Minutes of the Old Lyme Conservation Commission
May 3, 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, David McCulloch, Agnes O’Connor, Marianne Pfeiffer, Tom Sherer, Mike Silberberg
Visitors: Steve Ames, Howard Tooker, Paul Dean (applicant for membership in the Commission)
The group accepted the minutes from April 5, 2006.
Action Items from the April Minutes
Ellie has added Ted’s Stormwater section to the Annual Report.
Ellie has written a letter to ZEO asking the Old Lyme Country Club to fix the lighting. She included a comment about Bridge Gardens’ lighting. Ellie will send the letter around.
Ellie’s letter for Lord Cove Landing is not completed yet.
Marianne Pfeiffer wrote a few lines about her booklet for the Lyme Line.
Ellie submitted a few lines about the trails booklet and Marianne’s booklet for the Lyme Times.
Second PRCD Letter to Zoning
The letter is final and ready to send off. Ellie emailed it to the group. George said we’re asking a lot, but maybe that way we’ll get something. It might force that group to get Mr. Branse involved. Planning should pay attention to the esthetics of a project. Ellie will send the letter.
2005 Annual Report
Ellie completed the Annual Report and emailed the final version to the group. She will get on the selectmen’s agenda to present it.
Trails Booklet
Donations have been coming in - $940 as of Monday. Ellie asked how she should list the sponsors. The group voted unanimously that donors should be listed straight alphabetically.
Lakeside Planting Booklet
Marianne said she has completed the booklet, and it is being prepared for printing. Ciel told her they could print and staple the booklets for 25 cents each, regardless of the number.
Acronyms
George and Marianne made contributions to the latest version. Ellie emailed it to the group and gave a copy to Paul Dean.
Going Organic
George passed out the announcement. He said the Gardening and Lawn Care Seminar will be held on June 10th at the farmers’ market in Lyme (Ashland Farms), from about 10 to shutdown. Holdridge’s will be featured. George invited the garden center next to Hallmarks, and Coffee’s and Christensen Hardware. Holdridge’s will make presentations, one on organic lawn care by an experienced (and witty) speaker. There will be a lot of hand-outs, including Marianne’s booklet. There are many sponsors – George passed around a list. Ellie suggested calling the new owner of Burnett’s Landscaping. Taffy suggested Balleck’s. Dave had already suggested White Gate Farms. Dave mentioned the two men who do
applications for the Town. George will place articles in the local newspapers and in Lyme Light. George will contact the Lyme Garden Club.
Biodiesel
George said there is a lot of nationwide publicity for diesel. The main issue is that production for biodesiel might interfere with agriculture for food. The commission should be active in supporting biodiesel for the school buses. Ellie will contact Sophie Marsh to say we support their group. Paul Dean said the major problem is zoning – the buses are on private property and it is difficult to enforce any changes. . When the buses move to the dump they will be on Town property, but the dump must clear out the leave first. . Suitability has already been established.
Impact of 80 New Homes on Rogers Lake
George said it is within our power to declare a property an area of special concern. (The Clinton property, Smith (Old Lyme Heights) about 40 houses, FMTM 5 houses, Foster 35, and AWWA 10 houses add up to a total of about 80 new houses.) The commission might have the power to prohibit certain activities – use of fertilizers, pesticides, etc.
The water will go into the stream. Dave said Foster is planning a single unified septic system, which will make for a DEP problem.
Energy Saving
Taffy has been assembling information about energy efficient and water saving appliances; rebate programs encouraging savings, and municipal electric utility companies.
George said he read of some town that just bought its streetlights and saved a lot of money.
Discussion of who owns the water in Rogers Lake, Black Hall Pond, etc. George said Dick Coniff was active in a coop where you could sell interest in your carbon credits.
Hatchett’s Hill and Four Ponds Site Walks
The NE National LLC is an 8-house subdivision on Hatchett’s Hill, on the right, just after the town garage heading west. Original plans calling for dense grouping of the house lots, age limited, were nixed by Planning. Dave said that plan allowed for more open space. Current plans are for five separate house lots. One house lot had a very long driveway to avoid the wetlands. Dave proposed a water crossing instead, which opens up more possible conservation land. George said hiring an independent person to make decisions would solve a lot of the squabbling.
Dave said Evan described a development going into Moodus where the developer surrounded each house with a fence setting off areas that could and could not be changed by the owner. This allowed for a lot of shared open space, and buyers were enthusiastic.
Four Ponds subdivision plans haven’t changed except for a unified septic system.
AOB
Ted said a detailed map of Open Space (Lohman) for viewing and printing is now available on the OLCT web site. Clicking on a space links to description of the property and directions to it. He will add the Steube trail after he walks it. The maps will be on the town web site. Ted will also add the trails map booklet. Ellie said it will be on the OLCT web site, and will send Ted a PDF file to put on the town web site. Ellie asked about the relationship of Mary Steube to the George and Woodward H. Griswolds.
George said the Annual Report should be published somewhere. Give it to a reporter and ask him/her to write an article. This would explain what we do and why we ask for money. Ellie said she will send copies to the Finance Committee and to the Selectmen. She will try to get it onto LymeLine too, and possibly the next Selectman’s Report.
Ellie handed around an NRDC newsletter listing recycling paper products. The best were Trader Joe’s and Marcal.
National Trails Day is June 3rd. OLCT and Conservation Commission have planned hikes and activities. Old Lyme Inn owner will provide drinks. Discussion of trimming the Barbizon Oak.
Ellie passed around the CREPRA newsletter and the 2006 hazardous waste pamphlet. George said to emphasize that there is a 25 dollar charge for each car-load, so people should combine materials. David mentioned the electronics recycling day.
Assignments
Ellie will send the PRCD letter to zoning.
Ellie will send the letter to ZEO asking Old Lyme Country Club to fix the lighting
Ellie will get on the selectmen’s agenda to present the 2005 Annual Report
George will send articles about the lawn and gardening seminar to local newspapers and Lyme Light
George will contact Burnett’s Landscaping, Balleck’s and White Gate Farms about the seminar.
Ellie will contact Sophie Marsh to say we support them in their efforts to get the school buses to use biodiesel.
Ellie will give Ted a PDF file of the trails map booklet for the town and OCLT web sites
Ellie will send copies of the 2005 Annual Report to the Finance Committee and the Selectmen’s Report, and try to get it into LymeLine too.
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