Conservation Commission Meeting
Old Lyme Town Hall
November 4, 2009, 7:30 pm
Members: Ted Crosby (ex-officio representing Gateway Commission)
Eleanor Czarnowski
Francine Gumkowski
Taffy Holland
George James
David McCulloch
Richard Sattler
Tom Sherer
Michael Sullivan
Attending: Ted Crosby, Ellie Czarnowski, Taffy Holland, George James, David McCulloch, Tom Sherer
Visitors: Monica Buccheri, Laurie Lewis, Arnette McCulloch
- Discussion with Visitors abut Pesticides
Laurie and Monica said that they read our contribution to the Events magazine. They went to the library and watched the pesticides film. Then they met with David and George to discuss what action they could take to interest parents in pesticide exposure. George and David gave them a lot of material.
On Health Day (November 7) they plan to set up a table and distribute pesticide information, and also to walk in the town playing fields and hand out literature to parents. The have reprints from Grassroots and the Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut.
They received notification of pesticide applications - mosquito spraying - the swamps behind the High School. They are concerned about the effects of the pesticides on their children, but also on the fish and birds, and about contamination of wells. Monica said there are six children in her area with Down’s syndrome.
They spoke with a number of people before coming to us. John Rhodes told them we don’t need to worry about our drinking water – we get is from East Haddam. Ann Brown told them they should be more concerned about mosquitoes than the spraying. Ron Rose agreed that there should be more notification (signs) before spraying. Superintendant Osga expressed concern. They met with Phil Miller for suggestions.
Ted suggested they try to get LymeLine to include information about what they plan for Health Day, or possibly to include an article. Monica worked for Olwen briefly in the past. (Ted said he could talk to Olwen Logan for them.) They are also thinking of getting a speaker for the schools.
Tom suggested asking the Congregational Church to sponsor a speaker. David gave a pesticide talk there. Ted recommended contacting Allison Hines for help with the School Board.
David said the schools are required to prepare an IPM. This never happens. He plans to ask for their IPM for the next wetlands, and submit it to the DEP.
- October Minutes and Action Items
October minutes were accepted.
- George and David will make their presentation to Finance at the next board meeting in November.
- Linda still hasn’t sent in suggested changes to Marianne’s booklet.
- Ted’s letter has been sent to the selectmen. Ted said the contractor has backed out of installing the solar collectors.
- Ellie sent the lighting letter for the proposed bus barn.
- Old Lyme Hills Development
The plans went to wetlands first. They haven’t officially applied yet.
The development area is surrounded by Stone’s Ranch – a military camp with armaments and frequent machine gun firing. They plan 38 units on 128 acres. They show a huge amount of clearing – about 50 acres of trees. Ted said the plans are really arbitrary. There are no specifics about the houses and tree cutting. Awwa and FMTM have been clear-cut and nothing more has happened with them. David said wetlands tries to get developers to show clear plans of tree cutting.
George said their open space plan, which contains a bog and a pond, violates open space regulations. He said we should require them to follow the regulations.
Noise will be a major problem. Also the area is dangerous.
George is concerned about the potentially huge runoff, and tree cutting will make it a big problem. David said we should discuss this with the Town Engineer.
There is a brook with native trout (one of few in Old Lyme) that feeds Rogers Lake. This development and Lord’s Meadow, a number of houses and businesses. Awwa, FMTM, and school buses will all be exiting onto a .4 mile stretch of the Post Road. There will be at least 100 new cars. The line of sight is bad. We should recommend a traffic study. George said there is no hurry.
David said Inland Wetlands will have a public hearing. They had an unofficial preview and have walked the property. Conservation Commission should be ready to bring up problems with open space.
George read us an introductory statement about the purpose of the document. In summary, the Rogers Lake document is aimed to gather support from land use commissions and the Rogers Lake Authority to assure that the lake is the focus of attention in the 2010 POCD, to name some of the things about the lake that make it a vital resource, to describe the current conditions and efforts to improve them, and to suggest some alternatives.
George is concerned about the storm sewer that sends stuff directly into the lake.
The document was reviewed by Fred Holth and Maureen Plumleigh, and it is ready to be presented to WPCA, Zoning, Planning, then to CRERPA, and then to go into the POCD. The commission voted unanimously to support the proposal.
Ellie sent us copies of the Zoning memo. Zoning wants to make a registry of attributes of all of the seasonal dwellings. George said some renters may be sending their kids to the Old Lyme schools. Ellie asked if the commission should comment.
Ellie said Linda will become a member of the commission. She has registered with the Town.
- Ellie showed us proposals for cell phone towers at three sites – 387 Shore road, 232 Shore Road, and 61-1 Buttonball Road. These are determined by the Connecticut Siting Council. We can’t take any action
- George said 35 acres on the Ames property is now a wetland – the culvert on Whippoorwill is plugged up and water has backed up. DOT has been notified.
- George and David will present the Department of Finance their argument for open space vs. development at the next board meeting.
- George will change the last sentence of the Rogers Lake document.
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