Commission on Conservation & Agriculture

Commission on Conservation & Agriculture MINUTES Regular Meeting of January 16, 2018 Present Absent Public Staff_______________ David Bauer Jon Morris None Michelle Ford Katharine Owens Jammie Middleton Kate Miller Barbara Schukoske Brian Gartner Bob Daniels Elisabeth Holder Ellen Lukens Mike Thomas James Miller Jane Brawerman (7:12 arrival) A. Call to Order 1. David called the meeting to order at 7:06 PM. Roll was taken. 2. ANNUAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING – Election of Officers: i. Chair: Kate nominates Liz Holder, seconded by Ellen. Brian nominates David. Motion not seconded. The Chair calls for the vote for Liz as Chair. Motion passes with 5 affirmative votes. ii. Vice-Chair: David nominates Brian, seconded by Kate. No other nominations. The Chair calls for the vote and the motion passes unanimously. iii. Secretary: Staff will continue to serve as Secretary. B. Accept the Agenda 1. Brian motions to accept the agenda, seconded by Jim. Motion passes unanimously. C. Public Forum 1. Kate introduces Amanda Delorme, a Master’s student from UNH who will be working with Kate and reviewing some of the City’s regulations pertaining to open space. D. Approval of Minutes 1. Motion to approve the minutes of the December 19, 2017 meeting by Brian, seconded by Mike. Liz requests that the edits she emailed be incorporated. Motion passes unanimously. E. Staff Report and Correspondence: 1. Update on Landfill Trail Project: Staff states the project is ongoing. 2. Department Update i. Staffing: Interviews for the two vacant positions in the Department should be completed within the next couple of weeks. 3. Community Farms Preservation Program (CFPP) agreement completion: Has been signed by the Mayor and is now complete. F. Request for Comment The Department requests input from the Commission on the following items.  1. Revised language for open space in subdivision regulations. i. Kate would like to know if the Commission should consider all areas of the zoning code pertaining to open space should be reviewed and not just the subdivision regulations. She states that her student will be providing a report on open space regulations in April. Brian would like to consider open space on commercial properties. Staff explains that at this point, the Department is requesting input for the subdivision regulations and that this language may translate to other areas of the zoning code. 2. Establishment of 2018 Commission Goals i. Staff explains that this item has been on the agenda for many months and in the past a list of goals was helpful in drafting the annual report. Kate will email the Commission previous Commission goals. 3. Wilcox Open Space Management Plan Draft i. Staff provided a draft in the agenda packet and requests that, over the next month, the Commission members review the document and provide comments. Discussion ensued and the Commission requests that comments be sent to the open space management sub- committee (Kate, Bob and Jon). 4. Promotion of at least one Agriculture-oriented event for 2018 i. The Department would like to see at least one event highlighting agriculture in 2018. 5. Revised Agricultural Property Evaluation Criteria i. The Department would like the Commission to review the current criteria and offer suggestions so it pertains more to farms/agricultural properties in Middletown. G. Officers and Committee reports: 1. Chairman’s Report: i. Sustainable CT update: David provides an update and states the Sustainable CT website has many relevant resources. ii. No report on other items. 2. Trails sub-committee i. Update on Trails: 1. May visit the Wilcox property next week to look at blazing trails. The process for is unclear for how to communicate with public works regarding maintenance. David suggests that the Chair ask the PCD Director what a good process may be. The Commission will compile trail concerns monthly as a punch list. ii. Schedule Trail Walk and Proclamation 1. In process. 3. Outreach sub-committee: i. The sub-committee needs volunteers. ii. General discussion on outreach and Earth Day and Trails day events. Brian will coordinate an Earth Day event. 4. Open Space management sub-committee i. No report  5. Open Space acquisition sub-committee i. No report. H. Old Business 1. Kleen Energy Property: Staff will ask around about the potential deeding or conserving of property in the agreement between Kleen energy and the City. 2. Pin Oaks Golf Course Property: The property is currently owned by the city. Staff will inquire about the potential to conserve the property. I. New Business 1. Review of POCD i. The POCD needs to be updated by 2020 and David advocates that the Committee review and comment. Kate states that on the PCD website the plan is referred to as the Plan of Development and would like it changed to Plan of Conservation and Development. Staff will email the commission the sections of the POCD referring to Maromas, Open Space and Natural Resources. 2. Letter to Eversource re: Hubbard Property i. Kate distributes and reads the letter to Eversource requesting the meeting regarding concern over clearing within the ROW proximal to the Hubbard Property. Staff strongly advises that prior to sending anything out on behalf of the Commission that it should be reviewed and approved by the PCD Director. The Commission asks Staff to fix the letterhead so it has the correct Commission name. Brian motions, seconded by Mike to send a corrected letter to the Director and, if approved, to Eversource. Passes unanimously. J. Member Forum: 1. Add Brian to the next agenda. K. Adjournment 1. Motion to adjourn by Brian, seconded by Jim. Motion passes unanimously and the meeting is adjourned at 8:41 pm.