Inland Wetlands, Water Courses & Conservation Commission

Regular Meeting Minutes May 2, 2019 CITY OF NORWICH INLAND WETLANDS, WATERCOURSES AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION Lower-level Conference Room 23 Union Street, Norwich, Connecticut A. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Richard Morell called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. B. ROLL CALL and SEATING of ALTERNATES: Present:  Richard Morell, Chairman  Douglas Lee, Vice Chairman  Art Sharron  David Poore  Michael Lahan  Peter Chalecki Absent:  Brandon Hyde  Robert McCoy, Alternate Also Present:  Jean-Paul ‘JP’ Laguerre, Civil Engineer- Norwich Public Works  Dan Daniska, Assistant City Planner  Ivery Stakley, Recording Secretary C. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: Peter Chalecki put forth a motion to APPROVE the March 7th, 2019 minutes as amended. Douglas Lee seconded. The motion passed unanimously. D. COMMUNICATIONS: None. E. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None. F. OLD BUSINESS: None. G. NEW BUSINESS:  Aquatic Pesticide Permit application submitted to DEEP for Mohegan Park Pond -NDPW Norwich Public Works has applied to DEEP for a pesticide permit to take care of some milfoil growth in the pond at Mohegan Park. Jean-Paul ‘JP’ Laguerre, Civil Engineer with Norwich Public Works came to speak about why Public Works needs Pesticide for the pond. When people go fishing at the park their lines keep getting caught in the milfoil plant at the bottom of the pond. JP went to check it out and discovered there is about a half an acre of it at the bottom of the pond. JP brought in a sample of the plant to show the commissioners. JP did some research and found out there are pellets called Aquacide that can be applied to the affected areas, the Aquacide will travel to the bottom of the pond and destroy the milfoil plants. It may possibly require 2 or even 3 applications of the Aquacide to eradicate the milfoil. Public Works has calculated that it will require about 240 pounds of Aquacide, which is sold in 10 pound bags, so they will use approximately 24 bags during the treatment. They are hoping to initiate the treatment at the beginning of June. JP stated that as part of the permitting process with DEEP, Public Works was required to inform the Commission of the activity. JP provided further details regarding the location of the work: It is not near the swimming area, it is on the other side of the pond where the geese hangout. It will have no effect on the geese or other wildlife. There are three areas where the milfoil is heavy. The pesticide should attack it from the root and dissolve it into the water. Douglas Lee remarked that the treatment should be completed in early June to allow for the biological oxygen from the decaying process at the bottom of the pond to alleviate. If it is done later in the season, August for example, then you would run a higher risk of depleting oxygen and causing unintended damage to insects and fish in the pond. JP concluded by saying that once DEEP approves the application, Public Works will apply the product as soon as possible. H. OTHER BUSINESS: 1. Staff Report: a. IWWCC Permits Issued by Agent for Disturbance within the Upland Review Area: o IWWCC #19-06A: 20 Gifford Street. For the Emergency Repair of an existing Septic System o IWWCC #19-07A: 41 Wawecus Street. For the expansion of a driveway and installation of security gates Dan Daniska stated the septic tank repair at 20 Gifford Street was routine work to replace a failing system. Mr. Daniska added that he and the Zoning Officer had done a site walk at 41 Wawecus Street with project applicants to get a better understanding of the work to be done. There will be minimal disturbance in the Upland area to move a gate in an existing driveway, along with minor trenching to install conduits for the security system. All soil will be returned once the conduits are in place.  b. New Application Received: o IWWCC #19-08 - 115 West Town Street –Dime Bank Dan Daniska stated that the Planning Department had received an application after the agenda had been posted by the Clerk’s Office. Art Sharron made a motion to table the application until the June meeting, with Peter Chalecki seconding. The motion passed unanimously. I. ADJOURNMENT: A motion was made by Douglas Lee to adjourn the meeting at 7:13 p.m. Seconded by Peter Chalecki. Motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted, by Ivery Stakley, Recording Secretary 5/8/19