Open Space Preservation Commission chair Ed Harrow stormed out of Thursday night’s meeting after members did not come to a consensus on how to go about creating an invasive species management plan for the Whitehall Conservation Area, discussing broader aims instead.

Harrow raised the agenda issue, noting that he spoke with Town Manager Elaine Lazarus about managing the invasive species there. She advised him to get three quotes for any proposed work, he said.

While invasives have been successfully curtailed since the meadow there was mowed, Harrow said more work needs to be done.

“I would like to get a professional opinion as to what to do,” he explained. “There are other invasive species in the Whitehall Conservation Area besides what is in the meadow.”

Some species Harrow identified are Japanese knotweed, bittersweet, vinca and multiflora rose. A firm may be able to offer advice as to what the OSPC can do, or it could come up with a strategy to tackle invasives.

Said Harrow: “Right now, we have no plan.”

Once a plan is developed for this area, he suggested that Hughes Farm be the next area where weeds are tackled on a large scale.

At this point Jane Moran, the Planning Board liaison, raised the idea of creating a town master plan for invasive species management. It could prioritize the areas, types of weeds and methods to control their growth, she said.

Harow pointed out that he discussed this issue during a recent HCAM-TV broadcast. He wanted to “pursue it in other ways,” noting his previous effort to control knotweed on Hayden Rowe Street as a Conservation Commission member were stymied by concerns about involving the adjacent private property.

“I can hear your frustration,” said Moran, questioning if another community had a master plan the OSPC could review. Harrow said he had done some research on this but received no response.

She added that perhaps graduate students could be hired to inventory weed-infested area and recommend means to treat specific species.

Vice chair Steve Levandosky called the master plan idea “a bigger project.” He suggested that the town adopt bylaws around invasives.

He added: “Is it necessary to eradicate every last little sapling?”

Visibly upset at how the conversation strayed off topic, Harrow raised his hands.

“I am frustrated,” he said as he gathered his belongings. “I try to make things work. I try to do my best. I’m done. You guys can figure it out.”

In Harrow’s absence, Levandosky seconded Moran’s motion to adjourn. Member Nancy Peters also voted to stop the meeting with a few agenda items remaining.

Town officials check out a stone wall on Winter Street that has come under question. PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

Town to weigh in on Winter Street wall

The issue that dominated the meeting before Harrow’s departure was the ongoing discussion about a stone wall in front of 61 Winter Street that was thought to be encroaching on OSPC land.

In December 2024, Harrow told commission members he believed the wall encroached onto land under the OSPC’s jurisdiction. The OSPC hired a surveyor to determine the property boundary. Harrow also met with Hopkinton Area Land Trust (HALT) president Morrie Gasser, town counsel and the homeowners last week to discuss the situation at the site.

At the previous meeting, the homeowners explained that they erected the wall to replace one that had been demolished by a dump truck. Harrow said the issue was not about the wall’s construction but its being in front of OSPC property.

Harrow said he wanted to “have a conversation” with town counsel as well as the Select Board to see what actions they would recommend to resolve the situation.

The wall is 15 feet into the right of way, Levandosky said. But the gravel behind the wall that is supporting it is on OSPC property. The conservation restriction on this land is held by HALT. The Department of Public Works, according to Harrow, “does not care” if the wall is on its property but will not take responsibility if the wall is struck.

“I don’t think it’s worth our pursuing it because we can still gain access,” said Moran, suggesting that HALT be consulted.

Harrow’s concern was the precedent that was being set by allowing an encroachment to stay without consequences.

“The point is you can’t just build things on other people’s property,” concurred Levandosky.

Moran said the homeowners were “innocently hoping to make an improvement,” but didn’t consider the location of the gravel.

After a lengthy discussion, Levandosky made a motion to authorize Harrow to seek town counsel’s opinion on whether the OSPC should request that the gravel fill be removed or take no action. This was defeated, 3-1.

Harrow insisted that the wall still is in front of OSPC property. He suggested the creation of a legal document such as a 99-year lease that acknowledges that the wall should not be there but is being allowed under the OSPC’s auspices.

His proposal to go to the Select Board was to “get more voices involved” in a conversation about what should be done, he added. Harrow feared the OSPC would be perceived as “the proud nail that is going to be banged down” if it insisted that the offending portion of the wall be taken down.

When members didn’t agree about a motion including the Select Board, Harrow said he would approach Select Board members and town counsel independently for advice.