INLAND WETLANDS COMMISSION
MINUTES
Regular Meeting of February 12, 2014 at 7:30 pm
Meeting Room #3, Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street, Newtown, CT
These Minutes are Subject to Approval by the Inland Wetlands Commission
Commissioners Present: John Davin, Kristen Hammar, Anne Peters, Mary Curran and Sharon Salling; Staff Present: Rob Sibley, Deputy Director of Planning and Land Use, Tammy Hazen, Clerk
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Mr. Davin motioned to approve the minutes of November 13, 2013 and seconded by Ms. Curran. Ms. Salling abstained. The minutes were approved as written. Ms. Salling motioned to approve the minutes of January 8, 2014 and seconded by Ms. Curran. Ms. Hammar and Mr. Davin abstained. The minutes were approved as written. Ms. Hammar motioned to approve the minutes of January 22, 2014 and seconded by Mr. Davin. The minutes were approved as written.
STAFF REPORT – Mr. Sibley discussed the first application for registration of the new State Aquifer Protection regulations received by the office. The applicant, Tilcon Connecticut on 9 Buttonshop Road (APA #13-01), has asked for the approval to be held until they get a ruling from DEEP on the covering of external tanks. They are asking permission to have the requirement waived because of the size of the tanks and the fact they are double walled and feel they are adequately protected. The State has ruled the covering is still required so they will need to design some type of roofing and submit it with the application or it will be denied.
Mr. Sibley said the Forest Practices regulations will be updated soon. Staff will draft them for the commission to review at which time it will be opened up to a public hearing. When the regulations are adopted there will be an appeal period before they are enacted.
PENDING APPLICATION
IW #14-01 188, 190 Mt. Pleasant R, Richard Keiser. Application to correct IW Violation #12-05.
Mr. Keiser, 188 Mt., Pleasant Road, presented a map with notations of tree plantings and wildflower mix. The commissioners asked him to note on the map where he will place a large rock to prevent vehicles from passing. The commissioners will wait until the weather clears in order to do a site walk.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
As the nominating committee, Anne Peters moved for a new slate of officers: Kristin Hammer as Secretary, Sharon Salling as Vice-Chair and Mary Curran as Chair. She said all three members bring organizational and managerial skills and knowledge of the law and policy and science of wetlands regulations to the commission. She then said that Mary Curran has been a member of the commission since 2001 and has extensive experience in managing municipal organizations. She was Deputy Town Attorney for the Town of New Castle NY; was an advisor to the Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals and served as the Town Prosecutor including prosecuting violations of the New Castle wetlands laws. While living in Dallas TX, she served as President of the North Dallas Neighborhood Alliance, an umbrella
organization of 62 homeowner associations with approximately 10,000 citizens as members. She served on the Urban Rehabilitation Standards for the City of Dallas, the Zoning Ordinance Advisory Committee and the Far North Land Use and Transportation Committee. Ms. Curran has been a resident of Newtown since December 2001 and has been an active member of commission since 2006.
Ms. Curran said it will be an honor to be Chair. Ms. Salling said that Ms. Peters has been an exceptional chairman, a student of the law and an inspiration. Ms. Peters noted how Sally O’Neil, previous Chair of the commission, set a high standard for conduct, courtesy and collaboration for the commission. With those comments, Mr. Davin seconded the motion. Ms. Curran then called for a vote on this slate. The motion was unanimously approved.
ACCEPTANCE OF NEW APPLICATIONS – None
ADJOURNMENT – Ms. Peters motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 pm. Mr. Davin seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously and the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted by Tammy Hazen
| 
