CONNECTICUT RIVER GATEWAY COMMISSION

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

June 28, 2007

Present/Absent: CHESTER Margaret Wilson, Martha Wallace

DEEP RIVER Amy Petrone, Nancy Fischbach

EAST HADDAM Logan Clarke, Robert Boulware

ESSEX Fred Vollono, Ed Marlowe

FENWICK Chuck Chadwick

HADDAM Scott Thompson, Susan Bement

LYME Kevin Mazer, J. Melvin Woody

OLD LYME Rudi Besier, Ted Crosby

OLD SAYBROOK Madge Fish, David LeMay

CRERPA Steve Williams

MIDSTATE RPA Raul De Brigard, Stasia DeMichele

DEP David Blatt

STAFF Linda Krause, Dorothy Papp,

TIDEWATER Judy Preston

Call to Order

Vice - Chairman Melvin Woody called the regular meeting of the Gateway Commission to order at 7:34 pm in the CRERPA meeting room.

Approval of Minutes

Peggy Wilson moved to approve the minutes of May 24, 2007. Nancy Fischbach seconded. All were in favor.

Staff Report

· The Commission received a letter and bill from James Kaiser in Haddam for cutting a tree on Gateway property, to be addressed under Other Business.

· Linda Krause reported that the Chester PZC voted to designate the Barnick property “developed” with the result that the current owner will not need to seek a variance for building inside the 50’ riparian buffer. Though Linda had requested notification of deliberation on the matter, it was not listed on the Commission’s agenda but taken up under the zoning officer’s report. None of the three commission members comprising the subcommittee tasked with defining developed areas were present at the meeting. Nancy Fischbach noted that the Chester minutes do not reflect an apparent understanding of the concept of developed areas as relates to riparian buffers. After several minutes expressing incredulity and frustration with the town’s utter disregard for statutory process, it was agreed that these minutes reflect the Gateway Commission’s strong condemnation for the Chester PZC action. Nancy Fischbach moved to present the Chester PZC with a clear explanation of developed areas. Susan Bement seconded. All were in favor.

· Those members who attended the awards ceremony in Old Lyme last month commented on how nice it was and their positive impressions of the new DEP Commissioner.

Treasurer’s Report

Peggy Wilson passed out copies of the proposed budget for FY08. After some discussion as to the meaning of the “trailing average” sentence in the new investment policy, Stasia DeMichele moved that the Finance Committee clarify its intent. Peggy Wilson seconded. All were in favor. Judy Preston reported that Tidewater Institute has been funded for the riparian buffer/tree cutting regulations grant. Though she is still unsure of the level of funding, her grant was the only one to be funded at this time. She will give an extensive update on TI in September to discuss the new fiscal year’s projects. Nancy Fischbach moved to approve the budget for FY08. Stasia DeMichele seconded. All were in favor.

Peggy further reported that the new year’s insurance application came in as well as a membership notice from The Connecticut Land Conservation Council. Dorothy asked the Commission if they were able to access both pages of the online financial report. Some could and some had problems with the program. Dorothy will try sending the financial report as a pdf file next month. Comcast continues to block email from crerpa.org to Nancy. CRERPA will try sending hers out from a different address. Nancy moved to pay CLCC $100, CRERPA $1194.00 for April and May staffing, Tidewater Institute $1120 for May staffing, and Land Trust Alliance $325 for membership dues. Stasia DeMichele seconded. All were in favor.

Nancy Fischbach moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report as a whole. Susan Bement seconded. All were in favor.

Referrals

There was one referral from Higganum requesting an additional variance for the Turan House. Though this last variance does not seem to affect any Gateway regulations or issues, Torrance sent a letter asking the PZC to keep the hearing open. Linda has been out of the office lately and Torr is away for the next 2 weeks. It seems signals simply got crossed.

Tidewater

Judy Preston gave the following report on Tidewater’s activities:

• Continue to give Riparian talks to area commissions. Spoke to Roger's Lake board re doing a similar study for the towns of Lyme and Old Lyme; well received.
• Presentation to area first selectmen also well received.

• Ground-Truthing Project advancing; Margot working on maps. List serve being investigated. Met with Laurie Gianotti (Leslie Lewis replacement), DEP Greenways program about GT Project; this will be a good partnership. Laurie is particularly interested in the lower Connecticut River region.

• Met with new Director CT River Museum, Jerry Roberts, who is interested in a possible display at the museum about the Riparian study.

• TI 501 (c) (3) status anticipated by end of July.

• Conway School of Landscape Design will once again be hiring TI to orient their new class of students this fall with a tour of the Estuary. We will be discussing riparian buffers, viewshed protection and community based conservation.

• TI art exhibit on CT marsh restoration is at the Forestry school at Yale through the end of the summer.

Other Business

Copies of the letter and $424 bill from James Kaiser, 1 Hem Street, East Haddam were distributed. Dorothy explained that the Gateway Agenda was emailed and a hard copy sent to Mr. Kaiser. No response was received. Members expressed dismay that no effort was made to contact the Commission as the owner of record before proceeding with cutting the tree. Linda will seek legal advice from Paul Geraghty after Susan Bement visits the property.

A poll was taken as to the availability of a quorum for the July and/or August meetings. Linda will decide whether to cancel either meeting based on members’ availability and number of referrals received.

Adjournment

There being no further business, Peggy Wilson moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Dorothy Papp

The next meeting of the Gateway Commission is to be determined by incoming business.