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PLAN OF CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE

SPECIAL MEETING * Minutes

Wednesday, November 20, 2019 10:00 A.M. - First Floor Land Use Conference Room PORTLAND TOWN HALL, 33 East Main Street, Portland, Ct 06480

 

Present – Fred Knous, chair, Claire Frisbie, Frank Winiski, Tom Malecky Guests – Mary Dickerson, Susan Bransfield

Absent – Wayne Martin, Angela Hammond

 

  1. Call to order by Chairman – 10:14 am

  2. Seating of alternates – Tom Malecky, Frank Winiski seated.

 

  1. Approval of minutes – Minutes of 10/24/2019 meeting – motion by Tom Malecky, seconded by Frank Winiski and approved.

 

  1. Reports from Mary Dickerson – Planning/Land Use office and EDC & Susan Bransfield – First selectman POCD – section on Agriculture – working on this – spoken with COG and UConn extension, Regional Agricultural Council is related to COG – presenting farm summit idea to them – may work with other towns, will run 4 sections

Sent email to Glen Chalder to work on planning for riverfront property – set clear goals to add to POCD, many people want seat at table for this planning

Elmcrest- large part of POCD – will need to update goals within a year Updating implementation strategy for agricultural plan

Have contacted state regarding rail station – may become part of Airline trail committee Looking for other uses – eg farmers market, etc

Discussion of Railroad building

Discussion of Policies vs action items – Mary will provide new list of action items – those completed and those that may be considered to be added

Discussion of reduced assessments – PA490 – for farms, timber/forestry – personal property taxes may compensate tax to towns

Other options may be considered by selectmen for lowering assessments of farms Considering signage changes

App on town website – allows trails, sights, etc to be highlighted, perhaps farms Inland wetlands agent will go out and discuss water with Penfield farm

Discussion of watersheds, conservation land – dedicated open space vs not dedicated

Farmer’s markets – consideration of locations, issues – need to add more than food such as heritage crafts to make this more sustainable marketing

Farm summit in planning - last week of Feb or first week of Mar maybe Just passed a farm brewery regulation- concerns from some neighbors

Farm requires assessor to give the PA490 designation – can’t be home agriculture, larger than 5 acres Traffic Concerns continue

Main Street – street scape – discussion of parking issues Definitions of family and driveway under consideration with P & Z Mary Dickerson presented updated EDC goals document.

 

 

 

 

  1. Establish 2020 calendar

Discussion of training of Kelly Milardo with Kevin Armstrong – meeting times on Tuesday, early evening – check to see if they are available on Dec 3 at 4:30 for training, website issues

For 2020 - 4th Tuesdays discussed – (need to check with Angela Hammond on her availability)

Jan 23 – Thursday (instead of 4th Tuesday) Feb 25

Mar 24

Apr 28

May 26

Jun 23

Sep 22

Oct 27

Nov 24

Motion to approve this schedule of meetings for 2020 by Tom Malecky, seconded by Frank Winiski and approved.

 

  1. Website discussion including town officials if available Discussion of planning for website

 

  1. Review and discuss 2016-2026 Plan of Conservation and Development including adding action items as needed – see above

 

  1. Public comment - none

  2. Adjourn at 12:44 pm – motion by Frank Winiski, approved.

 

*Special meeting called due to date change

 

 

Submitted by Claire Frisbie.

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