Conservation Commission / IWWA Minutes 05/07/2019

Meeting date: 
Tuesday, May 7, 2019

CONSERVATION COMMISSION/INLAND WETLANDS WATERCOURSES AGENCY

TOWN OF SIMSBURY

REGULAR MEETING – TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2019 – 7:30 p.m.

SIMSBURY TOWN OFFICES – MAIN MEETING ROOM

933 HOPMEADOW STREET, SIMSBURY, CONNECTICUT

 

I.             CALL TO ORDER – The meeting was called to order at 7:30pm.

 

II.            ROLL CALL

1.           Appointment of Alternates-NONE

Present: Margery Winters, Jason Levy, Kevin McCusker, Donald Rieger, Donald Eaton

James Morrison, Charles Haldeman, Grant Gritzmacher

Staff Present: Robin Newton, Assistant Town Planner

 

III.           PUBLIC HEARINGS

1.            None

 

IV.          OLD BUSINESS

 

1.            Applications:

a.            Application #19-02 of Thomas Tyburski, Director of Simsbury Culture, Parks & Recreation, Applicant; Town of Simsbury, Owner; for regulated activity associated with the 5-year maintenance plan for the dirt parking area on the property located at 22 Iron Horse Boulevard (Assessor’s Map H09, Block 226, Lot 003A). Zones SC-3 and SC-4.

 

Thomas Tyburski and Parks Superintendent Orlando Casiano were present to discuss a 5-year maintenance plan. The plan would allow the Parks & Recreation team to repair holes and uneven ground in the parking area at 22 Iron Horse Blvd. They plan to use up to 30 yards of rock and/or gravel to repair the parking area.

 

Assistant Town Planner, Robin Newton, stated that instead of Parks & Recreation coming to the board every year, they opted to apply for a 5-year maintenance plan this year.

 

Commissioner Rieger asked what type of rock would be used. Mr. Tyburski stated that no recycled material would be used, and that virgin rock would only be used in the allotted area.

 

Mr. Casiano stated that the majority of the rock gets washed away each year due to wind, traffic, and tractor trailer tires.

 

MOTION:

James Morrison made a motion that the proposal is a regulated activity because the placement of fill is in the wetland review area. The motion was seconded by Jason Levy. The motion passed unanimously at 7:42pm.

 

James Morrison made a motion that this is not significant activity because the fill will be limited to the upland review area and appropriate sediment control measures will be in place. The motion was seconded by Jason Levy. The motion passed unanimously at 7:42pm.

 

James Morrison made a motion that the Commission approve the application according to the special standards and conditions in the staff report. The motion was seconded by Jason Levy. The motion passed unanimously at 7:42pm.

 

 V.            NEW BUSINESS

1.            Receipt of New Applications

 

VI.            GENERAL COMMISSION BUSINESS

 

1.            Approval of the Minutes of the April 16, 2019 regular meeting.

The minutes will be filed as they are.

 

2.            Referral from Open Space Committee regarding Open Space Stewardship and Management

 

Mr. Rieger stated that the charter contemplates that if there were to be a delegation, it would be to this commission. He added that it seems that the delegation would have to come from the Town Manager-according to the charter.

 

Commissioner Rieger added that he doesn’t think the stewardship should be delegated to anyone. Mr. Rieger stated that stewardship should not be delegated to a Commission that meets twice a month, but such stewardship and activities should be handled by the Town staff, which meets on a day-to-day basis.

 

Margery Winters stated that the Town still needs to get the goals set regarding Open Space Management.

 

Mr. Winters stated she would write a letter to Town staff to clarify the goals of the Open Space Committee regarding stewardship and management.

 

3.            Correspondence

Margery Winters stated that she attended a Conservation Commission meeting in Ridgefield, CT. She stated that they have an annual meeting in which the public is invited to. Ms. Winters discussed their Ranger Program, which is a volunteer program where members of the community monitor the trails.

 

Ms. Winters handed out packets of information for Ms. Newtown to discuss this with Simsbury’s town staff. She stated that is may be something that will work in Simsbury.

 

VII.         CONSERVATION COMMISSION DUTY WORK

Robin Newton stated she added the Conservation Commission Duty Work bullet point for any of the Commissioners who may want to add to the agenda during the week. 

 

•             Mr. Rieger added that Senator Murphy will be in town on Saturday, May 11.

•             Mr. Rieger asked Ms. Newton about a repeated letter sent to Town staff regarding the Commission’s request to obtain experts. Ms. Newton stated that there has been no correspondence from the Town about the topic. She stated that she will discuss this with Director of Planning, Michael Glidden.

•             Ms. Newton also added that the letter should be written so that experts can be obtained by all commissions, and not just the Conservation Commission. She will be following up with the Town Manager.

•             Mr. Rieger asked about Rachel’s memorandum regarding Simsbury Meadows. Ms. Newton emailed a copy of the letter to all members.

•             Mr. Rieger discussed a letter sent to the Zoning Commission on the question of whether they should consider excluding exports of water. The did not answer the correspondence. Ms. Newton stated she would follow up on this letter as well.

 

 

VIII.  ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner McCusker made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Jason Levy seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:10pm.