Minutes of the Old Lyme Conservation Commission
March 1, 2006, 7:00 pm
Members: Ted Crosby (ex-officio representing Gateway Commission)
Eleanor Czarnowski
Taffy Holland
George James
David McCulloch
Agnes O’Connor
Marianne Pfeiffer
Tom Sherer
Mike Silberberg
Attending: Ted Crosby, Eleanor Czarnowski, Taffy Holland, George James, Agnes O’Connor, Marianne Pfeiffer, Mike Silberberg
Visitor: Diana Atwood Johnson
Open Space Protocol
Diana has submitted the project to Jim Mattern for review. Ellie suggested some minor changes (delete dates of Open Space Plan everywhere, add the Conservation Commission to the list at the end of the first paragraph, be consistent using “town plan of conservation development”). Ted suggested moving up the last bulleted item in paragraph 2 (possible funding partners), because it should come earlier in the process.
Trail Booklet Sponsors
Ellie mailed the group sample pages and handed out a sample trailmap. There are 8 trail maps with descriptions. The booklet will be about 25 pages long. It will have a dedication to John Lohman, written by Merv Roberts.
She has applied for a grant from the DEP Connecticut Trails Program (Lesley Lewis). Printing will cost about $2,700 for 1000 booklets. It must be approved by the selectmen. The grant will reimburse 80% of the cost (due October 2006).
Ellie asked if she should write to local businesses asking them to sponsor the printing, and listing them as sponsors in return. Should she specify a dollar amount? Checks can be made to the town, and Kathy will create a special account. Group agreed she should proceed.
Dieboldt (Hatchett’s Hill) Zoning Change
Zoning has had its meeting. The hearing was extended. The Day quoted someone who said this was an unimportant area. Ellie listed a number of objections (it’s adjacent to the Three Mile River watershed, the impact of reducing areas zoned for light industry). He also has an option on the adjacent Colton property. There are lots of wetlands in the area. The marsh feeds into the Three Mile River. Hilltop has already been approved.
Ellie asked if she should write another letter to Zoning, including the map, with the reasons why it’s important to preserve this land. The group agreed.
Amtrak Application to Replace Some Cable
Ellie sent the application to the group. It contains some good reference material about erosions and sediment deposits in the Connecticut River. The cable is 160 feet under the Railroad bridge. Ellie asked the group for comments. The deadline for comments is March 7th.
Annual Report
Ellie sent it to the group. She asked the group to review it and make comments. She has to send it to the selectmen. She asked Ted to contribute something on Stormwater.
Ant Mounds
Ellie sent the group a copy of her letter to Carnell saying that the town will not use insecticides on the Allegheny Ant mounds, citing references and suggesting alternatives. She will send the letter to Carnell.
PRCD Presentation to Planning
Mike will ask Planning to put us on their agenda. The first presentation got no response. Neither did Ellie’s letter. Mike did a presentation and asked that a subcommittee be formed. Mike suggested that he, George, and Ellie should get together to decide how to follow through.
They should push Zoning to consider forest cutting and replanting. George suggested that a lawyer should be present for discussion of the regulations. Agnes said that someone needs to check up on compliance. Clear cutting is sometimes done while the property is still private, in anticipation of development.
Rogers Lake Management Plan
George has submitted it to the Rogers Lake subcommittee as a framework for the committee to work on. George said we should focus on pesticides, moving on to the organic approach to lawn care. Bill Deusing said he can supply speakers. N.E. Organic Farming sent some people to speak.
George proposes a big meeting, with home owners and lawn care people too. George would like a garden club to sponsor it. They can describe the importance of wetlands. He hopes that will get the attention of the home owners. They should describe chemicals used, cost effects, etc. He needs a list of organic chemicals. The local lawn-care people will respond to home owners, market demands.
Discussion of milky spore here.
George said the study stresses the importance of education. The study is available on-line.
Rogers Lake Planting Booklet
Marianne showed the group her Hartman Park booklet as an example of the type of booklet she has in mind for Rogers Lake. It will have a small amount of text and a lot of pictures, with illustrations of native plantings, landscaping going down to the water, and lists of native plants etc. Coastal Management booklet is one source of native plants (plants are expensive). She will include other sources.
Other Business
David and George James met with the town’s lawn care people and discussed going organic for the playing fields. They estimated the additional cost would be about $7,000. They would prefer to do it. David and George are meeting with the first selectman in March to talk about it.
An article in the Day about Point O’ Woods sewers upset Merv Roberts, and he called Ellie. He thought the million dollars was going to a study of Point O’Woods. He is writing to Gov. Rell. Agnes said the DEP is actually doing the study to benefit New London, whose system is over-used. Ellie asked how to raise public awareness of this.
David received a link to the USGS report on groundwater in CT –which uses an Old Lyme example. Taffy will send the link to the rest of the group.
Janet and Ellie said the Village Estates detention basin looks awful – it’s just raw riprap. The Lords Cove plan is still in Inland Wetlands and being redesigned. She hopes they can make their detention basin more esthetic. Ellie will email the group with the basin information.
Ellie said the red dogwood plantings along the verge on the ramp to the Ct River bridge should be trimmed properly. The Garden Club should do it. Agnes said she will investigate the possibility, but she doubts they will allow it.
Ellie said she would like the commission to partner with the OLCT to make and sell flour sack towels with Open Space maps for the 40th anniversary (2006) of the Old Lyme Conservation Trust.
Ellie mentioned text from an Audubon link with information about plantings on capped landfills. Taffy will send the text to the group.
Ellie finished reading Against the Tide, a book about our eroding beaches on the East and West coasts. She will bring in the book. David took the information – he’s interested in the sediment.
Dave mentioned that in the Inland Wetlands discussion of the Cummings property at Tantammaheag. Diana said this is the habitat of some of the “Connecticut birds of greatest conservation needs”. Diana presented a list to Inland Wetlands – these are habitats most likely to be disturbed. People suggested Bill Burt (photographer), the Connecticut Department of Ornithology, or Hank Golet as experts for the hearing at next month’s IW meeting. They have 90 days to develop the argument for defending the area. Ellie said the townspeople can bring the greatest pressure. They were able to stop the Shell Station coffee stop. David will follow through with this.
Assignments
Ellie will write to Zoning with the reasons why it’s important to preserve the Dieboldt land.
Ted to contribute something on Stormwater to the Annual Report
Ellie will send Carnell the letter about ant mounds
Mike, George, Ellie to get together to discuss PRCD Presentation to Planning
Ellie asked the group to comment on the Amtrak application and the Annual Report
Agnes will see if the Garden Club can be involved in trimming the bushes on the ramp to the Ct. River bridge.
David will pursue getting someone to speak in defense of the “Connecticut birds of greatest conservation needs.”
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