RECEIVED JANUARY 13, 2011 @ 12:37 P.M.
Michele R. Grande, Redding Town Clerk
Filed subject to approval
REDDING BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING
Minutes
January 10, 2011
Present: Ketcham, Takacs, Pemberton
Also present: 26 members of the public and a representative of the Redding Pilot
Mrs. Ketcham called the January 10 2011 meeting to order at 7:32 pm in the Hearing room of the Redding Town Office Building.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion: move that the minutes of the December 20, 2010 meeting be accepted as corrected. Takacs, Pemberton. Approved. Unanimous.
Correction: under the report from Controller Steve Gniadek, the CMERS pension plan is a defined plan.
DISCUSSION AND ACTION ON PROPOSED BUILDING DEPARTMENT FEE CHANGES
Building Official, Sean Donnelly, presented proposed changes in the fee structure for the Building Department. The proposal calls for slight increases for permits/inspections for fees that have not been changed or increased in the past few years. The increases were recommended based on information from surrounding towns and the costs required by the Building Department for the inspections and administrative work.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Selectmen approve the proposed Building Department fee changes as recommended and effective February 1, 2011. Takacs, Pemberton. Approved. Unanimous.
DEER WARDEN 2011 DEER MANAGEMENT REPORT
Deer Warden Joe Hain and Deputy Deer Warden Chas Catania presented information on the Redding Deer Management Program. Their year-end report will be finalized and presented to the Conservation Commission at their meeting in late February or early March. Mr. Catania reported that the deer management program covers the 1200 acres of town-controlled or town-owned lands, which is approximately 5% of the town’s area. The program has three goals:
- Safety of residents and participants of the program and users of the property
- Minimization of disturbances to the neighbors/users of the property
- Reduction of deer herd and reduction of forest damage
Mr. Catania stated that the program has been effective in reducing the deer population. There are about 40 active bow hunters in the program. Most hunters have reported seeing fewer deer compared with the number seen five years ago. In addition, the number of deer/car collisions is down significantly.
The DEP is scheduled to do a survey in late winter and Mr. Catania expects that the survey will show a decline in Redding as well as Fairfield County.
The Deer Management Program recommendations included the need for additional study of the understory, the plants, trees, etc., to further determine how conditions of the woodlands have changed. They also recommend that bow hunting be allowed on additional properties such as the property held by the Redding Land Trust. The Redding Land Trust controls a significant amount of open space and does not permit bow hunting. Another recommendation is to allow bow hunting on Sundays, which is now prohibited by state law, and allowing limited bow hunting in specific sections of Topstone Park. The park is under the control of the Park and Recreation Department and currently hunting is not allowed.
Dave Streit, the Redding representative for the Fairfield County Municipal Deer Management Alliance, suggested the DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) be asked to assist with the deer management program. The DEP provides a variety of services that are available at no cost to the Town. Mrs. Ketcham added that Steve Patton of the Nature Conservancy also supports requesting support from the DEP. Mr. Streit commented partnering with the state agencies was beneficial to the Town. He asked the Board of Selectmen to formally request assistance from the DEP.
Members of the public were allowed to address the issue. Most of the comments were in support of Sunday bow hunting, and access to additional parcels of land, specifically the Redding Land Trust controlled properties.
The Board of Selectmen agreed to discuss the issues further and take action regarding:
- A formal request for DEP assistance to be discussed at the January 21, 2011 Budget Workshop session.
- They agreed to advocate strongly at the state level for Sunday bow hunting,
- Meet with the Redding Land Trust regarding opening their properties to limited bow hunting.
Mrs. Ketcham also suggested setting a meeting for discussion between the Deer Wardens and the Park and Recreation Commission to discuss the issues regarding Topstone Park.
REAPPOINTMENTS
Motion: move to reappoint members to the Board of Ethics, Susan Green with a term 2/17/111 to 2/17/13, and Linda Koch with a term 3/4/11 to 3/4/13. Pemberton, Takacs. Approved. Unanimous.
UPDATE ON ER9 EDUCATIONAL STRUCTURE AND WAYS OF WORKING COMMITTEE
Redding Board of Education Chairman, Jess Gaspar, reported a meeting (January 25, 2011) of the Tri-Board (Easton, Redding and Region 9 Boards of Education)is scheduled, and the request for two representatives of the Redding Board of Selectmen on the committee will be discussed.
UPDATE ON REDDING ATHLETIC FIELDS COMMITTEE
Mr. Takacs reported the continuation of the Zoning Public Hearing for RCC Field No. 2 is scheduled for Wednesday, January 12, 2011. In anticipation of a snow storm that day and if the public hearing is cancelled, Mr. Takacs has submitted a request for a 30 day extension. When the Zoning Commission approvals are in place, the Committee is prepared to move forward with marketing and fundraising. The application for a non-profit 501c-3 agency (the Redding Athletic Fields Foundation) has been approved by the IRS for the acceptance of tax exempt donations.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: move that the Board of Selectmen adjourn the meeting. Pemberton, Takacs. Approved. Unanimous.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Maday
Recording Secretary
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