Conservation Panel Plans $100,000 Accessible Trail Bid

Conservation · Meeting of October 21, 2026

Berlin's Conservation Commission moved toward a $100,000 Community Preservation Act request for an accessible trail at Lyman Road. The commission appointed member Adrian AJ Moses Jr. to the town's Community Preservation Committee through June 2028, approved unanimously by voice vote. A National Grid representative, identified as Josh, told commissioners MassDEP raised an unexpected comment on an already-approved right-of-way notice of intent, calling it outside the agency's wetlands jurisdiction, with no new vote taken.

Neighbors of a proposed Autistic Training Center at 180 River Road West, led by resident Michael Rochette, pressed the board on wetlands review by Stonefield Engineering, peer-reviewed for the town by Pat Garner with "no conflict" found. Commissioners also discussed invasive Tree of Heaven and Japanese knotweed concerns near residential wellheads.

In the full story:

• CPAC Appointment
• National Grid Notice of Intent and the DEP Comment
• Treasurer's Report: MassTrails Grant and ARPA Funds
• Highland Ridge Conservation Site Visit and Invasive Species
• Trail Maintenance: Mount Pisgah Reroute and Benches
• All Persons Trail at Lyman Road and the CPA/MassTrails Grant Application
• Community Outreach: Library Story Walk
• Public Comment: 180 River Road West Autistic Training Center Project
• Japanese Knotweed Near Wells and Wetlands
• Adjournment
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,851 words

Source: the Conservation meeting of October 21, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.