January 29, 2025 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

02/13/2025 11:25:53 AM Page 45 to 48 of 143 12 of 57 sheets 45 I'm sure it is. But you're not capable of saying how it1 would react once the vibration goes through the rock,2 you have not testified on that because it would be3 impossible for you to say, because you're not there and4 have you been asked to be the blaster?5 THE WITNESS: No.6 THE PUBLIC: You guys doing any of the ---7 no. Okay. So of course you can't testify on the safety8 of the rock and the ridge post blasting.9 So perhaps the board, much in the same way10 that it was asked a few times, might consider a pre and11 post blast survey the way that the state does for12 certain radius around a blast site, and that would13 include not just the homes that are at the bottom of14 that hill, as many people have concerns, but also the15 ridge itself which I would think should be. Wouldn't16 you consider investigating that ridge and the stability17 of the ridge after a few months of vibration have been18 run through it, after it rains as this gentleman brought19 up and other conditions continue. Would that not be20 sensible Mr. Chair, to condition?21 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: I think the time now is to22 ask questions and if you want to make statements --23 THE PUBLIC: That's not a statement, that's24 a question to you.25 46 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Excuse me. If you don't1 know the difference between a question and a statement2 we can talk about that. The question -- the question is3 to the expert now.4 THE PUBLIC: You jump in when you want but5 it's okay. I'm respectfully asking the chairman of the6 board a question, if you care not to answer that --7 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: The time now is to ask8 questions of the expert. Okay.9 THE PUBLIC: Well, the expert is not able to10 answer that question.11 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Okay.12 THE PUBLIC: Are you, sir?13 THE WITNESS: I can't.14 MR. PLOCKER: Respectfully, it's a15 construction issue, Chairman Bagoff.16 THE PUBLIC: No, it's not, sir. It could be17 a condition of approval to ensure the safety.18 MR. PLOCKER: As I was saying Chairman19 Bagoff, my --20 THE PUBLIC: Now he's asking me questions.21 MR. PLOCKER: I didn't ask her a question.22 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mr. Hess, is that23 something normally done through the engineering24 process --25 47 THE PUBLIC: No, it's not, sir.1 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: -- where situations like2 this occur?3 MR. HESS: It's normally done prior to start4 of

omething normally done through the engineering24 process --25 47 THE PUBLIC: No, it's not, sir.1 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: -- where situations like2 this occur?3 MR. HESS: It's normally done prior to start4 of construction. There is a blasting plan that's5 prepared and that blasting plan lays out the monitoring6 that's going to occur to protect the properties.7 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Is there a subsequent8 survey done after blasting?9 MR. HESS: Not that I've ever seen.10 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Okay.11 MR. PLOCKER: And, again, as a condition of12 approval we stated on the record numerous times, we'll13 follow all guidelines, protocols and regulations and14 work with the towns professionals in that regard.15 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you.16 THE PUBLIC: All right. So you can't, sir,17 answer? You can't answer that question because you18 don't know how the effects of blasting might impact. So19 you can't say whether it's going to be a secured ridge,20 cliff face of a wall, etc., after blasting. You can21 only tell us the condition it's in today or the day that22 you did that report, correct?23 THE WITNESS: I can't tell you what it is24 going to be like after. I was only charged with25 48 evaluating that slope stability.1 THE PUBLIC: Okay.2 You can't answer that question. Thank you.3 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you.4 THE PUBLIC: Hello. Again, my name is James5 White.6 Mr. Seel, line A and B, what's the distance7 between those two lines?8 THE WITNESS: About 300 and --9 THE PUBLIC: Speak up into the microphone.10 THE WITNESS: About 375 feet.11 THE PUBLIC: 375 feet. Okay.12 And there, besides I think LB-1, there are13 no test pits that I can see or anything like that within14 that 375 foot wide area, is that correct?15 THE WITNESS: That's correct.16 THE PUBLIC: Okay.17 And then going long ways, how many feet are18 we talking about that area from the start of let's say19 TP-1 all the way to the end of line A, what is that20 approximate distance, sir?21 THE WITNESS: Rough numbers, 300, 325.22 THE PUBLIC: Could you zoom the map a23 little, please. Zoom out a little bit. That can't be.24 If it's 375 feet between A and B, how can that line be25