Madison Conservation Commission Sets July 9 Deadline for Conservation Philosophy Statement

Conservation · Meeting of June 24, 2026

CT MADISON — Madison Conservation Commission sets July 9 target for conservation philosophy statement. The commission voted unanimously Wednesday to approve minutes and adjourned at 8:59 p.m. after a working session that produced two concrete deliverables: a revised conservation philosophy statement, to be updated by member Amy Thomas to include explicit language on policy recommendation and community education, aimed at a July 9 review with town consultant Carol Snow before going to Planning and Zoning in August; and a set of member-drafted one-page resident education sheets, with assignments covering rodenticides, lawn care, light pollution, food scraps, and wildlife corridors. Selectman Al Goldberg, attending as Board of Selectmen liaison, told the panel that roughly 80 percent of residents cite natural beauty as the reason they chose Madison, and called the commission "the point of the spear" for conservation policy.

He also reported that consultants estimate as little as 20 percent of Surf Club's historical beach area remains, and urged the commission to take a prominent role in the ongoing multi-year Surf Club Master Plan process.

In the full story:

• The complete report — 947 words

Source: the Conservation meeting of June 24, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

MADISON — June 24, 2026 — The Madison Conservation Commission moved Wednesday to refine a draft conservation philosophy statement and assign individual members to produce public education materials on topics ranging from rodenticides to light pollution, as the panel works toward a July 9 meeting with town land-use consultant Carol Snow.

Commission Chair Heather Crawford called the meeting to order at 7:36 p.m. after technical difficulties with the hybrid setup. The session drew Selectman Al Goldberg as a liaison and resident Laurian Cimino, who raised concerns about wildlife habitat loss and beach litter. No formal votes were recorded beyond routine minutes approval.

The Full Story

Commission member Amy Thomas read aloud the latest draft of the panel's broad conservation philosophy statement, which she and Crawford had revised together. The statement charges the commission with inventorying, preserving, and enhancing Madison's environmental quality, limiting development impacts, and restoring resources damaged by past generations. Goldberg, who attended as the Board of Selectmen's liaison, praised the draft but pushed the commission to sharpen its language around policy recommendations and public education.

"From my standpoint it makes sure that we all have a common sense of what this commission is being asked to do and what its members need to focus on." [No timestamp available] — Al Goldberg, Selectman and Board of Selectmen liaison

Goldberg told the commission that when residents are asked why they chose Madison, roughly 80 percent cite a connection to natural beauty — beaches, woods, and open space. He said the Board of Selectmen is looking to the commission to translate that sentiment into actionable conservation policies. He pointed to the town-owned Rockland Preserve, approximately 650 acres in northern Madison, and to Salt Meadow Park as examples of acquisitions that voters overwhelmingly supported even though most residents rarely visit them. He also cited public outrage over tree-clearing near Exit 62 as evidence of broad community investment in natural character, noting that the outcry led to the creation of a Tree Advisory Commission.

"I consider the conservation commission to be absolutely at the spearhead, at the point of the spear, for preserving the natural connection that people want." [No timestamp available] — Al Goldberg, Selectman and Board of Selectmen liaison

The commission agreed that Thomas would update the statement to include explicit language about the panel's role as a community educator and as a recommender of conservation policy. The revised draft is targeted for the July 9 meeting with Snow, after which it will be shared with Town Planner Erin Mannix before going to Planning and Zoning, likely for their August meeting.

On the Natural Resources Inventory Request for Qualifications, Crawford reported that First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons was out of the office until Thursday and had not yet authorized the RFQ's posting. A meeting among Crawford, Thomas, and Mannix is planned to move the item forward.

Under new business, the commission discussed how to produce and distribute resident-facing one-page education sheets on conservation topics. Members volunteered to draft individual sheets: commission member Terry Vandendolder took rodenticides and pest management, member Richard Talentino took lawn care, member Jane Constable took light pollution, and Thomas took food scraps and composting. Resident Cimino volunteered to draft a sheet on wildlife corridors and greenways. Topics including native plantings, water pollution, water conservation, pollinators, and plastics remained unassigned.

"Whatever the metaphor is — like eating — breaking down information. Otherwise these are things we've been talking about for a long time and we need to just do it." [No timestamp available] — Amy Thomas, Conservation Commission member

The commission also discussed logistics for the Strawberry Moon Festival booth on Saturday and the Fourth of July parade. Crawford confirmed booth space in the nonprofit section near the turnaround circle at Surf Club, with setup beginning at noon. For the parade, the commission is planning to march with a Prius topped by an inflatable globe, up to 20 participants, and banners marking the commission's 20th anniversary. A work session to paint a "20 years" banner is scheduled for July 2 at 1 p.m. at Crawford's home at 553 Summer Hill Road. Crawford said she would email past parade participants and confirm the commission's spot in the lineup with the Madison Exchange Club coordinator.

The meeting also included a farewell acknowledgment of intern Aubri Barone, who is departing for Connecticut College after four years of service as the Daniel Hand High School Eco Club liaison to the commission. Crawford presented Barone with books as a gift from the commission.

Why It Matters

The conservation philosophy statement and accompanying conservation priorities list will shape how the commission advises other town bodies — including Planning and Zoning — on development projects, open space, and environmental education for all of Madison's approximately 18,000 residents. The July 9 meeting with Carol Snow is the next concrete checkpoint before the document goes to Planning and Zoning for their August meeting. Separately, the ongoing erosion of sand at Surf Club beach — with consultants estimating as little as 20 percent of historical beach area remaining — is driving a multi-year Master Plan process, and Goldberg said the commission should expect a prominent role in public sessions on that plan.

Key Motions & Votes

- Vote: Approval of minutes from May 27 and June 10, 2026 meetings Tally: Approved unanimously

• Action: Conservation philosophy statement revision — Amy Thomas to update draft with policy recommendation and community educator language; circulate before July 9 meeting with Carol Snow
• Action: NRI RFQ posting — awaiting First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons's authorization; Crawford, Thomas, and Mannix to meet to advance

- Vote: Adjournment Tally: Approved unanimously

Source

Madison's community access TV: Conservation Commission meeting, June 24, 2026