MINUTES
TORBAY ENVIRONMENT & TRAILS COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, September 25, 2002, Kinsmen Centre
Present: Shirley Thorne Madeleine Florent
Mike Wawrzkow Bob Codner
Sandy Sandeman Sara Beaumont
Harvey Best
Agenda approved with the addition of Community Hikes.
The minutes of the August 28 meeting were approved with one correction in item 5: the name Sandy should be replaced with Harvey.
With respect to item 11.4, we will not be able to get assistance for a Hazardous Household Products Day so we hope to be able to join with the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board next year. In the meantime, some tips on getting rid of dangerous goods will be included in our fall newsletter.
Mike reported that the balance in the TETC budget as of July was $802.47, which includes the $500 donation from Gary Mahon for the mapping project. Expenses for the Property Beautification Awards which were paid out by Peggy, Shirley and Madeleine were refunded out of this amount but will be invoiced to the town. Since the Town actually administers the TETC budget, it was agreed that Mike would invoice the town for any payments he makes except in the case of large expenses, in which case invoices will be passed over to the town for direct payment. This will allow us to keep better informed of our budget status.
Madeleine gave an update on project activities. Copies of Ken's monthly report are available to interested members by email. Work on the web site and brochure are gearing up and Ken has already arranged school presentations. The Backyard Habitat Workshop, scheduled for October 5, will be advertised on the cable channel and the town sign, in addition to flyers. Shirley, Ken and Madeleine will be distributing posters and flyers around town. Recyclables since mid-June have netted the project over $500.
With respect to the approach to the Episcopal Corporation, it was agreed that Shirley would first set up a meeting with Father Butler to brief him on our plans and get a letter of support. Following this, a meeting will be set up with the Episcopal Corporation (Billie Power?) to discuss their plans for the land in the Gully and the possibility of obtaining a conservation
easement or donation. Shirley will obtain an 11x17" town plan map and use the aerial photograph of the Gully. Bob Codner will be included in the meeting and possibly Doug Ballam of the EcoGifts Program at Environment Canada will be invited.
We will be working with the six11x17" maps as larger maps would be very costly. MUN will be revising the maps to include the grids; survey markers will not be needed at this point. We will need to work with a legend (to mark trail names, etc) because of limited space. The Recreation Department has donated $200 for the purchase of the aerial photographs which we will obtain only when the current maps have been updated and the legend created. Power lines will need to be included later as they are themselves trails. The plan is to have all 6 maps updated, marked and verified before the snow starts, ie. by the end of November.
Sara, Shirley and Madeleine met to discuss the outline and draft the information to be included in the brochure. Sara tabled the draft brochure which Bob will review and comment on. A second meeting will be planned for Tuesday, September 29 to review and update the first draft. Shirley will invite the Cornicks to attend. Sara will approach Coldwell Banker about funding the printing of the brochure.
Our Town has been approached by the Town of Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove about placing a 50-metre buffer around our section of the pond as they have done. Our committee has already sent a letter to our Council supporting the 50-metre buffer. Bob indicated Council recognizes the importance of the area but that, prior to a decision being made on the size of the buffer, mapping and surveying of the area would need to be done. It is possible that an even larger buffer will be called for depending on the survey results and development plans. A 10% protected green space area is a given anyway according to the Municipal Plan. Mike and Harvey suggested that an integrated approach be taken whereby the town would start by identifying unique and critical areas in the area that should be preserved and then design development plans around them. Mike and Harvey offered to take a look at the maps and photographs of the area to get a sense of what is there.
Shirley will be attending as the secretary and Ken will be asked to attend so he can visit the Winterland EcoMuseum and Wetland Centre and gather information about this project. Anyone interested in going to the meeting should contact Shirley or Madeleine. Each SAM community can send two representatives and expenses are paid.
A motion to undertake a study to look at designating a recreational pond in Torbay was tabled at Council recently and will be brought back for discussion at the next Council meeting. It was agreed that the TETC would send a letter to Council opposing any move to allow motorized
water vehicles on ponds in Torbay and reiterating our position on the issue which was outlined in a memorandum to Council dated May 30, 1998. Since then, all ponds have become part of the Stewardship Zone under the Habitat Management Plan which precludes motorized pleasure craft use and this is also referred to in the Municipal Plan. Shirley and Madeleine will get together to prepare the letter to Council in time for the next Council meeting.
Peggy and Marion will be sending letter to the PBA contributors. Madeleine has sent letters of appreciation to contributors to the Hillside Festival.
We are aiming to have our fall newsletter out by the end of November. October 16 was tentatively set as date of meeting to prepare the draft. Marion, Michele and Peggy will be invited to attend if they are available.
Madeleine tabled information received from Judy Squires, an outspoken opponent to the cosmetic use of pesticides. Some information on the issue will be included in the newsletter. Bob indicated that there is a proposal to amend the Municipalities Act to give towns the legal right to ban pesticides within their boundaries.
Madeleine attended the Heritage meeting on September 11. The Gully project will be contributing $50 towards the costs of having Charmaine interview Mrs. Lynch about the Gully and prepare the interview transcript. Shirley will arrange an interview with Mr. and Mrs. Pat Mahon on Mahon's Lane.
The next community hike will be to Middle Cove via Jones Pond on Sunday, October 20. Participants will meet at the Town Hall at 1:30pm and proceed from there to the Jones Pond Trail opposite Quigley's Lane. Weather permitting, we will have a boil up at Middle Cove Beach.
15..1 Residential Cutting:
Bob has received correspondence from provincial Forestry regarding an area designated for residential wood cutting near Western Island Pond. He will be following up on this to determine if the area in question is Crown Land or private.
The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 30, at 8:15pm at the Kinsmen Centre.
The meeting adjourned at 10pm.