Conservation Commission Regular Meeting
Tuesday, March 10, 2009 @ 7:30 p.m.
Land Use Conference Room, 302 Main Street
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Members in Attendance: Bob Fish, Mike Kelley, Kim Gallagher, Robert Siegelman.
Absent: Jerry Brophy, Charlie Cobb, Pat Ingellis
Staff in Attendance: Maura Farbotka, Recording Clerk
Approval of Minutes:
Page one (Absent Members) should read Kim Gallagher, not Kate Gallagher.
MOTION: to approve the minutes of the January 13, 2009 as corrected.
MOVED: by Robert Siegelman; SECONDED: by Mike Kelley; IN FAVOR: Bob Fish, Mike Kelley, Kim Gallagher, Robert Siegelman; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINING: none; APPROVED: 4-0-0.
Conservation Commission Program Review, Plans, Projects, Progress and Priorities
Open Space & and Easements:
Bob Fish reported that the town is doing well with open space acquisition.
Per Town Planner Christine Nelson, both the open space index and maps are up to date.
It was noted that boundary marking was started, but has not been completed.
Stewardship of Town Land:
The Commission discussed how to enforce and re-emphasize the Stewardship Plan, and how to secure support for it.
Mike Kelley suggested mailing the plan to the public, or making it available on the web.
Trail development was reviewed, specifically the new trail which runs from Founders Park to behind Saybrook Country Barn, about 1/3 of a mile. This trail still needs to be cleaned up and marked. R. Siegelman suggested getting help from high school students who need community service.
Invasive Plants: The Commission discussed the need for help with identifying invasive plants on Town open space land. Suggestion made to discuss with Inland Wetlands Enforcement Officer, Kelly Volansky, and/or Wendy Goodfriend of the Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District Commission. All members agreed this should be included in both the maintenance and Stewardship Plans.
Habitat Protection: The commission briefly touched on the next habitat project to consider.
Conservation Planning:
Plan of Conservation and Open Space (last updated 2003)
Plan of Development is due for a revision in 2010.
Fishway System:
B. Fish reported the great progress being made on the fishway @ Crystal Lake. The Public Works Department is done with digging out the channel, and will begin next with the layers of sand and rocks. A monitoring system still needs to be set up for the whole fishway system.
A suggestion was made to revisit the idea of a fishway in Otter Cove.
Natural Heritage Tour:
The Commission agreed on the importance of completing the signage and to have maintenance correlate with the Stewardship Plan.
Chairman Fish informed the commission of an idea by C. Nelson of marking locations which would be good for painting and/or bird watching.
Other new ideas included identifying canoe/kayak/boat launches.
Mike Kelley will inquire @ North Cove Outfitters for pamphlets relating to this.
CEQ Support Projects
B. Fish reported that Jerry Brophy has been working to choose areas and indicators for the CEQ. Item to be revisited @ the next regularly scheduled meeting to talk about projects needed to support the CEQ, such as water quality measurements.
Public Education:
Discussion held at length with regard to the best approach in educating the public (mailings vs. web). Mike Kelley questioned how many residents are aware of the information on the web. Kim Gallagher suggested possible mailings of condensed literature which directs people to the web.
Vernal Pools: All vernal pools are now mapped, but still need to be included in a brochure. Per Bob Fish, Kelly Volansky plans to resume the walking tour of the vernal pools, and complete prior to the beginning of summer.
Regional Activities:
B. Fish reviewed the ideas submitted to the Regional Planning Agency. He questioned the commission members about programs the commission could hold to benefit other groups and/or the public. Commission agreed not to take this on themselves, but to possibly be a part of other programs.
Robert Siegelman updated the commission on the recent Shellfish Commission meeting.
Support a town response to State Plans
Support other land use commissions, as requested
Miscellaneous:
-Chairman Fish requested the commission review the Plan of Conservation and Development, Stewardship Plan, and the Plan of Conservation and Open Space. At the next meeting ideas for updating these plans can be discussed.
-Chairman Fish invited any interested members to register for the upcoming 2009 Connecticut Land Conservation Conference to be held on April 4, 2009.
-Recent pamphlets and periodicals were distributed to interested members.
Adjournment:
MOTION: to adjourn the meeting at 8:53 p.m. until the next Regular Meeting on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. at the Town Hall in the Land Use Conference Room.
MOVED: by Kim Gallagher; SECONDED: by Mike Kelley; IN FAVOR: Bob Fish, Mike Kelley, Kim Gallagher, Robert Siegelman; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINING: none; APPROVED: 4-0-0.
Respectively submitted,
Maura Farbotka
Maura Farbotka
Recording Clerk
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