MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, January 10, 2012, at 7:30 p.m.
Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room
302 Main Street
Members Present
Robert Fish, Chairman
Jerry Brophy
Walter Smith
Kim Gallagher
Members Absent
Pat Ingellis
Bruce Sherwin
Robert Siegelman
Land Use Department Staff Present
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk
R. Fish called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Tom Worthley, UConn Extension Forester and Educator and Margot Burns, Environmental Planner from CRERPA, gave a presentation on the lower CT River and Coastal Forest Stewardship Initiative, a project that seeks to promote and investigate improvement of private forest land stewardship and community esteem for private forest land owners. They also reported on the initial Private Forest Land Owner Survey results.
T. Worthley explained the government’s KFAF Initiative to “Keep Forests as Forests and Keep Farms as Farms.” A statewide assessment was done to determine how to direct financial resources. A physical assessment was done with GIS data and field data as well as public input. The statewide results are on the DEEP web site.
Because much of the forest is privately owned, M. Burns put a mailing list together of woodland landowners, and she and T. Worthley mailed cards to them asking them to go online to fill out a survey. Questions covered many different topics including landowners’ knowledge of the importance of forests and woodlands, their awareness of forestry educational workshops, and their interest in protecting development rights.
They sent 1,984 cards out, and they received 175 responses. In Old Saybrook 40 cards were sent out, but only 3 surveys were returned. The highest number of surveys returned came from East Haddam, Chester and Essex.
M. Burns distributed to and reviewed with Commissioners a packet with a copy of the survey questions and results. She also distributed and reviewed a separate set of responses from just the Old Saybrook surveys that were received.
T. Worthley noted that people are very interested in invasive species workshops.
M. Burns noted that landowners indicated that they would like more education on forest management.
T. Worthley spoke about specific trees and their importance to the ecosystem based on bio-indicators. For example, oak and hickory trees are a vital food source for many species of wildlife.
T. Worthley asked R. Fish if he and M. Burns could come back to speak to the land use boards and commissions about management and planning of town land. He also said if there would be an interest, he and M. Burns would like to come back to present some educational workshops. CC members were very receptive to further workshops particularly on invasive species.
M. Burns distributed and discussed some information on the non-native, invasive Water Chestnut which has been found in a few shallow areas of the CT River.
Member of the public, Robert Lorenz, was in attendance at tonight’s meeting. He commented on controlling invasive plants without chemistry.
Approval of Minutes
MOTION to approve the minutes from the Conservation Commission’s Regular Meeting of December 13, 2011 with the following correction: On page 3, P. Ingellis said he would like the last sentence to read “he was interested in restoring shell fishing as part of food security”; MADE by J. Brophy; SECONDED by W. Smith; VOTED IN FAVOR: R. Fish, J. Brophy, W. Smith; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: K. Gallagher.; APPROVED: 3-0-1.
MOTION to approve the minutes from the Conservation Commission’s Special Meeting of the Outreach Committee of January 3, 2012 as presented; MADE by R. Fish; SECONDED by J. Brophy; VOTED IN FAVOR: R. Fish, J. Brophy, W. Smith, K. Gallagher; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 4-0-0.
Election of Commission Officers
R. Fish said that he is willing to serve as chairman again, but he is getting older, and he would like the commission to start thinking about a succession plan.
Commissioners said they would like to talk with B. Sherwin about taking on Vice-Chairmanship at some point in the future. R. Fish said he would discuss this with B. Sherwin.
MOTION to re-nominate the current slate of officers: R. Fish as Chairman and J. Brophy as Vice Chairman; MADE by K. Gallagher; SECONDED by W. Smith; VOTED IN FAVOR: R. Fish, J. Brophy, W. Smith, K. Gallagher; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 4-0-0.
Appointment of Representative to Inland Wetlands
MOTION to re-appoint K. Gallagher as the representative to Inland Wetlands; MADE by R. Fish; SECONDED by J. Brophy; VOTED IN FAVOR: R. Fish, J. Brophy, W. Smith, K. Gallagher; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 4-0-0.
Sustainable Saybrook Website Support
R. Fish updated Commissioners on the status of the presentation of the Sustainable Saybrook Website which will be presented at the Selectmen’s meeting on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
Conservation Commission Projects
R. Fish talked about re-printing the National Heritage Tour brochure. The printers’ office that was used previously has gone out of business. R. Fish and C. Nelson are in the process of finding another printer.
The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk
| 
