Minutes of the Old Lyme Conservation Commission
October 4, 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, Paul Dean, Taffy Holland, George James, David McCulloch, Agnes O’Connor, Marianne Pfeiffer, Tom Sherer
Visitors: John Forbis, Sophie Marsh
The group accepted the minutes from September 5, 2006.
The order of agenda items was changed to allow the visitors to go first.
John Forbis – Town Hall expansion
Ellie sent John a letter listing the concerns of the Conservation Commission, and a list of native trees and shrubs provided by Marianne. John plans to meet with Tim Griswold tomorrow, and then with the other selectmen and the town hall expansion committee. He went over each item in the letter:
Pervious parking surface – George mentioned that Poly pavement costs 7 cents per square foot, John mentioned egg-crate concrete, Dave had some information about pervious concrete, and Tom mentioned a local source. Ted said the FEMA boundary is very close. He asked what elevation is planned to avoid flooding. He gave John a copy of the Slosh map.
Buffer planting – John said he and Tim have asked the tree committee to handle the plantings. They will contact Marianne to discuss the details. The design should have low water requirements. Ellie said the town should set a good example by avoiding pesticides and fertilizers.
Solar – John said he asked the architect to have an elevation suitable for solar. Jim Bechtel and John will visit sites with solar collectors to see how they look. Ellie said that photo-voltaic shingles are now available. Tom said the savings will depend on the grant dollars, as well as the lower energy bills.
Geothermal – John said active domestic water systems could ??? TAPE John said they will also study geothermal systems as well as solar. Tom said Earl Semmelrock, with LaFramboise well drilling installs ground loop systems.
Insulated concrete forms (ICFs) – Tom said the town is familiar with them. They are leggo-like blocks with concrete poured between. They are sound-deadening and insulating. Would save energy if used above ground. John also asked if there had ever been a noise study of Lyme Street.
Model energy conservation practices – John said they are looking into the details. The letter mentions sustainable building materials, climate-responsive architecture, energy efficient lighting and appliances.
Shielded lighting – John said they’re committed to it. Ellie said the parking lot lighting should be turned off when not needed. John asked members to take a look at the library parking lot lighting and tell him if that meets our standards. Dave asked if there is any State money available for going green. A STEAP (Small Town Economic Assistance Program) grant may provide some funds for the lighting. Ground loop system ??? TAPE qualifies for lower electricity rate.
John said if more ideas come up, let him know. He said the letter was very clear. Ellie will send him an electronic copy so that he can distribute it to his team. He will return for a future meeting to give us an update. He said they are applying for a historic restoration grant (200 K), and a grant for handicap accessibility (about 500 K). TAPE
Sophie Marsh – Buses and Biodiesel
Sophie Marsh lives on Jadon Drive, where the school buses are parked, and where they idle to warm up. She and her family and neighbors have had a lot of respiratory illness. She distributed a packet of material on biodiesel fuel. The last section discusses the advantages of biodiesel.
One of the school bus drivers gave Sophie a copy of Nancy Alderman’s (EHHI) book on diesel chemicals. She shared this information with the school and selectmen. David Brown (co-author with Nancy Alderman) and a DEP representative visited the bus site and made recommendations.
District 18 got an EPA grant for bus filters. *** TAPE both short and long term policies???. Ellie asked what has been done about moving the buses. George said there’s no money available from the school board for a feasibility study. Tom said clean diesel is available. Ted said it has been banned because it’s too competitive with regular diesel. Ellie told Sophie the commission supports her, we will do whatever we can to help.
Sophie said ultra low-sulfur diesel is available. George said there’s no requirement that buses be garaged in Old Lyme. The owner of the company is willing to keep them in Saybrook. There’s a July 2006 bill to exempt biodiesel from excise taxes. Agnes asked how Sophie thinks the selectmen feel about moving the buses (***). She said they’re all for it – would save a lot of rent money.
Ted suggested putting biodiesel sites on the Conservation Commission web site.
September Action Items from September Minutes
Ellie still has to write the letter to the Griswolds. Was unsure how to address it. Will use “Elizabeth”.
Tom Sherer letter was sent.
Ellie added Marianne’s Buffer information to the Town Hall letter.
George sent the Poly pavement information
Questionnaire – see discussion
Plan of Conservation and Development for 2000. Ted will get an electronic copy. Must be redone for 2010.
David said CRERPA won’t pay for the questionnaire. He’ll go back and try again.
David listed the items that Brett Painting had agreed to. He hasn’t done any of them.
Four Ponds Plan
This (PRCD) property was walked last year. It’s the NE corner of town on the south side of the Post Road, near Kus. Tree cutting is to be approved by the Conservation Commission. Ellie asked whether there are individual septics or a group septic – plans show both. George said the WPCA has to review the septic systems. The DEP must sign off on it. Not an easy thing, and gives us some leverage to ask them to go green. There are 60 +/- acres of open space out of a total of 84 acres. They’re planning houses that will cost around $1.5 million.
The grade on the entrance is steep – no place for the school bus to park to pick up kids. Who? TAPE
The property belongs to the homeowners’ association – open space easement – George: Mattern recommended the town to hire someone to enforce easements.
Ellie said the commission will recommend that the town should manage the easement. She questions the septics on every lot along with the community septic. No lighting is shown, although there is lighting up and down the street.
The plan is coming back to IW. Gary Hendron is the developer (also of Spinnaker in East Lyme). Marianne asked what if no houses are sold -–who are the homeowners.
Nicoja Road is a private road. George asked if both access roads are too steep for fire trucks. Janet said they’re going to use fill. The developer isn’t putting in houses, just the roads. The DEP can’t approve the septic without plans.
Conservation Commission will write to Planning with our comments, and to the builder. Ellie prefers to write one letter for both, detailing our comments.
Town Questionnaire
Marianne said it should be much shorter, the questions should be grouped. Ellie said it should be a single page, post-marked so they can fold and return it. Ted said we should tie it in with the next phase of the POCD. He will suggest questions to do this.
Assignments
Ellie will send John Forbis an electronic copy of the letter so that he can distribute it to his team.
.??Ted suggested putting biodiesel sites on the Conservation Commission web site.?
Ellie will write the letter to the Griswolds.
Ellie will write to Planning and the builder with our comments on the Four Ponds plans.
will suggest questions to tie in the questionnaire with the next phase of the POCD.
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