NORTH STONINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING AT NEW TOWN HALL
February 25, 2016 @ 6:00 pm
Agenda
Mission: For the development, conservation, supervision, and regulation of natural and historic resources, including water resources, within its territorial limits. (adopted September 2007)
Call to Order: 6:09 p.m.
Roll Call:
Present: William Ricker; Michael Charnetski, Steve Colgan, Arnie Vlieks (guest)
Regrets: Rick Stevens; Tony Rose
Arnold introduced to commissioners. Gave summary of interests.
Review of January minutes (sent via e-mail): Accepted as written
Citizen Comments: None on the minutes but Arnie Vlieks found the signage to the Stewart Hill Preserve to be adequate. Bill Ricker – will use brighter blue and has trail arrow signs that can be used at sharp turns. These will be installed when the weather breaks – action: Bill
Review of 2016-2017 budget
Ongoing Business:
- Letter to WPCA on sewer issues sent
- Land trade update: Ravenswood v. Assekonk East (land up behind Emergency Service building site)
- Stewart Hill Preserve: New trail signs and parking signs need to be placed.
- Wyassup Lake Road CE’s: Parcel #8101 and #1857 folders – still on hold
All supporting documents given to Nita.
- CE yearly monitoring – Need to complete.
Presently: Sacco Subdivision & Shunock Estates folders are out – Action: Michael.
Four other properties need monitoring:
Anna Farm Estates (5 parcels totaling 26.38 ac.)) Action: Bill
Shunock/Mains Crossing (4 parcels totaling 11 ac.)– question of markers. Action: Michael
Lake of Isles (3 parcels totaling 109 ac.) Action: Bill
Lakeview West Subdivision (5 parcels totaling 17 ac.) – no markers. Action – responsibility TBD.
- Any further discussion of acceptable Conservation Easements? – handout. No – they look fine
- Letter sent to Natural Resources Committee of MPTN – handout. Trail from Lake of Ilses to Swantown road - request allow the public to use Arrow Head trail. We await their decision.
New Business:
- Amos Lake article for discussion – handout – December 2015
Should CC take a stand on advising lakefront owners of pesticide and fertilizer hazards & recommendations? Our mission: “…regulation of natural resources including water resources …”)
Agree.
Action: Steve to see if any information/recommendations is available from the CT Master Gardener Assn. for Gypsy moth control and fertilizer use around lakes
Action: Michael – to contact Judy Rondo from Eastern CT Conservation district. Is there info available for the use of herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers around lakes.
Action: Steve to send question to “Sprigs and Twigs” to see if they have recommendations on the above.
- Contact DEEP to cut a trail from Stewart Hill Preserve to Blue Trail. There is an existing deer trail – all we would need to do is to put in markers. Action: Bill to talk to Rick Stevens.
- Goals & Tasks for 2016
- Finish CE monitoring
- Take pictures for the calendar. Decision: calendar theme can be expanded beyond just animals. Possibilities include maple syrup production, the fair, farmers at work, etc.
- Notable Trees: This was kicked off 2 years ago.
Action: Spend some time and look at the dozen trees or so and measure each tree. This will take 2 people to measure.
Action: all to consider and a decision to be made each month on who will take this on.
- Chester Main Bridle Trail: Plan a time for a site walk – get Steve Holiday – start at top of Chester Main – need to put bridge in – do some clearing and marking, heavy equipment for steep grade.
- Develop guidance for fertilizing and use of pesticides and herbicides around lakes/ponds/streams.
Correspondence: citizen e-mail & response, CT Assoc of Wetlands Scientists conference, CT Land Conservation conference, The Habitat
Member forum: Bill asked why people joined.
Adjournment: 7:47 pm
Submitted by,
Steve Colgan, Secretary
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