Madison reviews two bids for resource inventory

Conservation · Meeting of October 28, 2026

MADISON — The Madison Conservation Commission reviewed two bids for a natural resource inventory and weighed a possible rodenticide ban at its October 28 meeting. Two firms, Jim Nordgren and GZA, submitted qualification proposals by the deadline for the inventory, which carries a town-set budget of $40,000 to $50,000; interviews with both are planned for early-to-mid November. A member reported a severe Tree of Heaven and spotted lanternfly infestation discovered on a privately owned island, where roughly 100 of the invasive trees share habitat with a nesting bird rookery that could complicate removal.

Lisa Shirk, vice chair of the Newtown Conservation Commission, submitted written public comment urging Madison to adopt a municipal rodenticide ban like the one Newtown passed in April, saying "we are not against pest management, we just want them to use other tools in their toolbox." Members discussed inviting Shirk to present at the November 18 or December 16 meeting. No substantive votes were taken; minutes were approved unanimously.

In the full story:

• Call to Order and Minutes
• Natural Resource Inventory RFQ Update
• Outreach Events Debrief
• Summer Intern Projects
• Tree of Heaven and Spotted Lanternfly Management
• New High School Liaison
• CT Invasive Plant Symposium Report
• CACIWC Annual Meeting and Rodenticide Workshop
• Webpage and Handout Review
• Rodenticide Policy Public Comment
• Adjournment
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,774 words

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

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.