TOWN OF SUTTON
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
FEBRUARY 9, 2005 MEETING MINUTES
AMENDED AND APPROVED 3/2/05
Present: Bill Curless, Don Davis, Tim Davis, Leslie Enroth, Betsy Forsham, Jack Noon, George Wells
1. The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m, with Leslie Enroth chairing the meeting.
Review & Approval of Minutes
Members reviewed three sets of minutes: those of the regular meeting of Jan. 12, 2005, which were approved as written; the minutes of the special meeting of Jan. 20, 2005, which were approved as written; and the “sealed” minutes of a non-public session conducted on Dec. 8, 2004. It was moved, seconded and approved to both “unseal” the minutes and to approve them as written. A copy will be filed with the Selectmen’s Office in the SCC binder.
Financial
Betsy provided each member with a copy of the audited, year-end report of the Conservation Fund. It was noted that an entry, “Due from General Fund at year end” in the amount of $5,885.23, represents 2004 monies collected by the tax collector but not deposited in to the Conservation Fund account. Betsy also noted that the figures do not include the $1500 paid to the ASLPT in January for the one time monitoring fee for the Putnam easement. As of 2/2/05, there appears to be $69,061.84 in the Conservation Fund and $15,035.12 in the King Hill Reservation sub-account, for a total of $84,096.96. A charge of $38.29 was incurred in the regular account for supplies.
Correspondence
‚ Leslie indicated that she had written a thank you to Gordon Marshall, President of the King Ridge Community Recreation Association, for the gift of $13,714.10 to the KHR
‚ Leslie received an e-mail from Marjory Swope with notice of DES workshops and plant volunteers
‚ Notice received from DES of Land Resource Management Workshop in Concord, on three different dates: Jan. 13, Feb. 8 & March 16, 8:30 - 3:30 pm. The workshop covers wetlands & shoreland programs, Site Specific/Alteration of Terrain Program, and Subsurface Systems Bureau
‚ “Grant Round Announcement” from DES for Water Supply Land Conservation Grant Program
‚ Notice of NH Assoc. Of Natural Resource Scientists Annual Meeting, 2/5/05
‚ Newsletter of the NHDES Drinking Water Source Protection Program, “The Source”
‚ Memo from Betsy to ASLPT with copy of McCandlish Woodland Examination Report and print of the completed “Enroth Gift” survey plan on Rt. 114.
‚ Thank you letter from Debbie Stanley, ASLPT, for our payment of the $1500 monitoring fee for the Putnam easement and for our partnership with them on several projects over the past few years.
Wetlands
‚ Standard Dredge and Fill Application from State of NH DOT for rock removal and drainage work on I-89, near Exit 10. Also Notice of Administrative Completeness from DES for the project and a notice from DOT of a public informational meeting about the project to be held at Town Hall on Wed., Feb. 16 at 7:00 pm. Several SCC members said there could be problems with the project as a house, at the end of Shadow Hill Rd., sits on top of the rocks the state wishes to blast.
‚ Standard Dredge and Fill Application for Clifford Gayley for replacement of road culvert on Stone House Road. His property is in Newbury but access to it is on Sutton’s Class VI road. No objections raised by SCC.
‚ Leslie said she received a call from Bob Stewart regarding a wetlands application we have not yet received, for a bridge to cross Clark Pond Brook, on Hominy Pot Road, to access two existing lots. The bridge was part of a subdivision approval received a number of years ago. Leslie will look at the site.
Intents to Cut
‚ George & Lorraine Edmunds, Shaker Street, T/L # 7-694,576. Logger is Peter Messer, who will cut 10 of 19 acres.
‚ “Complete Forestry Notification” received from the Wetlands Bureau for the Edwin Fowler timber cut off Brown Road, T/L #4-683,028. The permit is valid for 2 years.
Beaver Problems
Charlie Ash and Road Agent, Paul Parker, present to discuss beaver problems relating to water levels at Kezar Lake/Lane River, Penacook Road Bridge and roads in general. They asked that the SCC sign a permit to trap beaver, which had been done on a fairly annual basis in the past, but not the last few years. Leslie & Betsy questioned the effectiveness of killing the beaver but not breaking down the dams. Charlie thought they might be using a new trapper, Gene Dobrowski, who, he thinks, said he would breach the dams as well as trap. There is a cost factor involved, depending on the time of the year the trapping takes place. Also, if the problem involves a state road, the state would help defray any costs. After further discussion, it was moved, seconded and approved by majority vote
to sign the trapping permit, with Tim Davis signing on behalf of the SCC.
Discussion of Woodland Examination Report by Brooks McCandlish
The members reviewed the report, page by page, and made comments, as follows:
1) It was agreed that boundary lines should be blazed and/or painted. It was suggested that several of us go with the ASLPT monitors in the fall, to see which lines, if any, need marking. Tim will be in charge of coordinating this.
2) In discussing the maintenance and creation of trails and roads, Tim discussed his research into a 75%/25% matching funds program from the USDA called the NRCS Wildlife Improvement Plan. He suggests we rent a “brontosaurus” machine to cut back the woods along existing trails and landing areas, wherever we want an open space for wildlife enhancement. Tim & Bill noted that the machine grinds the wood and leaves it in place. While initially unsightly, the cut areas improve within a few months, as has occurred with the work the state did at Exit 11,on I-89.
He believes the cost is $1200-$1400/day, and a lot could be accomplished in two days or so. Mike Lynch is the contact person. The SCC gave Tim the go ahead to pursue this.
3) Regarding the report’s recommendations for logging, Leslie and several other members expressed concern that doing so might harm the already fragile Kezar Lake watershed. Even with best logging management practices, environmental damage can be done. If the development of the former Maple Leaf Golf Course goes through, the area will be further impacted. Everyone agreed that logging is neither a high priority nor the best use of the land ,but the issue could be revisited in the future.
New and Old Business
1) Tim indicated that he is trying to get together with the Merrimack County Forester, Tim Fleury, and Wildlife Biologist, Matt Tarr, to walk the King Hill area of the KHR sometime in March. This area was not looked at before, in April of 2000.
2) Tim told the members that he attended a public informational meeting by Warner’s Conservation Commission, in which they reviewed their requested appropriations and warrant articles for 2005 and the reasons behind the requests. Tim found the meeting very interesting and the Warner CC very organized.
3) Regarding the formation of a subcommittee for development of a bond issue, Leslie suggested we wait until after Town Meeting, to which everyone agreed.
4) It was noted that the CIP for land acquisition in the amount of $30,000 will be on the warrant, and we will have to come to Town Meeting prepared to defend it.
5) Don spoke to the necessity of long range planning for the future needs of the town. Don spoke of a recent meeting at which Bud Nelson suggested that it might be helpful to form a committee comprised of members of all Town entities who would address the many issues Sutton faces and/or will face down the road. Leslie thought this is the raison d’etre behind the Master Plan.
6) Betsy noted that we can’t meet on March 9th due to Town Meeting. It was moved and approved to meet on Wed., March 2nd instead. We can discuss strategies to promote the CIP warrant article.
7) Betsy noted that she had contacted someone about the secretarial position but was unsuccessful. It was suggested that we contact Sarah after Town Meeting; perhaps she has had a change of heart.
8) Betsy noted that 4 of us are up for reappointment: Leslie, Betsy, Jack & Leon. Sometime after Town Meeting, we should let the Selectmen’s office know who is interested in staying on.
9) George said he attended a future land use master plan meeting and found it interesting. The final public hearing on the entire Master Plan will be held on Tuesday, March 29th at 7:00 pm.
There being no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Betsy Forsham
Acting Secretary
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