Sutton Conservation Commission APPROVED
Meeting Minutes
March 8, 2006 @ 7:00 pm
Present:
Betsy Forsham, Tim Davis, Jean LaChance, Leslie Ward, Charlie Whittemore and George Wells. Leslie
attended the meeting as a full member with voting rights.
(Bill Curless, Rick Goddard, Gerry Putnam, and Don Davis were absent.)
Chair Betsy Forsham called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
Review of February 8, 2006 Minutes:
It was unanimously moved, seconded, and approved to accept the minutes as written.
Financial:
Betsy received a report from Lynn King, the Town’s new bookkeeper, stating $94.88 had been expended from the town account for secretarial services.
Betsy reported the total for the Conservation Fund, as of February 28, 2006, was $137,034.55. Approximately $13,000 of this is in the King Hill Reservation Fund.
Betsy reported the WHIP 75% reimbursement in question last meeting had been received by direct deposit February 7th. The deposit was for $1,800. It was noted the direct deposit was made into the Conservation Fund account and that it needed to specifically go into the King Hill Reservation Fund.
Correspondence:
Betsy wrote a letter to the Selectmen, dated 3/8, to request the reappointment of the three SCC members whose terms are up. Betsy also asked to be notified if the Selectmen are considering any other candidates.
Betsy passed out the February Newsletter for the Sunapee Ragged Kearsarge Greenway.
Betsy reviewed other miscellaneous correspondence.
Betsy shared an open invitation from Catherine Bushueff, of the “ Friends of Mount Sunapee,” to become a member and serve on one of their committees. It was decided members could pursue this individually if they preferred.
Betsy noted that she had received an email concerning the 5th Annual New Hampshire Conservation Conference, “Saving Special Places 2006”, to be held on Saturday, April 1 from 8:30-4:00, in Wolfboro. This conference has a lot of good workshops, and she encouraged people to attend. The fee is $45.00, if registration is sent in before 3/17. Attendees will be reimbursed from SCC funds. Betsy will email the information out to people ASAP. A brochure should be forthcoming.
Sutton Conservation Commission 1 March 8, 2006
Review of Wetlands Applications and Permits:
Betsy read a notice of violation from DES, dated February 9th, file #2005-01614, T/L #7-968-357, concerning a dock owned by the MacPherson’s on Kezar Lake. MacPherson has complied and submitted a Standard Dredge and Fill application. Betsy stated she has not had a chance to review it yet, but she didn’t anticipate any problem with it.
Review of Intents to Cut:
There were no intents received.
Old Business:
Betsy reported the Watershed Overlay District and the Wetlands Overlay District Ordinances had garnered a number of letters, pro and con. Betsy urged members to come and vote.
The Public Hearing for the Feins subdivision on Stonehouse Road will be continued again on Tuesday, March 21st at 6:00 pm. It was reported they now have the final plans.
Betsy gave an update on the proposed gift of land from Douglas G. Morton. Betsy announced she would be meeting with the Selectmen on the 13th to request permission to accept the gift per RSA 36-A:4 and that others were welcome to come if they were interested.
Betsy gave an update on the Conservation Easement and Wildlife Corridor on the Meadow View Farms subdivision. There was discussion. Leslie, seconded by Jean, made a motion to empower Betsy to continue discussions with Town Counsel to reinstate the Conservation Easement as part of the original 19 conditions, which were part of the Planning Board’s conditional approval of the subdivision.
It was decided the meeting with Dan Sundquist from the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests would be held prior to the regular meeting on the 12th of April at 6:30.
There was discussion regarding the Davis gift of land. This item will be continued until there is more information and Don is in attendance. It was decided there was a need to review the parcel against the SCC’s list of criteria as well as to have a site visit.
New Business:
Betsy informed the Board on an interesting possible conservation land acquisition. Discussion followed. It was decided a site walk was needed. There is interest in the property, although it was agreed that the SCC funds should not be completely exhausted for this one piece. The Board agreed to pursue this lead.
Betsy announced she would be meeting with the Board of Selectmen at 5:00 pm on the 13th of March regarding the posting of class VI roads. She asked if anyone had any ideas and invited all interested to join her at the meeting.
Betsy reminded the Board to get out and vote on March 14th and to come and support the warrant articles at Town Meeting on the 15th. She specifically mentioned supporting articles #18 regarding the Conservation Easements, and article #19 regarding Scenic Roads.
Sutton Conservation Commission 2 March 8, 2006
SCC Properties and Greenway Reports:
Tim confirmed the “schedule of value operations” received in February was a revision to the original. This allows grant money to be transferred from this year to next.
Tim mentioned that a great deal has been done with the King Hill Reservation lately and therefore it would be a good time to start looking at some of the other Town-owned land. It was suggested that a sign be put up at Russell Pond and that group site walks be taken at some of these other locations.
Betsy noted National Trail Day would be on June 3rd. Jean added that she had the names of some people who were interested in helping with trails.
Jean announced the Annual Meeting for the Sunapee Ragged Kearsarge Greenway would be held March 19th. There will be a potluck at 5:00 followed by a 7:00 meeting at The Lady of Fatima Church in New London. Chuck Percy from UNH will be the guest speaker.
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It was moved, seconded, and unanimously approved to adjourn at 9:40 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Swett
Secretary
Sutton Conservation Commission 3 March 8, 2006
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