MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 7:00 P.m.
Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room
302 Main Street
Members Present
Robert Fish
Jerry Brophy
Bruce Sherwin
Kimberley Gallagher
Walter Smith
Members Absent
Richard Esty
Pat Ingellis
Land Use Department Staff Present
Sandy Prisloe, Environmental Planner
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk
Minutes
MOTION to approve the minutes from the Conservation Commission’s Regular Meeting of December 11, 2012 as presented with the following correction: on page 3, paragraph 10, change “retail tractor store” to “tractor supply”; MADE by K. Gallagher; SECONDED by J. Brophy; VOTED IN FAVOR: R. Fish, J. Brophy, W. Smith, K. Gallagher, B. Sherwin; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
Correspondence
Commissioners received a copy of a letter from Northeast Utilities System dated 11/28/12 to inform the Town of scheduled maintenance activities by CL&P on selected electric rights-of-way in 2013. They will be performing routine vegetation management.
R. Fish informed Commissioners of The CT Land Use Law for Municipal Agencies Conference on 3/16/13 at Wesleyan in Middletown, CT and The CT Land Conservation Conference on 3/23/13 which will also be held at Wesleyan.
Sustainable Saybrook Support
Emily Grochowski, a volunteer with Sustainable Saybrook, was present at tonight’s meeting.
R. Fish distributed a survey that E. Grochowski developed for Sustainable Saybrook entitled, “Sustainable Saybrook Resident Survey of Conservation and Development Needs.” He suggested that before the survey is finalized, it be shared with the Board of Selectmen, the Town Planner and the Planning Commission.
W. Smith discussed survey question #9 regarding creating a trail from Founders Park to the water and Main Street. There were concerns about creating a trail which would go directly down to the water because of ecological impacts.
J. Brophy said a couple of years ago, Christine Nelson, Town Planner, had been working on creating a trail from the parking lot at Saybrook Country Barn to Founders Park.
R. Fish said more recently Parks and Recreation liked this idea and agreed to take it on. This would include the connection to Saybrook Country Barn.
Commissioners are very interested in finding out if the public values open space and is willing to spend money on open space, which is covered in questions #3 and #19.
B. Sherwin said the purpose of this survey is to determine what people actually support. He noted a couple of small errors on the survey which E. Grochowski said she would correct.
Commissioners reviewed the survey; specifically questions related to notable trees, energy related initiatives, wildlife and town recycling. They talked about possibly changing the heading that begins, “The Town of Old Saybrook would like to hear from you” to “Sustainable Saybrook sponsored by the Conservation Commission would like to hear from you.” K. Gallagher suggested delineating the section of actual survey questions from the section gathering demographics of survey responders.
Commissioners thanked E. Grochowski for creating the survey. They proposed getting the survey out to people via the Sustainable Saybrook web site and Saybrook Events Magazine. They felt the survey was very well done, and that it is in keeping with the goals of Sustainable Saybrook.
B. Sherwin reported that at the last Sustainable Saybrook meeting, he proposed seeking ways for SS to sponsor events and increase community awareness and outreach such as essay contests/scholarships, Green Up Day, Family Day, Earth Day and a lecture series to be held at The Kate. He would like to increase community awareness of SS and to encourage people to submit web site content. He suggested starting this initiative with an essay contest where the winner will receive a $500.00 scholarship.
E. Grochowski suggested getting a “green product” such as a stainless steel bottle with the SS logo on it. Bottles could be sold at local businesses with a portion of the proceeds going back to SS.
Regional Trailway Projects
S. Prisloe said he and C. Nelson met with Meg Parulis, Essex Town Planner, and John Guszkowski, Westbrook Town Planner, about accessing open space properties from “The Preserve” property.
Water Resources Projects
W. Smith met with C. Nelson and S. Prisloe. He has prepared a half hour power point about non point source pollution and surface runoff which he would like to present at the next CC meeting. He would like to present to the IWWC and to the PC at some point soon as well.
Old Business
There was no new business to discuss.
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Conservation Commission which will be Tuesday, March 12, 2013, 7:00 P.M., Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 302 Main Street; MADE by B. Sherwin; SECONDED by W. Smith; VOTED IN FAVOR: R. Fish, J. Brophy, W. Smith, K. Gallagher. B. Sherwin; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none.; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk
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