Lake Pocotopaug Commission
Regular Meeting
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Eaton E. Smith Meeting Room - Town Hall
Minutes
1. Call to Order & Roll Call Chairman Hart called the Lake Pocotopaug Commission to order at 7 PM.
Members Present: Chairman Bob Hart, Vice Chairman John Ciriello, John Jordon, Jack Solomon, Irene Curtis (7:30 pm) and Tom Wells.
Others Present:, Recording Secretary Kamey Ahrens.
2. Approvals of Minutes: Motion by Jack Solomon to approve the meeting minutes dated October 18, 2007. John Jordon seconded motion. Vote passed 5-0-0.
3. Public Remarks:
• Mr. Rod Rinell, 96 Mott Hill Road, discussed with the commission the advantages of using lime rather than the phosphorus fertilizers on lawns. Mr. Rinell pointed out the advantages of using lime around the lake.
• Gih-Horng Chen, 9 West High Street, stated John Jordon did a good job with this education presentation. Mr. Chen stated he was against the rumor of Walmart coming to town and the concern of this building’s impact on the lake. He also suggested that we need more publicity.
• Fran Costanzo, 10 North Hollow asked if there was any information on the lowering of the lake and if this will be lowered enough for homeowners to make repairs and in addition allow for the commission to preview property for illegal runoff. Mr. Costanzo also provided the commission with an article that was found on the internet pertaining to carp. The commission reviewed.
• Salvatore Nucifora, 147 Colchester Ave asked if the LPC has looked into a lake aeration system. Mr. Hart replied that the commission has looked into this option and in their research found that the install and ongoing maintenance costs to be very high. However, this method will be considered in future lake management planning.
• Art Marsden, Meeks Point Road, inquired about the older homes on the perimeters of the lake that once had no sewers and used septic tanks that were just cut off and left. Mr. Marsden asked about them affecting the lake by not being removed professionally. Mr. Hart advised the commission is aware of this problem.
• Pete Foster, 10 Old Marlborough Road, stated he attended both of John Jordon’s education programs and they were very well received; however he felt they were missing information on the problems that arise from the algae. John Jordon replied there will be many other educational seminars for this information to be further discussed.
• Gih-Horng Chen, 9 West High Street, recommended a fund raiser to make money for the lake Bob Hart advised of the January 17, 2008 Lake Pocotopaug Conference that is schedule to take place with other commission members in town.
Irene Curtis arrived at 7:30pm
4. Presentation- “Threats to the Salmon River System, Including Lake Pocotopaug, And How It Will Be Protected”, Shelley Green, Lower Connecticut River Program Director, Salmon River Project, The Nature Conservancy of Connecticut, Essex, CT John Ciriello welcomed and thanked Shelley Green for attending.
Shelley Green presented the commission with a detailed slide show which will be made available for the public by request.
5. Administrative Business & Communications
A. Town Manager Report & Communication– There was not any town staff present for comment
1. Christopher Brook Status
Town staff was unable for comment
2. Fall Lake Lowering Notification
Town staff was unable for comment
3. Hale Brook & Christopher Pond Dredging
Town staff was unable for comment.
4. Seven Hills Estates Phase III Community Association letters to Rand, Toll Brothers, and Alan Bergren
Town staff was unable for comment
5. Fish Stocking Program On October 21, 2007 7680 Walleye fingerlings were placed in the lake for a cost of $6758
• Dennis Tanner, 1 Hale Road, asked who controls the damn and the lowering. The commission replied and Tom Wells presented the commission and audience with a photograph taken several years ago showing a lake draw down.
B. Other Bob Hart provided the commission with an email received from Roy Duncan regarding suggestions of replenishing the lake and the slow turn over in addition to the suggestions of drilling wells into the watershed to feed the lake with clear water as a diluting purpose.
6. Commission Meeting Liaison Report.
• IWWA- Tom Wells reported on the items that pertained to the LPC. These minutes can be found in the Town Clerks office at Town Hall.
• Planning & Zoning- Tom Wells reported on the items that pertained to the LPC. These minutes can be found in the Town Clerks office at Town Hall.
• Town Council – Nothing regarding the lake was discussed at their meetings
• Friends of Lake Pocotopaug – Jack Solomon reported on behalf of the Friends of Lake Pocotopaug actively planning next year’s activities.
• Water and Sewer – Nothing to report.
• Park & Recreations – No meeting
• ZBA – Nothing to report
• Conservation Commission – No meeting
7. Committee Report
A. Education Committee
1) Public Education Course
Bob Hart thanked John Jordon for the holding the Public Education Course and the feedback that is coming back is very positive. John Ciriello also thanked John Jordon. They have reviewed the feedback and comments and will look at them for the next course. John Jordon stated as long as the people continued to go, he will continue to teach. The commission discussed advertising strategies and sign up sheet locations for the public to sign.
2) Lake Pocotopaug Conference
Bob Hart reported on the upcoming Lake Pocotopaug Conference that is scheduled for January 17, 2008, 7-9 PM at the Middle School Media Center. The members of the commission discussed the proposed agenda.
3) Other
John Ciriello reported on his discussion with Mark Brown in addition to several conversations with Craig Brown, professional fisherman in town and they have offered to present to the LPC at the regular scheduled meeting in December, a professional fisherman’s view of what a lake is like and how healthy it is in their eyes.
B. Monitoring Committee
1. Watershed Tests
Tom Wells presented the commission with the transparency results. The commission was advised of the bottles being ordered and the plan that is in place. Once the bottles are received contact will be made to the volunteers and members of the commission will meet to reviewing the plan.
2. Other
C. Lake Management Planning Committee
The Lake Management Planning Committee has not met since the last meeting.
Motion by Tom Wells to move agenda item 10a & 10b up on the agenda to be heard prior to item 8. Motion was seconded by Irene Curtis. Vote: 6-0-0 10.
New Business:
A. IWWA Application – George Mantikas, 42 East High Street
John Jordon recused himself from discussion on this application. Rob Baltramaitis Profession Engineer representing Mr. Mantikas presented the committee with the plan for the property. The proposed plan is to construct a medial office building that will allow for seven medical/dental suites and 63 parking spaces. The LPC discussed the application of 42 East High Street. The commission suggested the following changes and agreed to put them into writing for the IWWA’s consideration.
Motion by Bob Hart to write a letter to the IWWA with the suggestions for the proposed application of George Mantikas, 42 East High Street.
• Require pre-development and post-development site phosphorus release calculations to be performed prior to application approval.
• Require phosphorus increases as close to 0% as possible between pre- and post-development.
• Require a storm water separator that is more efficient for phosphorus (fine sediment) removal in place of or in addition to the water quality unit specified and shown in the parking lot as CB-3 in the current plan.
• Use no-phosphorus fertilizers for temporary and permanent seedings and plantings as shown in various drawings of the current plan.
• Recess the landscaped island in the middle of the parking lot to act as a rain garden; allow water entry from the lot into the island. The recessed level can be tapered as needed for safety considerations. Use permanent plantings of vegetation that are consistent with rain garden use.
• Minimize downstream erosion by decreasing peak flows by over-sizing the retention basin beyond that required in the P&Z regulations.
• All drainage basins and structures, including water quality units and separators should be designed to be easily monitored and maintained.
• Have the town’s lake consultant review this development and the phosphorus report described in item 1.
• Use porous pavement for the parking lot in place of non-porous pavement materials. Prepare sub-levels of sufficient depth using permeable fill materials in a manner consistent with use of porous pavement.
• The Lake Commission requests an opportunity to review the application a second time, after the phosphorus calculations described in item 1 are completed and available.
Discussion: The commission feels that these recommendations are very important for protecting the lake, especially in light of the fact that the specified 42% lot coverage is substantially higher than the 5 to 10% shown in studies beyond which lake impairment occurs. The listed recommendations combined with those methods and techniques shown in the current plan can ensure minimal adverse impact on the lake.
Motion was seconded by John Ciriello. Vote: 5-0-0 John Jordon was reseated at this time.
B. IWWA Application – Parks & Recreation, 60 North Main Street Ruth Plummer, Director of the Park and Recreation presented the commission with the proposal at Sears Park for improvements on the parking located near the boat launch side of the property. The commissioners reviewed the plans and suggested using a different ground covering and look into the reason for the perennial rye grass which is fast growing but susceptible to disease.
Motion by John Jordon to approve the project as presented with some comments the director of Parks & Recreation agreed to consider. Motion was seconded by Irene Curtis. Vote: 6-0-0
8. Reading Assignment -
A. Review October 18th Reading Assignment – “Lake Pocotopaug Update (slides), ENSR International, March 21, 2006”, (posted on LPC website ref. page).
B. November 15th Reading Assignment – “Lake Pocotopaug 2006 Storm water and In-Lake Monitoring Results”, ENSR International May 2007”, (posted on the LPC website ref. page).
Chairman Hart requested the members of the commission review this reading assignment and discussion will take place at the December meeting.
9. Unfinished Business:
A. Investigate Alum Treatment Stations for Lake Tributaries Nothing new to report
B. Proposed No-Phosphorus Fertilizer Ordinance Nothing new to report
C. IWWA Application – JWM Architects, LLC, 35 Days Point Road. Bob Hart reported a letter was sent to IWWA from the LPC with comments. The comments were well taken and some of them were included in the approved permit on the property.
11. Public Remarks-
• Salvatore Nucifora, 147 Colchester Ave asked if there was any information on the Route 66 overflow and suggested an increase of the drainage along the highway. John Jordon stated the concern was the maintenance of the storm drains along the highway. There was discussion to recommend that the Town Council address DOT on this matter.
12. Adjournment
Chairman Hart adjourned the Lake Pocotopaug Commission at 10:50 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted, Kamey Ahrens Recording Secretary
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