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Conservation Commission Meeting
Old Lyme Town Hall
April 7, 2010, 7:30 pm
Members: Ted Crosby (ex-officio representing Gateway Commission)
Taffy Holland
George James
Linda Krulikowski
David McCulloch
Tom Sherer
Michael Sullivan
Attending: Taffy Holland, George James, David McCulloch
Guests: Laurie Lewis, Arnette McCulloch
- Approve Minutes of February 24, 2010
The group approved the minutes of February 24.
- Action Items
- David summarized the Old Lyme Harbor Commission's regulations for docks, piers, and wharfs. In general, they must be as short and low as possible, made of wood, not used for boat storage or other purposes than access to the water. The main goal seems to be aesthetic.
- (link http://www.oldlyme-ct.gov/Pages/OldLymeCT_BComm/HMPAddendumFINAL011210%203.pdf )
- David said he will talk with Steve Gephard (DEP) who has someone checking the full length of Bucky Brook. If there is a choke point (opposite Pfeiffer's on Whippoorwill Road) it will need a box culvert for a crossing road. He said that would require a hundred year flood analysis. He hasn't yet talked with Judy Preston about WHIP (Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program - www.nrcs.usda.gov/Programs/whip).
- List of Priorities
To be discussed in a future meeting.
- New Business - Prospective Members, etc.
- George said he asked Ted Crosby to stay with the commission. Also he said Randy Anderson would be very useful to us - he does landscaping for the Old Lyme Academy and has all the latest equipment.
- George is meeting with Fred Holtz (Rogers Lake), Rob Lindsey (Wetlands), and Linda Krulikowski (Conservation) on April 8. They will create a long term plan for Rogers Lake to be presented to Tim Griswold, and to put in the 2010 POCD. George said Tim wants a financial assessment. He is in favor of repairing the dam. Gephard is urging us to do it, and Tim has set aside $75,000.
- George said it is vital to have a clean lake. One third of Old Lyme drains into Rogers Lake. David said the new houses on the hill above the lake must have no runoff. George said this has to be stipulated up front - before any other considerations.
George also reported that:
Five million dollars of the nine million set aside for open space and farm land acquisition under the Community Investment Act (CIA) is in danger of being transferred to the State's general fund. (Breaking news 4/08 from Rep. John Geragosian: " It's still the subject of a Deficit Mitigation Plan.")
The proposal to ban outdoor wood-burning stoves was defeated. There will be a public press conference in Hartford today.
The sewer avoidance proposal was defeated.
Under SB 484 a proposal to divert finds for clean energy incentives to the general fund was deleted from the bill.
April 22nd is Earth Day. There will be a breakfast for children from 7 to 11 at the Cross Lane firehouse. Laurie said the Congregational Church is showing Food Inc.
- David and George said that IPM is still in effect for the town playing fields, but is scheduled to be phased out. David will try to get the date for the phase out, and the beginning of organic care.
- George has written two articles for LymeLine under the general heading of Conservation Corner: Ten Tips for a Healthy and Eco-friendly Lawn and What’s a Rain Garden? Why create one? (George - do you want to send me these to attach to the minutes? Or to send to the group separately if you think that's more appropriate?)
- Laurie suggested we submit our final list of priorities to LymeLine and ask for comments and suggestions. We may attract some new commission members that way.
- George showed us a green card with organic lawn care information (see www.ghlp.org/tips.html ). It is available from Grassroots Environmental Education (516-883-0887) for10 cents a card. (The print is very small.)
5. Assignments
- David will talk with Steve Gephard about the Bucky Brook survey and possible culvert.
- David will get the date for the end of IPM for the town fields.
- Taffy will send Richard Sattler's power point presentation to the group and a link to Harbor Commission dock report.
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