Conservation Commission Minutes 3/6/14
Conservation Commission Meeting
Old Lyme Town Hall
March 6, 2014, 7:30 pm
Meeting called to order at 7:33 pm.
Members:
Tom Sherer
George James
Lauralyn Lewis
Sue Baehr
Linda Clough
Maureen Plumleigh
John Stearns, Alternate
Suzanne Thompson, ex officio
Peter Cable, ex officio
Attending: Tom Sherer, George James, Lauralyn Lewis, Linda Clough,
Maureen Plumleigh
- Approve Minutes of February 6, 2014
The commission approved the minutes of February 6, 2014.
New Business
Lauralyn shared information on the three important environmental bills to follow this legislative session: HB 5330 (would expand the current pesticide ban to include parks, playgrounds, athletic fields and municipal greens), SB 237 (ban fracking waste from being stored in Connecticut) and SB 46 (extends the current ban on PreK- 8 school grounds to include high schools).
Linda and Tom shared news that the FCCOL, Saint Ann’s and Christ the King will partner with the Nature Conservancy’s Adam Whelchel to propose a climate change study in Old Lyme. Linda is arranging the meeting.
Ongoing Business
Tom and George will meet with high school students to propose collaboration on the commission’s new sign campaign. Linda proposed this to the Duck River Garden Club and there was interest.
Maureen proposed the idea of putting together an information sheet that highlights natural areas in town that would be of interest to those enjoying the new bike path with a map of the route on the opposite side. Members thought there might be a way to incorporate map dispensers at various locales around town: the Rogers Lake fish ladder sign, the Sound View Park, etc. George offered to propose this to the Land Trust as a possible joint venture.
Members discussed making our pesticide pamphlet available to the Holistic Moms at the LYSB.
*Members voted unanimously to endorse the Old Lyme Land Trust’s application with the DEEP for the acquisition of the Speirs property.
Rogers Lake
Maureen provided information on the last bulk mailing the RLA sent out; 1,035
printed, folded and mailed items cost $340. Tom is looking for a solid commitment
from Dick Smith before we go forward with this. Maureen will continue to work on
this. Information would be provided on how to protect the watershed and wells.
George suggested we offer Roger Breunig the weed mats for his property along the
lake. Many residents have found the mats to be an effective solution to eliminating
aquatic invasives along their properties. Tom offered to install the mats.
The meeting adjourned at 9:22 pm.
Lauralyn Lewis, Secretary
*Vote taken
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