The Eightmile River

Wild & Scenic Study Committee

Meeting Minutes – February 6 2006, Lyme Town Offices

Present: Anthony Irving, Nathan Frohling, John Rozum, Sally Snyder, Walter Smith, Eric Belt, Roger Dill, Sue Merrow, David Bingham.  Also in attendance: Kevin Case, Damon Hearne.

  1. Acceptance of December 19, 2005 Meeting Minutes – Unanimous
  1. Report on Endorsements and Town Votes – Damon Hearne, Nathan Frohling and Anthony Irving reported on the successful Town Meeting votes of endorsement in East Haddam and Lyme and Salem as well as final endorsements from the East Haddam Planning and Zoning Commission. 
  1. Nathan Frohling gave an update on the Wild and Scenic designation legislation.  The Committee reviewed the draft bill  and suggested additional ;segments of concern’ for the bill language.  John Rozum volunteered to help proof the segment descriptions.   The committee agreed that it was important to get the designation bill submitted as soon as possible.
  1. Damon Hearne gave an approximate timeline for the study report.  He noted that it would take several weeks to draft, at least a week to re-work and complete with Kevin Case, Nathan Frohling and Anthony Irving, a week for internal review by the Study Committee and then two weeks to a month for NPS review.

The study committee also reviewed the issues of ‘classification’ for the study report and concluded that ‘scenic’ was the most appropriate designation for the entire designated area.

  1. Kevin Case gave an update on the Management Plan  which is to be completed ASAP and submitted to the designer for final layout.  He also updated the committee on the status of several outstanding research reports.  These reports will be completed within several weeks.
  1. Damon Hearne discussed some of the pending issues regarding the startup of the Eightmile River Wild and Scenic Coordinating Committee.  Working from a handout list, he discussed the roll of the ERWSCC, the timeline for startup, ideas on initial activities, and potential better names.  The name discussion was lively and resulted in several suggestions – the one that people settled on as most likeable was Wild and Scenic Coordinating Council or Stewardship Council.  Kevin Case suggested to simplicities’ sake that we leave the name un-changed for now and “do business as” the better alternative name.  Damon Hearne planned to follow up with an email to the entire Committee. 
  1. The Committee also discussed plans for a celebratory dinner to mark the successful Study.
  1. Next Meeting Date TBA.

Meeting Adjourned 7:30 pm.

Submitted D. Hearne