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It has been a somewhat chaotic year. As membership and requests for assistance continued to increase, the Board of Directors struggled with the need to reduce the work load of two staff volunteers that for many years have had the major responsibly for guiding and carrying out CACIWC’s education and out reach programs and the day-to-day administrative tasks.
In the 2005 Tom ODell and Ann Letendre advised the Board that, for personal reasons, they were going to have to reduce the amount of time they were spending on CACIWC activities. In part, that motivated the Board to initiate the transition with strategic planning in the fall of 2005. The “in-house” planning process continued through the spring of 2007 with expectations that it will be completed in early 2008. Last years stated goal for completion of the plan by January 2007 was compromised by the time spent on exploring ways to reduce Tom and Ann’s work time and, at the same time, maintain key programs and critical administrative tasks. Board members have stepped up to assist. A reduced annual work plan was developed, contracting for interim management is being explored, and the president and executive director continue at the same pace with the expectations that help is on its way.
Despite the challenges of transition, it was a busy and productive year. Highlights include; “Journey to the Legal Horizon” by Attorney Janet Brooks, a legal Q&A column for conservation and inland wetlands commissioners which will be published periodically in The Habitat; CACIWC’s 5th annual statewide Environmental Conference with Whitney Hatch, Vice President and New England Regional Director, The Trust for Public Land, providing the keynote address; and a very active grass roots campaign for the successful passage of key sections of the Face of Connecticut open space preservation legislation, and the successful opposition to wetland legislation that would weaken local wetland and watercourse regulation.
Once again our commission members, environmental partners, and the Board of Directors provided encouragement and active support throughout the year. Thank You!
MISSION: INFORMATION & EDUCATION
ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE
CACIWC’s fifth Environmental Conference for municipal conservation and inland wetlands commissioners and staff was held on Saturday, November 4, 2006. Over 260 attendees participated in 12 professionally-led workshops, 40 educational displays, and networking. Whitney Hatch, Vice President and New England Regional Director, The Trust for Public Land, gave the Key Note address, “Thinking Big and Implementing Big Conservation in New England”. The presentation explored how can we leverage the vision, the funding and the hard work taking place in most Connecticut towns to protect our priority lands. Alan Siniscalchi chaired the 2006 Annual Meeting and Environmental Conference Committee. Director Rod Parlee deserves special recognition for his work in assembling and organizing an outstanding exhibitor display.
THE HABITAT
Publishing an expanded 16-page issue four times a year, supported by advertising, has gained momentum and commissioner support. The initial challenge to provide content that meets the needs and responsibilities of both conservation and inland wetlands commissions, and to design attractive page layouts that enhance reading and to maintain the quarterly publication expectations of advertisers appears to have been met. Commissioners continue to praise the newsletter and let us know when it is late. The new regular legal Q&A column, “Journey to the Legal Horizon”, by Attorney Janet Brooks has received great reviews.
This year 2,300 copies of each issue were distributed to commissioners and staff. We thank the authors that contribute the articles that make this publication possible. Copies of all newsletters since spring 2002 are archived on CACIWC.org.
CACIWC .org
In May 1999 CACIWC.org went on-line. In 2005 the website was redesigned for easier access to topics associated with land use decisions. A site-specific Google search capability was also added. These improvements assist those visiting caciwc.org for information and significantly increase our ability to quickly assist those calling the “help desk”. As new educational resources such as PowerPoint presentations and reference materials are made available they have been added to the web site.
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT & SUPPORT
Strengthening Conservation Commissions
In 1975 there were 154 separate Conservation commissions. In 2001 there were only 74. The demise of active, separate commissions was the result of passage of Connecticut’s Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act in 1972. Since that time CACIWC has focused on restoring separate conservation commissions. In 2006 there were 23 new separate conservation commissions. This year CACIWC has been helping community groups in two more towns work toward reestablishing separate conservation commissions or separate combined conservation and inland wetlands commissions. Assistance includes providing materials such as the Conservation Commission Handbook, CACIWC “white papers” on the benefits of separate conservation commissions, and testifying at local meetings on the topic.
CACIWC’s Conservation Education Committee conceived and organized three training workshops for conservation commissions at CACIWC’s 2006 Environmental Conference.
Strengthening Inland Wetlands Commissions
The Habitat strives to provide consistent, accurate and timely technical and legal information to assist wetland commissioners in making appropriate land use decisions. New this year is the first publication of a regular legal Q&A column for conservation and inland wetlands commissioners, “Journey to the Legal Horizon”, by Attorney Janet Brooks. This column provides an exceptionally well-qualified resource for legal wetlands and expertise.
OTHER PROGRAM SUPPORT ACTIVITIES
Annual Recognition Awards
CACIWC annually seeks nominations to award those commissioners, commissions and agents who have made outstanding contributions toward resource protection and environmental awareness while meeting the responsibilities outlined in state and local legislation. At the 2006 conference, recognition awards were presented to Mihir Patel, Windsor Locks Conservation Commission, for “Conservation Commissioner of the Year”; Lt. Colonel Paul Hennen, Pomfret Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission, for “Inland Wetlands Commissioner of the Year”; Neil Angus, Assistant Town Planner and Wetlands Agent, Town of Enfield, for “Commission Agent of the Year”; and Katchen Coley, Middletown Conservation Commissioner, received the “2006 Lifetime Achievement Award.” Congratulations!
Participation/Support of Environmental Organizations
Tom ODell represented CACIWC on the organizing committee for the Connecticut Land Conservation Council, which merged the Land Conservation Coalition of Connecticut with the Land Trust Service Bureau. Tom is also on the DEP’s Landscape Stewardship Advisory Committee. Ann Letendre represents CACIWC on the Connecticut Environmental Policy Working Group (CEPA). CACIWC is a member of the Endangered Lands Coalition, and the Connecticut Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership. In addition CACIWC supports the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV), the Clean Air Coalition, the Tidewater Institute, and the Watershed Conservation Network.
Environmental Advocacy
CACIWC was represented on the Steering Committee of the Face of Connecticut, a new legislative initiative calling for new policies and comprehensive and consistent funding by the state to support action in four areas that will preserve the unique qualities of Connecticut’s diverse landscape: Leave a Lasting Legacy; Invest in Our Cities and Village Centers; Plan for Responsible Growth; and Protect Our Investments. In the 2007 legislative session a first step was made by increasing the potential state portion of the DEP’s Open Space and Watershed matching grants program from 50% to 65%. The Face of Connecticut campaign will continue in 2007 and 2008.
CACIWC and a number of other environmental organizations worked to defeat two bills that would reduce the authority of local Inland Wetlands commissions. Several other bills were actively supported. For more information please see Spring 2007 issue of The Habitat.
Assistance and Referrals
CACIWC receives an average of five phone calls and six emails per week for information and guidance related to commission activities. Response is provided on an “as needed” basis. Often the requests are referred to information found on CACIWC.org, “experts” and other commissions. We appreciate their willingness to assist.
OPERATIONS & ADMINISTRATION
Membership
In Connecticut’s 169 towns, there are 267 commissions or agencies that have conservation and/or inland wetlands responsibilities. Of these 267 agencies, there are 97 separate conservation commissions, 113 separate inland wetlands commissions and 49 inland wetlands commissions that are combined with either conservation or another land use commission. In six towns and 2 cities, inland wetlands regulation is performed by the planning and zoning commission. Of the 267 statewide commissions, 219 are dues-paying CACIWC members. In this fiscal year, the number of member-commissions increased by 1.4%.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors was elected at the Annual Meeting November 5, 2005 for a two-year term ending June 30, 2007. Current officers are President, Tom ODell; Vice-president, Alan Siniscalchi; and Treasurer, Marguerite Purnell. Directors are Linda Berger, Marianne Corona, Holly Drinkuth, Maureen Fitzgerald, Bob Flanagan, Ann Letendre, Rod Parlee and Diana Ross. We are grateful for the time given to CACIWC by Board members Juan Sanchez, Judy Preston, Tim Bobroske, Ellie Czarnowski and Rob Sibley who resigned during this two-year term. Special recognition is given to Treasurer Punell, who also served as interim Secretary for most of the year.
Darcy Winther of the DEP Bureau of Water Management, Inland Water Resources Division, Wetlands Management Section, is CACIWC’s DEP liaison. Darcy attends all Board meetings, provides reports on DEP wetlands programs and is a member of CACIWC’s Inland Wetlands Education Committee.
Contracted and Volunteer Services
CACIWC purchases services to conduct these administrative activities: website management (Darlene Briggs); publication design & layout (Lisa Letendre); membership database and Listserv management (Janice Fournier); workshop coordination (Kathy McManus) and bookkeeping services (currently uncontracted). Advertising in The Habitat, as well as solicitation of vendor displays at the Annual Conference, is managed by Jeff Mills of JM Communications.
Volunteer services are provided by Ann Letendre, CACIWC’s Executive Director, who manages and coordinates fiscal operations and administrative activities, special projects, and publication of The Habitat and the Annual Report. She also participates in statewide coalition meetings. President Tom ODell’s volunteer time is spent participating in statewide coalition and advocacy activities, producing and editing The Habitat, coordinating web site materials, updates and revisions, handling day-to-day communication, assisting with grant writing and other fund raising efforts, and serving as legislative coordinator. As always, other board members assisted in carrying out CACIWC’s business and activities.
Sources of funds
Member dues provide the major source of income for CACIWC. This year dues and contributions provided 54% of the total income of $20,756 (net of annual conference receipts of $16,319). Habitat advertising revenue provided 31%, grant income 10%, and interest and publication sales provided the remaining 5%. Contributions and in-kind services are solicited on a continual basis to help support CACIWC's information and education efforts.
Use of funds
Total expenditures in this FY were $17,050 (net of annual conference costs of $15,380). Of this total, $11,712 (68%) was a direct expenditure for education and information materials and media for conservation and inland wetlands commissioners. Administration and operation costs to support this mission were $4,963, or 29% of expenditures. These costs include rent, phone, office supplies, and required services. Three per cent was spent on legislative advocacy. CACIWC has no paid staff. Other than fees for services noted above, all of our work is accomplished through volunteer effort and in-kind services. Please see the Annual Treasurer’s Report for financial details.
Respectfully submitted, Tom ODell, President
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