NORTH STONINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING AT NEW TOWN HALL
January 28, 2016 @ 6:00 pm
Meeting minutes
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: 6:15
Roll Call: Steve Colgan; Bill Ricker
Guest: Arnie Vlieks
Not in Attendance: Rick Stevens, Warren Speh, Michael Charnetski, Marc Jaffan, Tony Rose
Review of November meeting minutes (send via e-mail).
Citizen Comments: Arnie is interested in the CC meeting to see what we do
Ongoing Business:
• Budget submission
Budget was discussed - $2100 requested
Dues for Eastern CT Conservation District, CACIWC (CT Assoc. of Conservation & Inlands Wetlands Commission), CT Park & Forests supported.
$ 305 spent for trail signs for Steward Hill Preserve.
Calendar cost – 1155.68; sales to date 1240.00 – net positive $ 84.14. 5 calendars left
• Land trade update: Ravenswood v. land up behind Emergency Service building site
See 1-19-16 The Day article – handout
- Discussion tabled as we do not have a response from the Board of Selectmen
• Stewart Hill Preserve: trail markings on lower section “confusing”. We will add additional.
New trail signs and parking signs ordered.
• Wyassup Lake Road CE’s: Parcel #8101 and #1857 folders – still on hold (need maps)
o We do not have a GPS coordinator – he has taken a position in Westerly
• CE yearly monitoring – Need to complete. Who has them outstanding?
o Tabled due to attendance
• Any further discussion of acceptable Conservation Easements?
o – P&Z accepting of our working document. This is a living document that we can change
• Letter to WPCA – 3rd draft handout was reviewed and the decision was to send the document to Brad Currier, last known Chairman.
New Business:
• Miller Road deed citing need for CC approval for tree cutting at Blue Lake.
o Bill Ricker viewed the property per comment in the deed. The 12 acres has 9+/- acres in a conservation easement. A forester was hired by the property owner to tell him what trees should stay or be cut. Mr Ricker reached a consensus with the property owner and approved the document. The easement will now be monitored by Bill Hixon, president of Blue Lake Assn. as written in the deed.
• Greenway article in The Day – handout
o This was a nice article (dated 1-11-16) citing CC work towards creating greenways.
• Court decision on Fire Fly Farm noting Town is responsible for twice a year monitoring.
o The 38 acres in question should be maintained by land owner and monitored by North Stonington twice a year in January and July.
• Amos Lake article for discussion – handout – December 2015 – date unknown
o No pesticides, if you must use fertilizer – use no nitrogen. 6-0-6 recommended.
o Post-meeting note: 6-0-6 is low phosphorus fertilizer which is recommended near bodies of water.
• NE Cottontail rabbit refuge proposal (sent via e-mail) + handout Day article dated 1-20-16
o Want to open more land in NS for NE Cottontail. This will require cutting.
• Establish direction for the year - hand out: Goals & Tasks
o Work on Chester Main trail – wait for the rest of the group before goals are decided.
Correspondence: Wood-Pawcatuck study (sent via e-mail)
NSCLA newsletter
Aquifer Protection Agency Minutes
CT Wildlife magazine
Member forum: none
Adjournment: 7:35 p.m.
Submitted by,
Steve Colgan, Secretary
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