Invasive knotweed plagues Cornwall railroad

CORNWALL — With the town report nearly ready, the Cornwall selectmen have set Friday, Oct. 25, as the date for the annual town meeting. It will be held at Cornwall Consolidated School and will begin at 7:30 p.m.

In addition to accepting the report, which has updates on the past year from nonprofit, government and education organizations that serve Cornwall residents, there will also be a review of the financial reports from the auditors, and a vote on the proposed five-year capital expenditure plan.

First Selectman Gordon Ridgway reported that work on the West Cornwall firehouse is nearing completion and that there will be an open house to celebrate the renovations on Sunday, Oct. 20, from noon to 4 p.m.  Special demonstrations are planned for children.

The issue of the vegetative spraying program administered by the Housatonic Railroad company remained a concern for the selectmen, who have sent a letter to the company. This has been an ongoing issue for property owners near the railroad line. The spray not only kills invasive weeds on the tracks, it has also impacted trees and other plants in the area.

The railroad company is required to provide the town with a plan for managing growth along the track lines. The selectmen still have concerns.

“How does the vegetative management plan relate to what they are doing and what we are seeing,” asked Selectman Richard Bramley. “And what about the trees that are already dead and about to fall?”

“What is their responsibility for those dead trees,” Ridgway asked, noting that state Sen. Craig Miner (R-30) and state Rep. Maria Horn (D-64) are active in helping to resolve the issue.

“The railroad has created hazards in our town,” Ridgway said, “and that is unacceptable.”

Housatonic Valley Regional High School student Spencer Markow’s project to commemorate the Civil War dead is proceeding. 

The stone to hold the plaque has been found — and is estimated to weigh a good 5,000 pounds. It will be moved to the confederate monument site in Cornwall in time for the dedication, targeted to occur on Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11.

Invasive knotweed has gained a toehold at the town’s gravel bank. Apart from its intrusive nature, the selectmen’s concern is that bits of it might be carried with loads of gravel to be spread widely.

Knotweed has been one of the most aggressive of the non-native invasives in recent years.

“It makes sense to get it eradicated,” Ridgway said. Brantley said there is a map that pinpoints infestations of the weed locally. The selectmen felt that application of the weedkiller glyphosate would be necessary.

Selectwoman Priscilla Pavel agreed. “This is serious stuff and it needs to be gotten rid of,” she said.

Ridgway said that in observation of the 200th anniversary of the Foreign Mission School and its work in training missionaries, a group of 38 visitors from Hawaii are planning to visit Cornwall on Sunday, Oct. 6. 

At 3 p.m. there will be a one-act play performed by Hawaiian actor Moses Goods, who is repeating his performance throughout New England. The play is titled “My Name is Opukaha’ia.” 

The performance will be at the Cornwall United Church of Christ at 3 p.m. The event is coordinated by the University of Hawaii.