North Stonington Conservation Commission
New Town Hall conference room
Minutes
January 22, 2015 @ 6:00 pm
Present: William Ricker, Warren Speh, Tony Rose, Mike Charnetski
Absent excused: Marc Jaffen
Absent: Richard Blodgett
Chairman Ricker opened the meeting at 6:03pm. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as written.
Copies of the yearly meeting calendar and updated commissioners contact list were distributed.
Citizen comments: none
Our pursuit of the 5.5 acre parcel # 5251, now owned by Peoples United Bank, was discussed. A letter written by Atty Eppinger August 19, 2014 has had no response. Our e-mails December 11 and January 14 to Atty Eppinger to determine our next steps have not yet had a response. Marc Jaffen agrees legal action can be taken. Commissioners present were unanimous in their recommendation ask the selectmen to initiate legal action to acquire this valuable property. Voted: 4-0-0
Calendar sales have slowed with the new year now aging. Sales approximate the cost of the printing of $1457.12. Having purchased 300 calendars that translates to sales of nearly 145 units. As we have committed to a third year (Theme: Flying the Flag) we should consider reducing the number printed to 200 for a cost of $1050. Bill lent the SD card, with hundreds of pictures on it to a friend whose dog ate it. Fall pictures will be needed. All others can be retaken.
The accurate GPS coordinates of Stewart Hill Preserve will be competed tomorrow. Ed Note: completed. More work is needed before placing signage on parcels #8101 and #1857.
A 3rd draft of the letter to the 26 land owners with Atty Eppinger’s recommendations was approved. Bill purchased 25 copies of a booklet,” Conserving Your Land”, to include with each letter.
Commissioners were given CE folders to monitor our private conservation easements. (Mike: 3; Warren: 1; Mike: 2)
The material to be read on behalf of the CC at the January 26th Town Meeting was read. The commissioners supported the content and purpose and suggested that the 4 minute explanation be whittled down.
Keep on agenda:
Response from CE letters
Resubmitting material to DEEP on our pursuit of 8.5 acres of Asseconk borderlands property in exchange for 14 +/-acres off Pinewoods Road was supported. Scott Dawley, DEEP regional supervisor said the committee would vote on our request equally, whether it was submitted now or a year from now. A letter to the BOS needs to be written to bring them up to date and ask their support in offering our acreage in trade.
New Business: CT Trails Weekend has asked us to participate again this year. Mike and Tony have agreed to lead a hike, June 6th at 10 a.m. on our newly (to be) opened Stewart Hill Preserve Trail. Bill to write them of our commitment. Ed Note: Done.
A draft of a paper “Rationale in Considering Acceptance by the Town of Conservation Easements” was distributed for future discussion.
Adjournment: 7:55 p.m.
Mike Charnetski, secretary pro tem
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