MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, March 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
III. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Minutes
MOTION to approve the minutes from the Conservation Commission’s Regular Meeting of February 11, 2014 as presented.; MADE by R. Esty; SECONDED by R. Fish; VOTED IN FAVOR: R. Fish, W. Smith, R. Esty, N. Garrett, E. Grochowski; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
- Correspondence and Announcements
W. Smith spoke to Adam Welchel from the Nature Conservancy. A. Welchel has salt marsh change scenarios that he would like to share with the Conservation Commission. W. Smith would like to have him speak with Commissioners at their April or May meeting. He will contact him to make the arrangements.
The portion of “The Preserve” land that is in Essex is being separated from the portion of “The Preserve” that is in Old Saybrook in terms of the grant applications.
The Trust for Public Land and the DEEP Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program have requested that the Old Saybrook Conservation Commission send a letter of support for the application by the Essex Land Trust and the Trust for Public Land for a DEEP Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition grant for 70 acres of “The Preserve” in Essex. Commissioners discussed what the impacts would be. W. Smith drafted a letter, and Commissioners reviewed it.
W. Smith will talk with Kate Brown from the Trust for Public Land about the impact of the ownership rights when the land is separated by municipality. He will have First Selectman Carl Fortuna review the letter before he sends it.
The Economic Development Commission will hold a workshop on March 26, 2014. W. Smith and R. Fish both plan to attend. E. Grochowski is interested in attending if there are enough spots available.
Town residents have been asked to participate in the process. Nine residents have responded.
D. Sustainable Saybrook
E. Grochowski reported that the article in “The Harbor News” about the Sustainable Saybrook Survey was published recently.
The essay question for the high school scholarship has been posted on the web site. The winner will be chosen at the May Sustainable Saybrook Meeting.
“Green Up Day” is going to be on April 26, 2014.
E. Grochowski is working on a bicycle event to take place the weekend of May 31st along the points of The Natural Heritage Tour. She is working with volunteers from the Sustainable Saybrook group to develop the route and to come up with possible raffle prizes for photo submissions of spots along the trail. E. Grochowski wanted to have someone give a talk on “The Preserve” at this event. R. Fish and W. Smith offered to do this.
E. Grochowski is going to talk to Ray Allen about the availability of the Pasbeshauke Pavilion for that weekend.
E. Grochowski has heard from a few respondents who would like to help with The Solar Challenge.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
- Project Outreach Checklist
W. Smith distributed a draft of a Projects Outreach Checklist. Project outreach is a tool to educate the public. He would like each project leader to provide information about the project announcement, project progress update, project completion/stage completion announcement and a public education event, if applicable.
- FY 2014-2015 Priority Setting
W. Smith would like the Conservation Commission to work on a new Plan of Open Space as part of The Plan of Conservation and Development. He’s looking at a 2 -year time period to develop the Plan. The Plan of Open Space was last done in 2006, so if it takes 2 years, the new plan will be done in 2016. The Plan should be updated every 10 years.
W. Smith suggested that the Conservation Commission host more educational events for the public.
W. Smith would like the Conservation Commission to concentrate on promoting native plantings that honor New England’s ecology and natural heritage.
V. CURRENT ACTIVITIES UPDATES
R. Esty submitted an article to Saybrook Events Magazines about vernal pools. He spoke with Old Saybrook High School science teacher Karen Carlone about recruiting student volunteers in grades 7-12 to work with the Conservation Commission on vernal pools. This year, students would volunteer, but next year, students may be able to get school credit for this work.
R. Esty also talked with K. Carlone about the butterfly garden signs. She may be able to get the Industrial Arts Department to help design and create the signs.
R. Fish reported on the Beaver Committee meeting. Committee members talked about the problems the beavers are causing for nearby property owners and roads. After some discussion about possible alternatives with the DEEP, Committee members agreed to DEEP’s recommendation to trap the beavers. This recommendation will be forwarded to the selectmen for their consideration.
N. Garrett went to Three Rivers Community College to visit Judy Preston’s class. W. Smith made a presentation about researching what other communities are doing to ensure development proposals follow planting recommendations in sync with the ecology and character of their community. Students will be researching this and reporting their results.
R. Fish updated Commissioners on the status of the appraisals for “The Preserve.”
W. Smith is going to prepare some fact sheets about “The Preserve.” He talked about holding discussions at Acton Library and submitting articles to “The Harbor News” before the public referendum.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 8:42 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Conservation Commission which will be Tuesday, April 8, 2014, 7:00 P.M., Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 302 Main Street; MADE by E. Grochowski; 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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