Commission on Conservation & Agriculture

Chairperson Bob Daniels Commission Vice-Chair Members Brian Gartner Michael Thomas Kate Miller on Jane Brawerman Daniel Penney Barbara Schukoske William Gardner Conservation & Alternates Evan Peterson William Wilson William Harris Vincent Senatore Agriculture Staff James Sipperly, Environmental Planner Corinne Milardo, Administrative Assistant REGULAR MEETING Minutes DATE: Tuesday, September 17, 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, Daniel Penney, William Harris, William Gardner, Jane Brawerman (Arrived at 7:09pm), Vincent Senatore. Public: None. WebEx Attendance: Commissioners: Brian Gartner, Kate Miller, Michael Thomas Evan Peterson (Arrived at 7:04pm) Public: David Winkel, Ashley Rivera Absent: Commissioners: William Wilson Staff in Attendance: James Sipperly, Environmental Planner Corinne Milardo, Administrative Assistant A. Call to Order Chairperson B. Daniels called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm. B. Accept the Agenda B. Daniels requested to change the agenda. B. Daniels would like to move Agricultural Committee up before Request for Comment and instead of Right to Farm Support it would be Agricultural Support/Farming Support Document Draft. J. Sipperly requested to add Source to Sea Cleanup under New Business. Motion: To add Source to Sea Cleanup. Moved by B. Schukoske, seconded by V. Senatore. Passed unanimously: (10-0). Motion: To move Agricultural Committee forward on the agenda before Request for Comment. Moved by V. Senatore, seconded by B. Schukoske. Passed unanimously: 10-0. C. Public Forum 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. Page 1 of 5 D. Approval of Minutes 1. July 16, 2024 K. Miller suggested adding to the Right to Farm Support the document she created and emailed to the commission with a list of items that can be added to the support document for anyone interested in farming in Middletown. We also agreed as a commission to create supporting documents. Wilcox Management, the question is what is the role of CFPA in managing that property? K. Miller would also like to add why we want to add Ravine Park under Land Use because the Open Space Management bond cannot be used if it’s under the prevue of Public Works. J. Sipperly stated that meeting minutes and recordings are available online for anyone to access. Motion: To approve the July 16, 2024 minutes as amended. Moved by B. Schukoske, seconded by V. Senatore. Passed: 9-0-1. (B. Gartner Abstained) E. Request for Comment J. Sipperly stated that K. Miller informed him that Meriden received an application that is going through their Planning and Zoning Commission for 836 Westfield Street in Meriden. Some of the land is located in Middletown. The applicant wants to build a horse riding equestrian center and barn for his daughter. In order to build this, the applicant needs to blast trap rock. It would be 18,200 triaxle truckloads over a 5 year period which the applicant plans to sell. This is a controversial application. The Meriden Wetland Commission denied the application without prejudice. The applicant will be reapplying with modified plans. Once the application is approved through Meriden, the applicant will apply with Middletown. Once the application comes to Middletown, J. Sipperly encourages the commission to review the application and submit comments. F. Officers and Committee Reports 1. Chair’s Report i. Chamberlain Hill Road conditions – Update from Public Works B. Daniels said that it seems that Public Works changed what stone they are putting down. There are also two cut-outs across the road. J. Sipperly explained that Public Works does the cut-outs as a template for where they are going to excavate later to put a pipe in. W. Harris mentioned that there is a siltation pond under the power lines. D. Penney stated that he hasn’t been to any Public Works meetings lately to get updates. B. Daniels stated that Public Works has several road bond requests and one of them is Chamberlain Hill Road. ii. Membership updates – Re-Appointment and Appointment of new Members in May J. Sipperly stated that the commission is in good shape for membership. iii. Open Space Acquisition Fund Balance J. Sipperly informed the commission that nothing has changed. B. Daniels asked if this commission should start thinking about setting goals for the upcoming year and a review of this year. J. Sipperly answered that Director Kozikowski will be drafting goals for the commission. J. Brawerman asked if there will be an annual report as well. J. Sipperly answered that departments haven’t done that in years. Page 2 of 5 K. Miller stated that the bylaws mention an annual report. B. Daniels would like an agenda item for next time to draft commission accomplishments from this past year. 2. Agriculture Committee i. Agricultural Support/Farming Support Document Draft B. Daniels shared a document with the commission that provides information and resources on farming. E. Peterson created the document. E. Peterson explained that he took information from K. Miller and B. Daniels and created this document. This would be a good document to hand out. E. Peterson welcomes any feedback. K. Miller suggested creating a shared drive for commission members to make suggestions and recommendations for this document. J. Sipperly stated that this document can be uploaded to the City website. E. Peterson will set up a google drive account. J. Brawerman gave an update on the Ag school project. The project is moving forward. They now have full permission to do at least the first phases of the project. E. Peterson left the meeting at 7:22pm. 3. Outreach Committee i. Conservation Corner Update B. Gartner stated that a draft to introduce the commission to the community has been started. B. Gartner will send a draft out to the commissioners for review and comments. 4. Open Space Management Committee i. Wilcox Management invasive species study J. Sipperly put together a professional service document for the commission to review and comment on. J. Brawerman asked if this proposal is to identify and make recommendations of treatment or is it to actually do the eradication. J. Sipperly answered this is to identify where they are and make recommendations. Once that is complete, another professional will come in to remove the invasive species. J. Sipperly said that once the proposal is ready to be sent out, they will make sure to include the Wilcox Management Plan along with it. ii. Open Space Priorities/Signage – 4 New Signs Proposed J. Sipperly reported that the four signs have been installed and look fantastic. The plan now is to do another four signs. K. Miller asked if it is CFPA that is cutting down trees at Wilcox. J. Sipperly answered that he need to follow up on getting that answer. iii. Trail Maintenance Needed M. Thomas reported that a teacher in Rocky Hill wants to bring a group of students, juniors and seniors, to Guida’s Farm to perform some general maintenance. The sign in the parking area is in bad condition and the stonework is falling apart. J. Sipperly informed M. Thomas that for the students to go out to Guida’s, they will have to sign a waiver the City is working on. They also need to have a porta potty. Page 3 of 5  5. Open Space Acquisition Committee i. 470 Chamberlain Road J. Sipperly reported that the property owner is still deciding whether to sell to the City or not. ii. Country Club Road site J. Sipperly reported that the owners are still in negotiation. iii. Saybrook Road Forest Land J. Sipperly reported that the Federal Government will be purchasing this land. G. Old Business 1. Trail Guide updating and reprinting and contract – intern working with Gary Middleton J. Sipperly reported that we’re almost ready to put together a document to share with the commission. There are a couple more trails to map. 2. Ravine Park J. Sipperly reported that Director Kozikowski would like to assist Public Works with a proposal going forward. K. Miller would like to see open space funds for improvements to Ravine Park, but that cannot happen unless this park is under the prevue of Land Use. J. Sipperly stated that Ravine Park is not considered open space. K. Miller expressed her concerns about the poor condition of Ravine Park, especially the erosion next to the stream. 3. Nature Gardens trail maintenance, vegetation management and tree removal and planting J. Sipperly informed the commission that Primary Landscaping performed the work. They stripped out all the old material along the major trail system. They rolled a sub-base in of stone, they top-dressed it with a smaller sized stone, and they fixed two areas that had drainage problems with under drains. They planted grass and mulched it and planted trees. They want to get the City Arborist out to the Nature Gardens to evaluate some of the big trees to see if they need to be removed. J. Brawerman asked if there are any plans to build boardwalks in some of the wet areas. J. Sipperly answered the boardwalks are on school property. We will have to approach the BOE to rebuild the boardwalks. J. Sipperly added that they still need to remove the old sign. 4. Right to Farm Signs J. Sipperly stated that Director Kozikowski ordered ten signs that will be posted along the major thoroughfares coming into town. 5. Volunteering on Committees B. Daniels reported that we’re in good shape. B. Daniels will bring the list next time to update the commission. 6. Red Maple Swamp Update Page 4 of 5 J. Sipperly updated the commission. He started by explaining that there was a proposed trail that was going to go between the proposed apartment complex on Kaplan Drive and behind the school on City property. The developer revised his plans to allow for an easement to shift the trail over to the proposed apartment complex property so that the City won’t have to cut a lot of trees. J. Sipperly stated that we’re trying to connect the Airline Trail over the Arrigoni Bridge through the North end by Johnson Street by the landfill, somehow cross the Coginchaug River with a bridge, go up the rail line and hook into the Newfield Street Apartments development that’s being built right now. Then the trail will connect on Labbadia’s property on the corner of Mile Lane and Newfield Street and then up to Lawrence School. Then the trail will go into the field, curve around the vernal pools and go through the woods to Tuttle Road. The State hired SLR to design and to connect the trails. SLR needs to meet with the surveyor, Reynold’s, that the City hired that will be surveying the land for permanent protection for Red Maple Swamp. J. Brawerman asked how does this relate to Red Maple Swamp. J. Sipperly answered that the trail will run adjacent to Red Maple Swamp. K. Miller asked if someone from the commission can review the plan. J. Sipperly answered once they know where the trail is going to run, then it will come to this commission in time for comments. D. Winkel asked if part of the trail is also on the area proposed for an easement through 30370. J. Sipperly answered yes. D. Winkel asked if this is going to be put out for public comment and how will that be done. J. Sipperly answered yes and it most likely will go through the Planning and Zoning Commission. B. Gartner left the meeting at 8:29pm. H. New Business 1. Source to Sea Cleanup J. Brawerman informed the commission that this will take place on September 28th from 9am to noon at Vets Park. I. Member Forum B. Daniels informed the commission that Manes and Motions is having their annual fundraiser at the Wadsworth Mansion on September 26th from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. You can get tickets at the door. V. Senatore informed the commission that in 2025 his home will be celebrating its 300th anniversary. It was built in 1725. He’s planning on recreating the atmosphere of 1725. He’ll have animals, the 25th Regiment and period actors. J. Adjournment Motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:39 pm. Moved by B. Schukoske, seconded by W. Harris. Passed unanimously: 10-0. Page 5 of 5