Thursday, May 28, 2020


Bethany Conservation Commission

February 13th 2020

Meeting Minutes (Approved)

 

Bruce Loomis called the meeting to order at 8:06pm. Also in attendance were Brian Eitzer, Patsy Winer, and Matthew Popp.

The minutes from the previous meeting on November 14th, 2019 were reviewed. Patsy moved to accept them and Bruce seconded the motion. The minutes were approved as accepted. There were no corrections.

The Commission entered executive session at 8:08 to discuss the Conservationist of the Year award for 2020. The session was ended at 8:10.

There were no bills. The Commission discussed an email received from the group Sustainable Bethany. The group is interested in planting trees throughout the town as part of a recovery project in response to damage to Bethany’s trees from the tornado in the spring of 2018. The Commission had many questions about the project, and will invite members of the group to speak at the next Commission meeting.

The Commission discussed the budget for the coming year. The Commission will request a $500 operating budget from the town, and also a $1500 special request to spend on mapping required for updating the town’s open space plan. The Commission will also request that $100,000 be allotted to the town’s Land Acquisition Fund as they have done in previous years.

The Commission discussed the Planning and Zoning Commission’s new zoning regulations. The Village District zone was of particular interest and concern and the Commission had multiple questions about its details. The Commission also discussed the issue of regulations regarding wind generators and freestanding solar panels. Patsy suggested that the members of the Commission do more research on those regulations before its next meeting.

The Commission discussed possible new members.

The Commission discussed the progress on revising the town’s open space plan, particularly properties acquired by the town through taxes that are currently open space. Matthew volunteered to go through Appendix 2 to identify property owned by the town that is open space but unusable by the town.

Brian moved to adjourn the meeting, Patsy seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 9:32pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Matthew Popp

Secretary pro-tempore