MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
Wednesday, May 12, 2015 at 7:00 P.m.
Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room
302 Main Street
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. ROLL CALL
Members Present
Walter Smith
Pat Ingellis
Nina Garrett
Emily Grochowski
Richard Esty
Members Absent
Jerry Brophy
Robert Fish
Land Use Department Staff Present
Sandy Prisloe, Environmental Planner
III. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Minutes
MOTION to approve the minutes from the Conservation Commission’s Regular Meeting of April 14, 2015 as presented.; MADE by E. Grochowski ; SECONDED by P. Ingellis; VOTED IN FAVOR: W. Smith, E. Grochowski, P. Ingellis, R. Esty, N. Garrett; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
- Correspondence and Announcements
Sandy brought a copy of The Habitat, and a brochure for Connecticut Trails Weekend, which will be held Saturday and Sunday June 6th and 7th.
- Sea Level Rise Climate Adaptation Committee
Sandy reported that the committee is still drafting its report. A public information session will be scheduled in the summer, probably before summer residents leave. Walt has asked Larry to provide an article on the committee's work for the second issue of the Commission's newsletter. Once the report has been submitted, the committee will not continue in its present form; First Selectman Carl Fortuna may decide to re-appoint it, or appoint a new one, to carry out whatever recommendations or next steps the report contains. Carl met with someone from the US Geological Survey, which is proposing a tide gauge at the mouth of the CT River; the cost would be shared between the USGS and Old Saybrook. The data from this gauge ground stations would go to a satellite and thence to ground stations; it would be
publicly accessible on the website of the USGS.
D. Sustainable Saybrook
Emily reported that seven essays had been submitted for the essay contest, and the judges are currently reading them. The winner will receive his/her award ($500) at awards night at the high school.
- Wetlands and Aquifer Commissions
The committee didn't meet; it is still working on revising regulations.
Walt and Nina will meet with Bill McMinn at Essex Publishing on Wednesday May 20th.
G. The Preserve
The Preserve is now legally open although not yet so advertised. The Management Committee has met once to plan for a day's work (held Saturday May 9) to put up boundary signs and remove No Trespassing signs.
The state is supposed to pay for several studies (forestry, recreation, hunting, and assessment of natural resources) It has a year in which to do these. There were apparently some previous studies on some aspects of the Preserve, but these have not yet been located. Even before the new reports are received the committee could work on deciding which trails to keep open, on proposals for the education center, etc.
IV. PROJECT UPDATES
- Municipal Ecological Landscape Planting Guidance Document
Walt and Casey Constable are still consulting on how this might be implemented.
R. Esty reported that four outings have already been held and more are coming up. This year the pools are much shallower and the populations much decreased. Connecticut is in a four-year drought, although this past winter's snow did help. Esty looked at some Old Lyme pools as well and observed the same decline. He now can chart data year by year so as to track changes that may be caused by interventions, weather, climate change, etc.
R. Esty bought about 50 plants from the Connecticut River District plant sale, which he is holding until Larry has completed the digging at the site. Members of the Conservation Commission volunteered to help him plant when the time comes.
- The Nature of Old Saybrook Event
Emily reported that the tentative date is Sunday September 13th, 2:00 to 5:00; it will be held in the Parks and Rec building. Some 7-10 people have already agreed to staff tables and/or to do presentations (in classrooms near the gym). She has not yet planned out what food or drink might be made available. So far no costs have been associated with the event, but she assumes that some donations will be made to the organizations that put on presentations. R. Esty suggested that the Chamber of Commerce might be asked to organize a small cook-off; he also suggested that someone could do face-painting for children featuring "nature". Walt suggested conducting a small survey of attendees, asking about their interest in various topics that the Commission might later arrange presentations on.
E. Conservation Commission Award: Proposal
Walt's suggestion that it be a plaque thanking all those who worked to secure the Preserve met with general approval. Commission members thought the award need not be pre-conceived as an annual one but could be offered when special recognition was called for. Members discussed the possible timing of the award's presentation, perhaps at a town gathering, with a press conference, perhaps at next year's Green Up Day.
F. Other Updates
Rain Garden at Acton Library
Sandy said he'd gone to look at the rain garden and found it the worse for wear and in need of weeding, mulch, new plants, etc. He will check with Jane Bowerman from the River District as to whether there are any plants left over from their sale that could be used.
Discussion of this rain garden led to a broader discussion of the issue of maintenance for the various projects that the Conservation Commission puts into place. Who is responsible for maintaining them? This has been discussed before but never with any resolution. Every project we undertake should include a maintenance plan. One instance of obvious neglect is the Oyster River Overlook, #6 on our Natural Heritage Tour, which is so overgrown as to be impassible. Walt recommended that we look at all our open space projects and see what shape they're in, taking photographs to document the problems. It was agreed that this issue should be a major topic for next month's meeting.
V. NEW BUSINESS
VI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Conservation Commission which will be Tuesday, May 12, 2015, 7:00 P.M., Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 302 Main Street; MADE by R. Esty; SECONDED by E. Grochowski; VOTED IN FAVOR: W. Smith, R. Esty, E. Grochowski, , N. Garrett, P. Ingellis; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none.; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk for Nina Garrett, Secretary
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