2 pm, Department of Agriculture, Commissioner’s Conference Room, Room 161 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT
Council members present: Theodore Andreadis, William Hyatt, Richard McAvoy, Tom McGowan, Darryl Newman, John Silander, David Sutherland, Katherine Winslow
Others present: Ellen Bender, Donna Ellis, Nicole Gabelman, Nancy Murray
1. McAvoy called the meeting to order at 2:02 pm.
2. Approval of Meeting Minutes
The meeting minutes from December 9 were reviewed. The appropriate placement for the names of designees as council members or others present was discussed. It was decided that the names of anyone contributing to the status of the quorum should be included as council members. Winslow suggested that a sentence from the ‘Report on Bamboo Assessments’ be eliminated as it could not be determined whether the group obtained conclusive evidence or not. The sentence was changed to read “No conclusions could be drawn based on these site visits.” Hyatt moved (second: Andreadis) to approve the minutes as amended. The motion carried.
3. Annual Report Distribution
Gabelman reported that the 2014 Invasive Plants Council Annual Report was completed in December. It was distributed to the Environment Committee, the clerks of the Senate and the House, the Legislative Library, and the Connecticut State Library. A PDF version of the report can be accessed on the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG) website at www.cipwg.uconn.edu/ipc.
4. Coordinator Update
a. Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary
The Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation, Inc. was created for the exclusive purpose of supporting charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes that honor the memory of Catherine Violet Hubbard, a first grader lost in the Sandy Hook Tragedy. The state conveyed 34 acres of land in the heart of Newtown to the foundation for use as an animal sanctuary. The foundation approached the UConn Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture for help in creating an invasive plant management plan for the sanctuary. Gabelman and Ellis will offer the foundation guidance in creating a plan for the management of invasive plants on the sanctuary property.
b. Events
Gabelman reported that the CIPWG invasive plant display was exhibited and staffed at the Connecticut Association of Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commissions Annual Meeting (November 15, Wallingford, CT) and the Connecticut Nursery and Landscape Association Winter Symposium (January 7 – 8, New Haven, CT). Upcoming events where the display will be exhibited include the CT Flower and Garden Show (Feb. 19 – 22, Hartford, CT), the UConn Perennial Plant Conference (March 5, Storrs, CT), the Connecticut Grounds Keepers Association Conference (March 10, Cromwell, CT), the UConn Garden Conference (March 19, Storrs, CT), and the Connecticut Association of Wetland Scientists Annual Meeting (March 19, Southbury, CT).
c. Policy Status
The current status of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Invasive Plant Species Policy was presented by Gabelman. Attempts by Logan Senack to determine whether or not the policy is still considered active have been inconclusive. In 2012, it was determined that the policy was outdated (from 1998), and the policy page and a related program page were removed from live, published status on the DEEP website. In 1998, the Invasive Plants Council and the Invasive Plant List did not yet exist, and a number of new laws and programmatic changes have occurred. The group discussed whether it was necessary to revise the policy. It was decided that Gabelman would draft an updated policy by incorporating Senack’s proposed revisions and describing the function of the Council in coordination with state agencies.
5. Review of Early Detection and Research Lists
Gabelman distributed copies of the Early Detection List and Research List. The purpose of each list and the characteristics of the plants included were reviewed. Murray asked about the number of known populations of hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) in the state and whether it is still known to be present only in low numbers or at limited locations. Gabelman communicated concern from the public regarding the invasive potential of hardy kiwi (Actinidia arguta) and a species of crabapple (Malus sieboldii). Newman noted that this particular crabapple species is rarely planted any more. No changes were suggested at this time.
6. Legislation
The Council was notified of the proposed bamboo bills (S.B. No. 144, S.B. No. 145, S.B. No. 147, H.B. No. 5287, H.B. No. 6032, H.B. 6043) and a proposed bill for DEEP to prepare a terrestrial invasive species plan (H.B. No. 5701). The possible avenues for procuring funding to continue the Invasive Plant Coordinator position were discussed. Sutherland suggested that the Council submit testimony for any proposed bills that are appropriately related.
7. Old Business/New Business
a. Vice-chair Nomination
It was decided that Larson and Sutherland would be consulted to determine a nomination for Council vice-chair.
8. Adjournment
McAvoy motioned (second: Sutherland) to adjourn the meeting. The meeting ended at 3:49 pm.
The next meeting is scheduled for 2 pm, June 9th 2015 at the Department of Agriculture, 165 Capitol Avenue in Hartford, CT.