Conservation Commission Meeting
Old Lyme Town Hall
January 6, 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, Linda Krulikowski, David McCulloch, Tom Sherer, Michael Sullivan
- Approve Minutes of Past Meetings
The group unanimously approved the minutes of November 4, 2009. Taffy will send a final.
No minutes were recorded for the December 2009 meeting.
The group unanimously voted George James chairman of the committee. They also voted Taffy Holland recording secretary.
George said there is a small amount of money available for the commission, and the selectmen would like us to be frugal.
George gave a brief description of the separation of the Conservation Commission from Inland Wetlands in 2004, and read us a description of the mandate of the commission. We are to look over the Town’s resources and to manage and preserve them. George read members the job description from the Conservation Commission’s charter.
When a proposal comes from Open Space the Conservation Commission discusses it and makes recommendations to Planning. When the proposal returns to the commission they send their resolution to the selectmen and to the Board of Finance if funding is needed.
- Calendar of Meetings – Reminder to be Sworn in
George reminded members to be sworn in by the Town Clerk.
Proposed 2010 Calendar: January 6 February 3
March 3 * April 7
May 5 June 2
July 7 Aug 4
September 1 October 6
November 3 December 1
*George will probably be in Florida
George gave us review of the Old Lyme Hills Subdivision property - composed of land from Old Lyme Heights, Clinton and Roach (Old Lyme Woods) land, and later some additional Clinton property. George asked the group to review his document in detail, and suggest additions or corrections, so that he can present it to Planning on January 14th.
The group discussed the sections of George’s report:
- Introduction: Add a simple map to help with the detailed explanations.
- Clear Cutting and Replanting: The plans show extensive clear cutting.
- Developers have clear cut excessively in the past. Tom said either Planning’s regulations are ambiguous or they don’t enforce their regulations. George said if a developer requests waiving a regulation, four Planning members must vote for the waiver. George will ask the town attorney what action the town can take if Planning ignores their own regulations. David said wetlands can require the developer to flag clearing areas.
- Open Space Plan: George said open space is to be used by the people. Bogs are for wetlands. People cannot use bogs. Wetlands should not be part of the designated open space, although it has been allowed.
- Noise and the Stone’s Ranch Demolition Area: George has a military study of noise at Stone’s Ranch. It was built as a simulated village to train soldiers to fight in a war with gunfire, explosions, and simulated combat. The military asked Old Lyme Heights if they would sell the property. They refused. They were warned about the noise. Linda said the proposed clear cutting would allow the sound to travel even more.
- George said he’ll give the military report to Ron Rose, who is in charge of the noise ordinance. Tom suggested the developer should be required to provide disclosure about the noise to prospective buyers.
- Also, several houses are located near the commercial kennel which can be a source of harmful noise.
- Traffic: Michael said a road must be 22’ wide to be accepted by the Town. It must allow for fire engines and buses. It must have two ends (accesses to other roads). George said he thinks Clinton sold the developer a right-of-way out, but that doesn’t qualify. There are severe line-of-sight problems exiting onto the Boston Post Road. A planned rebuilding of a bridge will require closing the road, and make for even more traffic problems.
- Summary: Tom suggested it would be helpful to add a list of the items in violation of regulations, even though they’re covered in detail within the body of the document.
The members voted unanimously to approve the document with the suggested changes.
The final document is an addendum to these minutes.
George will find out if this was submitted.
- Open Space Commission Proposal
Open space proposed the following
- That Open Space (now a subcommittee of the Conservation Commission) should become an independent commission. George asked why? Do they feel they need more power? Michael suggested we invite Diana to come in and talk to us about it.
- That most of open space must be land (not water) That no more than 50% of the dedicated open space can be wetlands
- 2010 Action Plan Development
George asked the group to decide what we should focus on this year. At the next meeting we should review past activities. The POCD could use more about solar and pesticides. We should invite Monica Buccheri and Laurie Lewis to come to another meeting. They responded to our pesticide information and wanted to help inform people. They handed out leaflets on the Town Woods playing fields. They may be interested in becoming commission members.
Rogers Lake was one focus of 2009. George said they invited a person with a new technology that harvests weeds using a team of scuba divers to make a presentation to the Rogers Lake Authority
George will send us the website describing the technology. They are also using benthic blankets – 20’ by 30’ – which are left down for about a month. They used them in the swimming area with success.
David gave George a printout about Diquat – proposed for poisoning the weeds. He said the report isn’t new, but does contain some human studies. He will look for more information, and consult a pesticide authority about diquat.
Michael attended an East Lyme meeting of people trying to prevent more cell towers in the town. The meeting included Andrea Stillman, a conservation attorney, several senators, and other knowledgeable people. He said this might be a good source of information and help. He said Greenwich and Hamden are also trying to prevent the towers. The cell phone companies are pushing for them under the guise of needing them for Amtrak. Three new towers are planned for Old Lyme. The state siting authorities make the final decisions. Michael said they proposed putting one off shore. He said they’re unsightly and hazardous to birds. There is alternate technology – a line of “whips” along the tracks, or a conduit using the track itself..
George asked if we want to take this on as a commission item for 2010.
Linda said she would like to join George in trails maintenance.
- George will make changes to the Old Lyme Hills Subdivision document approved by the commission.
George will find out if the end of year report was submitted.
Members will get sworn in.
David will follow up with more diquat information.
George will send us the website describing the technology being used in Rogers Lake.
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