TOWN OF GRANBY
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES
February 19, 2009
PRESENT: Mike Lengvarsky, Carolyn Flint, Susan Dwyer, Neil Hornish, and Charles Katan
Ms. Shelley Reuben attended the meeting as well.
Chairman Lengvarsky called the meeting to order and confirmed a quorum at 7:35pm
MINUTES:
The minutes from the February 5, 2009 meeting were read.
Chairman Lengvarsky, instead of Mr. Hornish, stated in paragraph four under the Conservation Commission Inventory List section of the minutes that based on the information from Town of Granby officials, Holcomb Farm is the only viable option for an area to support town-owned windmills.
ON A MOTION by Mr. Neil Hornish, seconded by Ms. Susan Dwyer, the minutes were approved as ammended on a 5-0-0 vote.
NATURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY:
Chairman Lengvarsky will revise the list based on comments from the Commissioners during the February 5, 2009 meeting, and will email the revised list to the Commissioners.
Ms. Flint contacted Eric Hammerling from the Farmington Valley Watershed Association to get information on how the Commission should proceed with a natural resource inventory. Mr. Hammerling suggested the Commission either work with the Farmington Valley Watershed Association, or create a Community Resource Inventory using NEMO at the University of Connecticut, which provides state maps with various natural resource layers. Ms. Flint supplied the website (www.clear.uconn.edu) to the Commission to review for the next meeting. Ms. Dwyer commented that she has used NEMO before and found their collection to be extensive and helpful.
Chairman Lengvarsky will meet with Mr. Fran Armentano, of the Community Development Department, on Friday, February 6, 2009, to discuss if Mr. Armentano already has these layers on the Town’s GIS database.
CONNECTICUT ENERGY GUIDE:
Mr. Hornish attended a presentation from CT Solar Lease in Enfield, CT on February 14, 2009. He provided the Commissioners with information on the program and suggests the Commission sponsor a workshop in Granby. Mr. Hornish will contact CT Solar Lease to begin organizing the event.
20% BY 2010 CAMPAIGN:
Currently the number of signups for the campaign is ninety-three (93).
Ms. Reuben created a project plan for the campaign and presented it to the Commission. Some marketing strategies include: creating incentive plans, promotional activities, displays at all town events, applying for grant monies, and place articles in local newspapers. Ms. Reuben also has created a Google G-Mail account for the project so community members may contact the Commission in regards to the campaign.
Chairman Lengvarsky suggested a meeting be scheduled with Town Manager Bill Smith in the fall to discuss the timing element on the project. Since the town is close to earning its first solar panel, a purchase agreement to start diverting electrical energy to a different energy source for the town needs to be in place before the panel can be installed. The town annually reviews such contracts in the fall, so that would be the best time to hold such a meeting.
The Commission considered the next steps involved with Ms. Reuben’s project proposal and the campaign itself. Ms. Reuben is going to begin organizing the campaign with the schools and try to have a meeting with the superintendent, Mr. Alan Adley, before the next Commission meeting. Chairman Lengvarsky will attempt to have a conversation with Town Manager Smith after he meets with Mr. Armentano. He will also show the plan to Mr. Armentano, who will be able to help advise the Commission accordingly.
NEW BUSINESS:
Chairman Lengvarsky was approached by Amy Petras in regards to holding a rainbarrel event again this year. Everyone agreed the Commission should support the event, and Chairman Lengvarsky will contact Ms. Petras to let her know the date of June 12, 2009 is available.
Ms. Reuben is interested in being nominated for the open Conservation Commission seat. Chairman Lengvarsky will pass her name and information to town officials.
ON A MOTION by Ms. Carolyn Flint, seconded by Mr. Neil Hornish, the Commission voted (5-0-0) to adjourn the meeting at 8:50pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Emily Leveille
Recording Secretary
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