Commission on Conservation & Agriculture

Chairperson Bob Daniels Commission Vice-Chair Members Brian Gartner Michael Thomas Kate Miller on Jane Brawerman Barbara Schukoske David Bauer Daniel Penney Conservation & Agriculture Alternates William Gardner William Wilson Vacant Vacant Staff James Sipperly, Environmental Planner Corinne Milardo, Administrative Assistant REGULAR MEETING Minutes DATE: Tuesday, February 20, 2024 TIME: 7:00 p.m. Meeting was held in person in Room 208, Municipal Building and via WebEx. In person attendance: Commissioners: Bob Daniels, Barbara Schukoske, Kate Miller, Dan Penney WebEx Attendance: Commissioners: Brian Gartner, William Gardner Public: David Winkle, Shawn Walker, Trace Healey Staff in Attendance: James Sipperly, Environmental Planner Corinne Milardo, Administrative Assistant A. Call to Order Chairperson B. Daniels called the meeting to order at 7:10pm. Election of Officers D. Penney nominated B. Daniels for Chairperson. K. Miller seconded the nomination. No other nominations were made. B. Daniels called for a vote to elect B. Daniels as Chairperson of the Commission on Conservation and Agriculture. Passed unanimously: 6-0. B. Daniels called for a nomination for Vice-Chair of the Commission on Conservation and Agriculture. B. Schukoske nominated B. Gartner. D. Penney seconded the nomination. No other nominations were made. B. Daniels called for a vote to elect B. Gartner as Vice-Chair of the Commission on Conservation and Agriculture. Passed: 5-0-1. (In favor: B. Daniels, B. Schukoske, D. Penney, B. Gartner, W. Gardner) (Abstained: K. Miller) B. Accept the Agenda Motion: To accept the agenda as is. Moved by B. Gartner; seconded by B. Schukoske. Passed unanimously: 6-0. C. Public Forum None D. Approval of Minutes January 25, 2024 Special 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. Page 1 of 4 Motion to approve the minutes as received. Moved by B. Gardner, seconded by B. Schukoske. Passed unanimously: 6-0. E. Request for Comment None F. Officers and Committee Reports 1. Chair’s Report i. Chamberlain Hill Road conditions – letter drafted to DPW B. Daniels stated that residents of Chamberlain Hill Road have expressed their concerns to the commission over what’s going into Sumner Brook from salts to gravel that’s impacting the Brook. It all comes down to runoff and the need for drainage. B. Daniels explained that water spills over the road. In the winter it freezes and then the City salts the road. This is ruining the trees and it’s a danger to wells. B. Daniels expressed his desire to get this letter out this week with pictures to go along with the letter. J. Sipperly explained that the Department of Public Works is aware that there is a problem on Chamberlain Hill Road that they are working on. K. Miller suggested that the letter be framed to show that this is the purview of this Commission. Motion to accept the letter with changes. Moved by B. Schukoske, seconded by D. Penney. Passed unanimously: 6-0. ii. Membership updates – Appoint new Members to Committees B. Daniels explained that there are open positions on the Commission. Bill Wilson, Bill Gardner, and Dan Penney are the newest members. B. Daniels continued stating what Commission members are on each Committee. Bob Daniels, Barbara Schukoske, and Jane Brawerman are on the Agricultural Committee. There is room for one more Commission member. Kate Miller and Jane Brawerman are on Open Space Management Committee. There is an open spot for one more Commission member. Brian Gartner and Bob Daniels are on the Open Space Acquisition Committee. There are two spots open on the Open Space Acquisition Committee. Brian Gartner is on the Outreach Committee. There is one spot open. Brian Gartner and Mike Thomas is on the Trails Committee. B. Gardner explained that the Trails Committee really falls under the Open Space Management Committee. It can be discussed at a future meeting if the Commission wants to make the Trails Committee its own body with bylaws. J. Sipperly commented that it makes sense to have the Trails Committee under the Open Space Management Committee. D. Penney expressed his interest in the Agricultural Committee and Open Space Acquisition Committee. W. Gardner expressed his interest in serving on the Agricultural Committee. J. Sipperly stated that before these committees meet, they will have to be noticed. B. Daniels asked how much money is left in the Open Space Acquisition funds. Page 2 of 4 J. Sipperly responded he believes there is one point nine five million left. As for Open Space Maintenance, there is twenty-five thousand dollars to utilize. J. Sipperly explained that some of the Open Space Maintenance money will be used for four signs. B. Daniels suggested adding on the agenda each month where they are with Open Space Acquisition funds. K. Miller offered some suggestions on what the money can be used for such as building bridges or massive plant removal. 2. Agriculture Committee i. Proposed changes to lease and contract template for agricultural leases ii. Proposed language for RFP and contract – see Kate’s email B. Daniels stated that the proposed changes were based on information that was provided by K. Miller. B. Daniels explained that K. Miller made some suggested changes to the lease agreement for farming. One concern was about chemicals and synthetic fertilizers which can do harm to the soil and water bodies. Another concern is to ensure that wildlife is being protected. B. Daniels brought up the concern about land maintenance. How will the lesee be responsible for that? B. Daniels went on to state that they should be supporting these farmers with infrastructure. K. Miller suggested that the Commission vote on language tonight and ask Director Kozikowski to add this language to the lease and contract template. J. Sipperly added that the language will be site specific. K. Miller stated that J. Brawerman added climate mitigation practices language. J. Sipperly stated that the Commission should vote on the RFP language and then it will be up to Director Kozikowski and the Legal Department to make the final decision on the language. Motion to accept the changes to lease and contract template as well as RFP language. Moved by B. Schukoske, seconded by B. Gardner. Passed unanimously: 6-0. 3. Outreach Committee i. Conservation Corner Update B. Gartner stated that with the new members they have, this is the largest Commissions they’ve had since at least last year. B. Gartner will be working on the draft to get out to everybody. 4. Open Space Management Committee i. Wilcox Management RFP for invasive species study J. Sipperly explained that he has been trying for several months to get in touch with Eric Hanson who did the Wilcox Management Plan for timber harvest. E. Hanson recommended Luke, an invasive species specialist, J. Sipperly did not remember Luke’s last name. Since these two individuals are not returning J. Sipperly’s calls, he is going to put together an RFP to go out to a company that will do an invasive species study and we’ll use the open space management money to fund that study. Page 3 of 4 K. Miller added that this study was going to be a select cut. ii. Open Space Priorities/Signage – 4 New Signs Proposed J. Sipperly stated that Sign Mart on Main Street in Middletown will be creating the four signs. iii. Trail Maintenance Needed J. Sipperly spoke about the twenty-five thousand dollars for Open Space Maintenance in which he suggested using it for Ravine Park, a trail by the brook that’s been washed out, and the Kayak Launch, they should put in coarser material and they need water bars. 5. Open Space Acquisition Committee i. 470 Chamberlain Road ii. Country Club Road site iii. Pameacha Pond location iv. Miner Street, Map-Lot: 06-0057 J. Sipperly stated that Director Kozikowski is going to revisit each of these. J. Sipperly will give updates at the next meeting. D. Penney asked about the status of the dam at Pameacha Pond. J. Sipperly answered that the D.E.E.P. ordered the City to do an emergency repair which they did. There is going to be a design and full repair. G. Old Business 1. Trail Guide Kate Miller’s files updating and reprinting and Contract J. Sipperly informed the Commission that they will be walking all of the trails that are in the trail guide with a GPS. Assistant City Planner, Gary Middleton will be working on this. They will be taking note of the conditions of the trails. J. Sipperly even suggested new signage for the trails. K. Miller suggested making a list of properties that don’t have trails. H. New Business None. I. Member Forum - Dam Removal Information – Save the Sound J. Sipperly pointed out the Dam Removal Information that he shared with the Commission. J. Adjournment Motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:14 pm. Moved by B. Schukoske, seconded by D. Penney. Passed unanimously: 6-0. Page 4 of 4