REGULAR MEETING
ENFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION
TUESDAY, December 9, 2008
A meeting of the Enfield Conservation Commission was held on Tuesday, December 9, 2008 in the Enfield Room, Enfield Town Hall, 820 Enfield Street, Enfield, Connecticut. Chairperson Mike Dynia called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mike Dynia, Chairman
Natalie George
Joanne Kneiss, (Alternate Member, seated)
Karen LaPlante
Gretchen Pfeifer-Hall
Richard Szewczak
Kathleen Vose (Alternate Member, seated)
MEMBERS ABSENT: Tim McGuire
ALSO PRESENT: Roger Alsbaugh, Assistant Town Planner
Susan Berube, Recording Secretary
Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Michael Dynia at 7:08 p.m.
Roll Call:
Present were: Chairman Dynia and members George, Kneiss, LaPlante, Pfeifer-Hall, Szewczak (7:17 p.m.), and Vose (7:19 p.m.). Alternate member Kneiss was seated as full voting members for the evening and Commissioner Vose was seated as a full voting member upon her arrival.
Public Input:
There were no members of the public present.
Approval of Meeting Minutes - November 12, 2008:
A motion was made by Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall and seconded by Commissioner
Kneiss to approve the minutes with the following amendments: page 2, 9th paragraph, add “existing” before “wells”; page 3, 1st line, Change “Somers” to “Enfield”. Vote was 5-0-0 (Vose and Szewczak were not yet present).
Correspondence / All Commissioners:
Commissioner George noted a recent newspaper article regarding the purchase of 450 acres for open space. This was a joint purchase by Massachusetts and Connecticut and is a good example of 2 states working together.
Commissioner Kneiss suggested finding out more about the joint purchase to see if a similar purchase could be made of land on the Longmeadow/Enfield line.
Chairman Dynia noted a recent article in the Hartford Courant regarding the purchase of waterworks land in Windsor Locks. He also noted that a tax credit is given to the seller of land that is sold for less than market value as open space.
Commissioner George also reported that the Town of Suffield received an award for protection of land along the waterfront for bird habitat.
Mr. Alsbaugh received a letter from the D.E.P. announcing that the Town has been successful in obtaining a grant to purchase a tract of land for open space. An A-2 Survey will be needed.
Mr. Alsbaugh will have the May, 1975 survey of the Scantic River Watershed put on the Town’s website. Commissioner George noted that it is a very interesting article.
A motion was made by Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall and seconded by Commissioner Vose to move “Executive Session” to just prior to “Discussions”. Vote was 7-0-0.
A motion was then made by Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall and seconded by Commissioner LaPlante to add under the topic “Liaison Reports”, “Plan of Conservation and Development”. Vote was 7-0-0.
Executive Session:
A motion was made by Commissioner Kneiss and seconded by Commissioner LaPlante to move into executive session at 7:29 p.m. to discuss real estate matters. Vote was 6-0-0.
The Commissioners came out of executive session at 8:00 p.m. No votes were taken.
A motion was made by Commissioner George and seconded by Commissioner Kneiss to send a letter to the Town Council with the open space grant award notification, stating that the Commission is pleased to receive the grant to acquire open space along the Scantic River. The letter will also request that the Council move expeditiously to acquire the land as soon as possible. Vote was 6-0-0.
A motion was made by Commissioner George and seconded by Commissioner LaPlante to establish Standard Operating Procedures for the acquisition of open space. Vote was 7-0-0.
Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall thanked Mr. Alsbaugh for all of his efforts in applying for the grant.
Discussions:
· CT Water Diversion Permit response letter / review by Commissioner George
Commissioner George reported that she reviewed the response from the CT Water Company in depth and felt that the Commissioners’ questions were answered.
Somers would typically use approximately 10,000 gallons per day from the expanded lines from Enfield. Only during extreme drought conditions could the amount go up to 50,000 gallons per day.
She asked for a copy of the Connecticut Water Company’s western water system map that is on file with the D.E.P.
During discussion, it was brought up that the map may not be available for general public viewing. If it is available to staff, Mr. Alsbaugh will use his discretion as to whether or not to add it to the public file for the Connecticut Water Company.
A motion was made by Commissioner George and seconded by Commissioner Vose to authorize Mr. Alsbaugh to send a letter to the D.E.P. from the Conservation Commission. The letter is to thank the D.E.P. for having the Connecticut Water Company respond to the Commissioners’ concerns and to ask that the D.E.P. still consider potential problems with the Powder Hill Road area with regards to sand and gravel aquifers that also service the Connecticut Water Company wells. Vote was 6-0-1(LaPlante).
· Enfield Garden Club: request for ECC support of Barnes Boat Launch Area ERT recommendation / Related issues from the Thompsonville Revitalization Plan
Members discussed the proposed Thompsonville redevelopment plan.
Commissioner George voiced her concerns over the level of flooding that has increased in the past several years and wondered if the underpasses will remain passable during spring flooding.
Mr. Alsbaugh will look into this further.
Commissioner Kneiss reported that the Garden Club would like to know the value of the recreation sources in the boat launch area. Her group does not want to conflict with other agencies or departments working in the area, such as the engineering work slated to be done in the spring of 2009.
Mr. Alsbaugh asked of what benefit would an ERT be and what would be expected by members. He noted that the proposed revitalization area would be along Freshwater Brook, from the Connecticut River to Freshwater Pond.
Members discussed the importance of the request for an ERT but acknowledged that some property owners may not be agreeable to the survey.
It was also noted that some permitting regulations have changed since 1992 when this project was first presented.
It was the consensus of the Commissioners to table further discussion at this time. Mr. Alsbaugh will check with members of the ERT to see how small an area they will look at.
· Expansion of position / budget request – farmland program / natural diversity database GIS / Archaeology needs assessment (Shakers, Shaker Cemetery & Powder Hollow) / CLG administration
Commissioner Dynia left the meeting at 9:06 p.m. and returned at 9:09 p.m.
Mr. Alsbaugh explained that additional staff support is needed for the Planning and Zoning, Wetlands, and Conservation Commissions but the budget will not support additional staff at this time.
The commissioners briefly discussed this, hoping that grant funds will be available for clerical help.
Mr. Alsbaugh added that the Certified Local Government program will hopefully bring in additional funds to justify an expenditure for additional staff.
Unfinished Business:
Subdivision / Development Referrals from Planning & Zoning Commission
· ERT, Village at Scantic – comment letter to IWWA & PZC (IWWAPH1/6/09)
Mr. Alsbaugh explained that the ERT will be visiting the site soon. Ms. Bednaz, Wetlands Agent, is looking for recommendations from the Conservation Commission regarding this application.
Commission members reviewed the plans at length. Members discussed the need to protect the slopes and preferred that the open space boundary be at the top of the slope, following the contours, instead of along a straight line.
Members also expressed concern over the lots abutting the escarpment slopes, especially #36 and #27.
Also brought up was the need to keep the tree line along the escarpment slopes intact.
Members discussed the new proposed sewage plan. It will have major wetland impacts, going through the escarpment. Members asked how the pipes will get up the embankment across the brook and where they will go once across.
Because the plans are not yet complete, the Commission members chose to wait until their next meeting to make a recommendation to the IWWA. A special meeting may be held by the Conservation Commission prior to the IWWA meeting of January 6, 2009 to discuss these plans further and make a recommendation to the IWWA.
The Conservation Commission members requested copies of the ERT report as soon as it becomes available.
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Open Space Acquisition
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Farmland Preservation
Mr. Alsbaugh explained that the documents will be presented to the Town Council at their meeting on Monday, December 15, 2008. Commissioners Pfeifer-Hall and George and Mr. Alsbaugh plan to attend.
Special Projects
Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall is still working on pricing for a boat launch sign. An aluminum frame type, approximately 4’ x 5’ with Lexan doors and cork backing on 10’ tall posts would cost between $2,000 and $2,500, installed.
· Review of certificate / Everett A. Gamble
Members reviewed the certificate. After some discussion, a motion was made by Commissioner Kneiss and seconded by Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall to approve the certificate for Commissioner Gamble. Vote was 5-1(George-1(Vose).
Plan Of Conservation & Development
Chairman Dynia reported that the group has held 2 meetings this far. Any commission members wishing to join a focus group should submit their names to him prior to December 15, 2008.
Liaison Report - Northern CT Land Trust
Chairman Dynia announced that a hike will be held on January 1, 2009.
Liaison Report - Scantic River Watershed Association
A hike held on November 29, 2008 brought out 97 people and 165 lbs of food for the Enfield Food Shelf.
The Spring Splash will be held on March 28, 2009.
Next Meeting Date: January 13, 2009
Adjournment:
Commissioner LaPlante asked that items to be discussed at the focus groups be listed at the Commission’s next meeting.
A motion was made by Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall and seconded by Commissioner Szewczak at 10:28 p.m. Vote was 7-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
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Gretchen Pfeifer-Hall, Secretary
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