system is only in use for areas that already have been stabilized with pavement.”

He added that other areas “continue to have a significant grade discrepancy.” Manholes were parched to prevent them from receiving turbid water.

Since the last meeting, a vacuum truck cleaned out the catch basins, Eberly reported. They also were sandbagged to prevent potential sediment spreading.

Additionally, silt sacks were added “with a light touch” to prevent soil disturbance in areas where ponding had been observed.

“We think we’ve seen a good, positive response from the contractor and the design team to try and get to the bottom of the issue,” said Eberly. “We don’t see a clear reason [why] we were forcing water off-site with how everything was set up and after investigating all of the components.”

“I agree and appreciate the contractor jumping right on this and trying to address the issue [and] doing some troubleshooting,” said chair Melissa Recos, who recently visited the site.

She added that cleaning out the catch basin system was “a big concern” at the last meeting.

After the previous week’s rainstorm, conservation administrator Judy Day visited the site. While water flowing from the site of the violation was clean, she observed that “it remained high in volume.”

Eberly explained that when the infiltration system is full, it will send clean water to the dry wells. Water will seep out of them when they are saturated.

Stressed Eberly: “It’s functioning as it was permitted and designed.”

Paving, which will be performed in the first week of November, will help alleviate this issue by directing the runoff, he noted. The grade will be raised. Construction will continue until the summer, which will cause dirt disturbance.

Beach parking improvements reviewed

The commission reviewed the revised redesign plan for the parking lot at Sandy Beach, noting that this proposal has less impervious surface and water filtration capacity.

Earlier this year, the Parks & Recreation Commission discussed a paving project that tentatively was to begin in the fall.

The Parks & Recreation Commission submitted the notice of intent hearing request for the lot, located at 4 Lakeshore Drive. Chair Kyle Smith explained that the existing parking lot needs to be resurfaced because “it is in really rough shape.” His fear was that “it would become an undrivable dirt pit” if work is not performed.

He hoped to include as many spaces as possible, given the heavy use of Sandy Beach by residents in the summer. Ensuring access for boats and trailers and limiting taxpayer cost were other key factors.

Project manager Maria Johnsenberg with Tighe & Bond explained that the redesign will place the parking lot entirely on town property. There also will be a stormwater management system that will treat water before it enters Lake Maspenock.

Because it is a recreation area, it is located primarily within the buffer zone, she added.

Planting and invasive species management plans will be forthcoming.

Johnsenberg said the original schedule was for work to be done during April school vacation. But Smith said budget constraints may alter that plan.

Department of Public Works Director Kerry Reed explained that once a permit is issued, the team can put the project out to bid “so we can get some realistic costs.” She noted that escalating asphalt, diesel and other fuel costs may lead to an additional funding request.

She added that work should not be affected by the annual drawdown of the lake.

Reed said that this plan supersedes the previous one.

“I think one of the challenges with this project is that it never got finished under its original order,” she continued. “And so there was such a delay. … I think it’s really hard to compare.”

“We’re trying to carry out the intent that was there originally,” added Johnsenberg.

“The current parking lot is such an eyesore for the town,” said Smith. “This will be such a huge improvement for the Sandy Beach area and all of the residents who use the lake, like myself.”

Added co-vice chair Ted Barker-Hook: “More than that, it’s an improvement on lake health and stormwater runoff.”

The hearing was continued until Nov. 3.

Hearings continued

The hearings on the Masumeen Charitable Trust’s request to raze and rebuild the mosque at 115 Wood Street and the DPW’s request for a culvert replacement off Granite Street were continued at the request of their respective applicants until Nov. 3.