APPROVED
Sutton Conservation Commission
Meeting Minutes
July 12, 2006 @ 7:00 p.m.
Present:
Betsy Forsham, Tim Davis, Jean LaChance, Charlie Whittemore, George Wells, Bill Curless, Rick
Goddard, Leslie Ward and Don Davis. Gerry Putnam was absent.
Chair Betsy Forsham called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm.
Review of June 14, 2006 Minutes:
A motion was made by Jean to accept the minutes of June 14, 2006 as written. Charlie seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.
A motion was made by Tim to accept the special minutes of July 5, 2006, concerning the site walk at the new KRMS property. Charlie seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.
Financial:
Betsy reported that as of June 30, 2006 the Town account was $2,008.51 and the expenditures were $71.09 for supplies.
Betsy reported as of June 30, 2006 the Conservation Fund was $134,053.20 and the KHR Fund was $14,045.28, for a total of $148,098.48. Betsy added at this time there has been no addition of the change in use tax of approximately $24,000 discussed at the last meeting. The addition of that $24,000 would result in approximately $158,000 in the Conservation Fund.
Correspondence:
Betsy reported she emailed Charlie Ash regarding meeting with the Board about use of the KHR for snowmobile access. She told Charlie the Board would be unable to meet him this week but hoped to get together with him at the next meeting. The time has not been arranged.
Don talked with Cory Cochran, the president of the snowmobile club, and reported there should be no problem with using the existing trail through the Palmer property this coming winter, so there is time to lay out a new trail on the KHR.
Betsy reported on a letter received from DES regarding a seminar on private well testing to help officials review their certificate of occupancy and drinking water requirements. The seminar will be in Concord on July 25, 2006.
Betsy passed out a tree farm pamphlet.
Sutton Conservation Commission 1 July 12, 2006
Review of Wetlands Applications and Permits:
Betsy reported that a Wetlands and Non-site Specific Permit #2006-00645 from DES for the Chalk Pond Road Bridge project has been issued to the Town,with 19 conditions.
Betsy reported on a private citizen complaint on Southfield Road. DES inspected the property and found no violation as stated in a letter dated June 28, 2006 file #2006-01427 2006.
Betsy reported on a Minimum Impact Expedited Application submitted to DES for Northern Pride Homes, LLC on Hominy Pot Road. She said their prior submission using a PBN application was rejected, as the form cannot be used for a subdivision, only for an individual lot, so they reapplied using the correct form. Betsy signed off on July 7, 2006.
Betsy reported on a Wetlands and Non-site Specific Permit #2005-00165 from DES for drainage on I-89. She added this is the third amendment.
Betsy reported on a Minimum Impact Expedited Application to DES for David and Virginia Normandy on Cottage Lane, T/L # 1-922,155. Betsy stated she walked the site with the applicant’s agent on July 11 and signed the application.
Betsy reported she emailed a letter to DES regarding the Begin Homes, LLC Dredge and Fill Application – File # 2006-01034 on Rte. 114. Betsy stated she expressed several concerns including the fact that the site is currently under investigation by the Wetlands Bureau complaint department. The email went out on July 10, 2006, followed by a hard copy with photos the same day. Betsy has not heard back.
Betsy reported on a Standard Dredge and Fill Application to DES submitted by Chris Albert of Hoyle & Tanner Associates, Inc. on behalf of the new KRMS, on Gile Pond Road. Betsy added that Mr. Albert had tried to work around an esker, a S-R-K Greenway trail and several vernal pools. The plans show a utilization of old logging roads for minimum impact. Betsy will write a letter to Chris Albert thanking him for the meeting and stating the SCC appreciates that he has tried to fit in as many compromises as possible, thus keeping impacts to the areas of concern to a minimum.
Leslie said she had a concern with the proximity of the road to one of the vernal pools and added she hoped the canopy would be preserved.
Review of Intents to Cut:
Joe Burns on Whiskey Pine Road, T/L # 07-825,379 & 07-833,269. The logger is Joe Burns. This Intent was mentioned at the last meeting. The paperwork had just been received.
Old Business:
Betsy gave the following Planning Board updates:
MacPhearson on Shaker Street. Two minor subdivisions, two lots on the westerly side of the road, 3 lots on the other side. They were both approved.
Sutton Conservation Commission 2 July 12, 2006
Stockwell on Roby Road. There are still a couple of questions regarding vernal pools and an easement for a sight line. The public hearing was continued to July 25, 2006.
Feins on Stone House Road. There has been no final determination. There needs to be more discussion about the upgrade to Stone House Road. There was a proposal to reduce the number of lots along Stone House Road by three, reducing the total number of the subdivision by two. The Public Hearing is continued to July 25, 2006.
There was a discussion of frontage on private roads and class VI roads and who maintains them.
The final plans for the Conservation Workshop were discussed. Betsy asked Leslie to check with Dan about bringing a screen. Betsy said approximately 130 invitations were sent out as well as ads placed in three local publications and posters hung in various places.
Betsy reported she is working with Tim and Jae Whitelaw, the Town attorney, on a draft ordinance for posting Class VI roads during mud season.
New Business:
8:30 p.m. Pursuant to RSA 91-A:3, II-D a motion was made by Betsy to go into non-public session to discuss a pending real estate matter. Jean seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved by roll call vote.
9:00 p.m. A motion was made by Charlie to come out of non-public session under RSA 91-A:3d and to seal the minutes until such time as the real estate matter is concluded. Jean seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.
Betsy reported Wayne Wheeler’s daughter, Chris St. Cyr, called to ask permission to mow around Russell Pond. Betsy gave permission and thanked them for asking. There was discussion among the Board members about the need to clean the brush back to the walls. Charlie said the Wheelers take the hay and they should be giving something back to the land such as fertilizing, liming and clearing. Tim will compose a letter to send to the Wheelers and run it by Betsy.
SCC Properties and Greenway Reports:
The Don reported he would be meeting with Matt Ordway on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. for repairs to Penacook Path on the KHR. Tim will be joining them.
Don stated he had been busy and no new workdays had been scheduled. He said he would watch for good weather and email interested members.
Tim reported the WHIP grant will pay for a boom mower, but an operator still needs to be found. Tim will talk to Paul Parker, the Town road agent, to see if he has any suggestions.
Other Business:
George Wells informed the Board that he would like to deed a Conservation Easement on approximately 96 acres to the Conservation Commission. George handed Betsy a Conservation Easement Deed draft, prepared by Susan Hankin-Birke. Betsy will give the Deed to Jae Whitelaw,
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Town Counsel, for her review. Betsy noted the Board should look at its criteria for acceptance of land. The Board thanked George for his generous offer.
There was discussion regarding the need to generate a list of criteria, as well as procedures, when reviewing and acting on offers of conservation easements on private lands, such as George’s.
A motion was made by Tim to take under consideration George’s kind offer of a Conservation Easement on Dodge Hill Road. Jean seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.
Betsy will consult with ASLPT, among others, about how to best proceed.
Betsy reported there is still $900 from last year’s Fish and Game grant for mowing on KHR. She checked the availability of Peter Stanley for mowing and was told the King Hill Reservation is the first on his list.
Tim asked Don if he had called regarding the cell tower on the KHR. There is a need to discuss erosion control measures for the access road.
Jean mentioned an article in the Concord Monitor regarding State parks needing help and said there is a committee that has formed in Sutton who are concerned about what is happening to the Wadleigh State Park. She added there would be a meeting at the park on July 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the concession stand. The rain location will be the Sutton Baptist Church.
10:00 p.m. A motion was made by Tim to adjourn the meeting. Jean seconded it. It was unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Swett
Secretary
Sutton Conservation Commission 4 July 12, 2006
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