2000-07-11 eEa`I_ . cotiti TOWN OF BERLIN
2 Conservation CommissionH. r
o J> .'' S, Town Hall • Berlin, CT 06037
O'?PORAtEj
TOWN OF BERLIN
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES OF TUESDAY,JULY 11,2000
1. CALL TO ORDER:
Chairman DeLorenzo called the meeting to order @ 6:00 P.M., in Room 7 of
the Berlin Town Hall.
Members Present:
Michael DeLorenzo, Chairman Michele Spacek
Richard Schmidt, Vice-Chairman Guy Hoffman
Richard A. Glidden Wallace Ebner
Peter Regan William Welch
Juliet Benjamin, Secretary
Absent:
Craig K. Wallace
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES, JUNE 13, 2000:
Commissioner Glidden MOVED to accept the Minutes of Tuesday, June 13,
2000, as presented. SECONDED by Commissioner Spacek & UNANIMOUSLY
APPROVED.
3. AUDIENCE OF CITIZENS: None
4. OLD BUSINESS:
A. USE OF TOWN LANDS :
1. MASTER PLAN OF DEVELOPMENT & CONSERVATION COMMITTEE-
Chairman DeLorenzo noted that the Master Plan of Development &
Conservation Advisory Committee met last week. Chairman
DeLorenzo hopes to incorporate the open space mapping project with
the Plan of Development Project, which will be done by a professional
consultant. Chairman asked for ideas and discussion from
Conservation Commissioners, which he then plans to bring back to
the Plan of Development Advisory Committee. Commissioner Ebner
suggested using the Appendix A form found in the 1994 Berlin
Conservation Commission "Study of Town-Owned Open Space". This
form could be used as a guideline by the Plan of Development
Committee or consultant to use to evaluate the merits of each piece of
open-space property. Chairman DeLorenzo agreed to take copies of
the evaluation form to the next Plan of Development Committee
meeting.
2. PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION/BROCHURE - Commissioner
Schmidt submitted a final draft of the Hiking and Walking in Berlin
Booklet that he has been compiling with Doug McCain of the Berlin
Conservation Commission Minutes 7/11/2000 Page 2
Land Trust and Andrea Cofrancesco of the Park & Recreation
Commission. The Commission reviewed the booklet and was pleased
with the amount of information on various local trails. The booklet
also includes a section addressing safety & etiquette issues and will
include a map. Commissioner Schmidt was unsure whether the two
booklets would be combined and felt that it was up to the Park &
Recreation Commission, who are responsible for the cost of printing,
to decide on the exact format. The draft now has to be reviewed by
the Connecticut Forest & Park Association.
3. PAPER GOODS PARK- Commissioners in agreement that they are
supportive of the fifteen parking space plan. No further update
available.
B. OPEN SPACE ACQUISITION:
1. Crystal Fall Subdivision, Savage Hill Rd/Sage Park - Chairman
DeLorenzo has not received any new information from Town Planner
Miller on this project.
2. Hanging Hills Trap Rock Ridge, Berlin/Meriden Line - Commission
discussed Hartford Courant newspaper article of Sat., July 1, 2000,
Proposal For Ridge Prompts Uproar. The article was regarding a
controversial plan to develop a 100-foot high hill of trap rock to make
way for a housing development. Meriden City Planner Dominic
Caruso, with the unanimous backing of the Town Council and Mayor
Joseph Marinan, Jr., is appealing the vote of the Meriden Planning
Commission, which approved a proposal for 36 townhouse units on
12 acres. This plan would require leveling the hill to make way for a
road.
C. GOLF COURSE EXPANSION:
A new appeal against the expansion of the course has been filed with the
Town. Chairman DeLorenzo stated that he has been approached by
several citizens asking whether the Conservation Commission could
request that Thomas J. Devane, Jr., Golf Course Designer & the
Consultant, attend a meeting and allow participation from citizens at
that meeting. Chairman DeLorenzo will contact consultant about
arranging a meeting.
D. MERIDEN POWER PLANT:
Open Space/El Paso Project - Chairman DeLorenzo stated that he is
waiting to hear from Town Engineer Tony Ferraro and Town Planner
Brian Miller as to a date for a walk of the area.
E. REVIEW ACTION ITEMS:
Commission reviewed Action Item list.
• Rustic Sign (2I Ragged Mountain Memorial Preserve/Eagle Scout Project -
Commission discussed proposed signs at Ragged Mountain Memorial
Preserve. Commissioner Welch noted that he has someone to do the wood
map on the sign. As the Boy Scout advisor, he asked for a letter from the
Conservation Commission requesting that Scout DJ Vandrilla do the sign for
Conservation Commission Minutes 7/11/2000 Page 3
his Eagle Scout Project. Commissioner Glidden noted that he would require
a letter from Scout Vandrilla requesting funding support from the Kiwanis
for wood and supplies. The Scout would first have to seek approval from the
Town to do the sign project. Commissioner Welch agreed to meet with Scout
Vandrilla to help with all the requirements and to make up a drawing of the
information to be contained on the sign. Commissioner Regan suggested
that Scout Vandrilla might get area Boy Scouts to work at beautifying the
area after the signs are installed. This could possibly satisfy the leadership
requirements for obtaining the Eagle Scout rank. Commission discussed
the project further and a suggestion was made to use old telephone poles as
supports for the sign.
• Town Web page - Commissioner Spacek agreed to call and check on the
status of the commissions mission statement on the web page.
• Silver Lake Dredging- Commissioner Hoffman stated that he believes now is
the time to push to get this project back on track. Letter regarding bonding
for dredging to be sent to Town Manager Therrien and he believes it should
also go to the DEP. Chairman DeLorenzo to send letter.
• Commissioner Welch noted that water sampling starts tomorrow, July 12,
and volunteers are needed.
• Marking Town Owned Open Space 8s Hiking Trails - Several Commissioners
volunteered to install metal sign tags on trees to denote areas of Town
owned open space and hiking trails.
5. NEW BUSINESS: None
6. CORRESPONDENCE:
Chairman DeLorenzo reviewed correspondence with Commissioners
1. Letter from Meriden Conservation Commission regarding Metacomet
Ridge Conservation Compact., with survey. Commissioner Schmidt
agreed to complete survey and return. Chairman DeLorenzo will check
with Town Planner Miller on the Town of Berlin restrictions and he will
ask for a copy of the regulations that Meriden used.
2. List of Firearms Training Course for month from DEP.
3. Membership Renewal notice for Connecticut Association of Conservation
8s Inland Wetlands Commissions, Inc., (CACIWC). *After discussion,
Commissioner Schmidt MOVED to approve a 1 year renewal @ $50.00 to
CACIWC. SECONDED by Commissioner Spacek 8s UNANIMOUSLY
APPROVED. Secretary Benjamin will file paperwork for renewal with
Finance Dept.
4. List of Permits issued by Army Corp. of Engineers for this year.
5. Brochure from Central Conn. Regional Planning Agency on land use
workshops.
7. ADJOURNMENT:
Commissioner Glidden MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 8:00 P.M.
SECONDED by Commissioner Schmidt 85 UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
Respectfully submitted,
Juliet K. Benjamin, Secretary
TOWN OF BERLIN
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
ACTION ITEMS — REVISED JULY 11, 2000
DATE NAMES). DESCRIPTION
1. 1/31/91 BCC Acquire/develop land for Berlin,
(ongoing).
2. 5/ 12/92 BCC Natural Resource Inventory Comm.
3. 1/3/91 RJS Land Conservation Plan with
Middletown & Meriden -
Lamentation Mountain.
4. 3/8/94 RJS/RG Stan Chem Fish Ladder.
5. 3/14/95 MD/GH/RJS Land Care Volunteer Subcommittee
WE & Develop stewardship plan for
Ragged Mountain.
6. 7/14/98 MS/MD Open Space Land Classification
Subcommittee.
7. 1/ 12/99 BCC Seek guest speakers for BCC
meetings.
8. 4/ 13/99 MD/BCC Web page subcommittee.
9. 7/11/00 Eagle Scout Project/Rustic Sign @
Ragged Mountain Memorial Preserve