TOWN OF WETHERSFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION
May 11, 2005

Chairman Andy Wizner called the meeting to order at 8:05 PM in the Town Hall Conference Room. The meeting was attended by Commissioners Tracy Gionfriddo, Rebecca Zaliznock, Ingrid Boelhouwer, Christoph Geiss, Robert Pulford, and Jim Shumaker. Also in attendance were Chris Shepard of the Nature Center; Kathy Bagley of the Parks and Recreation Department; Tim Northrop, State Office Director of the Trust for Public Land; and Jim Woodworth, President of the Great Meadows Conservation Trust.

1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

   The April 13, 2005 Minutes were approved, with one minor correction (Motion by J. Shumaker, Seconded by C. Geiss, with T. Gionfriddo abstaining).

2. COMMUNICATIONS

   C. Shepard passed out brochures detailing the "Wright's Way" nature walk at the Charles Wright Elementary School. The brochure provides a map of the walk on the school grounds.

3. GUESTS
   1. Tim Northrop - A presentation by Mr. Northrop of the Trust for Public Land was provided, which included an overview of the TPL conservation services for research and education, finance, planning, and land transactions within Connecticut. Mr. Northrop outlined the steps that the Town of Wethersfield would need to consider for land conservation and preservation that included identification of specific lands; prepare negotiation agreements with the landowners; develop a funding strategy for acquisition; and form new partnerships with other conservation trusts. Chairman Wizner suggested that the TPL contact the Town Manager to discuss the issues and options for Wethersfield.
   2. Jim Woodworth - Mr. Woodworth discussed the upcoming 350th year celebration of the Glastonbury / Rocky Hill Ferry scheduled for June 11, 2005. The program coincides with the opening of the Wethersfield Nature Center at the former Moeller Memorial Home on Prospect Street. The towns would like to coordinate and organize a bike ride along the designated trails between Rocky Hill and Wethersfield; and the Commission discussed the approved routes that would lead to the Nature Center from the Ferry location. The Conservation Commission and the Recreation and Parks Department can only sanction Police approved routes for safety purposes.
4. OLD AND NEW BUSINESS

   Kathy Bagley:

   • Ms. Bagley reported that the request for $1,400 for signage along the Phase II portion of Heritage Way trail is back in the budget for consideration by the Town Council. The budget has not been approved to date.
   • The DEP Grant check for the Phase II construction of Heritage Way has not been received.
   • The Town was contacted by Sandy Fry regarding our participation in the Bike to Work program for the summer. The notice was too late to coordinate the program for 2005.
   • Ms. Bagley presented the draft maps of the Heritage Way Recreational Trail and the trails in Wintergreen Woods to be installed at the kiosk at the entrance to Wintergreen Woods. After a few edits, the maps will be finalized and installed.

   Open Space Inventory:

   P. Geiss distributed Open Space Inventory forms and maps for the completion of the inventory update by Commission members. A clarification was determined not to include details related to the newly adopted Open Space Acquisition Criteria for the properties in the inventory.

A. Wizner adjourned the meeting at 9:40 PM (Motion by J. Shumaker, Seconded by B. Pulford).

Respectfully submitted,

Rebecca M. Zaliznock
Commission Secretary