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Fairfield conservation staff to begin Natural Resource Inventory; aim to complete by summer 2025
Summary
Commissioners heard a staff proposal to commission an electronic, GIS‑based Natural Resource Inventory (NRI) that would be updated every 10 years; staff will seek quotes, confirm procurement thresholds and may fund it from the conservation department budget if feasible.
Fairfield conservation staff told commissioners Jan. 15 that the town does not have a formal Natural Resource Inventory (NRI) on record and proposed initiating procurement of a GIS‑based NRI to be completed by summer 2025.
Staff said NRIs are typically updated every 10 years and recommended producing an interactive, updatable GIS product rather than a static report. The director said he has begun outreach to a vendor that he expects will be cost‑effective and will seek additional quotes as needed to comply with the town’s purchasing policy; depending on the bid level the project could require three quotes or a formal RFP through the purchasing department.
Commissioners discussed scope and funding options, and staff suggested the NRI could serve multiple departments (zoning, flood control, forestry) by providing layered GIS datasets for geology, soils, vegetation, wetlands and wildlife. Staff said they would consider partial cost‑sharing with other town departments but also indicated one conservation department budget line might be able to absorb the cost if the vendor’s estimate is within that allocation.
A staff representative noted prior open‑space and geology sections were contributed by volunteers and commissioners in other towns, and recommended contracting a professional firm for a full NRI draft subject to commission review and supplementing. The commission did not take a vote but directed staff to gather baseline quotes and to confirm procurement procedures and timing.
