CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
September 26, 2006, 6:00 P.M.
31 Pecks Lane
Newtown, CT
PRESENT: BARKMAN, CRAMER, FERGUSON, WRIGHT
NOT PRESENT: HOVIOUS AND WILSON
§ Public Participation
None noted
§ Minutes Approval for 7/25, 9/12
Ferguson moved to accept the minutes of July 25, 2006 second by Wright; Barkman, Ferguson, and Wright voted in favor, Cramer abstained.
Ferguson moved to accept the minutes of September 12, 2006 second by Cramer, all in favor.
Cramer moved to add next years budget to the agenda, second by Wright, carried 4-0.
Ferguson moved to add discussion on 7 Obtuse Road to the agenda, second by Cramer, carried 4-0.
Wright said that a trail had been cut through the property to access the open space, The Conservation Official said that as a staff member he told the applicant that the proposed open space was not acceptable because of the grading, and other issues. This discussion is tabled to the next meeting.
-Ferguson moved to discuss Coalition business, motion second and unanimously carried.
-Ferguson reported that there was an informal meeting where it was discussed if the coalition should be a permanent group; the coalition was initially for the Labor Day Parade activities. Wright said that NFA voted for participating in the coalition but the vote was not unanimous, one of the issues was donation of funds.
-there was discussion about new t-shirts including kids sizes that would be paid in full by the coalition.
Ferguson moved to table this discussion to the meeting of October 10, 2006, motion was second and unanimously carried.
-Cramer moved to add the students’ conservation commissioners discussion to the agenda, motion second and unanimously carried.
Barkman said that students in town would come to the first part of the meetings and do some work in the schools in conservation issues.
Cramer said that there should be a meeting to define the roll they would have as student conservation commissioners.
Wright moved to create a subcommittee on student conservation commissioners, second by Cramer; carried 4-0. Cramer, Ferguson and Barkman were appointed.
Ferguson moved to add fee in lieu of open space to the agenda, second and unanimously carried
Barkman said that she had a conversation with Julia Wasserman and she said that it would be a good idea that two people would write letters; Barkman also talked to the P&Z Chairman and he would be willing to write one letter.
Cramer said that she wanted to make sure that it was clear that the fee in lieu of open space was not acceptable in most cases.
Wright made a motion to study the present language of fee in lieu of open space and study the possibility of creating the conservation commission’s own language and send a letter to Julia Wassermann.
Cramer moved to add education to the agenda, motion second and unanimously carried.
Ferguson moved to discuss goals, second by Cramer, carried 4-0.
There was some discussion about Barkman’s five goals~which include: 1. Preservation of open space, 2. Public Education, 3. A~Noise pollution ordinance, 4. Protecting~watersheds: Dickinson Park, Ram’s Pasture and the golf course, etc., 5. making all future town buildings, including the new town hall, environmentally friendly.~
Cramer moved to tabled to the next meeting, second by Wright, carried 4-0.
Motion was made and unanimously carried to add education to the agenda.
Discussion about the Ecology Club Presentation—Oct 24 Newtown High school
Cramer, Ferguson, Sibley, Wright singed up for the Ecology Club presentation.
Motion made and unanimously carried to discuss budget ideas
Education (commission and citizens), maps and printing, office supplies, mapping and surveying, markers and signage;
-Wright would research surveying
-Education and training, Projector, mobile computer, “power point presentation equipment” would be research by Barkman.
This discussion is tabled to next meeting
§ Executive session property updates
Ferguson moved to go into executive session to discuss possible acquisition of properties, second by Cramer; carried 4-0.
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