Madison Conservation Commission Elects Officers, Advances NRI Funding Push

Conservation · Meeting of January 28, 2026

CT MADISON — Madison Conservation Commission unanimously elected officers and set a February 12 selectmen pitch for up to $50,000 in Natural Resources Inventory funding. Chair Crawford, re-elected to her post along with Thomas as vice chair and Udin as secretary, told the commission she has a provisional spot on the Board of Selectmen's agenda to request authorization to eventually issue an RFP for the NRI, which consultant Jim Nordgren had previously estimated at $20,000 to $50,000. Funding would come from the Planning Reserve Fund, which Crawford said has been zeroed out for 2025, making July 1, 2026 the earliest possible release date.

The commission also received a bridge replacement environmental permit application for the Garnet Park Road bridge, with a public comment window closing February 20, and discussed advocacy for reinstating tree-protection language that appeared in Madison's original 1950s subdivision regulations but was later removed.

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Source: the Conservation meeting of January 28, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

MADISON — January 28, 2026 — The Madison Conservation Commission elected officers for the coming year, approved amended meeting minutes, and advanced plans to secure funding for a Natural Resources Inventory during a wide-ranging meeting Wednesday.

The commission unanimously approved a slate of officers: Crawford as chair, Thomas as vice chair, and Udin as secretary. The chair noted it is her final year eligible to serve in that role.

The Full Story

Chair Crawford opened the meeting at 7:36 p.m. and moved quickly to minutes from the December 18 meeting. Member Terry requested a correction to the record: the minutes had stated she volunteered to lead a library discussion on the book "The Language of Trees," but she said she had only mentioned the book as a relevant resource and had not offered to give a talk. The commission accepted the minutes as amended by a unanimous voice vote.

The bulk of the meeting focused on the commission's push to fund a Natural Resources Inventory, known as the NRI. Crawford told members she has secured a provisional spot on the Board of Selectmen's February 12 agenda to request authorization to eventually issue a request for proposals. She said the presentation will cover what an NRI is, why it is needed, and how much it is likely to cost. A consultant, Jim Nordgren, had estimated the project at between $20,000 and $50,000 roughly a year and a half ago. Crawford said she intends to ask for access to up to $50,000 from the Planning Reserve Fund, which she said has been zeroed out for 2025, meaning the earliest funds could be available is July 1, 2026.

"We are making a request to the Planning Reserve Fund, which I believe has been zeroed out for 2025. So the earliest we're going to get something is July 1st and 2026." [00:00:00] — Crawford, Conservation Commission Chair

The commission also discussed ongoing efforts to contribute to a town-wide rewrite of zoning regulations. Crawford reported a brief meeting with town planner Carol Snow, who discovered that Madison's original 1950s subdivision regulations had explicitly required consideration of slopes, vistas, and large trees as significant natural resources. That language was later dropped. The commission said it wants to advocate for reintroducing tree protection language, as well as stronger stormwater management and light-pollution controls, once the hired consultant delivers a new table of contents organizing the regulations. Crawford said the consultant has been chosen and work has begun.

Member Terry, representing the tree advisory committee, updated the commission on efforts to GPS-locate and catalog specimen trees in town, starting with the historic district. She said landscape architect Barbara Yeager, also on the tree advisory committee, would present definitions of specimen trees at the next meeting. The commission also discussed a potential Garnet Park Road Bridge replacement application that had been sent by engineers to state and federal agencies. Crawford said she received the environmental permit application and would forward it to all members. She noted the public comment window does not close until February 20.

"The message doesn't expire until Friday, February 20th. So anything you say to them in February should still be good." [00:00:00] — Crawford, Conservation Commission Chair

Looking ahead, the commission discussed plans to invite Peter Fleischer, an organizer who runs invasive-vine removal workshops in Connecticut, to lead a training event, potentially at the North Madison Congregational Church or Bower Park. Members also discussed coordinating a dark-sky awareness event at the Madison Public Library, a tree giveaway at Ballard Park around Arbor Day on April 24, and an Earth Day celebration in April. Member Terry noted the tree giveaway this cycle would put the committee over 1,000 trees distributed.

Why It Matters

The NRI request is the commission's central financial priority heading into the next budget cycle. At an estimated cost of up to $50,000, the inventory would give the town a comprehensive data layer on natural resources, including tree canopy, wetlands, and habitat areas, that could then inform both zoning regulation updates and future land-use decisions. With the Planning Reserve Fund currently empty, the February 12 presentation to the Board of Selectmen is the commission's first formal step toward securing a funding commitment for the 2026 fiscal year, which begins July 1. The Garnet Park Road Bridge replacement application adds an immediate task: the commission has until February 20 to submit comments to state and federal regulators.

Key Motions & Votes

- Vote: Approval of December 18, 2025 meeting minutes as amended Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Election of officers — Crawford as chair, Thomas as vice chair, Udin as secretary Tally: Approved unanimously

Source

Madison's community access TV: Conservation Commission meeting, January 28, 2026