Minutes of the Old Lyme Conservation Commission
August 2, 2006, 7:00 pm
Members: Ted Crosby (ex-officio representing Gateway Commission)
Eleanor Czarnowski
Paul Dean
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, Marianne Pfeiffer, Tom Sherer
The group accepted the minutes from July 5, 2006 with minor change.
Action Items from the July Minutes
Ellie sent Planning the list of the commission’s recommendations for FMTM development including 50” buffer zones.
Ellie presented the 2005 Annual Report to the Selectmen and handed out copies of the Trails booklet.
Ellie added CC members’ phone numbers and sent the letter to Sophie Marsh.
Ellie gave a PDF file of the trails map booklet to the town for the town and OCLT web sites.
Ellie gave copies of the Trail Booklet to the sponsors, the town committees, the library, the senior center, the police and fire departments, the selectmen, and distributed them at the last town meeting and at the fair at Florence Griswold Museum.
Anna Holland will send PDF of the Watercourses booklet to Ruth Roach to post on the CC web site.
Ellie sent letter about the Brett Painting septic system and leaching and reserve fields, and the buffer zone plantings.
Dave said Inland Wetlands will ask Brett Painting about the buffer zones, and he will ask Ann to review the original meeting minutes for any discussion about paint storage.
Ted said the Plan of Conservation Development was the primary item submitted to Leslie Lewis for the Greenway.
Ellie sent the Conservation Commissions form letter about lumber, lighting, and so forth for the application for a pier at 24 Neck Road.
Greenway Map for Leslie Lewis at DEP
Ted has updated a map with road access, trails, etc. He said the map is still a work in progress. Ellie will send Leslie a copy of the map, and will also send her the PDF of the Trails Guide for the Greeways website.
Ellie said that she read that an area designated as a greenway might be eligible for grant money. Ted said we have no official definition for greenways in our documentation. George said it doesn’t go into the proper channels – to DEP, then the Office of Management, then into State planning for Conservation and Development. He said the State greenways site has nothing about Old Lyme except the lookout at the bridge. He hasn’t received any grant money either for his trail work proposal from 2005. Ted will update the greenway map – fill in open space – and Ellie will send Leslie Lewis the PDF of the trails guide.
Follow-up to Recommendation/Letters to Planning and Zoning
George sent the letter on to Mike for updating. We need to format it in Zoning Commission specified format and then they are obliged to respond.
Deer Hunting Lottery?
Ellie asked how the group would feel about a lottery to permit bow hunting on town property and open space. Could be a fund-raiser. Tom said it was tried for the (Mianus?) property, but the town decided there were too many liability concerns – too much responsibility. George said we could send out a new questionnaire (as we did for open space in 1997).
Group consensus was that it could cause more problems than its worth.
Leah Griswold Property (Shore Rd/Buttonball Rd)
Ellie sent email to Diana telling her the commission supports the purchase. She may schedule a special meeting with the commission if necessary.
Affordable Housing – Buying vs Upgrading Existing Houses
Ellie asked why we don’t buy smaller beach houses and upgrade them for affordable housing - much better than adding new houses. George said one way to identify them is from the houses that haven’t had septic tanks pumped. Also rental houses could be bought (e.g. some on Griswold Avenue) and rehabbed. We will send a letter to Les Reynolds recommending looking into these other approaches.
Insurance costs are almost impossible for shoreline houses, so the beach area may not be the best suggestion for affordable housing. Allstate is withdrawing insurance for many Long Island and Connecticut shoreline areas. Ted handed out the Slosh Inundation Map showing FEMA’s predicted flood plane. Ted will put the GIS map on the web site (can be zoomed). He will show the map to all the commissions.
International Coastal Cleanup Day 16 September
Tom will email everyone the PACE solar house tour schedule for Saturday August 26th from 1:00 to 3:00, Talcott Mountain Science Center, Avon, CT.
Landscape Booklet Update
Marianne has 30-40 booklets left. She put some of these in the town hall. The rest were distributed.
PRCD Follow-up
Will be reformatted and sent to Zoning again.
Rogers Lake Watershed
George said they will start harvesting the weed from ten acres next week. The harvested weed will be moved to the landfill (by O. L. Public Works). They should compost it.
He said Fred Holth was receptive to the idea of pesticide restrictions for the 90 new houses proposed for the Rogers Lake/Stone’s Ranch area of town.
George asked Nancy Alderman for a list of harmful chemicals and recommendations for alternatives. She said simply say use organic materials. George said potassium is the biggest problem. WPCA vice chairman is sampling water from Rogers Lake for a baseline. Water quality will be monitored during harvesting. Ted said testing should be done as the bottom is stirred up. Storm water testing must be done after a big rain. He said they plan to put in cisterns for easy testing and cleaning.
Four Ponds – Organic Proposal
Dave said we hope to persuade the developer to create a pesticide-free property using only organic materials. George said WPCA can declare it part of the watershed, which will add a little pressure.
Townwoods Fields – Organic Proposal
George and Dave will do another presentation about pesticide danger to children. The people who take care of the fields can change to all organic, but it will cost more (about 1/3 more).
George proposed two questionnaires- he has rough drafts for both:
Questionnaire to Roger Lake landowners. Ellie said get Maureen Plumleigh to hand them out. George will talk to Fred Holth – see if they can afford to print and distribute it – otherwise the commission might do it.
Conservation Commission questionnaire about issues – natural resources, pesticide use, open space acquisition, biodiesel for school buses, tree planting plan for subdivisions, PRCD changes, runoff and groundwater, and other areas of concern. Ellie said people will need background information to help them understand the questions. George suggested putting information in newspapers, Lyme Times, LymeLine and so forth.
George mentioned the Woodbridge study of pesticide use and the watershed – a comparison of test results of pesticides in well water. Levels were high even for non-users, showing that pesticides get into the groundwater.
AOB
Ellie talked about the Town Hall building proposal. She said the commission should list our concerns about features to consider – pervious parking area, solar, energy conservation, buffer planting, geothermal, etc. Send Ellie suggestions. Dave said they have been asked to consider solar.
Mail in CC mailbox:
Jodi Rell - info about pumping boats
Connecticut Planning newsletter
Waterwatch – Massachusetts – article about managing stormwater, etc.
Habitat (from CACIWC) – legislative information from 2005
Connecticut Wildlife
Tom asked about the die-off of grasses in the marshes.
He also asked what is being sprayed along the guard-rails in town. Dave said it goes into the wetlands. Ellie said she asked this last year too.
Assignments
Dave said Inland Wetlands will ask Brett Painting about the buffer zones, and he will ask Ann to review the original meeting minutes for any discussion about paint storage.
Ted will update the greenway map – fill in open space – and Ellie will send Leslie Lewis the PDF and also the PDF of the Trails Guide
Anna Holland will send PDF of the Watercourses booklet to Ruth Roach to post on the CC web site.
Ted will put the GIS map showing FEMA’s predicted flood plane for our area on the web site (can be zoomed). He will also show the map to all the commissions.
George and Dave will do another presentation about pesticide danger to children.
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