MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, September 10, 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
Kimberley Gallagher
Jerry Brophy (arrived at 7:13 p.m.)
Land Use Department Staff Present
Sandy Prisloe, Environmental Planner
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk
Minutes
MOTION to approve the Conservation Commission minutes from July 9, 2013. MADE by R. Esty; SECONDED by P. Ingellis; VOTED IN FAVOR: W. Smith, E. Grochowski, P. Ingellis, R. Esty; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: K. Gallagher; APPROVED: 4-0-1.
Water Chestnut in the CT River Estuary – Judy Preston
J. Preston presented a power point presentation on the water chestnut which is a very invasive plant. Margot Burns from the Lower CT River River Council of Governments is working with J. Preston to inventory water chestnuts and to educate fishermen, boaters, environmental partner groups and the general public about the environmental seriousness of this issue.
The water chestnut has been found in brackish, fresh quiet water in the CT River, Salmon Cove, the Hudson River and Lake Champlain. It will quietly recede into protected waterways and reproduce. It looks like a pond lily. J. Preston noted that these are not the same as the water chestnuts that we eat.
The floating black nuts, called Trapa natans, will not sprout. They are very sharp and could really injure someone if they were to step on it. Water chestnuts can even puncture car tires.
Water chestnuts block light and they reduce oxygen which changes the water, adversely affecting plant life, water fowl, aquatic life and the food chain.
Disposal of this plant is an issue. J. Preston and M. Burns have bagged the seeds and put them into the landfill. It is important to be sure the seeds are no longer viable.
J. Preston emphasized how important early detection is in controlling and hopefully eliminating this invasive species.
Project Reports:
Vernal Pools
R. Esty had nothing new to report.
Sustainable Saybrook Support
E. Grochowski reported that 198 survey responses have been received. She’s planning on keeping the survey on the web site for one more month.
Family Day is Saturday, September 28, 2013. R. Fish asked E. Grochowski if she’d like to have a table for Sustainable Saybrook, and she said she would. P. Ingellis offered to help man the table. R. Fish asked that E. Grochowski order more Sustainable Saybrook t-shirts to give away in exchange for e-mail addresses at the event.
Sustainable Saybrook had a table at the Old Saybrook Summer Art Show. E. Grochowski said she did get some more e-mail addresses at that event.
Lecture Series
W. Smith would like to put together a pre-interest application letter of intent to the Rockfall Foundation for a lecture series at the Kate. The letter is due October 1, 2013, and he will be applying for this.
Water Resource Projects
Next Wednesday, September 18, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in the 1st Floor Conference Room, W. Smith will be showing his power point presentation on water resources to the Planning Commission.
Cornfield Point Scenic Walkway
J. Brophy, P. Ingellis and Planning Commissioner Don Ranaudo went out to the site. They want to make the entranceway more welcoming by defining the area by clearing brush and installing a nicer bench. P. Ingellis said there is currently an orange gate blocking the walkway. He doesn’t know who put it there.
Cornfield Point Dredge Spoil Material
W. Smith researched this issue. He reported that there are 3 agencies involved: the EPA, the Army Corps of Engineers and the DEEP. He shared a map of the dispersal site. Some of the dredge material has left the site and has drifted back. W. Smith plans to follow up with all 3 agencies to get a status report.
Commission Organization
R. Fish would like to find a successor for the Chairman position. He’s talked to Walter Smith about taking on the position of Chairman, and W. Smith agreed to accept the nomination.
MOTION to elect Walter Smith as Chairman of the Conservation Commission. MADE by R. Fish; SECONDED by P. Ingellis; VOTED IN FAVOR: W. Smith, E. Grochowski, J. Brophy, P. Ingellis, R. Esty, K. Gallagher; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 6-0-0.
Updates, The Preserve, and a Planning Memo
The Planning Commission sent the Conservation Commission a memo regarding the Regional Plan of Conservation and Development: Regional Visions, Concerns and Questions.
R. Fish suggested the Conservation Commission set up a task force to work on a response for the update of the Plan.
W. Smith would like to take on the task of updating the Plan. He’s planning to contact each Commissioner, as well as S. Prisloe, to discuss ideas, future plans of the Conservation Commission, etc.
K. Gallagher said she may be taking a job in Irvine, CA. If she does take the job, she will be leaving in January 2014, and the Conservation Commission will need to find a replacement for a Conservation Commission Commissioner as well as a Conservation Commission representative to the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission.
J. Brophy attended the Selectmen’s Meeting today, and he said the First Selectman signed a proclamation to reduce the town’s energy in municipal buildings by 20%.
Butterfly Gardens
R. Esty would like to create a butterfly garden at Saybrook Point between the Dock & Dine parking area and Fort Saybrook Park. He’s already spoken to Ray Allen at the Parks and Recreation Department about this idea, and he was very supportive of it.
R. Esty would like to involve the senior center, Parks & Rec and the middle and high schools in this project using it as an educational tool. He suggested releasing butterflies for the grand opening. Commissioners plan to discuss this at the next Conservation Commission meeting.
Water body Names
S. Prisloe made a map with town water bodies on it. Some of the water bodies on the map are not named. S. Prisloe asked Commissioners who might know the names of any of these water bodies to write them on the map.
CACIWC Conference
The CT Association of Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commissions will hold their annual conference on Saturday, November 16, 2013 at the Courtyard Marriott in Cromwell. W. Smith and R. Esty plan to attend.
The Preserve
Commissioners discussed the deal that The Trust for Public Land had made with the Lehman Brothers Trustees. R. Fish provided all the information he knew at this time.
Exchange Club Pond
R. Esty expressed concerns about the Exchange Club Pond. He said since the area for Tractor Supply has been graded and cleared, the Exchange Club pond has gone dry. Commissioners agreed to watch the pond over the next month and discuss it at the next Conservation Commission meeting because there may not be any association with the work being done and the water level of the pond.
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 9:08 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Conservation Commission which will be Tuesday, October 8, 2013, 7:00 P.M., Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 302 Main Street; MADE by K. Gallagher; SECONDED by P. Ingellis; VOTED IN FAVOR: R. Esty, W. Smith, E. Grochowski, P. Ingellis, J. Brophy, K. Gallagher; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none.; APPROVED: 6-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk
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