North Stonington Town Hall
Thursday Oct.25, 2007, 6:00 pm
Special Meeting of the Conservation Commission
The Meeting was called to order By Chairman Bill Ricker at 6:05 pm. Members seated and voting were Richard Blodgett, Bill Ricker, Brian Rathbun, Bob Fleury and Alternates Kellene Limpert and Pat Lewis.
B.Motion to accept the minutes from Sept 27, 2007 was made and seconded. Motion Carried 5-0-0
C.Citizens Comments:
Resident Ann Renahan spoke for the Clarks Falls Environmental Trust. Her concerns were about the proposed Truck Stop. She wondered if the CC could give her some additional information about the Conservation issues in that area. The 15 Acre parcel adjacent to the old Howard Johnson’s. Blodgett made an appointment with Renahan to share map data.
Resident Tim Crandall spoke about his concerns with the Mission Statement. He reminds The Commission that the former CC members and citizens comments were in favor of not changing the Mission Statement. Tim also stated that he wanted to recant his previous statements at other meetings about our input to either Developers or Planning and Zoning. That we as a Commission should not make recommendations as we would make the wrong ones or be unsure of recommendations. He would rather we said nothing. He also stated that he felt that the present CC members were chosen for an” agenda” and they did not have the same passion for their position as he.
The Chairman, Limpert and Lewis all felt they were not here for any specific agenda and that we took offense to his statements. Ricker stated Crandall was in error in his assertion that we would not hear a developer, consider their plans, and offer our recommendations to P&Z, and that our “passion” for our work was not known to him. Ricker stated the Mission Statement had been given considerable deliberation giving particular attention to the law as a determinate.
d. Treasures Report:
800.00 In the budget for 07/08. Rat bun was asked to contact Robin Rohr prior to each CC meeting to report on balance monthly.
e. Ricker wrote a memo to Nick, Darrell, and Marc Tate asking them to define areas of responsibility Vis a Vis mapping, errors recorded, and procedures. A memo from Marc was received and read to the group. It appears many questions were answered with some still remaining.
Ricker stated he spoke with Mr. Grimord following the direction of the CC regarding his letter to us. Ricker asked that the ZEO inform developers that a CC exists and if they would like their input, they should make an appointment directly with them.
f. Committee Reports:
Blodgett is waiting to get maps printed out for accurate information on focus areas. There are still glitches in the computer program in getting the maps accurate. The CC would like to make a presentation to Selectman ASAP.
Discussion followed and the Secretary will post a Special Meeting for Nov.15th for the soul purpose of working on areas of active recreation, to facilitate a presentation to the Selectmen.
Problem Parcels: Fleury Reported out of 17 parcels with incomplete conservation easements recorded, 7 are now complete and 10 are almost there with huge progress being made to clear these up.
f. Old Business:
1. Two attorney’s were contacted regarding the Mission Statement and their interpretation of our need to follow or vary from state statutes. A copy of both responses will be available in the CC office for anyone’s perusal.
2. In consideration of possible changes on the Commission, a Motion was made and seconded to table items #2 and #3 Motion carried 4-0-1
4. The Hero property, Bell Cedar Swamp. The CC unanimously supports the purchase of this very biodiversity piece of property by a conservation group and/or the State of Ct. to conserve and protect this area.
Motion was made and seconded that the CC send a letter to Town Selectmen, P&Z, and Inland Wetlands concerning this area. Draft Letter was read by Fleury and approved in its entirety. Motion Carried 5-0-0
5.-Ricker sent letter to Mr. Mullane regarding the insufficient restoration of the Conservation Easement land on Babcock Rd. which was replanted in grass. Letter stated indigenous species similar to surrounding undisturbed plantings needed to be restored. Mr. Mullane wrote the LLC supporting our letter.
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g. New Business: Portion of the Sept. 13 meeting of the P&Z minutes was read regarding Diana Urban’s comments about Alternate Members of a Commission speaking or not speaking during deliberations. Law is not clear and she will make efforts to clarify in the Legislature this session.
h. Correspondence: Diana Urban asked for NSCC willingness to co- sponsor conservation on Nov. 13th
Motion made and seconded for NSCC to co sponsor the Forum. Voted 5-0-0
k. Motion to adjourn made and seconded and carried 5-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted: Kellene Limpert, Secretary
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