Commission on Conservation & Agriculture

Chairperson Elisabeth Holder (’22) Commission Vice-Chair Members Brian Gartner (’23) Michael Thomas (’20) Kate Miller (’23) on Jane Brawerman (’23) Katharine Owens (’22) Larry Owens (’20) Bob Daniels (’22) Conservation & Agriculture Barbara Schukoske (’23) James Miller (’23) David Bauer (’22) Alternates Ellen Lukens (’23) Judy Konopka (’22) Staff Marek Kozikowski, AICP, City Planner SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES DATE: Tuesday, June 2, 2020 TIME: 7:00 p.m. Meeting was held online. Public was provided by: 1. Going to https://webex.com and joining the meeting using the appropriate meeting number and password 2. Launching the WebEx application and joining the meeting using the appropriate meeting number and password 3. Via telephone at 1-408-418-9388 and the appropriate access code Meeting Number/Access Code: 710996489 Event Password: Conservation In attendance: Commissioners Elisabeth Holder, Michael Thomas, Jane Brawerman, James Miller, Kate Miller, Bob Daniels, Barbara Schukoske, Ellen Lukens, Katharine Owens, and Judy Konopka. Marek Kozikowski, City Planner A. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:06pm. B. Accept the Agenda Accepted by consensus. C. Public Forum D. Approval of Minutes 1. Approval of Minutes from the February 18, 2020 Meeting Vote postponed to the next meeting. E. Request for Comments None Michael Thomas has joined the meeting. F. Officers and Committee Reports 1. Chairman’s Report i. POCD Update The POCD has had a rewrite and is currently under review by the Steering Committee. The maps are still outstanding. The Commission would like to see the updates to the Open Space Map when it was available. Marek outlined the process of the plan moving forward. 2. Trails Committee i. Trails Work at Guida If you require special accommodations for any meeting, please call the ADA Coordinator at (860) 638-4540, (voice) or (860) 638-4812 (TDD/TTY), or the Town Clerk’s Office at (860) 638-4910 at least ten (10) days prior to the scheduled meeting. The committee finished blazing the new trail and received favorable comments from the public. The trail board requires updating. Jane discussed the amount of invasive plants in the area and mitigation shall be required. Holder suggested requesting use of the bond money. Kate Miller has joined the meeting. Jim Miller noted that trails everywhere are being used by ATV and other motor vehicles. 3. Agriculture Committee i. NEAT Urban Farm Update ii. Farm Survey Update Bob Daniel is assembling a list of names and addresses to distribute the survey. iii. Urban Soils Health Project Jane Brawerman, through her contacts with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, was put in contact with UConn professors who were interested in conducting an urban soils health study. They are seeking two communities to participate and Middletown will be one of them. They are applying for a grant to develop methodology for urban soils testing and mapping to support urban gardeners. Brawerman offered multiple location for possible testing. This would be a benefit to the City by recognizing its support for urban agriculture and receive valuable soil testing service for free. 4. Outreach Committee 5. Open Space Management Committee- 6. Open Space Acquisition Committee i. Pending Properties (Livingston, Country Club Rd, Chiaravallo) Marek provided an update. The City is in the process of receiving a revised appraisal for the Livingston property. The City is waiting for the CT Farmland Trust and the Attorney General’s office to finalize the deeds. ii. Possible Properties (Kleen Energy) iii. DEEP Grants Announcement iv. Rank Scoring Results Votes (Vote on Newfield Street, Westlake Drive, Majestic Oaks Drive, and East Street) Fifteen properties were scored based on a ranking sheet. After initial scoring the Committee performed site visits to the top 8 properties and decided to pursue the top 4 [listed above]. A discussion ensued on the properties. The Commission agreed to discuss further if the Commission will seek a state matching grant to acquire the properties at the next meeting. Upon a motion to move to seek appraisals for the Newfield Street, Westlake Drive, Majestic Oaks Drive, and East Street made by Bob Daniels and seconded by Ellen Lukens, the motion passes 9-0 with Michael Thomas abstaining. G. Old Business 1. Landfill Trail 2. Timber Management and Southern Border Safety 3. Open Space Map Update A revised open space map should be available for review at the next meeting. H. New Business I. Member Forum Jane Brawerman asked for a status update of the Environmental Planner position and Marek had no update. If you require special accommodations for any meeting, please call the ADA Coordinator at (860) 638-4540, (voice) or (860) 638-4812 (TDD/TTY), or the Town Clerk’s Office at (860) 638-4910 at least ten (10) days prior to the scheduled meeting. Jane Brawerman provided an updated on the Farmer’s Market that there is an agreement working out where the city will take over management over the farmers with cooperation of the North End Action team and they are looking to move it to the South Green. The market may occur later in the day. J. Adjournment Ellen Lukens made a motion to adjourn and Jim Miller seconded. The motion it passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:30pm. If you require special accommodations for any meeting, please call the ADA Coordinator at (860) 638-4540, (voice) or (860) 638-4812 (TDD/TTY), or the Town Clerk’s Office at (860) 638-4910 at least ten (10) days prior to the scheduled meeting.