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Conservation Commission
DRAFT MINUTES
Regular Meeting
October 28, 2008, 6:00 p.m.
31 Pecks Lane, Newtown, Connecticut
Commissioners Present: Hovious, Ferguson, Cramer, Wright, Kaley and Wilson
Staff Present: Rob Sibley, Deputy Director, Tammy Hazen, Clerk
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Executive Session opened at 5:00 p.m. and adjourned at 6:17 p.m.
The public meeting was called to order at 6:18 p.m.
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I. Public Participation.
No members of the public were present.
II. Update on Natural Resource Inventory Vendor Selection RFP.
Mr. Sibley stated that a copy of the RFP was sent to Bill Root, a biologist with Milone and McBroom. Mr. Sibley will send an electronic copy of the RFP to Michael Klein and Betsy Corrigan, as well as other prospective vendors. Mr. Sibley will keep the Commissioners updated.
III. Minutes - Approval of 10/14/08 Meeting Minutes.
Commissioner Ferguson motioned to approve the minutes. Seconded by Commissioner Wright. Motion approved unanimously.
IV. Old Business – Progress Reports and Updates.
1. Open Space Purchase Discussion and Resolution as Appropriate – No update.
2. Open Space at Commerce Road Update.
Commissioner Hovious discussed an article in The Bee regarding EDC’s plan to engage Planimetrics to develop a presentation regarding the Tech Park to communicate their plans. The presentation would go before several commissions and residents with the end result being a multi-commission task force to move the project forward. He was taken back by a statement regarding the Conservation Commission’s open space delineation was arbitrarily determined. Commissioner Hovious drafted a letter stating the reasons for selection of the line. The commissioners discussed a possible way to open effective communication.
3. Status of Iroquois Property Transfer - No update.
4. Citizens Requests.
Randle (4 Erin Lane) - No update.
McChord (Poverty Hollow) - No update.
5. Update on Possible Presentation on Stonewall Preservation - No update.
6. Kotch question of CT General Statute 12-107
Commissioner Ferguson discussed a meeting with the Tax Assessor who stated that this was a local option.
VI. New Business
1. Delegation of routine requests to Land Use Staff – Item tabled.
2. Danbury Tax Abatement Program – No update.
3. Cancellation of November 11, 2008 Meeting – The meeting of November 11, 2008 will need to be re-scheduled due to it being a Holiday. The commission will have a Special Meeting on November 25th in its place.
4. Deer Management – Mr. Sibley stated that the First Selectman will be putting out a press release for all citizens to serve on a Deer Action Committee. The task force’s mission and responsibilities is being drafted by the Director of Health and himself. Mr. Borst will nominate someone to serve on Fairfield County Deer Alliance to coordinate with other towns on a deer management program. The Deer Alliance is a management program that allows hunting, including on town open space. Some of the commissioners will do research on their own regarding deer control.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:35pm.
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