North Stonington Conservation Commission
New Town Hall conference room
Minutes
November 20, 2014 @ 6:00 pm
Present: William Ricker, Warren Speh, Richard Blodgett
Guest: Tom Terburg
Absent excused: Tony Rose, Marc Jaffen, Mike Charnetski
Chairman Ricker opened the meeting at 6:00pm. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as written.
The 2015 schedule of regular meetings was approved, copies distributed, and has been filed with the Town Clerk.
Updated membership lists were distributed.
Approximately fifty 2015 calendars have been sold. A lot more to go.
The commissioners approved the theme for the 2016 calendars to be “Flying the Flag”. An abundant number of homes in town fly the American flag and a calendar depicting many of these homes and businesses seemed a worthy choice. A target date of August 1, 2015 was set for completion of The 2016 Calendar to allow printing and early distribution for increased sales opportunities.
The town’s attorney has reviewed a draft letter being considered to notify the owners of 26 parcels of land that have been specifically recommended for conservation by the Conservation Commission in the Town Plan of Conservation and Recreation. The attorney suggested that the wording “acquire” be replaced with another wording that does not possibly imply “purchase” or “acquire” by some taking means. Other alternative means of conserving lands for conservation and recreation purposes that should satisfy conservation and recreation objectives. The Commission discussed the suggestion and will await Atty. Eppinger’s written response and suggestions.
Chairman Ricker reported that the majority of work on the Stewart Hill preserve is complete. He noted “No Trespassing” signs have been placed along the trail bordering the Isom and Kerlin properties necessitation our need to GPS portions of the 27 acre property a second time. Chairman Ricker will discuss the matter with the owner(s) of the parcel(s) once the property is properly defined.
Due to attendance, the instructions of how to monitor our CE’s was postponed till January’s meeting.
The two parcels on Wyassup Lake Rd, (#8101 & #1857) await Marc Tate’s time schedule to GPS the boundaries for signage. Ricker has contacted both land owners and they are aware of our actions.
The chair reviewed the issue regarding Green Falls LLC’s affordable housing development off Lake of Isle Rd. At the meeting when P&Z approved the development, a strip of land, 15’ by nearly a half mile, was included as a CE buffer from wetlands. The towns accepted Flow Chart was not followed, whereby the CC would have had a chance to offer its recommendations, as the CE was to have gone to a private land trust. As the CC is not in support of the town accepting this sliver of land, he will express our opinion at the upcoming Town Meeting asking the public to vote “No.”
Material from New Cingular Wireless to build a proposed cell tower N-W of the rotary was reviewed. The Commission appreciated the chance to review the proposal and felt that no comment was necessary as the thorough material presented did not appear to impact visually or physically on the environment.
Election of officers: Motion made ans seconded to elect Bill Ricker as chair. Voted: 3-0-0
Motion made and seconded to elect Warren Speh as treasurer. Voted: 3-0-0
As no one was willing to serve as secretary or vice-chair, the:
… members present agreed to have vice-chair selected as needed to run meetings in the chair’s
absence.
…members present agreed to have the secretary position rotate each meeting.
NOTE: In the chair attempt to have open communications with the commissioners on all matters pertaining to the commission, he asks commissioners to RSVP promptly when asked to provide input on issues which surface between scheduled meetings. Often they are time sensitive and majority opinions determine our actions.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Dick Blodgett, Secretary pro tem
with revisions
NOTE: No meeting in December. Next meeting is Thursday, January 22, 2015
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