Conservation Commission

toddard Conservation Commission Meeting Minutes

Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Place: Online

Members Present: (marked with XX)

Geoff Jones___XX

Scott Semmens__XX

Paul Crosby__XX

Helen Tam-Semmens__XX

Bob Fee__XX

Margo Santoro__XX

1. Approved minutes of March 25, 2020.

2. Discussed a letter received from DOT soliciting input (asking 11 questions) regarding

a highway project to replace culverts underneath Rt 9 which serve as outlet to the pond

next to Hayes garage. The outlet travels about 3,500’ before entering Robb Reservoir.

Considering that Rt 9 is part of a major road that relentlessly bisects north and south,

spanning the entire length of the state east to west, it would be good to provide some

wildlife corridors on it so that wildlife can travel north-south. Stoddard would be a prime

location to install one or two of such wildlife corridors, due to our abundance of

conservation land and wildlife. Some Con Com members have made such a

suggestion, that DOT consider designing the culvert to also act as a wildlife corridor.

Con Com members will write up this and other suggestions they may have in emails, so

that Geoff can consolidate the response to DOT.

3. DOT’s questions have brought up the subject that Stoddard presently does not have

any designated prime wetlands. However, some wetlands such as the Robb Reservoir

may merit to be one. Any such designation would need careful consideration, so that

responsible timber harvest and timber harvest trucks crossing the land, as well as

residences close to the wetland won’t be adversely affected. The Con Com will discuss

this further at a later date.

4. Next scheduled meeting on May 27, 2020 at 7:30, to be conducted online.