REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.
Starting at “Town Park” Clark Community Park, Schoolhouse Road
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Janis Esty called the regular meeting to order at 6:08 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Members Present
Janis Esty
Donald Ranaudo
David Shearer
Kenneth Soudan, seated for R. Missel
Michael Urban, seated for C. Flanagan
Kathleen Sugland, arrived at 6:15 P.M.
Members Absent
Robert Missel
Cathryn Flanagan
Staff Present
Christine Nelson, Town Planner
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk
MOTION to amend the agenda to move item V. Workshop A. Scenic Roads to the top of the agenda; MADE by K. Soudan; SECONDED by D. Ranaudo; VOTED IN FAVOR: D. Shearer, D. Ranaudo, K. Soudan, J. Esty, M. Urban; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
V. WORKSHOP
Commission members and Land Use Staff drove together from Town Park in a southerly direction to Lookout Hill, which is north of I-95, where they turned around and drove in a northerly direction up Schoolhouse Road to Squaw Brook. Along the way, C. Nelson notated the map with points of interest that will later be recorded with GPS equipment.
Commissioners noted the fishway at Town Park, the trailheads, the vernal pools, and they asked C. Nelson to verify whether or not the pavilion near Crystal Lake used to be an ice house. C.Nelson said she would further research the history of Schoolhouse Road including schools on Schoolhouse Road.
Items C. Nelson noted on the map included stone walls, a notable tree, an historic barn, neighborhood markers, rock outcropping, a graveyard on Gilbert Road, Beacon Hill, and a home which is listed on the state historical register.
Commissioners discussed the many stonewalls along Schoolhouse Road and the importance of beautifying and exposing them without stylizing or reconstructing them. They also talked about the possibility of adding trails and/or a sidewalk alongside Schoolhouse Road.
Commissioners agreed to continue their workshop on scenic roads at their second regularly scheduled meeting in the month of October which will be Wednesday, October 17, 2012, 7:30 P.M. Town Hall, 302 Main Street, 1st Floor Conference Room.
A. Minutes
MOTION to table the minutes from September 5, 2012 until the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Planning Commission which will be Wednesday, October 3, 2012, 7:30 P.M. Town Hall, 302 Main Street, 1st Floor Conference Room.; MADE by J. Esty SECONDED by D. Ranaudo; VOTED IN FAVOR: D. Shearer, M. Urban, R. Missel, J. Esty, K. Soudan; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
MOTION to pay invoice #30946 from Attorneys Branse, Willis & Knapp dated 9/1/2012 for $2,871.00.; MADE by J. Esty; SECONDED by D. Shearer; VOTED IN FAVOR: D. Shearer, D. Ranaudo, K. Soudan, J. Esty, M. Urban; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
MOTION to pay invoice #30904 from Attorneys Branse, Willis & Knapp dated 9/1/2012 for $33.00.; MADE by J. Esty; SECONDED by D. Shearer; VOTED IN FAVOR: D. Shearer, D. Ranaudo, K. Soudan, J. Esty, M. Urban; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
Commissioners received a copy of a memorandum dated 9/5/12 from Joseph Budrow, Certified Zoning/Wetlands Enforcement Official for the Town of Essex, regarding Essex West 6-lot Open Space Preservation Subdivision with the attached Notice of Decision from the IWWC for Essex West dated 8/14/12.
C. Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
D. Shearer gave an update on the Route 1 Task Force. They will be meeting on Tuesday, September 26, 2012, and Robert Friedmann, Chairman of the Zoning Commission will be speaking about the different zones that make up Route 1 East. In the next “Saybrook Events Magazine”, there will be an article about the Route 1 Task Force contest. Residents will be encouraged to submit ideas to improve Route 1 East, and there will be a prize awarded for the best idea.
C. Nelson now has the sign measurements that are needed for the Planning Commission’s scenic road sign contest. She will get that information to Commissioners for the next Planning Commission meeting.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
None
VI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 7:10 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, October 3, 2012, at 7:30 P.M.,Town Hall, 302 Main Street, 1st Floor Conference Room.; MADE by D. Shearer; SECONDED by M. Urban; VOTED IN FAVOR: K. Soudan, J. Esty, D. Ranaudo, M. Urban, D. Shearer; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Noyes
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