MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
Thursday, March 19, 2015 – 7:00 p.m.
Town Hall, 1st Floor Conference Room
302 Main Street, Old Saybrook
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Judith Preston called the meeting to order at 7:00pm.
II. ROLL CALL
Members Present
Judith Preston, Walter Smith, Janis Esty, Colin Heffernan, Charles Wehrly, Brendan McKeown, Elizabeth Steffen
Members Absent: Paul Carver
Staff Present
Sandy Prisloe, Wetlands Officer; Meryl Tsagronis, Recording Clerk
III. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Minutes
MOTION to APPROVE the Minutes of February 19, 2015 as amended, to remove Daniel Walden from Roll Call and from all motions, and on page 2, first sentence, delete “they are still looking at wetlands regulations”; MADE by C. Wehrly; SECONDED by E. Steffen; VOTING IN FAVOR: J. Preston, B. McKeown, Walter Smith, J. Esty, Colin Heffernan, C. Wehrly, E. Steffen; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINING: None; APPROVED: 7-0-0.
B. Correspondence & Announcements
Members briefly discussed a memo from Branse & Willis dated February 23, 2015.
C. Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
Charles Wehrly said a WPCA hearing was held; the project management soft cost assessment was approved.
Janis Esty reported for the Planning Commission about a recommendation for approval for an application pertaining to a zoning change from AA1 to I1, with regard to property containing a gravel pit.
Sandy Prisloe discussed remediation work taking place at the Mobil gas station at corner of Route 1 and Elm Street, where an underground leak is being cleaned up. The underground tanks will be replaced, which will necessitate lowering the ground water level, and ultimately discharging behind the former Tissa’s on Boston Post Road. The question is whether or not they need a wetlands permit to discharge the water. If the state is permitting these activities does that trump local jurisdiction? S. Prisloe will find out and report to the Commission.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
15-004 “330 Watrous Point Road”
Landscape Improvements
330 Watrous Point Road (Map 64 / Lots 17-2)
Applicant: Martin & Ann MacKay ~~Agent: ~Thomas Metcalf, P.E.L.S.
Thomas Metcalf, representing the applicant, explained that subsequent to last month’s meeting, he appeared before the Zoning Board of Appeals and received a variance with no change to the plans. J. Preston asked for clarification on fencing. Andrew Moyer, landscape architect, said he did not believe wildlife would be negatively impacted and that he had conferred with Juliana Barrett, who shared this view.
Walter Smith asked that in the future A. Moyer obtain written statements when providing expert testimonials.
Brendan McKeown expressed concern about discharge of pool water. A. Moyer said the pool water may be pumped into a truck and hauled away, or neutralized and then discharged.
Members agreed that it was important to include language in the motion regarding pool water discharge given the proximity of the property to wetlands.
MOTION to APPROVE Application “330 Watrous Point Road”, Landscape Improvements, 330 Watrous Point Road (Map 64 / Lots 17-2) Applicant: Martin & Ann MacKay ~~Agent: Thomas Metcalf, P.E.L.S. with the recommendation that the owners act as good stewards of the property and that they protect the wetlands, keeping it free of chemicals, when discharging pool water; MADE by B. McKeown; SECONDED by E. Steffen; VOTING IN FAVOR: J. Preston, B. McKeown, W. Smith, J. Esty, C. Heffernan, C. Wehrly, E. Steffen;
OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINING: None; APPROVED: 7-0-0.
V. NEW BUSINESS
15-006 “8 Ridgewood Drive”
Deposit Beach Sand
8 Ridgewood Drive (Map 53 / Lot 24-10)
Applicant: Dawn & Michael Poitras
Michael Poitras, and Louis Porito explained they would like to place 12 tons of beach sand onto the Poitras property to create a beach and play area near the reservoir.
Commission members agreed that not enough information was presented to form a decision and suggested applicant hire a soil scientist to flag the wetlands.
MOTION to not accept Application 15-006 “8 Ridgewood Drive” Deposit Beaach Sand, 8 Ridgewood Drive (Map 53 / Lot 24-10) Applicant Dawn & Michael Poitras, as it is incomplete, MADE by C. Heffernan, SECONDED by B. McKeown; VOTING IN FAVOR: J. Preston, B. McKeown, W. Smith, J. Esty, C. Heffernan, C. Wehrly, E. Steffen; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINING: None; APPROVED: 7-0-0.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 8:04 P.M. until the next Regularly Scheduled Meeting of the Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Commission scheduled for Thursday, April 16, 2015, Town Hall, 302 Main Street, 1st Floor Conference Room; MADE by J. Preston; SECONDED by B. McKeown; VOTING IN FAVOR: J. Preston, B. McKeown, W. Smith, J. Esty, C. Heffernan, C. Wehrly, E. Steffen; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINING: None; APPROVED: 7-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Meryl Tsagronis
Recording Clerk
| 
