MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
Thursday, December 11, 2014 at 3:30 P.m.
Town Hall, First Floor Conference Room
302 Main Street, Old Saybrook
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Larry Ritzhaupt called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Members Present
Larry Ritzhaupt
Bill Webster
Robert Yust
Jerry Brophy
Janice Holland
Michael Momparler (arrived at 3:37 p.m.)
John Donnelly (arrived at 3:39 p.m.)
Tom Gezo (arrived at 3:42 p.m.)
Absent Members
Steve Tagliatela
Doug McCracken
Land Use Department Staff Present
Christine Nelson, Town Planner
Sandy Prisloe, Environmental Planner
Chris Costa, Zoning Enforcement Officer
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk
Town Hall Staff Present
Jim Monopoli, CT River Area Health District (CRAHD)
III. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Minutes
MOTION to approve the minutes from the Conservation Commission’s Sea Level Rise Climate Adaptation Committee’s Regular Meeting of November 13, 2014. MADE: by B. Webster; SECONDED by R. Yust; VOTED IN FAVOR: L. Ritzhaupt, R. Yust, J. Holland, J. Brophy, B. Webster; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
- Correspondence & Announcements
L. Ritzhaupt encouraged Commissioners to attend an educational workshop in the 1st Floor Conference Room of Town Hall on Tuesday, December 16, 2014 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. presented by Juliana Barrett, UConn Cooperative Extension and Sea Grant Educator, on the use of living shorelines to better protect coastal areas.
L. Ritzhaupt attended a recent meeting of the Planning Commission. He asked the PC if they would work with this Committee on how the Town Plan could be impacted by the CC SLRCAC’s findings and final report. He proposed that the CC SLRCAC Members attend the 1/21/2015 PC meeting to discuss this further.
The 2nd January meeting of the CC SLRCAC will be a joint meeting with the Planning Commission at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 1/21/2015 at Town Hall, 302 Main Street in the 1st Floor Conference Room. This will be in place of the regular meeting of the CC SLRCAC which was scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, 1/22/2015.
L. Ritzhaupt explained that there will not be another CC SLRCAC meeting this month because the next meeting would fall on Christmas Day. Therefore, the next CC SLRCAC meeting will be on 1/8/2015.
L. Ritzhaupt asked Committee members who would be willing to volunteer to present information about their topics (community, environment or economy) at the 1/8/2015 meeting. R. Yust volunteered. L. Ritzhaupt will speak about the fauna of the marsh community and the effects of sea level rise. D. McCracken will also present. J. Brophy offered to present in February.
IV. DISCUSSION
Where Are We? Where Are We Going? How Do We Get There?
ENVIRONMENT – Coastal Plant Communities (Janice Holland)
J. Holland presented on the impact that sea level rise has had and will have in the future on marshes. The relative sea level rise has gone up appreciably. She talked about the marshes becoming fragmented and changes in vegetation due to loss because of erosion and flooding.
She is part of the CC SLRCAC’s Environmental Working Group. They plan to evaluate and make recommendations as to how to preserve, maintain and restore our coastal wetlands and beaches (including infrastructure) and facilitate marsh migration.
She shared a graph which gives information on parcels of land in town that may be suitable for marsh advancement.
Maintaining sediment transport is important. C. Nelson said Parks & Recreations and many of the town’s beaches are already re-sanding their beaches.
There are ways to create marsh and create dunes by planting appropriate grasses and species and providing protective barriers such as sand fencing.
Invasive species management is important, and there are programs in different parts of the country testing the different options.
J. Holland’s presentation is on the CC SLRCAC’s web site, and S. Prisloe made hard copies for Committee members as well.
ECONOMY – Residences (Tom Gezo)
T. Gezo talked about the status of “Where We Are?” in Old Saybrook. He reported that in Old Saybrook, there were 3.2 million dollars in claims for NFIP for Irene and 9.7 million dollars in claims for Superstorm Sandy. He talked about the percentage of vulnerable properties and areas of risk. The frequency and intensity of the damage is likely to increase due to the impacts of climate change.
He looked at the situation from the perspective of the homeowner as well as the town’s perspective. This viewpoint includes homeowner risks, options and potential resources and available funding. The town created a Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan in 2014. Town building codes have been impacted as well as the permitting process and the WPCA’s septic programs. The character of the town and property values will be impacted by the effects of future sea level rise. Sea level rise is going to be expensive for the homeowner as well as the town.
He asked the question “Where Are We Going?” from the homeowner perspective. Certain areas of the town may be considered unsuitable for development. Homeowners will have to consider whether or not to have expensive upgrades done to their homes.
From the town’s perspective, programs are in place to support and insure the character of Old Saybrook, property values and the health and safety of town residents.
In the future, educational efforts can help to advise residents on options to make their homes and properties more resilient. Also, residents need to be aware of town policies and practices that will help the town prepare for the impacts of climate change and sea level rise.
R. Yust talked about the competition for funds to improve infrastructure and to help the communities most at risk for sea level rise. As the magnitude of sea level rise becomes more substantial, there will be more communities applying for resources to help them cope with it.
C. Nelson mentioned the importance of implementation of the plan that is created.
COMMUNITY
Because the previous two presentations ran until 5:00 p.m., J. Donnelly and R. Yust will present their topics at a future meeting.
– Public Health (John Donnelly)
- Recreation (Robert Yust)
V. MEETING SUMMARY
VI. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Conservation Commission’s Sea Level Rise Climate Adaptation Committee on Thursday, January 8, 2015 at 3:30 p.m., Town Hall, 302 Main Street, 1st Floor Conference Room.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk
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