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) James Miller (’23) Bob Daniels (’22) Conservation & Agriculture Barbara Schukoske (’23) Vacant David Bauer (’22) Alternates Ellen Lukens (’23) Judy Konopka (’22) Staff Marek Kozikowski, AICP, City Planner SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES DATE: Monday, January 11, 2021 TIME: 7:00 p.m. Meeting was held online. Public Access was provide 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: 1798855907 Event Password: Conservation In attendance: Commissioners Elisabeth Holder, Brian Gartner, Michael Thomas, Bob Daniels, James Miller (7:50pm), Jane Brawerman (7:24pm), Katherine Owens, and Judy Konopka. Marek Kozikowski, City Planner. Public In attendance: Donna Drouin. A. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:09pm. B. Accept the Agenda A motion to accept the agenda was made by B. Gartner and seconded by B. Daniels passed unanimously. C. Public Forum Donna Drouin expressed that she is a part owner of the Sunshine Realty property and is interested in the process of the acquisition. D. Approval of Minutes 1. Approval of Minutes from the December 15, 2020 Meeting A motion to approve the minutes of the December 15, 2020 meeting made by B. Gartner and seconded by K. Owens passed unanimously. E. Request for Comment None F. Officers and Committee Reports 1. Chairman’s Report E. Holder reported that she worked on the 2020 annual report and goals for 2021. The documents were circulated to the Commission via email by staff. B. Gartner has comments and additions that he will provide. The Commission agreed to discuss the report and goals at the next meeting. 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.  2. Trails Committee i. Update on trail work K. Owens reported that she went out to the Hubbard Conservation area. It is unclear where the property lines are or where the trail might encroach onto the Eversource property. The Commission agreed to identify on a map the general location of the encroachment and provide it to staff to investigate obtaining a formal easement. M. Thomas reported that wood sawhorses were placed on the red trail which is a popular spot for parking and ATV use. Donna Drouin noted that it was placed in a wet area when a fallen tree was being cleared. ii. ATV destruction and possible deterrents M.Kozikowski reported that cameras will be supplied by the city to be installed on the trail to monitor ATV activity at Wilcox. J. Miller identified locations for the cameras. 3. Agriculture Committee i. Farm survey working group B. Daniels reported that he is assembling a working group to kick start and develop a proposal to the city for new programs to support farming in Middletown. He is also researching examples of other community’s effort for supporting local agriculture. ii. Farmland inventory planning M.Kozikowski will initiate assembling data to create an inventory for available city land for farming. Along with location and plot size, the Commission suggested collect data on which locations have available building and to include available spaces in urban areas. 4. Outreach Committee i. Trail maps availability J. Konopka initiated data collection for an update of the trail guide. Once the trail guide is updated and posted on the City’s website, the trail information can be posted to various trail guide platforms. ii. Other publicity B. Gartner has an outline for goals for 2021, which will be discussed next month. 5. Open Space Management Committee No update. 6. Open Space Acquisition Committee i. Pending Properties (Livingston, Mckiernan, Newfield, Westlake, Majestic Oaks Drive, South Plumb Sunshine Realty, and Millbrook Acres LLC) E. Holder reported that the acquisitions are moving along the process. ii. OSWA Grant- Majestic Oaks- Wilson Property Update No update. G. Old Business 1. Timber Management and Southern Border Safety No update. H. New Business None 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. I. Member Forum J. Brawerman and the Commission shared the urgency of the City filling the Environmental Specialist position. J. Adjournment A motion to adjourn made by B. Gartner and seconded by M. Thomas passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:11pm. 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.