MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, July 9, 2013 at 7:00 P.m.
Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room
302 Main Street
Members Present
Robert Fish
Richard Esty
Emily Grochowski
Pat Ingellis
Walter Smith
Members Absent
Jerry Brophy
Kimberley Gallagher
Land Use Department Staff Present
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk
Minutes
MOTION to approve the minutes from the Conservation Commission’s Regular Meeting of June 11, 2013 as amended with the following corrections: page 2 under Sustainable Saybrook Support, last paragraph, R. Fish said the meetings are only on the 3rd Tuesday of every month not the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays. On page 3, under Updates, paragraph 4, Sandy Prisloe contacted Chris Van not R. Fish.; MADE by R. Fish ; SECONDED by R. Esty; VOTED IN FAVOR: R. Fish, W. Smith, E. Grochowski, P. Ingellis, R. Esty; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
Review of Pasbeshauke Subdivision Modification for Planning
The Planning Commission asked the Conservation Commission if they would like to comment on the Pasbeshauke Subdivision Modification located southwest of Whisper Cover Road and 200’ south of Ragged Rock Road, Map 53/ Lots 40-3, 40-4 & 40-5 before the Planning Commission’s public hearing scheduled for 7/17/2013.
The applicant would like to remove the ledge outcrop from the rear of lots #8, 9 & 10.
Commissioners would like to find out why the applicant would like to remove the ledge. They would like the Planning Commission to closely review The Gateway Commission’s recommendations. They would like to know how the applicant plans to stabilize the property after the removal of the ledge. They would like to know if this would affect water flow off of the property. They would like clarification regarding the location of the septic system and the leaching fields because the current plan shows that the leaching fields abut the conservation easement. Commissioners would like the WPCA to be alerted to the location of the septic system. They would like to be sure this application meets the requirements of the Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan. In the future, Commissioners would like to be able to walk the property
themselves as part of the review process.
MOTION to add Cornfield Point Scenic Walkway to the agenda; MADE by R. Esty; SECONDED by P. Ingellis; VOTED IN FAVOR: R. Fish, R. Esty, W. Smith, E. Grochowski, P. Ingellis; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none.; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
Cornfield Point Scenic Walkway
P. Ingellis walked the property at different times with C. Nelson, J. Brophy and S. Prisloe. This property is part of the Natural Heritage Tour. About 30’ of the current walkway needs to be reinforced. First Selectman Carl Fortuna would like to abandon this walkway project due to safety issues. P. Ingellis said there have been difficulties in dealing with the abutting property owner who does not want the walkway to be fixed because he is concerned about his privacy.
At this location, there is a parking area, a green area and a bench. There is a 4’ wide right of way, but it is very overgrown so there is no water view from the bench.
C. Nelson and P. Ingellis discussed abandoning this walkway project and instead, they would like to clear the area at the head of the walkway. R. Fish suggested the Conservation Commission use present funds to work on the area at the head of the walkway. P. Ingellis will follow up with C. Nelson to delineate the area to be cleared, mark the area, decide where the bench will go, and find out if the Town Crew can help with land clearing, etc.
MOTION to add Cornfield Point Dredge Spoil Material to the agenda; MADE by R. Esty; SECONDED by P. Ingellis; VOTED IN FAVOR: R. Fish, R. Esty, W. Smith, E. Grochowski, P. Ingellis; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none.; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
Cornfield Point Dredge Spoil Material
Walter Smith asked that this item be added to the agenda. He said the Environmental Protection Agency has a new dredge strategy in place. Dredge spoil material can now be deposited in different places including Cornfield Point. This material is measured in terms of risk management. W. Smith would like to find out what the environmental impacts are especially since this area is so close to Town Beach. W. Smith would like the Conservation Commission to take this on as a project. Commissioners agreed that they would like to be involved in this. W. Smith will follow up with C. Nelson and S. Prisloe.
Vernal Pool Project
R. Esty has no new progress to report. The local stores are all sold out of waders, and he needs to purchase waders before he can get out on the properties.
In the future, R. Esty will choose a location and a date to go out to the identified vernal pools, and then he will e-mail Commissioners to see who can attend.
R. Esty would like to have his vernal pool informational flyer printed in the next Saybrook Events.
Sustainable Saybrook Support
E. Grochowski reported that the survey was put onto the web site. The response has been minimal. She plans to talk to S. Prisloe so the survey can be linked to the Town web site.
R. Esty suggested presenting the information about the survey to the Chamber of Commerce. Perhaps local businesses would be willing to offer store coupons for people who respond to the survey.
Regional Trailway Projects
There was nothing new to report since J. Brophy was not present.
Lecture Series
W. Smith met with E. Grochowski to talk about creating a public lecture series. They wrote an outline for a proposal regarding information on lecture/speaker guidelines, conceptual format, potential topics and notes. W. Smith distributed this outline to Commissioners for their review. They discussed funding, possible topics and use of The Kate.
Updates
R. Fish discussed the beaver problem at Crystal Lake with the Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Commission at their June 20, 2013 meeting. The IWWC approved a 5-year permit for the Conservation Commission to work in the wetland, but they did not want the CC to trap the beavers.
R. Fish received the DEEP’s Fishway report. Because of droughts, weather conditions and different flows, they did not have a good season. Last year there were 60,000 eels, and this year there were 6,000 eels.
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Conservation Commission which will be Tuesday, August 13, 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, E. Grochowski, P. Ingellis; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none.; APPROVED: 6-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk
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