Commission on Conservation & Agriculture

Commission on Conservation & Agriculture MINUTES Regular Meeting of December 18, 2018 Present Absent Public Staff_______________ Elisabeth Holder Kate Miller Josh Eddinger Brian Gartner Jon Morris James Miller Katharine Owens Jane Brawerman Larry Owens Barbara Schukoske David Bauer Bob Daniels Ellen Lukens Mike Thomas A. Call to Order—Meeting called to order at 7:06 p.m. Roll was taken B. Accept the Agenda—Motion to accept the agenda made by Brian Gartner and seconded by Bob Daniels. Motion passed. C. Public Forum Josh Eddinger updated the commission on his review of farmstand regulations from area towns and provided a handout summarizing his findings. Members asked questions for clarification, and discussed some considerations. The commission thanked Josh Eddinger for his time and input. D. Approval of Minutes 1. September 18, 2018 meeting: Motion to approve the September minutes made by Barbara Schukoske and seconded by Brian Gartner; motion passed with Ellen Lukens and Liz Holder abstaining. 2. October 16, 2018 meeting: Motion to approve the October minutes made by Brian Gartner and seconded by Jim Miller; motion passed with Mike Thomas and Bob Daniels abstaining. E. Request for Comments Joe Samolis requested that the commission review three properties currently under consideration for acquisition by the City. It was decided that these would need to be discussed in Executive Session. Brian Gartner made a motion to move the discussion to New Business, seconded by Mike Thomas. Motion passed unanimously. F. Officer and Committee Reports 1. Chairman’s report: i. The City received three applications for the Environmental Specialist job, and two were deemed to meet the qualifications by Human Resources. Liz Holder said she will review the application materials and sit in on the interviews. Joe Samolis told her that Joe Carta and Stephen Devoto would also participate, and he hopes the new person will start in January. ii. There is a new City Planner who will start December 31, 2018, Marc Devoe, formerly the planner in Plainville. The interview panel included two city planners, and two people from the community, Jen Alexander and Matt Pugliese. Commission on Conservation & Agriculture, 12‐18‐18 Meeting Minutes page 1  iii. The Chiaravallo family accepted the City’s offer to purchase the development rights for their Higby Road property, with funds from the state/CT Farmland Trust, in addition to City funds. $59,272 of City funds will be authorized at the January 2019 Common Council meeting, with $72,000 coming from the other sources. iv. As agreed at our October meeting, Liz Holder drafted a letter to Joe Samolis (with input from Kate Miller), communicating the commission’s concerns about the City moving ahead to acquire conservation land without review by the commission, and clarifying the process we have established to review and rank properties. Liz Holder had the opportunity to discuss the letter with Joe Samolis and urge him to consider the importance of the commission’s role in providing an objective assessment of properties offered to the City for conservation purposes, and making recommendations for acquisition. In a subsequent meeting, Joe Samolis requested the commission’s input on the three properties to be discussed under Executive Session, and that the Acquisitions Committee meet quickly to review and rank the properties. v. A new Community Development Specialist has been hired, Linda MacPherson. 2. Trails sub-committee The sub-committee hasn’t met. Members reported that the trails at Wilcox look good and it looked like someone has been doing some clearing. There was a report of motorized vehicles at Wilcox from steward Janet Brooks. It was also mentioned that the trails at Guida look good and should be ready for cross country skiing. 3. Agriculture sub-committee Farm Market and Stand Ordinance Review: The committee will take Josh Eddinger’s information from other towns and make recommendations for revisions to the City regulations that address what we envision for farm markets/stands in the City, and are more flexible and open than they are currently. 4. Outreach sub-committee i. Source To Sea: This past event should be removed from the agenda. ii. Red Maple Swamp: An amphibian walk and clean-up are still being considered. It was suggested that we could identify other properties like the Red Maple Swamp that are City-owned but not protected that could be targeted for open space lands. iii. Seasonal Walks: A possible winter event was discussed, such as a snowshoe event if the weather cooperates. Holding events that highlight the seasons was brought up, as well as events cosponsored with CFPA. iv. Agricultural Event: No current plans, but it was mentioned that the horse rescue farm in Middletown will be holding events. 5. Open Space management sub-committee: No update 6. Open Space acquisition sub-committee: To be covered under Executive Session. Ellen Lukens brought up a 2014 list she had found including nine properties that had been offered to the City and not acted on, but their status is not known. G. Old Business 1. Kleen Energy Property: Waiting for staff 2. Red Maple Swamp: No update; will continue to push. 3. Landfill Trail: Grant has been extended, and the City is hoping to get more funds. 4. Open Space Regulations: No update 5. Water Tower near Guida Property: Construction is planned to start in the spring. Commission on Conservation & Agriculture, 12‐18‐18 Meeting Minutes page 2 H. New Business Review of Properties: Barbara Schukoske made a motion to go into Executive Session, seconded by Bob Daniels. Motion passed unanimously. The member of the public left the meeting. Following the discussion, Brian Gartner made a motion to come out of Executive Session, seconded by Mike Thomas. Motion passed unanimously. I. Member Forum Jane Brawerman mentioned that the next film in the environmental film series will be Growing Cities, about urban agriculture, on February 4, 2019 at Wesleyan. Mike Thomas reported that the plexiglass cover for the sign at Guida can be opened, and the Trails Committee will update the material on the sign with new maps, illustrations, and information sheets. J. Adjournment: Motion to adjourn made by Brian Gartner and seconded by Bob Daniels at 8:45 p.m. Motion passed. Respectfully submitted, Jane Brawerman, Commissioner Commission on Conservation & Agriculture, 12‐18‐18 Meeting Minutes page 3