 |
Town of Old Lyme Open Space Commission
Meeting Minutes
Friday, April 10th, 2015
In Attendance: Diana Atwood Johnson, Chairwoman, George James, Amanda Blair, Vice Chairwoman, Peter Cable, Secretary, Evan Griswold, Bill Dunbar
Absent: Alternates Mary Stone & Bruce Baratz
- Meeting was called to order at 9:09am
- Approval of Minutes from 3/13/15 meeting
- Motion made by Bill Dunbar, seconded by Evan Griswold
- Amanda Blair asked for a correction to minutes of 3/13/15 to change her from “absent” to “in attendance” at the meeting
- Peter Cable asked for a correction to minutes of 3/13/15 to mark Mary Stone as absent at the meeting
- Changes were noted and minutes were unanimously approved
- No new business was reported
- Old Business
- Amanda Blair discussed research she was doing on properties in town that have been designated open space as a stipulation of subdivision approval but are not recorded so in the town’s land records. The commission discussed ways to clear up these issues by working with the Tax Assessor to record properties as open space on property files and work to make sure deeds to such properties have open space restrictions and conservation easements. The commission agreed that it’s in the best interest to recover any open space in town that has been left unaccounted for.
- State Forest Management Plan for Nehantic State Forest
- Chairwoman Johnson encouraged members to read the State Forest Management Plan and encouraged any commissioners who attended the meeting regarding the plan to take the online survey about Nehantic State Forest.
- Nature Conservancy- Old Lyme Salt Marsh Advancement Zone Assessment
- There was an article in the newspaper on a Nature Conservancy study regarding salt marshes and climate change and the need to protect them. The commission discussed ways to protect salt marshes in town and identifying areas that could have the biggest impact, based on the study for Old Lyme. For the next meeting, the commission will invite Dr. Adam Whelchel, Director of Science for the Nature Conservancy of Connecticut to speak on the Connecticut Salt Marsh Advancement Zone Assessment report and its impact for Old Lyme.
- Champlain North- Hillwood entrance- No updates
- Open Space Commission revisions to documents
- Land Acquisition Priorities
- Chairwoman Johnson, based on Mary Stone’s approach to updating the list of priorities for the acquisition of open space. The categories for the proposed list include greenways, outdoor recreation, water access, habitat protection, cultural and social resources, water resources, coastal inundation, and forests.
- Land Acquisition Protocols
- Chairwoman Atwood John is working with Peter Cable on updating the protocols.
- Volunteer/Land Stewardship Policy- No updates
- Town of Old Lyme, Greenway- No updates
- Evan Griswold- discussed coastal inundation
- Bill Dunbar- discussed property in town and nesting birds
- Amanda Blair- discussed protection of animal habitats
- George James- writing up proposal for property on Lords Meadow & parking area on Jadon Drive is for sale.
- Peter Cable- asked when towhee birds will be back for nesting and with the weather improving, will the commission organize walks?
- Motion made by Bill Dunbar, seconded by Evan Griswold
- Motion passed unanimously
- Meeting adjourned at 10:41am
Minutes submitted by:
Chris Seery, Health/WPCA Administrative Assistant
| |
