South Windsor Agriculture, Arts & Nature Center
Meeting date:
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
SOUTH WINDSOR AGRICULTURE, ARTS & NATURE CENTER COMMITTEE
TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
Minutes Page 1 November 12, 2014
Friends Room – South Windsor Public Library
1. Call Meeting to Order
The meeting was called to order at 5:34 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Members Present:
Pat Botteron, Open Space Task Force
Stephanie Dexter, Planning & Zoning Commission
Mary Etter, Director of S. W. Public Library
Ray Favreau, Director of Parks & Recreation
Jeff Folger, Senior Environmental Planner
Michele Lipe, Director of Planning
Virginia Macro, Historic District Commission
Councilor Liz Pendleton, Town Council
Tim Shepard, South Windsor Land Trust
Councilor Jan Snyder, Town Council
Members Absent: Councilor Tom Delnicki, Town Council
Katie Graham, Park & Recreation Commission
Sandy Jeski, SWALPAC
John Mitchell, Economic Development Commission
Councilor Andrew Paterna, Town Council
Betty Warren, IWA/CC
Other Present: John Caldwell, Park & Recreation Department
Councilor Stephen Wagner, Town Council
3. Approval of Minutes
Councilor Snyder made a motion to approve the October 8, 2014 minutes. Ms. Etter seconded the motion. Ms. Botteron and Ms. Etter both suggested minor amendments to the minutes. The amended minutes were approved, unanimously.
4. Public Input
Councilor Wagner came before the Committee to request that when the Committee is reviewing uses for this property that solar panels be considered. Ms. Lipe stated that this type of use would have to be discussed to see if it would be allowed because the property was bought with bond monies.
Mr. Caldwell suggested that property near Orchard Hill Elementary School be looked at to place solar panels or the school itself. Mr. Shepard stated that there are other properties in Town where solar could be considered. Mr. Folger suggested that when a company is coming to the Town to request a tax abatement, a condition could be placed on the approval of the tax abatement that the company is to put solar on their roof. Councilor Wagner stated that he did not want to delay construction of the Orchard Hill Elementary School. To place solar at the Priest Farm makes financial sense. Ten acres or less would be adequate for solar panels.
The Committee stated they would take this suggestion under consideration.
5. Discussion Items
Review of Community Farm Visits
Auerfarm
Ms. Etter explained that this farm was visited on October 9th. This farm had completed the written questions ahead of time and distributed to the Committee. The farm has six cottages on the property that are rented out. There are forty-two school systems that come to the farm every year for lessons in growing food, nutritious eating, and preserving the natural environment. The per pupil cost when broken down is between $9.00 to $10.00. There is a board of 18 people with 13 of them being active directors at the moment. It is important to have at least one board member who has the ability to write a check if there is a crisis. There are two more farms, one in West Hartford and one in Simsbury Farm. They advised careful consideration of the buildings on the property because they found that it was really critical to have space for at least 100 people to gather so there could be events in addition to the classes that may be going on.
Ms. Botteron added that there was a covered picnic area and a large green house.
Ms. Etter explained that the farm has a close relationship with UConn and there may be programs taught there in the greenhouse.
Review of Community Farm Visits
Mr. Folger stated that there are still outstanding farm visits at the Community Farm of Simsbury, Terra Firma Farm in Stonington and the Boulder Knoll Community Farm in Cheshire. Mr. Folger stated he would check with Andy to see if he would like to add West Hartford to the list of Community Farm Visits.
Councilor Snyder shared with the Committee members an article in the Journal Inquirer which was an interview with Janet Banks who runs a farm in Suffield called Hill Top Farm. In the article there were interesting questions that were answered, as shown in attached Exhibit A.
Priest Farmhouse – Utilities and Maintenance Report
Mr. Folger presented a utilities and maintenance report to the Committee. The Town would have to establish our own water company if the public were to use this property. Ms. Lipe explained that the Town would have to go through periodic testing and have someone in charge. Committee members reviewed the worksheet, as shown in attached Exhibit B. There may be the possibility with future development that a water pipe may go by this property and the Town would be able to hook up to it. Skips Septic reviewed the existing septic system on the property. The septic system could work but is sized for a three bedroom house.
Mr. Shepared felt that the Committee should think how the house is going to be used which will drive the design.
Mr. Folger stated that the Town had a gentleman from the Connecticut Botanical Society looked at the property and evaluate the trees that are on the property, as shown in attached Exhibit C.
The Committee reviewed briefly an oral interview from 2001 with Ms. Edna Priest, as shown in attached Exhibit D. Mr. Folger stated that this interview would be forwarded to the Committee.
Councilor Snyder questioned if it could be considered to clear anything in front of the house. Ms. Lipe explained that Mr. Caldwell has agreed to clear the bamboo over the winter with his crew. Mr. Paterna will sell the bamboo at the Farmers Market. Mr. Caldwell felt that the front of the property should not be cleared at this time because it creates a buffer. Mr. Caldwell noted that there is bittersweet which will be removed. There was talk about doing a power line drop in order to do the work necessary on the property. New service should be provided to the house at a later time.
Mr. Folger felt that if the Committee decides to go with public water, the Committee should consider having a dug well for irrigation purposes.
Committee members discussed the creation of a strategic plan showing the key components of the plan as well as phasing. A session should be held to develop a strategic plan for a facilitator to look at.
D. Open House at Priest Farm: Late Spring 2015
Committee members felt it would be a good idea to hold an open house in the last spring of 2015 or in the summer of 2015.
6. New Business: Adding New Members to Represent the Arts Community (Cile Decker, Carolyn Emerson and John Caldwell)
Committee members discussed the necessity of adding new members to the Committee at this time. It was felt that new members would not be necessary at this time until discussion regarding the arts is going to happen.
Councilor Snyder made a motion to accept John Caldwell onto the South Windsor Agriculture, Arts & Nature Center Committee. Ms. Lipe seconded the motion; and it was approved, unanimously.
Councilor Snyder made a motion to table adding new members from the arts community at this point in time. Ms. Lipe seconded the motion; and it was approved, unanimously.
Mr. Folger stated that it may be a good idea to create some by-laws for the Committee.
Councilor Pendlton stated that she would like to see the history of the property shown on the property some where when this project is complete.
7. Next Meeting Date
The next meeting is scheduled for January 14, 2015 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the South Windsor Public Library.
8. Adjournment
At 6:49 p.m. Ms. Lipe made a motion to adjourn. Ms. Botteron seconded the motion; and it was approved, unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
___________________________
Deborah W. Reid
Council Clerk