Conservation Commission (abbreviated) Meeting Notes 01/14/2010

The Conservation Commission meets on the second Thursday of every month. The January meeting was held on 1/14.

A member of the public, Janet Brooks, addressed the Commission regarding the New England National Scenic Trail project. The project has representatives from many towns along the Trail and is seeking more representatives for committees. An upcoming meeting is scheduled in March to inform municipal planners. The project website is www.newenglandnst.org and it is explained there that the National Scenic Trail is a 220-mile trail route that has been in existence for over half a century and was designated on March 30, 2009 as part of Public Law as a National Scenic Trail. The designation enables trail management and maintenance. Other organizations involved include the CT Forest and Parks Association, Appalachian Mountain Club, and the National Park Service. The trail begins (or ends, depending on perspective) right here in Middletown. The Commission agreed that this presents many potential positive opportunities for the City and that Middletown should have representation. Representatives must be appointed by the Mayor and a request to that end has since been communicated.

Catherine Johnson also visited the Commission to discuss the schedule for updates to the Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) and to determine a single point of contact from the Conservation Commission for streamlined dissemination of information. Ms. Johnson also graciously volunteered her mapping and drafting skills and time for collaborating with Commission member Eric Mosher who has been hard at work on updating Middletown's Trail Guide.

At this month's meeting I did not take the detailed notes that I normally do, but the minutes are available as always online at www.middletownplanning.com. I have also drafted a short essay about my first two years of service on the Conservation Commission which you can read in the next article up: Why Be Involved?