2001-04-10 ���0.`ii co
ti TOWN OF BERLIN
i ��ih►,, x(14 Conservation Commission
p- J> ''.40 an '- Town Hall • Berlin, CT 06037 , - 1
�O
*PO RA1 ' TOWN OF BERLIN •
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2001
1. CALL TO ORDER:
Chairman DeLorenzo called the meeting to order @ 6:40 P.M., in Room 8 of
the Berlin Town Hall.
Members Present:
Michael DeLorenzo, Chairman Richard Schmidt, Vice-Chairman
Michele Spacek Guy Hoffman
William Welch Wallace Ebner
Juliet Benjamin, Secretary
Excused:
Richard A. Glidden Peter Regan
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES, MARCH 13, 2001:
Commissioner Spacek MOVED to accept the Minutes of Tuesday, March
13, 2001, as written. SECONDED by Commissioner Schmidt & UNANIMOUSLY
APPROVED.
3. AUDIENCE OF CITIZENS:
None
4. OLD BUSINESS:
A. USE OF TOWN LANDS :
1. 4-97 AN ORDINANCE REGULATING PARKS AND OPEN SPACE
LANDS IN THE TOWN OF BERLIN - Chairman DeLorenzo noted that
he intends to contact Councilman Paul Argazzi after tonight's budget
vote hearing. He plans to discuss the designation of a Town Forest in
Berlin. Chairman DeLorenzo plans to put together information for
discussion of this at the next Conservation Commission meeting.
2. DEVELOPMENT REVIEW FOR NEW PROJECTS - Chairman
DeLorenzo and Commissioners reviewed a copy of the plan for the
Mooreland Glen Subdivision submitted by the Dept. Development
Services. Commissioners noted that they had originally reviewed this
plan and sent formal comments and questions, dated November 22,
2000, to the Department of Development Services. Commission did
not receive a reply from Development Services regarding the
November 22nd memo. Vice-Chairman Schmidt noted that he had
expressed concern regarding the impact of this project to the river.
Original plan showed 48% Open Space Areas and revised plan lists
44%. Since the Planning & Zoning Commission meeting scheduled
for Thursday, April 12 has been rescheduled for April 26th, Chairman
Conservation Commission Minutes-4/10/2001 -Page 2
DeLorenzo plans to send a letter to Brian Miller expressing the
Commissions questions and concerns. Vice-Chairman Schmidt
asked that he request as to how the open space area was calculated.
Open space areas are not well marked on the plans and the plan does
not specify if the open space property is being given to the Town or
just being left as "open space". Commissioners also questioned
whether there is New Britain owned land along the river and if
anything will be done to protect the streamside areas, since the
developers propose a walkway along the stream.
3. PARK & RECREATION BROCHURE - Vice-Chairman Schmidt
reported he has not had any recent updates on the brochure, but he
understands that it is in the printing stage.
B. OPEN SPACE ACQUISITION:
Commission informally reviewed a Town Map onto which
Commissioner Welch had marked in all Town owned areas, delineating
areas that are now used for specific purposes such as parks, and areas
that are still open space.
Commissioners' Ebner and Schmidt noted that they had walked the
Eleanor F. Bradley property on the Chamberlain Highway that the Town
is purchasing for ballfields and open space. They noted that the property
is 98 acres, of which 35 to 40 would be dedicated as open space.
C. MERIDEN POWER PLANT:
Open Space/El Paso Project- No new information has been received.
Commission discussed the issue of Trap Rock Ridge Protection. Berlin
has been part of the Metacomet Ridge Compact, which shows support for the
protection of trap rock ridges. The Town of Southington has been in the news
regarding protection of the trap rock ridge. Commissioners in agreement that
they would need to get an idea of how much support would be found in the
Town of Berlin for ridge protection.
D. REVIEW ACTION ITEMS:
Commission reviewed Action Item list.
• Rustic Sign @ Ragged Mountain Memorial Preserve/Eagle Scout Project -
Commissioner Welch stated that Dave Paradise, Town of Berlin
employee, has promised that the sign will be up by the end of the month.
Commission discussed having a ceremony, with ribbon cutting, to
dedicate the sign. Commissioner Welch also stated that Eagle Scout
Vandrilla must be included in the festivities.
• Town Web pages - No further news on updating of web page.
• Silver Lake Dredging- Nothing new to report on this item.
• Mattabessett River Watershed Committee - Vice-Chairman Schmidt
expressed hope that the budget passes tonight so funding will be in place
for continued work. There is a $3,000 request in the budget, which will
be used for road signs and a library display to begin the streamside
education process.
Conservation Commission Minutes-4/10/2001 -Page 3
• Arbor Day Foundation Membership - Chairman DeLorenzo has
confirmation that the Town is now a member and a copy of the March-
April 2001 brochure.
6. NEW/OLD BUSINESS:
Membership - Chairman DeLorenzo noted that a new Alternate Member
has been appointed, Mr. Leonard J. Fredericks. Chairman DeLorenzo did not
know if Mr. Fredericks had been sworn in yet by the Town Clerk.
7. CORRESPONDENCE:
Commission reviewed correspondence,
1) CCM Workshop, Billboards in Your Community, Wed., April18 from
9-12 A.M.
2) Arbor Day Membership Flier, March-April 2001.
8. ADJOURNMENT:
Commissioner Welch MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 P.M.
SECONDED by Commissioner Hoffman & UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
Respectfully submitted,
Juliet K. Benjamin, SecretaryLL
r