MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at 7:00 P.m.
Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room
302 Main Street
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. ROLL CALL
Members Present
Robert Fish
Richard Esty
Walter Smith
Emily Grochowski
Nina Garrett
Members Absent
Jerry Brophy
Pat Ingellis
Land Use Department Staff Present
Sandy Prisloe, Environmental Planner
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk
W. Smith welcomed Nina Garrett to the Conservation Commission. She’s lived in Old Saybrook for 17 years, and she’s volunteered in many capacities in that time. Some of her volunteer work has included working on the Founders’ Memorial Park project, volunteering at the Shoreline Soup Kitchen’s Community Garden and serving on the Board of the Friends of Acton Library. She was Director of Foreign Language Education at Yale University before retirement.
III. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Minutes
MOTION to approve the minutes from the Conservation Commission’s Regular Meeting of January 14, 2014 as presented.; MADE by R. Fish; SECONDED by E. Grochowski; VOTED IN FAVOR: R. Fish, W. Smith, R. Esty, N. Garrett, E. Grochowski; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
- Correspondence and Announcements
Commissioners received a letter dated 1/20/14 from the CT Federation of Lakes explaining what they do. They also received the Winter 2014 edition of “The Habitat”, a newsletter of the CT Association of Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commissions, Inc.
W. Smith announced that there is an upcoming conference entitled, “A Vision for the Future of Shellfish in Connecticut” given by the UConn College of Agriculture and Natural Resources on Monday, February 24, 2014 at the Courtyard by Marriott in Shelton. There is a $50.00 fee to attend. R. Fish gave background information regarding Old Saybrook’s experience seeding oysters.
W. Smith attended the budget workshop today. The Conservation Commission’s budget includes the Sea Level Rise Climate Adaptation Committee.
D. Sustainable Saybrook report
W. Smith stated that money for the Sustainable Saybrook budget has been approved.
E. Grochowski reported that the summary of results for the Sustainable Saybrook Survey was posted on the Sustainable Saybrook web site. She’s been in contact with reporter Becky Coffey about writing an article about the survey results for “The Harbor News.”
E. Grochowski updated Commissioners about The CT Solar Challenge. She suggested advertising for a volunteer to serve as the liaison for Sustainable Saybrook, and she listed the potential responsibilities of that liaison.
R. Esty said some of those tasks could be broken down and divided among more people so the liaison could be more of a coordinator.
R. Fish, W. Smith and S. Prisloe offered to go with E. Grochowski to speak to First Selectman Carl Fortuna about The CT Solar Challenge to see what his level of interest and commitment is in this project and to explain to him what the town needs to do to get this project up and running.
S. Prisloe shared information about how the Town of Chester developed an Energy Task Force and what they’ve done to successfully implement The CT Solar Challenge.
Sustainable Saybrook ran an essay scholarship contest last year. They would like to do it again this year. Their topic last year was the importance of sustainability. This year, Commissioners recommended the essay topic be about the importance of solar power.
“Green Up” day is coming up soon. Sustainable Saybrook will also be hosting a bicycle-riding event. Commissioners discussed different ideas ranging from a bicycle parade to bicycle rider geocaching.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
- Review current projects as per Land Use Department request:
W. Smith distributed a draft spreadsheet Mid Year Review dated 2/11/14 for the Conservation Commission’s projects. The projects listed are as follows: Committee Meetings, Wetlands, Web Site Update, Sea Level Rise/Climate Adaptation Committee, Regional Trailways, Vernal Pools, Butterfly Garden, Sustainable Saybrook, Lecture Series, Hartlands Overlook Access Points, Phragmites Removal and Maintenance, Founders’ Park to Route 1 Trail, Beavers, Preserve Management Plan and Project Outreach & Education Requirement.
Also listed were projects for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 New Items as follows: New Open Space Plan, Alternative Landscaping and Outreach & Education Plan.
Each item lists status updates for each project, the sponsor/lead for each project, progress for each project as well as how often meetings are/will be held, feasibility to complete each project, potential end dates for each project and whether or not Land Use Department assistance is/ will be needed for each project.
Commissioners engaged in a lengthy discussion about vernal pools in particular and what the Conservation Commission’s role should be in this large project. R. Esty volunteered to commit to the vernal pool project for the 3 years he feels it requires in order to collect proper data about the health of the vernal pools.
S. Prisloe reported that he spoke to Juliana Barrett from UConn who created a brochure for plantings for the CT Coastal Riparian Zone. Juliana Barrett came out to look at the Hartlands Overlook Access area. S. Prisloe and J. Barrett discussed the possibility that this project could be funded under the Long Island Sound Futures Fund. When applications are available, they will see if there’s an appropriate category for this project to be funded under.
W. Smith will ask P. Ingellis to document all public access points that he thinks need some work.
W. Smith reported that Parks and Recreation is interested in working on the Founders’ Park to Route 1 Trail. Ray Allen from Parks and Recreation is planning to talk to S. Prisloe about getting a map of that area.
W. Smith said he feels strongly that outreach and education must be a component of each and every project.
R. Fish noted that the Fishway system should be added to this Conservation Commission mid year review project list. He volunteered to be the lead on the Fishway system.
V. NEW BUSINESS
W. Smith discussed outreach and education pertaining to The Preserve. The Conservation Commission could submit articles to “Saybrook Events Magazine”, the “Harbor News” newspaper and the Sustainable Saybrook web site. He asked Commissioners for their input.
- Potential new projects FY 2013-2014
R. Esty suggested if there is still an audio-visual club at the Old Saybrook High School, the Conservation Commission could ask the students if they would create a virtual tour of The Preserve for public viewing. He offered to contact Ecology Club teacher Karen Carlone about the possibility of creating a video before the public hearing on The Preserve.
W. Smith discussed alternative landscaping. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Chairperson and Ecologist/Naturalist Judy Preston is teaching a class on landscape ecology. She offered to work with her students on the initial steps of the alternative landscaping project to review planting lists and to investigate what different towns are doing in terms of alternative landscaping.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 8:36 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Conservation Commission which will be Tuesday, March 11, 2014, 7:00 P.M., Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 302 Main Street; MADE by R. Esty; SECONDED by R. Esty; VOTED IN FAVOR: R. Fish, R. Esty, W. Smith, E. Grochowski, N. Garrett; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none.; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk
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