APPROVED
Sutton Conservation Commission
Meeting Minutes
May 10, 2006 @ 6:30 pm
Present:
Betsy Forsham, Tim Davis, Jean LaChance, Charlie Whittemore, George Wells, Bill Curless, Rick
Goddard, Gerry Putnam, Leslie Ward and Don Davis.
There was a presentation by Dan Sundquist from the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, SPNHF, at 6:30 pm. Dan spoke about land protection in Sutton and the use of the Geographic Information System, GIS, to help facilitate planning. GIS is a system of informational grids that can be applied to mapping as overlays. Dan invited the SCC Board to come up with three natural resources that can be made into draft maps with the GIS system.
Chair Betsy Forsham called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
Review of April 12, 2006 Minutes:
It was unanimously moved, seconded, and approved to accept the minutes as written.
Financial:
Betsy reported the Town account has a balance of $2,491.02 with no expenditures this month. Betsy did receive a breakdown of the Conservation Account, although the figures are as of March 31st. The Conservation Fund balance is $124,230.09 and the KHR Fund is $13,948.77, giving a total of $138,178.86 for March 31st. As of April 29th the total is $138,498.00.
Correspondence:
Betsy reported she had received paperwork from the lawyer regarding the Morton proposed gift of land. She sent the paperwork to Morton on the 25th and is awaiting a reply. Meanwhile there is a bill of $238 due for legal fees. A motion was made by Jean to pay the fees out of the Town Account under Expenses, seconded by Bill. There was a unanimous vote for the motion.
Betsy updated the Board regarding a letter dated March 13th from Leslie Norman of the New London Conservation Commission regarding concerns of storm water runoff into Lake Sunapee from the proposed development on Stone House Road. Betsy reported she responded to the letter on April 20th.
Betsy reported on a phone call from Charlie Ash of the Sutton Ridgerunners Snowmobile Club regarding a request to run the snowmobile trail through the King Hill Reservation property. There was discussion. Betsy asked the Board to think about the proposal for further discussion later. A site walk was agreed on for May 20th at 9am. (This is the same day as the trail work session, which will be at 10 am.) The meeting place will be at the Hominy Pot entrance. A tentative scheduling to meet with Charlie was decided on July 12th. Betsy will check with Charlie.
There was discussion regarding improperly filed paperwork for the reappointments of Board members. This is still being straightened out. Betsy emailed Elly April 26th. Elly will take care of the matter.
There were two ZBA notices of decision, one granted, one denied.
Sutton Conservation Commission 1 May 10, 2006
Betsy read from the New Hampshire Lakes Association newsletter regarding the Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act and identifying problems between local and State entities. There was discussion. Rick suggested the State Representative be called to see about gaining local enforcement authority and further suggested a meeting be established between the State Representative, the Selectmen and the Conservation Commission.
Betsy read a notice regarding a site walk for the Feins subdivision on Stone House Road, T/L #10/688,134. The walk will be Saturday, May 13th at 9 am.
Other miscellaneous correspondence was distributed
Betsy and Tim mentioned the New Hampshire Coverts Project, volunteers working for wildlife. This is a three-day workshop.
Betsy mentioned the Community Tree Stewart Volunteer Program, part of the UNH cooperative Extension Service. This is for a natural resource volunteer and begins in September for eleven sessions.
Review of Wetlands Applications and Permits:
Betsy read a Permit by Notification from DES for Begin Holmes, LLC, for culvert installation for access to a building lot. This is on Brown Road T/L #4/578,390-2. This site was viewed by Tim and Betsy on April 20th. The Wetlands Board wrote back with four changes Begin must satisfy.
Betsy updated the Board regarding a notice of violation from DES concerning a dock owned by the MacPherson’s on Kezar Lake. MacPherson has complied and submitted a standard dredge and fill application. A Notice of Administrative Completeness was received in March. In a letter dated April 6, DES requested more information. Representing the Macpherson’s is Jeff Evans of Landmark Land Services. Jeff has submitted corrections to the deficiencies.
Review of Intents to Cut:
Sonja Shenn of Keyser Street, T/L #8/152,391. The logger was Brian Caron. This has already been done.
Todd St. Cyr on Jolly Farm Road, T/L # 2/413,537. Todd is also the logger. This was just received and has not been reviewed yet.
Woodlot and Grange, LLC on Eaton Grange Road, T/L # 1/338,510. The logger is Nicholas L. Brunet. There is a concern since this includes Cornelius Pond. It has just been received and will be reviewed.
Old Business:
The Public Hearing for the Feins subdivision on Stone House Road is continued again. The next Planning Board hearing date will be June 13th. On May 23rd there will be a Public Hearing regarding a scenic Road application. On June 27th there will be on site subdivision plans for the KHR upgraded revisions. These will be available for review as of June 17th.
Betsy reported there has been no correspondence regarding the Morton gift.
Betsy reported there is nothing to update on the Palmer property.
Betsy reported there is no new information regarding the Davis gift. All were sorry to hear Irene is not well.
Sutton Conservation Commission 2 May 10, 2006
Betsy updated the Board on the Links to the Minks. She spoke to Brian Hotz in Warner who said they were busy at this time completing the Natural Resources inventory, and when that was done, probably around March of next year, would be a good time for joint discussions.
New Business:
Betsy updated the Board on the proposed public informational night regarding conservation easements on private land. A date of Monday, July 17th at 7 pm was decided on. Betsy will check with Brian and Dan at the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (SPNHF) and with Debbie Stanley at the ASLPT and notify the Board if the date is confirmed. Debbie Stanley volunteered posters if needed. Jean offered to help with the mailing and refreshments. Gerry mentioned a documentary done as a senior project by a Colby student that contained interviews from locals about why they put their land into conservation.
SCC Properties and Greenway Reports:
There was discussion regarding the signs to identify SCC properties. Dan is going to make them and can check the size from signs already standing such as the SRK Greenway one on Rt. 114 at Gile Pond Road. Charlie will paint them. Tim will sink them.
Don mentioned the prison makes signs and their services may be useful in the future for signs such as for rules or boundaries.
Tim suggested the entrance to the KHR off of Hominy Pot Road was looking too good and mentioned someone had dumped a whole load of building debris.
Tim reported the iron pin on the Greenway Trail has been covered.
Tim reported a nice hike to the top off Bogg Mountain where a granite bench has been erected in honor of the past trail master, Bill Best.
Don suggested the Board consider more work days and said he will come up with a schedule.
Tim reported there was nothing happening with the proposed meeting with the Selectmen regarding class VI roads and suggested the meeting happen in August or September since after that the Selectmen will be busy with the budget.
It was moved, seconded, and unanimously approved to adjourn at 9:05 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Swett
Secretary
Sutton Conservation Commission 3 May 10, 2006
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