South Windsor Agriculture, Arts & Nature Center

SOUTH WINDSOR AGRICULTURE, ARTS & NATURE CENTER COMMITTEE

 

TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR

 

Minutes                                                         Page 1                                                 July 8, 2015

 

 

Board Room – South Windsor Public Library

 

1.    Call Meeting to Order

 

The meeting was called to order at 5:35 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

                                       Katie Graham, Park & Recreation Commission

                                       Michele Lipe, Director of Planning

                                       Chairman Andrew Paterna, Town Council

                                       Councilor Jan Snyder, Town Council

                                       Betty Warren, IWA/CC

                                     

Members Absent:       John Caldwell, Park & Recreation Department

                                       Councilor Tom Delnicki, Town Council

                                       Jeff Folger, Senior Environmental Planner

                                       Sandy Jeski, SWALPAC

                                       Virginia Macro, Historic District Commission

                                       John Mitchell, Economic Development Commission

                                       Councilor Liz Pendleton, Town Council

                                       Tim Shepard, South Windsor Land Trust

 

 

3.      Approval of Minutes (June 10, 2015)

 

Ms. Lipe made a motion to approve the June 10, 2015 minutes.  Ms. Etter seconded the motion; and they were approved, unanimously.

 

4.      Public Input

 

None

 

5.      Discussion items

 

SWAAN Resolution/Discussion at Town Council meeting of 7/6/15

 

Chairman Paterna stated that the Town Council approved the resolution that this Committee had submitted for the Town Council’s support for improvements to the Priest Farm property, as shown in attached Exhibit A.

 

After the Resolution – Next steps

 

Ms. Lipe stated that she will be working on the paperwork necessary to receive the $24,000 grant and after she fills out the paperwork would send it to Councilor Snyder and Chairman Paterna for their review.  This paperwork will also be reviewed by the Town Attorney.

 

Ms. Lipe felt that the Committee should have a consultant come and discuss with members the goals of the project.  Committee members felt that the feasibility study should include finding locations for elements such as community gardens, outbuildings, farming areas, trails, picnic areas, access, utilities, parking, conceptual view of outbuildings, and farmers market.  A pre-bid review of the property should be part of the process.

 

Public Meeting - Schedule

 

Committee members felt that a conceptual plan should be completed prior to bringing this plan to the public.  Also the artist rendering of the property can be done at a later date.

 

Updates:  Access Road/Water Line

 

Ms. Lipe informed the Committee that the present access used by the farmers is where the proposed access to the property would be.  A second access should be through the easement off of Heritage Drive.  Water can be accessed through Heritage Drive.

 

6.      New Business/Discussion items

 

Ms. Lipe told the Committee that Jeff Folger accompanied Ed Sunderland on an inspection of the Priest house with the purpose of determining if there were historically significant items in the house.  Mr. Sunderland had the following comments, as shown in attached Exhibit B.  Ms. Lipe stated that she spoke to Mr. Major about boarding up the house to make it secure.  Mr. Major would like a list of what the Commission would like done and he will come up with a price for what the Committee would like done.      

 

Ms. Lipe stated that the appraisal report for the easement that Eversource is requesting from the Town to access their right of way on the Priest property came in at $9,000.  The next step will be to set a public hearing regarding this issue through the Town Council.  Ms. Lipe said she would find out if Eversource plans on making any improvements to the easement.  Committee members discussed the ability for those funds to come back to the South Windsor Agriculture, Arts & Nature Center Committee to be put back into the project.  Ms. Lipe felt that when the resolution is written, wording can put into the resolution requesting the funds be used towards improvements to this project.

 

Ms. Etter made a motion to support and move forward as quick as possible with the securing of the house on the Priest Farm property according to the report submitted by Mr. Folger.  Ms. Graham seconded the motion; and it was approved, unanimously.

 

7.      Next Meeting Date

 

Ms. Lipe made a motion to not hold a meeting on August 12, 2015.  Ms. Etter seconded the motion; and it was approved, unanimously.

 

8.      Adjournment

 

At 6:06 p.m. Councilor Snyder made a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Ms. Etter seconded the motion; and it was approved, unanimously.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

___________________________

Deborah W. Reid

Council Clerk