Agendas/ Minutes > Conservation Commission > Conservation Commission Minutes > 2005 > 05/10/05 ECC Minutes Share |

ENFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION

May 10, 2005

6:30

Arbor Day Ceremony

Elm and Hazard Ave

The Enfield Conservation Commission gathered at the site of the newly planted Princeton Elm tree to honor Arbor Day.  Chairman Mike Dynia gave a history of Arbor Day and thanked Comm. George for obtaining the tree.  He also thanked guest Tom McGee from the Public Works Department for his assistance in expediting the planting of the tree.

 

Town Hall - Enfield Room

820 Enfield Street

Enfield CT 06082

 

CALL TO ORDER:  Chairman Mike Dynia called the meeting to order at 7:07 P.M. in the Enfield Room.

 

ROLL CALL:  Staff liaison Gail Miller performed the roll call.  The following commissioners were in attendance:

Michael Dynia                                                  Natalie George

Christine Wunch                                                           Joanne Kneiss             

Richard Szewczak                                                        Gretchen Pfeifer-Hall   

Gail Miller, staff liaison                                     

Absent:  David LaPierre                                                Hal Leon Bernstein      

 

PUBLIC INPUT: Assistant Town Planner Neil Angus gave a report on the America the Beautiful Urban Forestry Grant that he is writing.  The director of Community Development has a grant for improvement to the east side of Freshwater Pond that involves repaving the path, replacing the fence and addressing conservation issues.  Neil is writing a grant for the west side of the pond.  He reviewed the plans to plant trees in the area nearest the housing units.  There would also be a wildflower mix planted at the edge of the pond for ascetic and conservation reasons.  The Shapiro report outlining the Revitalization Plan for Thompsonville promoted the use of urban forestry.  Comm. George asked about erosion issues.  Neil responded by describing the wildflower mixture and the split rail fence to be installed.  This would provide a microclimate, and improve shade and air quality.  The Town would be responsible for planting and some maintenance.  As part of the grant Neil is proposing an Adopt a Tree plan to get the community involved.  Individuals or businesses would adopt a tree for 5 years.  Neil asked for the Commission to support the concept in writing.  Comm. Pfeifer-Hall spoke in favor of the plantings at the edge of the pond.  Neil also said the DEP is supposed to install aquatic plants.  Comm. Szewczak has some concerns about accessibility for someone adopting a tree.  He suggested asking residents of the housing complex to participate in the Adopt a Tree plan.  Comm. Dynia asked who owned the land.  Neil said it was the Town and the Housing Authority.  Comm. George made a motion to write a letter supporting the America the Beautiful grant and the Adopt a Tree plan. Seconded by Comm. Pfeifer-Hall and so Voted.  Staff liaison will draft the letter.

 

Neil also explained the P&Z application for Subdivision Open Space Referral. The application would grand 1.41 acres of land for open space.  This parcel abuts the land at JFK School and will support the proposed Town activity that will address the erosion issues and the preservation of a section of sensitive terrace escarpment slopes.  In addition, the proposed open space will encompass the top ridge line of this terrace escarpment slope and the associated vegetation.  Preserving this area will aid in additional protection of the terrace escarpment slopes and further reduce the potential for any erosion and sedimentation into adjacent wetlands and watercourses systems and ultimately the Scantic River.  Comm. George asked how many trees would be cut down.  Neil said that about half needed to be cut to do the work to preserve the remaining trees.  Comm. Pfeifer-Hall asked about a fee instead of the land.  Comm. George made a motion to advise the P&Z to accept the land in lieu of a fee to address the erosion issues and to preserve the top escarpment slopes.  Comm. Wunch seconded the motion and it was passed.  Staff liaison will provide a letter to Planning for the P&Z.

 

Comm. Pfeifer-Hall asked about Trinity Farms.  Neil reported that he and Ray Warren of Economic Development have offered support as have the NCLT.  Neil will follow up on this issue.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:    Chairman Dynia asked for comments regarding the minutes of April 12, 2005.  Motion made by Comm. Pfeifer-Hall to approve the minutes, seconded by Comm. Kneiss and So Voted.  Commissioner George Abstained.

 

CORRESPONDENCE:  Staff liaison reviewed the correspondence from DEP regarding the State Drainage Plan and the proposed new Ethic rules for Municipal Governments.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION:   It was agreed that Executive Session was not needed.

 

OPEN SPACE ACQUISITION:  Commissioners asked about the status of the letter to the property owners along the Scantic.  Staff liaison will follow up with the Town Manager.

 

FARMLAND PRESERVATION:  No report

 

AQUIFER PROTECTION:  Comm. George will complete the mapping of the wells for the next meeting.

 

ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROTECTION:  No report

 

SPECIAL PROJECTS:  Chairman Dynia reported that the Commission will support the Wadeable Streams and River/Clean-up projects.

 

Website:  Commissioners thanked Comm. Szewczak for his work on the ECC website that his son has been developing. It is now on the town website under the Conservation Commission.

 

Scenic Road:  Comm. Pfeifer-Hall has not had a response from NU to her recent letter.  She will follow up on it with them.

 

Electronic Recycling: Staff liaison will follow up to see if these funds remained in the final budget proposal.

 

Family Matters Day:  The date is the third Sunday in September and the ECC will work with the Enfield Garden Club on a joint project, perhaps involving Smokey the Bear.

 

 

 

The schedule for watering the Princeton Elm is for the week of:

                                   

                                    5/16/05                        Comm. George

                                    5/23/05                        Comm. Szewczak

                                    5/30/05                        Comm. Dynia

                                    6/7/05                          Comm. Kneiss

                                    6/13/05                        Comm. Wunch

                                   

REAL ESTATE:   No report

 

STAFF LIAISON REPORT:   There are a variety of workshops that are available for Commissioners to attend.

 

Liaison Report - Northern CT Land Trust:  The Trust is trying to acquire a grant to purchase land in Somers that is adjacent to the McCann property to construct a trail from the Shenipsit to the McCann trails.

 

Liaison Report - SRWA  In conjunction with the US Dept of Agriculture there will be training on June 9 for volunteers who will walk/canoe/kayak the Scantic and fill out the appropriate forms to detail the characteristics of the River.  Teams of two will work together along the 38 miles of the River.  There is an informational meeting for volunteers on May 18 from 7:00 - 9:00 at the Hazardville Methodist Church.  There is also a mandatory DEP training on June 8 from 4:30 - 8:30.

 

DEP is also conducting a train the trainer program for a Hook-Kids-on-Fishing program. 

 

Staff liaison will write a letter to Urban Foresters thanking them for planting the Princeton Elm tree.

 

New Business: No report

 

NEXT MEETING DATE:  Chairman Dynia noted that the next meeting date will be on June 14, 2005.

 

ADJOURNMENT:  Motion by Comm. Pfeifer-Hall to adjourn the meeting at 8:37, seconded by Comm. George and So Voted.

 

Respectfully submitted:

 

David LaPierre

Secretary