Conservation Commission Meeting
Christ the King Church
April 2, 2008, 7:00 pm
Members: Ted Crosby (ex-officio representing Gateway Commission)
Eleanor Czarnowski
Paul Dean
Taffy Holland
George James
Janice Kraus
David McCulloch
Agnes O’Connor
Tom Sherer
Attending: Ted Crosby, Eleanor Czarnowski, Taffy Holland, George James, Janice Kraus, Dave McCulloch
1. Minutes of March 5, 2008 accepted.
2. Mail and Chairman’s Report
· George said the Hartford Avenue plan it too sensitive right now for use to send our comments.
· Lyme Art Academy parking lot - Tom is absent tonight – defer for next meeting.
· Dave called Merv about writing about Doug Tolderlund for Lyme Events and/or LymeLine. He said he is doing it.
3. Recycling Information
Kathy who? told Ellie that Janice Myers (?) of CRERPA is looking for someone who will make sure that the dates and lists of acceptable items for the Estuary Region Household Hazardous Waste Facility, and the electronics collection, is posted throughout the town before each date. Dave said he’ll make sure this is done.
4. William Lyons Memorial
George said William Lyons is the man who sold us Champlain North and South. He looked at metal benches, but said they’re probably not suitable. Paul was going to talk to someone about an engraved stone bench. Dave will call Paul to see if he has made an arrangement. Taffy suggested talking to Phil Trowbridge, in Old Lyme.
5. Organic Treatment of Town Fields
George said lots of letters have gone to the selectmen. Ted asked if they were copied to the DEP and went into the town records. George said a summary letter, listing prior letters, might be a good idea. Dave said maybe we could get copies of all of them.
Ellie said Phil is waiting to see what the State will rule. Then the town will have to follow their guidelines.
George said the chemical companies will counter the state’s efforts. He said we should remind the selectmen that the same kids are playing on the town fields as play on the school fields where pesticides are no longer being used. Also we should remind them of the letters.
Dave said he talked to ??? at the DEP about coming to talk to us. Ellie said he should get her to give us a date. We should tell Tim we have someone to talk about it. Tim would give the information to Bob Dunn. George said we should forewarn Tim before we proceed. Organic care would go into the town budget as a finance item. It comes down to money.
Ted said we should try to get the town’s opinion before the spring application. We could send a notice to everyone in town.
George said it has to be a town administrative decision. We should put all this on Tim’s desk before we have a meeting. Maybe Nancy Alderman (EHHI) could help us assemble information. George said he will try to assemble copies of all the letters. Taffy will contact Nancy Alderman for information.
6. Rogers Lake Report
George said the authority didn’t have a quorum at their annual meeting, but they did talk about the contest for homeowners with the best protection of the lake by berms, plantings, etc. George asked if they need a letter of support from the conservation commission - also from Inland Wetlands. Maureen has a website for the west side homeowners. She can inform her whole group.
George talked about the fabric that lies on the bottom of a lake and cuts out the light, killing off all of the vegetation. One member of the authority pooh-poohed this idea.
7. Organic Lawn Care Pledge
George said we do have a sample pledge sheet. The Garden Club did pledge to be strictly organic. Also one of the town lawn care businesses does organic care. Dave said we could put a pledge sheet in the selectmen’s report. Taffy suggested asking LymeLine to put in a printable page. Ted said Storrs has an evening class in organic lawn care.
8. Connecticut Annual State of the Birds Report
This is an annual report from Audubon. Ellie has the latest report.
9. Dog Ordinance Proposal
Martha responded to Ellie’s call and agreed vehemently that we should restrict dogs. Ron Rose left a message saying he got her call. We need to come up with a poop scoop sign.
10. Route 156 Deer Warning Sign
Ellie and Taffy spoke with the DOT person responsible for signs. He will put up a deer crossing sign (with mileage) just after the railroad overpass (heading east after I95) on 156. There were other suggestions for where to put the sign.
11. Action Plan for 2008
Ellie asked us to bring in a list of action items for 2008 to the next meeting.
12. AOB
· David said Judy Preston will talk with us, and will bring someone from the Saybrook Conservation Commission.
· David showed the group a proposal for an elevated highway from the end of the Ct River bridge to the high point north on I95, passing over the Lieutenant River. This would solve many problems with wetlands and local traffic, and improve the view. He listed many other advantages, and asked what we could do to foster/promote this. CRERPA says they are now talking to towns about the impact of widening I95. Ellie said we could be listed as a supporter. Ted said Open Space, Inland Wetlands, and the Historical Society could also support it.
· Ted proposed we change the meeting time to 7:30. Motion accepted.
· Ellie said she will try to fix a meeting to earmark town properties for possible purchase for open space.
· Jan will take over assembling the agenda items and sending them out to the group and to the town hall.
· Ellie said we should get out the questionnaire for the 2010 POCD this summer. This led to a lengthy discussion.
· Ted said Stormwater is going around educating communities. We should make a reservation. George said we could attend the annual meeting of all of the beach communities. Ellie will talk to Sue Joffray about attending the Black Hall meeting.
· Ellie said someone needs to get us organized about deadlines for the Old Lyme Events quarterly publications. Jan said she will do it.
· Ellie said she has information about a shoreline greenway from New Haven to Madison. Ellie – what do we want to say here?
· Ted said the Old Lyme Conservation Trust is planning a trails linkage.
· Ellie showed the group an attractive Essex Meadows publication with their open space.
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