Town of Old Lyme Open Space Commission Meeting
Old Lyme Town Hall
Minutes: July 13, 2018
Members present: Bruce Baratz, Amanda Blair, Peter Cable, Bill Dunbar, Greg Futoma. Gary Gregory, Evan Griswold
Also present: David McCulloch
1. Welcome/Introductions
Co-chair Bill Dunbar called the meeting to order at 9:02am.
2. Approval of minutes
On motion by Greg Futoma, second by Evan Griswold, the commission approved the minutes for the June 8, 2018 meeting.
3. New Business
a) Old Lyme Midsummer Festival
Co-chair Amanda Blair reported that she had contacted the Florence Griswold Museum and that there would be room for an OLOSC table at the Old Lyme Midsummer Festival on July 27 and 28. Evan agreed to a request by Amanda to prepare brief descriptions for the OLOSC Midsummer display table of the history of the Town’s open space trails. Amanda will man the display booth and other members agreed to share the manning.
b) McCulloch property discussion
David McCulloch discussed prospects for OLOSC acquisition of his Old Lyme property. The McCulloch property, accessed via Whippoorwill Rd, consists of some 500 acres with an existing conservation easement with The Nature Conservancy. David indicated his children live in California and would be interested in selling the property to the Town.
4. Executive Session
At 9:20am on motion by Evan, second by Amanda, it was voted to go into executive session with David present for more detailed discussion of the McCulloch property.
At 10:10am on motion by Peter Cable, second by Evan, it was voted to leave executive session. No actions or votes were taken during the executive session.
5. Other Business
a) Trail walks recap/future walks
Peter reviewed the June 2018 trail walks - their purpose, findings and attendance – of Champlain North (on June 12), Champlain South (June 18) and Ames Open Space (June 25). It was suggested to do future walks starting in September. A discussion about the allowed use of power tools as part of the trail maintenance aspect of the trail walks was not resolved.
b) New land steward action
Peter will plan to meet with Jamie Bastian over the summer to pursue leads for a new land steward, either personal contacts or potential contacts at university environmental sciences programs.
c) Drone policy
Gary Gregory and Greg will formulate an approach to addressing issues associated with using drones in open space and other Town areas.
d) Lord’s Meadow
Amanda scheduled a meeting of available commission members at Lord’s Meadow for Tuesday, July 17, at 2:30pm to see if the Agreement conditions with the developer have been met.
e) Open space management plan
Greg suggested that a detailed discussion of an updated open space management plan be scheduled for October, with general agreement from commission members.
f) Champlain North & Diana Atwood Johnson trail actions
Bill and Amanda will talk with Public Works about clearing the open space entrance at Wyckford Rd to provide for parking space on Town property at the entrance to Champlain North.
g) Trail safety
Gary has discussed with Dave Roberge, Old Lyme Fire Marshall, the possibilities for a safety program for open space hikers who are injured on trail or lost. Gary indicated that Dave would need maps with GIS data. Gary said that Dave would attend our September 8, 2018 and discuss a trail safety program with the commission.
h) Ames beaver flooding
It was understood that, at present, access to Ames Open Space from the main Whippoorwill Rd entrance is not feasible because of beaver flooding. There was no agreement on a long-term plan for beaver flooding at Ames, but it was agreed that for the interim Ames Open Space users should be directed to the Evergreen Trail entrance off Boggy Hole Rd.
i) Vision Box update
The Opening Reception for the Old Lyme Vision Box project, with one of the boxes at the Barbizon Oak on Champlain North is scheduled for July 19, 2018, 5pm at the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts.
6. Adjournment
At 10:55am on motion by Gary, second by Evan, it was voted to adjourn the meeting.
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