ENFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION

April 11, 2006

Town Hall - Shaker Room

820 Enfield Street

Enfield CT 06082

CALL TO ORDER:  Chairman Mike Dynia called the meeting to order at 7:10 P.M. in the Enfield Room.

ROLL CALL:  Comm. Pfeifer-Hall performed the roll call.  The following commissioners were in attendance:

Michael Dynia                         Gretchen Pfeifer-Hall   

Natalie George                         Richard Szewczak,

Gail Miller, staff liaison                                     

Absent: Joanne Kneiss,             Christine Wunch

PUBLIC INPUT: Chairman Dynia noted that there were no persons present to give public input.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:    Chairman Dynia asked for comments regarding the minutes of March14, 2005.   Motion made by Comm. George to approve the minutes, seconded by Comm. Pfeifer-Hall and So Voted. 

CORRESPONDENCE:  Staff liaison read a notice from CT DEP regarding Water Quality Certification.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion made by Comm. Szewczak and seconded by Comm. Pfeifer-Hall to go into Executive Session and So Moved.  No decisions were made and no votes were taken.

OPEN SPACE ACQUISITION:  Commissioners asked if the staff liaison had found out any information on back taxes for properties being donated to the Town as open space.  Staff liaison received an e-mail from the Tax Collector regarding the past practice for this issue.  Motion made by Comm. George, seconded by Comm. Pfeifer-Hall for the ECC to request this procedure for the current parcels under consideration.

Comm. Pfeifer-Hall reviewed the maps and her draft letter for the open space on the proposed development at Shaker and Elm St.  Commissioners discussed the language of the letter and Comm. Szewczak agreed to edit the letter and forward it to the staff liaison for submission.  Comm. George made a motion, seconded by Comm. Szewczak to allow staff liaison to submit the letter to the proper authorities.  Comm. agreed that they would prefer this land to continue as an agricultural property.

Comm. Pfeifer-Hall reviewed the maps for the conservation easement requested by the owners of the Nelson property in lieu of open space or a fee.  Comm. Pfeifer-Hall read an e-mail from Assistant Town Planner Neil Angus regarding the current regulations for a conservation easement.  There are steep slopes on the property; it is not contiguous with other open space and it is not useable for any open space purpose.  The ECC is in favor of the land being placed under a conservation easement but they believe a fee in lieu of open space would be more valuable to the Town.  Motion by Comm. Szewczak, seconded by Comm. George to have staff liaison write a letter to the Planning and Zoning Commission outlining their recommendation.

FARMLAND PRESERVATION:  Comm. George reviewed the letter that she sent to Commission members regarding the issue of livestock grazing down to a watercourse and possible contamination.  Comm. agreed that staff liaison will ask Assistant Planner Neil Angus about any regulations by the State.

AQUIFER PROTECTION:  Comm. Pfeifer-Hall thanked Commissioners Dynia and George for their presentations at the recent P&Z meeting.  Their input was valuable and led to the decision not to grant the zone change. 

A timetable for the 10 year review of the Plan for Conservation and Development was brought up and discussion was tabled for a future meeting closer to the projected time frame.

Staff liaison passed out the draft of the Town of Enfield's Aquifer Protection Area Regulations.  Commissioners will review them for the next meeting.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROTECTION:  No report

SPECIAL PROJECTS: Comm. Pfeifer-Hall took pictures of several Scenic Roads around the State that involve power lines.  These photos will show CL&P that there is no problem in maintaining these lines on a scenic road.  Staff liaison will contact the Town Attorney for an opinion.

The next CT River Clean up will be held on Sept.30, 2006.

Commissioners agreed that they will skip planting a tree this year as a site with a good source of water is not available.

REAL ESTATE:  No report

STAFF LIAISON REPORT:    Commissioners agreed that they will not pursue the Neighborhood Assistance Act this year.

Liaison Report - Northern CT Land Trust:   Comm. Dynia reported that the NCLT is looking for donations for the Whitaker property in Somers.  Several fund raising events are planned.

Liaison Report - SRWA:

Comm. Dynia reported that the Canoe Race (Spring Splash) was a success.  There were 84 boats and 127 people involved.  Comm. Pfeifer-Hall expressed her disappointment in the showing from SWRA at the recent P&Z meeting that involved land near the Scantic River in Enfield.  On Tuesday April 18, there will be a meeting to consider removal of the Springborn Damn.

New Business:  Review of the Plan for Conservation and Development.  Maps and pages 39 - 42 will be reviewed at the next meeting.

Commissioners asked that staff liaison include the agendas for the P&Z meetings in their packets.

NEXT MEETING DATE:  Chairman Dynia noted that the next meeting date will be on May 9, 2006.

ADJOURNMENT:  Motion by Comm. Pfeifer-Hall to adjourn the meeting at 8:50, seconded by Comm. Szewczak and So Voted.

Respectfully submitted:

Gretchen Pfeifer-Hall

Secretary