Rez status in limbo over historical records question
By Mike BergerSelectmen are hoping that a legislative conference call involving state Rep. Bill Galvin, state Senator Walter Timilty, other legislative staffers, and Town Counsel Paul DeRensis can help resolve a historical records question barring approval of Canton’s request for Reservoir Pond to be delisted as a Great Pond.
A view of the Rez courtesy of George Comeau
An unnamed legislative attorney is recommending to the legislative committee that because there are no state historical documents certifying the status of Reservoir Pond between 1640 and 1720, the legislative committee should decline the recent Canton town meeting action calling for delistment or separate it into two actions. The actions would be to retain Reservoir Pond as a Great Pond or allow selectmen to regulate it as a Great Pond.
A “great pond,” as defined by the state Department of Environmental Protection, is “any pond or lake that contained more than 10 acres in its natural state.”
Canton selectmen hope that local historical maps and documents may be enough to convince the legislative committee that Reservoir Pond was not a natural reservoir but rather one caused by a dam constructed in the 1700s, perhaps 1726.
DeRensis, meeting with the board on Tuesday night, said the options available to selectmen were to try to convince the legislative panel or continue to regulate the waterway as a Great Pond. Under Great Pond status, the reservoir is open for use by everyone living in the state.
DeRensis said the goal is to get the legislation passed by November 1 or else it cannot be discussed by legislators until sometime in 2018. DeRensis is concerned that if it is delayed until 2018, any resident could request the legislature to delist Reservoir Pond, and the regulations previously approved …
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Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=37339
Posted by Mike Berger
on Oct 20 2017. Filed under News, Town Government.
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