One Member of the Public Attended (Judy Herkimer)

Conservation Commission

April 18, 2013

Attending were Kim Herkimer, Patrick Mulberry and Brian Thomas, and so we didn’t have a quorum.

One member of the public attended (Judy Herkimer).

Kim mentioned that Tom Henneck will present the FOIA workshop on May 14. KC Baird said they should have a workshop, and all commissioners are urged to attend.

Discussion of the educational handout was postponed until Joe Markow is present.

In the absence of a quorum, we had a general discussion of the obstacles to thorough natural resources mapping. We will continue to identify priorities, but do so making more extensive use of existing materials. Don’t abandon the goal, but recognize that It’s a longer term effort.

Wants to be more focused on the handout. The resource mapping will be more demanding and long-term as a priority.

As one example of a mapping possibility, we talked of the culvert issues. Kim suggested that we have a work night, where we go through maps, area by area. Bring every map we can obtain, assigning each commissioner a part of town.

Patrick will follow up with Karen Nelson about getting the maps

We considered inviting someone like Harry White at an early work session to guide us on how to proceeed..

Note for the secretary. We have to get our approved minutes to the town.

2013 budget still hasn’t been finalized.

We lingered for a moment on the Trinity property, flowing out of the Joint Land Use meeting. Should we have an additional meeting? Kim will talk to Todd Pikher and Dana Beecher of the Economic Commission.

Patrick also emphasized our need for new members. We need fresh blood. Patrick will ask Celia Senzer to join. Judy Herkimer gave the commission a brief overview of proposed "Wild and Scenic" designation for the Housatonic River. There was a presentation at Town Hall by National Park Serivce. TheHousatonic River commission is proposing to designate the Housatonic a “wild and scenic” river. There are different aspects and implications to the designation. The Commission feels this would provide an extra layer of protection for the river. It’s no longer having the feds in your backyard. They have done a good job on the Farmington River.

Three member of the Housatonic River commission have either voted no, or abstained.

HEAL stands for the Housatonic Environmental Action League, a coalition of citizens, anglers and other stakeholders. Judy Herkimer came to the meeting to speak on behalf of this group. HEAL feels wild and scenic is premature, since the PCB cleanup hasn’t been finalized.

Next, we discussed the proposed trail from West Cornwall to Cornwall Bridge. Possible loss of private property is a large issue. From a conservation point of view, some of the evidence points to a larger and more elaborately engineered trail through a pristine area. The site has many natural features that would be disrupted by a trail.

Judy will send us the info. She asks us to consider making comments on the application by May 17th.