MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at 7:00 P.m.
Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room
302 Main Street
Members Present
Robert Fish
Richard Esty
Pat Ingellis
Walter Smith
Members Absent
Jerry Brophy
Kimberley Gallagher
Land Use Department Staff Present
Sandy Prisloe, Environmental Planner
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk
Sustainable Saybrook Support
R. Fish asked Commissioners to review the objectives of the Sustainable Saybrook Resident Survey of Conservation and Development Needs. The survey was invented as an outreach tool for the Conservation Commission. Emily Grochowski, who wrote the survey, talked about the changes she has made in the survey which include Town Planner Christine Nelson’s feedback.
R. Fish said The Plan of Conservation and Development was last updated in 2006. S. Prisloe said the Planning Commission is in the process of updating the Scenic Roads section of The Plan. When the Conservation Commission last updated their portion of the plan, they realized they needed to work more on community outreach, and so they developed Sustainable Saybrook, and this survey is a part of that.
MOTION to have Emily Grochowski finish the changes and corrections to the Sustainable Saybrook Resident Survey of Conservation and Development Needs and distribute it to interested parties.; MADE by R. Esty; SECONDED by P. Ingellis; VOTED IN FAVOR: R. Fish, R. Esty, W. Smith, P. Ingellis; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 4-0-0.
B. Sherwin has taken a new job, and he is moving to Seattle. He resigned from the CC effective 4/2/2013. Commissioners would like to do something for B. Sherwin to show their appreciation for his outstanding service on the CC and SS. They’ve asked R. Fish to talk with C. Fortuna about writing B. Sherwin a thank you letter from the town.
E. Grochowski is very interested in serving on the CC. R. Fish talked with First Selectman Carl Fortuna about appointing Emily Grochowski as a new member of the CC. She has also agreed to take on Chairmanship of Sustainable Saybrook. Commissioners welcomed Emily.
E. Grochowski said Sustainable Saybrook discussed having one meeting a month instead of two. She asked CC members for input about whether the meeting should be held in the morning or evening, and if it should be held early in the month or late in the month after the CC meets. After some discussion, it was decided that the Sustainable Saybrook meetings would be held in the 2nd Floor Conference Room of the Town Hall at 5:30 P.M. on the 3rd Tuesday of each month.
Minutes
MOTION to approve the minutes from the Conservation Commission’s Regular Meeting of March 12, 2013 as presented; MADE by R. Esty; SECONDED by W. Smith; VOTED IN FAVOR: R. Fish, R. Esty, W. Smith, P. Ingellis; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 4-0-0.
Vernal Pool Project – Richard Esty
R. Esty met with C. Nelson and S. Prisloe regarding his Vernal Pool Project. He wanted to gather information to distribute to townspeople so he created a sheet on vernal pools, which includes the following topics: What is the Old Saybrook Vernal Pool Project? Why Study Vernal Pools? Definition of a Vernal Pool? Goals of this Study, Plan/Strategy:, and Tools and Supplies Needed.
S. Prisloe made a map of vernal pools for the town of Old Saybrook. R. Esty would like to verify the parcels where the vernal pools are located and superimpose them onto the map. Some of the vernal pools are on public land and some are on private land.
After compiling the data, R. Esty would like to do onsite verification of vernal pools. He would first have to get permission from landowners to have access to their land for this vernal pool inventory. R. Esty drafted a letter requesting landowner permission for this. If landowners will not allow access to their land, the land can be put on the map as a potential vernal pool.
S. Prisloe said vernal pools are by definition, a wetland, and thus any activity done in or within 100’ of a vernal pool, requires an IWW permit. He suggested the CC approach this as a friendly resource gathering mission and not a regulatory one because it may confuse landowners. Commissioners discussed the pros and cons of writing letters to landowners.
R. Fish suggested an article about vernal pools and their importance be publicized in an article in Saybrook Events Magazine educating residents about the value of vernal pools and encouraging them to contact the CC if they think they may have a vernal pool on their property. He suggested R. Esty start his analysis and publicize the information about the vernal pool project and postpone sending a letter to landowners.
R. Esty created a vernal pool spread sheet which was e-mailed to Commissioners. He put all of the information on the spreadsheet that would be needed to create the vernal pool map. Soil type needs to be studied. He would like to have junior school and high school students help with this project. R. Fish suggested hiring an intern for this as well.
S. Prisloe said the Department of Public Works has a GPS which would be very useful for data collection. He suggested R. Esty put together a poster, which can be displayed on an easel in Town Hall, with some photos of vernal pools and information about why they are an integral part of the environment.
Water Quality Projects
W. Smith said he met with S. Prisloe and C. Nelson after his presentation to the CC on non point source pollution. C. Nelson asked W. Smith to present to the Planning Commission in September.
Regional Trailway Projects
There was nothing new to report.
Old Business
There was no Old Business.
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Conservation Commission which will be Tuesday, May 14, 2013, 7:00 P.M., Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 302 Main Street; MADE by R. Esty; SECONDED by P. Ingellis; VOTED IN FAVOR: R. Fish, R. Esty, W. Smith, P. Ingellis; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none.; APPROVED: 4-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk
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