Conservation Commission Minutes 5/5/11
Conservation Commission Meeting
Old Lyme Town Hall
May 5, 2011, 7:30 pm
Meeting called to order at 7:34 pm.
Members:
Monica Buccheri
George James
David McCulloch
Tom Sherer
Michael Sullivan
Lauralyn Lewis
Sue Baehr, Alternate
Maureen Plumleigh, Alternate
Suzanne Thompson, ex officio
Peter Cable, ex officio
Attending: George James, Sue Baehr, Monica Buccheri, Lauralyn Lewis, David McCulloch, Michael Sullivan, Tom Sherer
- Approve Minutes of April 7, 2011
The commission approved the minutes of April 7, 2011.
Old Business
- Reminder for Members To Be Sworn In
Members were reminded to be sworn if they had not done so.
Members were asked to categorize the priority action items for the next meeting and rank them by degree of importance.
- Follow Up on Future Guests
Sue suggested Juliana Barrett from UConn as a possible speaker due to her knowledge of coastal restoration and riparian buffers. Sue will extend an invitation to Ms. Barrett.
Michael will invite the chemistry people from Millstone to come and speak.
Guest
Ray Zelek shared his knowledge of solar and not only explained the system installed at the town hall but showed the commission members the workings (three inverters) in the basement and aerial photos of the polycrystalline array on the roof. The system installed is presently not touching the electricity needs. Due to the requirement of a south facing roof, many homes do not meet this criteria for this alternative energy in our area. Solar on commercial buildings requires the south facing roof and the owner of the building and the payee of the electrical bill to be one in the same. The Connecticut direct rebate program expires July 2011.
New Business
- Update on the movie “Fuel”
Tom mentioned there were 25 people in attendance and that comments following were very positive. Due to the conflicting events of the library film series and the Columbine discussion at the LOLHS, the number of attendees was small than anticipated. Discussion focused on the need to reach out to the Junior Women’s Club and the PTA in an effort to educate parents on local environmental concerns.
- Organic Land Care Policy/Statement
Monica asked everyone to think about this for the next meeting. A strong statement is needed so that the townspeople and other commissions understand where the Conservation Commission stands on this issue. Dave mentioned he would like to see us include passive solar as a way to decrease the carbon footprint.
- Current Projects/Future Projects & Upcoming Events
- Riparian Water Law and Aquifer Protection Act
Michael reported that there are two rules for groundwater – 1. Rule of capture (land
owner can take what he needs) and 2. Correlated ground water right (each
homeowner gets the same amount; water take is based on water availability). There
is also the American Rule (which does not guarantee water to homeowner; any
water taken beyond historic use is decided by the town).
The Aquifer Protection Act applies to towns that have community wells.
George submitted an alternate route to the state as the route shown on the state map
encourages cyclists to travel on Route 156 by the Old Lyme Marina and this is an
unsafe area for cyclists. The alternative route would take cyclists from Joshuatown
Rd., down Route 156, across Saunders Hollow, down Sill Lane, onto the Boston
Post Road and down Lyme Street. There will be a meeting on May 10 to discuss
bike routes with a state representative and a meeting on May 11 to hear
recommendations and suggestions for the whole program.
Monica suggested the commission have its own film series and show conservation
films owned by commission members. Michael suggested we sponsor a video
contest for green (banning pesticides, cutting back on fuel, alternatives, etc.) that
students could make using their cell phones.
Sue spoke of this Yale senior who has done her thesis on nitrogen levels in the
sediment in Roger’s Lake. Libby will give her presentation to the Land Trust on
May 9 and again on June 21; times and places to be determined.
Lauralyn and Monica shared some of the interesting and useful knowledge they
acquired when attending the recent pesticide forum in Colorado. The information
on phragmites will be the topic for the May submission to the Old Lyme Events.
The meeting adjourned at 10:08 pm.
Lauralyn Lewis, Secretary
| 
