ENFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION
December 11, 2007
Town Hall-Enfield Room
820 Enfield Street
Enfield, CT 06082
CALL TO ORDER: Secretary Pfeifer-Hall called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM in the Enfield Room.
ROLL CALL: Commissioner George performed the roll call. The following commissioners were in attendance:
Natalie George
Timothy McGuire
Gretchen Pfeifer-Hall
Richard Szewczak
Kathleen Vose, Alternate
Everett Gamble, Alternate
Karen Laplante
Gail Miller, Staff Liaison
Absent: Michael Dynia, Joanne Kneiss
Secretary Pfeifer-Hall welcomed our new member Karen LaPlante
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Secretary Pfeifer-Hall asked for comments regarding approval of the minutes of October 9, 2007. Motion was made by Comm. George to approve the minutes and seconded by Comm. Gamble. Motion was approved (6-0-1 LaPlante).
CORRESPONDENCE: None
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion was made by Comm. Szewczak and seconded by Comm. McGuire at 7:15 to go into executive session to discuss real estate matters. The motion was unanimously approved. At 7:30 the commission came out of executive session. Secretary Pfeifer-Hall stated that no decisions were made and no votes were taken.
OPEN SPACE: Comm. Pfeifer-Hall reviewed details of the various letters and presentations that have been made to the Planning & Zoning Board regarding several real estate developments in town. She thanked members Natalie George and Mike Dynia for their presentations to the P&Z. Comm. Gamble asked for the state statute that provides clarification on the use of open space funds. Comm. Szewczyk said that it is 7-131 sections A – R. It is available online. Comm. Pfeifer-Hall suggested a request for a legal clarification of the control of the Open Space funds and how decisions are made on its use. Comm. George suggested waiting until a new Town Attorney is appointed.
FARMLAND PRESERVATION: Comm. McGuire discussed the letter he was working on for the ECC which is to be sent to the town farmers. The criterion for the State program is a minimum of thirty acres of prime soil. He went through the 490 list of properties and picked out those that met the criteria. There are about 35 property owners that would qualify. Comm. George suggested that smaller parcels may be valuable as open space. Comm. McGuire would like to speak with the former Town Planner of the Town of Suffield to get his input on how he was so successful with the program in Suffield. He would like to invite him to speak at one of our meetings. Comm. McGuire will try and meet with the Planner to get his input and possibly schedule him for a meeting.
AQUIFER PROTECTION: Comm. George gave an overview of her research on the old wells that may be located in Hazardville and the possible contamination if there is a hazardous waste incident in the area. Comm. LaPlante said it is possible that some of these wells may be capped.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROTECTION: Comm. Pfeifer-Hall is concerned about the archaeological sites that are in the vicinity of the property that may be developed in Powder Hollow. There are channels located under ground that are associated with the Hazardville Gun Powder factory. Comm. Gamble has walked the site with state archaeologist Neil Bellantoni to gather information on the Scantic Indians. Comm. Gamble made a motion, seconded by Comm. George, to write a letter to Mr. Bellantoni asking for his assistance in identifying and preserving this area before possible work on the development begins. Motion was approved. (6 - 0) Staff liaison will compose a letter. She will also check with Geoff McAlmond about a blueprint of the property.
SPECIAL PROJECTS: Comm. Pfeifer-Hall stated that she was told that the tree that the Commission planted several years ago was struck by a car and destroyed. It has been replaced. Staff liaison will check to see what kind of tree it is, who planted it and who paid for it.
During the Source to Sea clean up Comm. Pfeifer-Hall was particularly interested in the condition of the boat launch. She asked the Building & Grounds division to remove the shrubs. It was taken care of immediately. She is interested in improving the area. Comm. George stated that the Garden Club has made that their project for the year and will be doing some low maintenance plantings.
Comm. Vose participated in the Wadeable Streams project in October. Due to the weather only a small group showed up to help. They worked at the river at Powder Hollow and found many favorable Class A species.
Comm. Pfeifer-Hall informed the Commission that the effort to deny a zone change to the proposed development on Simon Road was successful. A neighbor of the proposed site, Ellen Martin, did some excellent research that helped convince the Board.
The Shaker Pines Lake Association was denied intervener status in the matter of the proposed development at the lake. However, Comm. Pfeifer-Hall believes the project still has to go to DEP for approval.
Comm. LaPlante advised members that the DEP will be diverting some of the water located in Enfield to the Town of Somers.
Comm. Pfeifer-Hall presented the three different proposals from DEP regarding the property at 464 Hazard Ave. that is a proposed parking area for the Scantic River area. There is a house at the location which will be torn down first. The first proposal would have the gravel parking lot near the road. The second proposal has the parking area located away from sight of the road and it is larger. The third, which provides more accessibility, would be located at the bottom of the hill. She would like to co-sponsor the next meeting with DEP that will address concerns of the public. Comm. Vose will contact Representative Jarmoc.
REAL ESTATE: No report
STAFF LIASON: No report.
Liaison Report- Northern CT Land Trust: No Report.
Liaison Report – Scantic River Watershed Association: No report
NEXT MEETING DATE: Secretary Pfeifer-Hall noted the next meeting date will be on January 8, 2008.
ADJOURNMENT: Motion was made by Comm. Gamble to adjourn and seconded by Comm. Vose and So Voted. (6 – 0).
Respectfully submitted:
Gretchen Pfeifer-Hall
Secretary
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