WILLINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING and SITE WALK
May 21, 2014 Meeting
SITE WALK MASON ROAD: No quorum
Regular Meeting
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order @ 7:07 pm.
Roll Call: P. Andersen, R. Shabot, K. Demers, M. Drobney, K. Pacholski (arr. 7:15)
Approval of Minutes of 04/16/14: Minutes approved unanimously
Seating of Alternates: N/A
Present to Speak: None
Finance: Available balance $1171.66
OLD BUSINESS
A. Properties Management
FRP-DS: PA brushcut the invasive plants along Moose Meadow Rd near the field entrance and barberry bushes in the area of the Taylor home site. The Commission thanks EOSmith student Mike Masinda who completed his senior project removing barberry plants around the Taylor site foundation. PA and RS re-installed the repaired FRP sign at the park entrance. Unanimous vote to reimburse PA $20 for the purchase of a bat house to be installed in the park. MD will see about having new concrete bench and table ends delivered to his house for measurement and fitting of boards, then transported to the park picnic area. Beavers have repaired the dam and built a new lodge on the pond.
New Taylor Pond Trail Guide: CJ completed final text editing on new guide. KD will check with the previous guide editors re formatting with pictures. Unanimous approval of up to $125 for lumber for new numbered posts and associated installation materials - PA will procure. MD will make numbered plaques to affix to the posts. PA will check on cost to print the guide booklets. Unanimous approval of up to $500 for printing fees.
Knowlton Preserve/Talmadge Tract: PA will talk to public works regarding constructing a parking area for Knowlton/Talmage trail access on Mason Road.
Wilford Farms LLC (formerly Ridgeview LLC) Timber harvest: CC told BOS at their May 19 meeting that CC does not have a problem with foresters using a current woods road as a truck haul road across the Town-owned 16-acre open space property off Meadow Lane, as long as the road is left in good condition and no significant stems are damaged. CC is concerned about protecting the wetlands and possible vernal pools in the 20-acre conservation easement parcel in the NW corner of the Wilford Farms parcel. Commission discussed IWWC recommendation to PZC that no timber harvest take place on this parcel. CC would like to have Hull Forest Products get an expert assessment of the wetlands boundaries and to determine the possible existence of vernal pools
before CC makes a recommendation. CC will explore the possibility of Hull Foresters doing an improvement cut/harvest of timber on the 16-acre town parcel while there is an opportunity to arrange access through the abutting Wilford Farms parcel.
B. Town Development: PZC; IWWC: Nothing new. Proposed subdivision on Lustig/Tinkerville Rds: Engineer submitted a draft plan to IWWC showing a connection corridor, though smaller in width than that suggested by CC, between the two open spaces proposed on the original plan.
C. Collaborative Organizations:
Willimantic River Alliance: Unanimous approval of a $50 donation/membership
Joshua’s Trust: No report
Windham County Conservation Consortium: No Report
D. Open Space Map Updating: CJ, working with M.Cipriano at WINCOG, has completed the update of the Town open space map. CC reviewed the draft map: Size should be the same as the draft and will fit in the current frame; colors are appropriate; no need to highlight the parcels subject to easements
E. Other: NA.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Communications: None
B. Other: None
Next Meeting: June 18, 2014.
Adjournment Meeting adjourned @ 9:22
Minutes submitted by P. Andersen, secretary pro tem
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