Inland / Wetlands & Water Courses Agency

REGULAR MEETING OF THE INLAND WETLAND AND WATERCOURSE AGENCY MIDDLETOWN CONNECTICUT JANUARY 3, 2018 A. Call to Order / Pledge of Allegiance Commissioner Whitney moves to delete Item D2 from the agenda. Commissioner Pritchard seconded the motion. The chair calls for the vote. The matter passed unanimously. Present: Commissioner Joe Carta Commissioner Robert Whitney Commissioner Trevor Davis Commissioner David Pritchard Commissioner Fred Terrasi Commissioner Ken McClellan Commissioner Jennifer Greenberg Commissioner Constance Kisluk Commissioner Gabriel Russo Commissioner Kayleigh Pratt Commissioner Anthony Moran Absent: Commissioner Hector Bartoli Commissioner Jack Pieper Commissioner Phil Nettis Staff: Michelle Ford, Acting WEO/ZEO ANNUAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING – Election of Officers: Chair Commissioner Whitney nominated Joseph Carta for Chairman. Nomination was seconded by Commissioner Terrasi. The chair calls for the vote. The matter passed unanimously. Vice-Chair Commissioner Terrasi nominated Commissioner Whitney as Vice Chair. Nomination was seconded by Commissioner Kisluk. The chair calls for the vote. The matter passed unanimously. B. Public Hearing None C. Old Business None D. New Business 1. Permit determination for a statue at CT Trees of Honor Memorial WEO Ford gave a brief description and distributed drawings for the pedestal and walkway to the statue to the Commission. This would be to determine if a permit is necessary. Pedestal would be 48 feet from edge of walkway and 54.6’ from the pond. Commissioner Whitney stated that this would have very little impact and staff would oversee the project and he does not think a permit is needed. Commissioner McClellan asked that it still go thru the process. Commissioner Carta said that would mean they would have to wait another month for the permit. Commissioner McClellan stated that if they work with staff and install silt fences and hay bales, he would agree no permit was necessary. Commissioner McClellan moved that no permit was required as long as they worked with staff. Motion was seconded by Commission Terrasi. Approved unanimously. 2. IWWA Commission Training Session with Attorney Mark Branse Item deleted. E. Agency Review None F. Reports of Officers and Committees and WEO Report 1. Cease & Desist, Meriden Motorcycle Club, 80 Stantack Road; Bridge construction over a watercourse without permits WEO Ford explained the cease and desist order for Meriden Motorcycle Club at 80 Stantack Road for the bridge construction over a watercourse without a permit. This came as a complaint from a resident. She originally sent the C&D notice via certified mail to a PO Box and explained that they did not always pick up their mail at the post office. WEO Ford explained that once they received the notice, they stopped all work and have been cooperative. WEO Ford handed out the photographs to the commission. Dino Pandolfo a 20 year member of the Meriden motorcycle club spoke on behalf of the Motorcycle Club. He stated that the culvert was rotted out and they decided to take it out and replace with rip rap and a pre-cast concrete slab. They did not know it would be a permit issue. WEO Ford explained that the watercourse is very shallow when running. Members of the Commission questioned Mr. Pandolfo. Commissioner Carta stated that he feels that they should go through the permit process. There is not much work they can do now because of the weather, so it would be a good time to get a permit. WEO Ford explained to Mr. Pandolfo that if a permit is required he will have to retain someone for the design characteristics, restoration and sedimentation and erosion control. Commissioner Terrasi made a motion that a permit was needed. Commissioner Moran seconded the motion. The Chair called for a vote. Motion passed unanimously. G. Public Open Forum No one spoke. H. Minutes – December 6, 2017 Commissioner McClellan moves to approve minutes of December 6, seconded by Commissioner Moran. Commissioner Whitney notes his abstention in the Founder’s Ridge vote. Approved unanimously with Commissioners Davis, Russo and Pratt abstaining. I. Communication and Bills Commissioner Whitney recommended that the commission limit the public hearings to a maximum of 3 per meeting. Commissioner Terrasi agrees to limit the public hearings and stated that they should be limiting the amount of time for presentations. Atty. Branse addressed the discussion. He advocates limiting the applicant’s presentation. Staff should steer applicants by giving them focus on the points that are important and the Chair should give the applicant a time limit for their presentation. For example, if the Commission received a soil report with the application, there is no need for the soil scientist to go over the report. The Commission can ask questions if they have any. A Commission discussion ensued. J. Adjournment Commissioner McClellan moved for adjournment at 7:49 PM. Commissioner Moran seconded the motion. The chair calls for the vote. The chair states the matter passes unanimously with 10 affirmative votes. Respectfully submitted, Michelle Ford Acting ZEO/WEO