Mansfield Parks Advisory Committee

Minutes of June 4, 2008

Acting Secretary Juliana Barrett

Present: Tom Harrington, Ethan Avery, Jennifer Kaufmann, Eric Kruger, Michelle Baughman, Jean Haskell, Cindy Weiss, Juliana Barrett

The meeting was called to order at 7:35 pm

The Minutes of the April 2, 2008 meeting were approved with minor changes.

New Members Eric Kruger and Michelle Baughman were welcomed.

New Business

            A. No opposition to accepting the open space PZC file #1229-2

            Michelle will coordinate PZC field trips and we will try to get at least one          member of PAC on the field trips.

Continuing Business

            A. PAC membership is full.

            B. PAC reports

                        1. Sawmill Brook Preserve management plan – no report

                        2. Park Updates:

                        Merrow Meadows – Nice and dry, looks good

                        Dunhamtown Forest – Sibley property looks good, Ethan and Michelle to work on area, Ethan taking care of signs

                        Fifty Foot is in good shape

                        Schoolhouse Brook – Should trail be discontinued and officially closed?  People are still using it despite trail sign removal.

                        3. FOMP Upcoming Programs

                        Butterfly NAV program in July

                        CTFP – Fifty Foot Wildflower hike

                        Fall Programs in process – Coney Rock, Pond at Schoolhouse Brook, Wolf Rock/Sawmill Brook, Kids walk at Dunhamtown, Star Party to be rerun in September

                        Nature reading group continuing (back again in November)

                        4. PAC Projects

                                    a. Nature Center – Southeast and Goodwin afterschool science program

                                    b. Outstanding Management Plans:

                                    - Schoolhouse Brook – staff projects in process

                                    - Dunhamtown – in process

            C. Staff Report
                        1. WHIP – Approx. $20,000 to do invasives control in 4 open space/parks; Schoolhouse Brook Park – doing plant monitoring through NAV 

                        2. River Park – almost completed; will be opened for the Willimantic Trails Day June 14 and then closed again; need to secure the field from                           vehicular traffic; wooden guard rails to be put in.

                        3. Land Management Committee – has not met; Jennifer planning to do a presentation to the Town Council on planning and acquisition guidelines, and the importance of management.

                        4. NAV workday – 2 workdays with UConn approx 10 volunteers each

                        Also Alternative Route to Incarceration – came with supervisor and tools

                        5. Report to Town Council – not yet

                        6. Other – no formal proposal from White Oaks Condo Association

            D. Non-PAC reports

                        Minutes of other committees reviewed; Michelle will coordinate PZC field trips for PAC

Correspondence – None

Adjournment – The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 pm.

Future meetings – September 3, 2008 at 7:30

Respectfully submitted, Juliana Barrett, Acting Secretary