New Conservation, Inland Wetlands Group Established

The now has a joint Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commission, established Thursday night at a special Town Council meeting.

The new body will be composed of seven members and two alternates who are responsible for serving both as the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency and as the Conservation Commission for the town of Farmington.

The responsibilities of the bodies will remain the same: Inland Wetlands will continue to oversee regulated activities on or near wetlands and waterways while the Conservation Commission will oversee and recommend purchase of town open space.

The ordinance requires the commission’s members complete a Department of Energy and Environmental Protection training program within three years of being appointed, something the previous ordinance did not. Failure to complete the training could result in being removed from the commission by the Town Council.

Previously, the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency was joined to the Town Plan and Zoning Commission, whose members performed dual and potentially conflicting roles. Environmentalists both across Connecticut and within Farmington pressed the town to change the ordinance, resulting in a discussion on the Town Council of whether the town should have three bodies or two and whether they ought to be appointed or elected.

The Town Council voted to separate the bodies in June of 2011. The council intended to appoint members to the new commission in December and allow it to begin work in January. But an ordinance drafted for December revealed legal problems and the process was put off.

The council met Thursday to officially rescind the old ordinances and start fresh with new members. A public hearing was held and no one spoke.

The commission’s new members will be appointed by the Town Council but have been recommended by the political parties. The new ordinance requires minority representation on the commission. That does not ensure the minority party representation so much as it limits the majority party to no more than five seats, councilor Mike Demicco pointed out.

One of two council Democrats, Demicco proposed changing the language to give the minority party two seats; his motion failed but got the support of Republican Charlie Keniston.

Demicco pointed out that the majority party might choose a slate of seven candidates, including those unaffiliated with a party and “stack” the commission. That wouldn’t happen under such a “fair and scrupulous” chairman as Jeff Hogan, Demicco said, but possibly in the future.

“We have to be hopeful that whoever is sitting on this council in the future is wise enough to do the right thing and have consideration for the other party,” councilor CJ Thomas said.

Hogan agreed this year’s appointments are fair but added he also didn’t want to limit the participation of unaffiliated and third-party candidates.

Alternates may not be from the same party, according to the ordinance.

The members will serve staggered, four-year terms and officer elections will be held yearly.

“One of things discussed at length when we were in the beginning stages was are we going to be able to get people to fill the slots. It was a real concern and it’s wonderful to see the people who have stepped up and will be a part of this,” said councilor Nancy Nickerson.

The Town Council will appoint the members of the Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commission at its Feb. 15 meeting.