Minutes of the Old Lyme Conservation Commission meeting held on Dec.4, 2018 at Town Hall
Meeting called to order at 7:40 p.m.
Members present -Tom Sherer, Maureen Plumleigh, George James
Guest- Myron Kavalgian potential member WELCOME!
The commission regrets the loss of a valued member to health issues: Maureen Haseley-Jones
Minutes of the previous meeting accepted as written
The monthly Open Space report was discussed briefly and accepted as written.
The letter to the Lyme Town Manager was discussed. Tom asked if it wouldn’t lend more weight to the letter if the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen endorsed the idea.George will submit a request to the Selectmen.
The letter to the Economic Development Commission received full support of the members.
So far there has been no reply to the second letter to the WPCA requesting basic information about the expected volume of sewage to be transported to the New London treatment plant and the expected impact on existing wells serving these communities. It was agreed that George would
contact the selectmen on this important environmental issue.
George brought up the subject of the 2020 Town Plan of Conservation and Development. Tom reported that the Planning Commission was not especially enthusiastic about putting together a questionnaire to find out
the townspeople’s priorities for the next ten years. George believes this is the only way the planners and leaders of the Town can accurately assess what the people want the course of their community to take. Do the people want a blight ordinance? Do they subscribe to the idea of sustainability?
Do they want to close a school? Do they want to continue using herbicides in Rogers Lake? Do they want a five year septic system pumpout cycle?
Do they want to reestablish our shellfish beds? Do they want more senior housing? Do they want more playing fields?
The Conservation Commission has in the past coordinated the input from the various boards and commissions to create a questionnaire, but with only three members we will commit one of our members to a committee to put together a questionnaire for the Planning Commission. It took about a year to receive the input from the various boards and commissions, and six months to create a questionnaire and then assess the results. It is not too soon to begin the process.
Maureen handed out several pages of possible Conservation Commission priority items for the new year. She has established a close relationship with the library on the subject of recycling and is continuing her investigation into just what is recyclable. We recognize that the Town stands to make money if recycling can be achieved more efficiently and we will work toward that end.
Meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, George James, secretary
| 
