October 30, 2024 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

49 of 80 sheets Page 193 to 196 of 203 11/06/2024 03:21:43 PM 193 representation for Mr. DeFeo?1 MS. MCGOVERN: No.2 THE PUBLIC: So I asked a question of Mr.3 DeFeo and Mr. Plocker chimed in, so I would like to4 reask my question to ask Mr. DeFeo specifically.5 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Go right ahead.6 THE PUBLIC: Do you think that the7 evaluation that you provided for your consultation8 services encompasses sufficient environmental impact for9 this project that of tree counts?10 THE WITNESS: Within the scope of my11 retention, yes.12 THE PUBLIC: And what is your relationship13 to the applicant?14 THE WITNESS: I have no relationship to the15 applicant.16 THE PUBLIC: Has the applicant hired you for17 any other projects or evaluations or guidance or18 consultations?19 THE WITNESS: I will state again, I have no20 relationship to the applicant. That means I have not21 done any work whatsoever with this applicant. I've22 never heard of this applicant before. The first meeting23 I had with them was on behalf of the town.24 THE PUBLIC: And do you have any involvement25 194 in the actual installation of the fence?1 THE WITNESS: No.2 THE PUBLIC: Of the deer fence?3 THE WITNESS: I have no involvement, no4 ownership of a fence company at all.5 THE PUBLIC: You seem to have a lot of6 knowledge about the cost of the fence.7 THE WITNESS: Correct. That was part of my8 charge by this board.9 THE PUBLIC: Were you charged with10 evaluating the cost of the installation?11 THE WITNESS: To find out the feasibility of12 deer fence installation, so I researched that cost by13 interviewing people who have installed deer fence.14 THE PUBLIC: And whose responsibility is it15 to pay for the installation of the deer fencing?16 THE WITNESS: To my knowledge the applicant.17 THE PUBLIC: Okay.18 And do you have any business involvement or19 investment in any fencing company or --20 THE WITNESS: Look, I'm sorry, no.21 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: To broad. Way to broad.22 Sorry.23 THE PUBLIC: And so then I'll just continue24 with one other question. If the project as it is25 195 intended to regrow the forest with the deer fence and it1 is, if it is successful, are there any intentions on2 taking the fence down once that forest has been regrown?3 THE WITNESS: As stated in testimony, it is4 to be maintained in perpetuity.5 THE PUBLIC: And have you done any6 geotechnical assessments on the land in the

nce down once that forest has been regrown?3 THE WITNESS: As stated in testimony, it is4 to be maintained in perpetuity.5 THE PUBLIC: And have you done any6 geotechnical assessments on the land in the environment?7 THE WITNESS: I'm not sure what the question8 is.9 THE PUBLIC: For the land, the structural10 stability of the slope?11 THE WITNESS: I'm not an engineer.12 THE PUBLIC: So who was the one -- who does13 the geotechnical reporting of it?14 THE WITNESS: A geotechnical specialist.15 THE PUBLIC: And will there be a16 geotechnical specialist that will be able have questions17 as far as blasting, you know, digging into the land --18 MR. PLOCKER: This has nothing to do with19 his testimony.20 THE PUBLIC: -- heavy equipment on the, you21 know, unstable slopes that have not yet been evaluated?22 THE WITNESS: I can't answer any of those23 questions. Outside my area.24 MS. MCGOVERN: This is beyond the scope of25 196 his expertise.1 THE PUBLIC: I'm asking the board.2 MS. MCGOVERN: We're asking this witness3 questions right now.4 THE PUBLIC: Thank you very much.5 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Last question this evening6 then we have Mr. Afran.7 Go right ahead, ma'am.8 THE PUBLIC: Deborah Butensky,9 B-U-T-E-N-S-K-Y.10 Hello Mr. DeFeo and thank you to the board.11 THE WITNESS: Hello.12 THE PUBLIC: So my question as the13 environmental expert is you were the one who constructed14 the deer fence concept which gives the builder a15 tremendous amount of credit for trees that already exist16 on those locations, correct?17 THE WITNESS: As I've testified, yes.18 THE PUBLIC: So what evidence do you have19 that this is the optimum way to protect the forest as20 opposed to removing the barberry without deer fencing21 which would not give this builder so much credit?22 MR. PLOCKER: I'm going to object. This23 formula was in the ordinance. We submitted a plan, we24 had to follow the ordinance. This board has to follow25