The Scituate Conservation Commission addressed critical infrastructure and coastal monitoring during their October 20th session. Sean McCarthy from the DPW presented a request for five new utility poles along Hadley Road to provide much-needed fiber optic redundancy for local sewer pump stations. McCarthy explained that contractors realized there was about 600 feet of missing utility poles along Hadley Road in the Musquashcut Pond area that they could not hang their fiber optic lines on. Mike Manello from the IT department assured the commission that the town is getting as short as poles as possible just to accommodate the fiber for both aesthetic and weight reasons. Commission member Jen Foley remarked, makes me wonder what missing utility poles that had me thinking, but I think I am all set, while Chairman Frank Snow noted that if the sewer treatment pumping system keeps working in a storm, that is fairly critical to the environment. Motion Made by Jen Foley to I make a motion for a negative three. Vote Passed 3-0

The commission also finalized several coastal revetment orders and reviewed the removal of construction staging at 196 Edward Foster Road for the First Cliff project. Jeremy Packard of F Infrastructure stated that the abutter and their legal team agreed that they were good with the changes after staging areas were relocated to the south. Member Robbie questioned technical details during the earlier utility discussion, asking if the spoils from the drilling rig are those going to be taken off site, while Brendan Sullivan noted I have no questions regarding the revetment updates. Motion Made by Jen Foley to I make a motion we close and issue the first cliff rebentment project. Vote Passed 4-0 Following this, the commission moved to finalize multiple outstanding orders. Motion Made by Jen Foley to Make a motion we issue the orders for Second Cliff, First Cliff, and Minet Beach. Vote Passed 4-0

Environmental data collection saw a boost as Alex Mansfield from the North South Rivers Watershed Association and Levi Gorl from Woods Hole Oceanographic presented a plan for a low-cost, real-time tide reader at Driftway Park. Mansfield described it as a water level logger that you put out to measure tide in real time, which will help track sea level rise and storm inundation. Gorl noted the durability of the technology, stating that the system in Chatham that has been working for almost two years has not had to be touched. Member Eric, who joined the meeting late, inquired about data integrity, asking does choppiness of water impact the data in any significant way or is that factored in based off of expected weather. Roger asked for clarification on visual markers, asking are those other dots representative as well during the site plan reviews. The commission also reviewed the 2026 calendar. Motion Made by Robbie to I make a motion to accept the 2026 meeting dates. Vote Passed 4-0

Significant residential projects were also debated, including a raise-and-rebuild at 46 Atlantic Drive. Michael de Benadendetto of Grady Consulting noted that the proposed surface for the enclosure would be concrete and the rest would be natural surface. Designer Julie Johnson emphasized the necessity of the structure, stating we really need an enclosure to help with that utility drop and to give this is their only home now. At Zero Bailey’s Island, guest speaker Brendan Sullivan of Merrill Engineers detailed a plan involving salt marsh and coastal bank areas, while Devin from Lucas Environmental noted mainly our focus is obviously a further evaluation on the coastal bank. Motion Made by Robbie to I will make a motion to continue Zero Bailey's Island Road until November 17th. Vote Passed 3-0 Finally, Horus, representing 70 Glades, expressed frustration with delays, noting the project has been delayed for almost three years now, as the commission discussed whether footprint changes required a formal amendment.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 PM