APPROVED Sutton Conservation Commission
Meeting Minutes
July 11, 2007 @ 7:00 p.m.
Present: Betsy Forsham, Tim Davis, Don Davis, Gerry Putnam, Rick Goddard, Garrett Evans, Jean LaChance and Leslie Ward. Bill Curless, and George Wells were absent.
Chair Betsy Forsham called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Review of June 13, 2007 Minutes:
A motion was made by Tim to accept the regular minutes of June 13, 2007 as amended. Jean seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.
Financial:
Betsy reported the Town account balance was $2,567.24 as of the end of the month, which is 73.52% of the budget. Expenditures for the month were for secretarial services.
The Conservation Fund account total, as of the end of the month, was $201,608.25, with
approximately $11,157.44 in the KHR Fund, and the balance in the Conservation Fund.
$4,680 was received for a land use change tax.
Betsy asked the Board which account should be used to cover the expense for recording
the Wells easement plans. It was decided it should be paid for out of the Conservation
Fund.
Correspondence:
Betsy reported on June 18 she signed and sent in a Disclosure of Potential Conflict of Interest from Tom Masland. He is serving as the Board’s attorney for the Wells easement and also for Ausbon Sargent regarding the Enroth/Lefferts easement. Betsy received the executed disclosure from Ausbon Sargent on June 27.
Betsy announced an invitation from Ausbon Sargent for a special gathering of donors at “Chetwood” on Thursday, August 9 from 5-7p.m.
Betsy handed out the Local Government Center’s spring publication catalogue.
Review of Wetlands Applications and Permits:
Laurence Harper, Route 114, June 19th Notice of Incomplete Minimum Impact Expedited Application, File #2007-01344, T/L # 4/126,518. A letter was then received on June 26th stating a Notice of Administrative Completeness.
A memo was recently received regarding the Robert Pollock bridge project on Hominy Pot Road, in which it was stated that the DES Wetlands compliance specialist informed him that a wetlands permit is not required for his bridge crossing if it goes back from bank to bank and does not disturb the stream bed. His wetland scientist determined this to be the case; therefore, Mr. Pollock has decided not to apply for an amended permit.
Sutton Conservation Commission 1 July 11, 2007
Review of Intents to Cut & Logging Issues:
John and Judith Rodgers, Birch Hill Road T/L #1/576,410. Al Hanson is the logger. Cutting 30 of 425 acres. There may be a brook crossing.
Old Business:
Betsy gave an update on Planning Board issues. There will be a Public Hearing on July 17th at 7 p.m. with Jon Feins to discuss and review the status of the conditions of approval of his subdivision.
Regarding the Begin restoration plan, file # 2006-01034, M/L # 6/193,122, Betsy read a copy of a letter from Meridan Land Services to Linda Magoon, of DES, stating there was a site inspection conducted on May 15th and the tree and shrub plantings were completed. Betsy passed around the attachments, which included photos which portrayed tree saplings of minimal stature, but, since specifics were not designated on the plan, it appears the saplings are within the guidelines.
Betsy gave an update on the Lefferts/Enroth easement. Board members walked the property on June 19th and Betsy walked through again with Beth McGuinn of ASLPT. Betsy reported the trail was nice and most of the boundaries were found. She also mentioned the bittersweet at the proposed entrance is quite thick. Don inquired about finding someone to upkeep the trail. There will be another walk for everyone to view the property. There was a suggestion of making the trail a loop. In marking the boundaries, Betsy said ASLPT prefers blazes. She added Beth McGuinn stated ASLPT wants the trail to be moved away from the well, located on the abutter’s property, or permission should be requested for the SCC to erect a fence around it. They are concerned about the liability. There was discussion regarding this. The Board members
will review this issue again. Betsy will speak with Beth. Leslie will do some research on the subject. Betsy added the Enroth gift survey plan was recorded on June 29th.
Betsy gave an update on the Wells easement. Betsy received the draft easement from Masland’s office, through attorney Nylund. Betsy had some questions and visited George and Jody Wells on July 10th to review the draft and get their opinions. First, the attorney wanted the three parcels to be viewed as one parcel and not conveyed separately which allowed for easier monitoring. Betsy said the point was well taken but the landowner’s rights were more important and George wants three parcels. Garrett said the lots must be recorded separately because they are separate lots of record with the Town. Betsy then asked the Board’s opinion regarding the low impact clause. The current wording was generalized and Betsy felt it would be better to spell out the specifics. George agreed with this. The attorney also
wanted to hold the rights to develop the trails without the grantor’s authorization. George said he would like to have the option. Betsy said she was encouraging George and Jody to utilize the tax benefit from the donation of the easement. She will ask ASLPT if she could share it’ list of appraisers, attorneys, etc with the Wells.
New Business:
There was discussion on the upcoming Land Conservation Workshop in September. Betsy said Attorney Tom Masland very willingly agreed to speak, and the fee would be around $250. Dates were discussed. It was decided on Thursday the 13th. Gerry needs to
Sutton Conservation Commission 2 July 11, 2007
check his schedule and will email Betsy. The 12th will be a backup date.If necessary, Betsy will check with Tom to see if the 12th works for him. Leslie will check with Brian Hotz.
There was discussion regarding the various land trust’s backlog of easement applications. Betsy said the backlog is due in part to the processing of application, the number of which have greatly increased, as well as finding available appraiser, as they are swamped too. There was discussion on how to expedite the process. The Land Trust Alliance was mentioned as a great resource. It was also suggested members write their representatives in congress to extend the current time frame for tax benefits.
SCC Properties and Greenway Reports:
Don reported there will be trail work at the KHR, both this coming Saturday, the 14th, as well as the 21st. He added the crew would be working on Martha Kezar’s Hall and to bring chainsaws and brush cutters. The meeting place will be Hominy Pot at 9 a.m. Don will email volunteers. Betsy said she might have another volunteer.
Don said he had walked the land looking for boundaries and had only found one. He is unsure if the trail layout is okay. He added he had acquired a copy of the ASLPT monitoring report and that this helped by giving a reference point. Don will walk the land again to look for more boundary points.
Don showed the Board some signs he had made and also passed out posters for the 21st. Rick offered to laminate the signs.
There is a need for 12’ pressure treated 2x4’s. Tim and Don will look into this.
Tim asked when the mowing would commence in order for him to process the paperwork. Betsy answered she thought sometime near the beginning of August, depending on dryness.
Betsy reported the cell phone company should be working on the access road soon. They will notify the SCC when starting.
8:50 p.m. A motion was made by Tim to adjourn the meeting. Leslie seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Swett
Secretary
Sutton Conservation Commission 3 July 11, 2007
| 
