2009-04-07
TOWN OF BERLIN
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING
TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2009
ROOM 8 - BERLIN TOWN HALL - 6:30 P.M.
APPROVED
Members Present:
Michael DeLorenzo, Chairman
Guy Hoffman, Vice-Chairman Karl G Lewis
James Matulis Steven Sokolowski
Robert Ramsey
Staff Present:
Hellyn Riggins, Dir. Development Services
Members Absent:
Rev. Frederick Raap Peter F. Regan
GUESTS:
Pat Bigelow, Hatchery Brook Community Garden
1. CALL TO ORDER:
Chairman DeLorenzo called the meeting to order @ 6:30 P.M.
Commissioner Lewis stated that he would have to leave the meeting early to
appear before the Prince of Peace Church Council to request using a section of
an old road that goes through church property as part of the Hatchery Brook
Trail.
2. AUDIENCE OF CITIZENS: None
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – March 10, 2009:
Spelling correction to Page 3 - A. Use of Town Lands – Community
Gardens, change the name Fiscar to Fiskar. Vice-Chairman Hoffman requested
an addition to Item 5 - Old Business, C. Open Space Publication – Karen L.
Pierson – Open Space Management Plan Vice Chairman Hoffman thanked
Karen Pierson for all her work on the Power Point Presentation and the
Management Plan. Commissioners were in agreement that Ms. Pierson did a
wonderful job on the project and spent a great deal of extra time working over
and above what she was contracted to do. Commissioner Matulis made a
motion to accept the Minutes of Tuesday, March 10, 2009 as amended. The
motion was seconded by Commissioner Ramsey & the Minutes were approved
with one abstention.
4. NEW BUSINESS:
A. Site Plan Amendment – Baltic Restaurant, Tony Karwowski, Owner –
Revised plan dated March 18, 2009:
Conservation Commission Special Meeting Minutes -4/7/2009 - Page 2
The Conservation Commission had no comment on the proposed additions to
the restaurant building plan. Commissioner’s only comment was to repeat the
original comments made on the plan expressing concern that ten parking space
are to be located within the 50’ buffer of the wetlands.
Chairman DeLorenzo brought up discussion concerning naming the 450 acres
of former NRG Gas Turbine Land on the Meriden border that has been deeded
to the Town of Berlin. Commissioner Lewis stated that whatever name may be
chosen, he would like the name to include Conservation Area,. Commissioners
had several suggestions, such as; Metacomet, Summit, South Ridge, South
Kensington. The most popular suggestion was the Blue Hills Conservation Area
and Commissioners felt very comfortable with that name.
5. OLD BUSINESS:
A. USE OF TOWN LANDS – Community Gardens – Pat Bigelow
updated the Commission on the status of the Hatchery Brook
Community Gardens. She noted that a local farmer plowed the garden
on March 21 and the first load of manure was delivered last Sunday.
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She expects that they will need at least eight to ten more loads of manure
for the site. Ms. Bigelow is looking to find someone with a York Rake to
help remove more rocks. The Boy Scouts have spent time pulling up
rocks and moving them to the edge of the garden, but there are many
more rocks to be collected.
Ms. Bigelow explained that she has received interest from the Senior
Center/Upbeat Group, Debbie Dennis with the Park & Recreation
Department and possibly the Board of Education Food Service Director,
for spaces within the Community Garden. The Food Service Director
gives cooking demonstrations at the schools and feeds students during
the year. The plot would be used to raise fresh vegetables for these
cooking demonstrations. Ms. Bigelow expects to follow up with these
people to find out if they are definitely interested in securing plots as the
fees would most likely have to be waived for Town Departments. Dir.
Development Services Riggins stated that she would discuss the fee
waivers with Town Manager McNair. After discussion, Commissioner
Matulis made a motion that the Conservation Commission is in favor of
having the fees waived for the three plots if they are used by Town
departments for educational purposes. Commissioner Sokolowski
seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.
Commissioners discussed setting aside some plots for out of town
residents on a first come, first served basis. Out of town residents would
be required to pay fees of $25 for small, $30 for medium and $40 for
large plots. Commissioner Hoffman made a motion to set aside two
plots for out of town residents, as stated above. The motion was
seconded by Commissioner Matulis and unanimously approved.
Ms. Bigelow stated that the registration time has been set and Dir.
Development Services Riggins will be taking care of the registration
through her office. Hours of registration for plots will be 9:00 am to
Conservation Commission Special Meeting Minutes -4/7/2009 - Page 3
12:00 pm and 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday, April 30, 2009. Only
one application per person will be allowed and when all plots are taken a
waiting list will be made. Applicants can choose to share a plot with
another applicant. Applications will be available at the Town Hall and
the Berlin Peck Memorial Library a week before the sign up date. Fees
for Town residents are $15 for small 5’x10’, $20 for medium 10’x25’, and
$30 for large plots 20’x20’. Ms. Bigelow noted that the contracts contain
a penalty clause that the plot would be reassigned if the stated rules are
not followed. Ms. Bigelow will contact the representative from the Berlin
Citizen to request an article to include the information about the two out
of town plots being available along with three for the town educational
use and twenty-seven available to town residents. Ms. Bigelow noted
that expansion of the garden area this year is not an option due to
financial constraints.
Ms. Bigelow asked for help or suggestions for funding of the deer fencing
that is required to surround the perimeter of the garden. She noted that
the cost of the fencing is $2,440 for eco-friendly wood stakes with a glass
coating (guaranteed for 40 years) and chicken wire. Commissioners
agreed to look into some options for funding and offered suggestions of
companies that might be interested in donating toward the fencing. They
were in agreement that without the fence protection the garden will not
be possible. Commissioner Sokolowski has agreed to stake the
individual plots, and as part of the contract, the stakes can not be
removed during the growing season. Commissioner Sokolowski will also
make up a larger version of the garden scheme plan so that names can
be added to the map as the plots are taken.
Ms. Bigelow also announced that the Berlin Community Garden had
received one of twenty Fiskar Grants that were awarded within the
United States and Canada from over 1,000 applicants. The Grant
awards $1,500 for garden tools and $1,000 for green goods and mulch.
Part of the application for the grant included a cartoon by Bob Dornfried
which Ms. Bigelow stated was really appreciated by the judges. That
cartoon can be seen on Yahoo Groups under Hatchery Brook Community
Gardens. She felt that the cartoon was one reason why their application
was chosen to receive the grant and the grant will give a big boost to the
project.
Ms. Bigelow distributed a flier from the Connecticut Northeast Organic
Farming Association for a Garden Tour on June 13 from 10:00 am to
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3:00 pm, rain or shine, and the Hatchery Brook Community Garden is
part of this tour. Ms. Bigelow stated that they hope to coordinate the
Fiskar’s Grant Ribbon cutting with the Garden Tour on June 13. The
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cost of the garden tour is $20 to benefit educational programs of CT
NOFA. 2009 Gardener Education workshops in Manchester and
Wallingford are also available. Anyone interested in this program can
contact Ms. Bigelow for an application.
B. OPEN SPACE ACQUISITION -
Conservation Commission Special Meeting Minutes -4/7/2009 - Page 4
C. OPEN SPACE PUBLICATION – KAREN L. PIERSON – OPEN SPACE
MANAGEMENT PLAN.
6. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS:
7. CORRESPONDENCE:
Commissioner Hoffman discussed the email forwarded to
Chairman DeLorenzo from Eric Mosher, Watershed Projects Coordinator for the
CT River Coastal Conservation District. They have initiated a new Visual
Inspection monitoring activity in the Mattabesset River watershed as part of the
citizen monitoring program. The program uses volunteers to “adopt” sites on
local streams and monitor them for signs that indicate possible water quality
problems and their sources. Commissioner Hoffman had several suggestions
for areas to be monitored such as Orchard Rd, Angeli Ct, sites on the
Mattabassett River, Belcher Brook @Willard School and Hatchery Brook.
8. ADJOURNMENT:
Commissioner Sokolowski moved to adjourn the meeting @8:37 P.M.
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Ramsey & unanimously
approved.
Respectfully submitted, Juliet K. Benjamin, Secretary