Wallingford
Conservation Commission Minutes*
*These are
unofficial Minutes subject to the approval at the next regular meeting.
March 26, 2007
Attendees:
David Klock, Peter Upton, Tim Chila, Ralph Nimtz, Debbie Scranton, Kim
Royar
1.) Approval of February minutes and agenda
2.) The Pit: The
pit application was denied by the Act 250 commission based on 5 criteria:
1(B) Water Quality impacts, 3 impacts on other water supply, 9(K) public
investment, 8 impacts on the historic bridge, and 10 Wallingford Town Plan.
The Commission is interested in investigating a conservation/recreation
future for both properties including
the possibility of the town purchasing the Phillips parcel.
3.) Walking trails at the pit:
Peter and Tim will GPS the trails in early April. They will email the
rest of the commission to invite them to attend.
Peter will get the data to Kim and she will try to download it onto a
topographic map and ortho photo.
4.) Wetland/Riparian restoration:
Tim talked to Ethan Swift regarding funds for buffer strip restoration on
the otter creek. Ethan has money and
is interested in working with us. He
also suggested that we contact the organization that tests/monitors water in the
Otter Creek and coordinate with them. Kim will try to see if the town has
digitized tax maps and will try to download those onto an ortho photo.
If not, Peter will check with Steve Schill to see if he could develop an
ownership map for us. We still need
information from Ethan regarding the parameters for restoration.
5.) AVCC:
*
Wetland Legislation: The
committee will read the two wetlands bills by the end the week and Tim will call
Kim Greenwood back to finalize our position.
Kim will write a letter in support of VHCB funding, the tire bill, and
our position on the wetlands bill, to Gail Fowler to be signed by Debbie for the
conservation commission.
6.) Planning: Peter
went to the planning commission meeting to invite them to a presentation by Jens
(how to incorporate wildlife into your town plan).
The planning commission was not interested in hosting the meeting but
wanted to be invited to one of our meetings if Jens was speaking.
We will also invite planning /conservation commission members in adjacent
towns. Kim will get a couple of dates in May from Jens (1st or 3rd
Monday) and get back to the commission.
David is participating in the Orton grant to develop a build out plan for
Wallingford
Village
. The commission is interested in having the Wallingford Village Planning
Project consider: wildlife corridors, green space, transportation patterns that
are more amenable to public transport, when developing the buildout scenario.
7.) Other Conservation Commissions:
Tim went to visit the Middletown Springs Conservation Commission.
They give prizes at Green Up Day for invasive plants turned in.
They also conduct monthly thematic walks with school kids. They also
suggested we discuss exotic plant problems with our road commissioner. They
intend to reciprocate and send someone from their commission to our meeting. Kim
showed the commission the
Hartford
newsletter and told them that we could use their format (replace
Hartford
with
Wallingford
). Tim will find out what it would cost to print it.
Kim will email Karen and get the newsletter electronically and then make
the appropriate changes.
8.)
WHIP presentation: We
want to advertise the talk well in advance to try to get landowners to the
meeting.
9.)
Grant writing workshop: The
Green Mountain National Forest is hosting 3 grant writing workshops however,
they are during the week and no one on the commission can attend.
Ralph will contact someone else to see if there are other opportunities
for grant workshops.
10.)Trees
in
Wallingford
: Wayne Kelley is willing to donate
trees to the town. The Commission is
willing to help Rob plant them. Debbie
will suggest that Rob organize planting for Green-Up Day.
People interested in planting can meet at our table and Rob can form
crews from there. Tim knows a
landscaper who would be willing to help plant.
We will give Ralph money to pick up a couple of boxes of munchkins for
Green up.
11.)Don
Carlsons Box: Peter will go through
the box and see what is in it.
12.)Riverfest:
Debbie and Ralph may go to the Riverfest Event in
Springfield
to see what kind of activities we might want to do on the Otter Creek.
13.)Meeting
adjourned at
8:55 p.m.
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